The Chaplain's Daughter by Kathleen L. Maher - A Book Review

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Kathleen has graciously offered to allow me to randomly select one commenter to receive a free e-book copy of The Chaplain's Daughter. I will draw a name out of the hat on April 1st. Don't forget to leave your comments below. 

Ellen White was serving the Confederacy as a laundress when she was discovered by her former neighbor, Sam Sharpe, Sam had come to arrange for his injured son, Captain Gideon Sharpe, to be given permission to convalesce at home. Seeing the straits Reverend White's youngest daughter found herself in, Sam insisted she accompany them home so that he could see to her care, and she could see to his son's. Fans of historical romantic fiction can see where this story is going, however, Maher maintains her hold on her readers' interest by skillfully including a variety of complicating circumstances, engaging a variety of emotions, and creating passion without overstepping boundaries that readers of clean and Christian fiction do not want to cross. The language in this book is well chosen, well constructed, and flows smoothly. The Chaplain's Daughter is an enjoyable read, one you will be glad to have spent time with.

I thank Kathleen L. Maher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Rockstar Grandparent by Chrys Howard - A Book Review

     

I am sure many a grandparent will enjoy this book, it just wasn't my cup of tea. While there are numerous valuable pearls of wisdom contained within, it involves reading through a lot of folksy verbiage to get to them. The author seems to be addressing a very specific demographic, upper-middle-class grandparents.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Rockstar Grandparent from Waterbrook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Daughters of Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof - A Book Review

     

It is a skilled writer who can paint such vivid mental images of the tenderness of burly mountain men of Viking ancestry to their cherished wives and children, as well as their ferocity in battle to defend those same dear ones. It is an intuitive writer who can touch the depths of both loyalty and betrayal, fear and forgiveness, addiction and surrender. Joanne Bischof is just such an author and her talents are in full display in her Blackbird Mountain series, of which Daughters of Northern Shores is the second book, and hopefully not the last because readers will long to know the story of Haakon Norgaard and Kjersti Jönsson.

Thor Norgaard is the focus of the first book, and shares that attention with his younger brother Haakon in the second book. Neither's story would be complete without the influence of the third brother, Jorgan. These men, two hearing and one deaf, rely on their sense of family, their heritage, and their faith as they cut out a life in the mountains of Virginia in the late 1800s. They learn that sometimes the enemy lives among their neighbors and sometimes it can live within themselves.

I received a complimentary copy of Daughters of Northern Shores from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

Embroidered Lettering: Alphabets & Techniques to Create 25 Expressive Projects by Debra Valencia - A Book Review

 

This book is great for beginner in that Debra Valencia gives a basic overview of the tools and materials used in embroidery, and includes some helpful tips as well. Her embroidery stitch guide gives step by step, detailed descriptions of creating a variety of stitches supported by photographs that clearly depict stitch construction. The 25 projects are contemporary, and are divided into four groups: hoops and frames, home décor, accessories and clothing. While they won't all be for everyone, there is something for most everyone.

I received a copy of the book from Fox Chapel Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This advanced copy did not include the project templates or the alphabet patterns, so I cannot address the ease with which these features are used, but considering the high quality of the other features, I am sure these are more than adequate. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation. 

Beauty in Hiding by Robin Patchen - A Book Review

     

Loneliness, and the need to connect. Loneliness, and the fear of connecting. Both of these phrases go to the heart of Beauty in Hiding. Both of these phrases are true of so many in our society, so many we see but often don't notice.

Jack Rossi is living what he refers to as a solitary life in Nutville in spite of his many interactions with those at the community pantry and rec center. His new tenants, Harper Cloud and Red Burns, could not escape his notice. Harper was gorgeous, but obviously hiding something. Red's shifting personality often hiding his true self behind Alzheimer's. All three longed for connection, but only Harper understood the cost. No one must know why she is on the run and pretending that this elderly man in her grandfather. She would, and has, sacrificed her life to care for and protect him. 

