No Man's Daughter - A Book Review

   

I was so excited to learn that Maher was releasing the third book in her Sons of Shenandoah series, and then to learn that I was being included in the group that was to receive an advanced copy from the author was a special bonus. No Man's Daughter features the story of the youngest of Sam Sharpe's sons, Ben. Struggling to be seen as his own man, not just the little brother, spurs Ben on to enter a marriage of convenience in order to acquire the property he has set his eyes on. His bride, a Civil War orphan who has learned out of necessity to be independent and to stand up for herself, struggles with the impact of the great losses she suffered during the war, finding it most difficult to place herself in any perceived position of vulnerability.

Maher beautifully tells this story of redemption and blessings. She is a strong writer who paints intense mental images in the mind of her readers. Maher is particularly skilled in character development. I highly recommend No Man's Daughter as well as the first two books in this series. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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.

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

   

Maher's skill with the English language sets her apart in the best of ways. Her word choice creates eloquence, paints beautiful word pictures, and places the reader squarely in both time and place with her well-developed characters. Her research and depth of knowledge is readily apparent. Maher's dialogue flows smoothly and is believable. The reader sees both the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley and the Maryland countryside as well as the horrors of battle scenes and prison camps. They see the hearts of abolitionists, slaves forcibly separated from their families, brothers torn apart by a country divided, those with misguided loyalties, and both those hardened and those broken by war's realities. Most importantly they see the hearts given to God and the healing of the forgiveness that follows.

Marietta Hamilton comes of an age where she is allowed to join her family's abolitionist missions. It is on such a mission that she becomes compelled to reunite a mother and