Robin Patchen quickly rose to one of the top slots on my list of favorite mystery writers with her Hidden Truth series. Beauty in Hiding is the second book in her new series, Beauty in Flight, and it is just as wonderful. I recommend all of Patchen's books to mystery lovers, especially those who enjoy Colleen Coble, Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon and Patricia Bradley. I am grateful to have received a copy of Beauty in Hiding from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse - A Book Review

    

Readers will absolutely fall in love with the characters in Luesse's Almost Home. These are people that you will want to be friends with. The setting is a close knit community in the country not far from Birmingham, Alabama in the mid 1940s. Josiah (Si) and Dolly Chandler have opened their home to borders in an effort to pay their taxes and save the home that had been in Dolly's family for years. Never ones to pass up an opportunity to minister to people (not to be confused with preaching to them), Si and Dolly touch the hearts of many who become as family. As a result these people begin to heal and to care for those around them as well. This most especially includes the young couple whose marriage is faltering, a war widow, and a wounded soldier. The story is made even more fun by a backstory involving a mystery including a Robin Hood like river pirate.

Not only will historical fiction fans enjoy this story, but so will those who love someone who is serving or has served in our modern military. The visible scars of these warriors may not be the ones that impact them or their families the most.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Almost Home from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin - A Book Review

    

It wasn't until I read the Author's Notes that I realized that this was the second book in a series. So, it works really well as a stand-alone read. Set during the First World War, references are also made to the Irish Rebellion. What happens when a wounded British soldier falls in love with a woman who took up arms against the British as a young Irish rebel? Sometimes duty and love are like oil and water.

Lieutenant Colin Mabry is haunted by dreams of being trapped underground, the result of having been trapped in a tunnel collapse in which he lost one hand and all the fellow soldiers that had been in the tunnel with him. Now he served in Hastings decoding messages from the front. He never expected to receive a personal message, one that would have him headed to France to rescue the woman who had once rescued him.

Johanna Dougherty Reyer had lost her mother in the Irish Rebellion. Now she was in France seeking the father she had seen only once as a young child and the half-sister she had only recently learned about. Discovering her sister's diary at the family farm as well as the fact that she was in serious trouble, Johanna did the only thing she could think of, sending a coded message to the man who had pledged to come back for Jewel.

This book has many twists and turns. The reader will be challenged to decide which characters are truly on the side of the Allies, and which are not. Deception abounds. I recommend this book to fans of historical, romantic and suspense genres. I am grateful to have received a copy of Far Side of the Sea from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson - A Book Review

   

Courting Mr. Emerson is true to Melody Carlson's writing style with quirky, endearing characters, a setting readers will want to truly visit, and a sense of poignancy. It is a story that one wants to walk into and join the cast of characters, to be a part of what unfolds.

Mr. Emerson, a retiring high school English teacher, is a bit out of step with the times. Once considered a confirmed bachelor by others, he's now a self-proclaimed curmudgeon. Having been told as a young boy that his parents had died because God needed them, having his older brother die in the Vietnam War, losing his fiance in a car wreck just three days before his graduation from graduate school, and eventually losing his grandparents who raised him, George came to the conclusion that there was no God. Believing that was less painful than believing that there was a God who at the worst had it out for him, and at the least didn't care about or need him. What would it take for God to make Himself and His love known to George at this time in his life? Enter Willow West, artist, bohemian, hippie, Christian, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. God can certainly work in mysterious and unexpected ways! Readers will enjoy observing how this story plays out.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Courting Mr. Emerson from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

The White City by Grace Hitchcock - A Book Review

    

The White City is Grace Hitchcock's debut novel, but it reads like it was written by a seasoned writer. Initially I would have described the story as lighthearted fun, but near the end it took a dark turn. I would love to say more about that, but no spoilers here!

Winnifred Rose Wylde, daughter of Inspector Randolph Wylde, is an avid reader, especially of romantic mystery novels. While her aunt wanted Winnie to focus on making a good marriage match, Winnie was able to convince her father to allow her to spend the summer doing some undercover work. Of course the agreement came along with a bodyguard in the form of the handsome Officer Jude Thorpe. If Inspector Wylde or Officer Thorpe had had an inkling of who Winnie would be dealing with, permission would never have been granted.

It was interesting to learn in the Author's Notes that the villain in this story was a real person, a notorious criminal. I am sure fans of romantic suspense and of historical fiction will enjoy The White City, set in 1893 Chicago during the World's Fair. I give it four stars. I am grateful to have received a coy from Barbour Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.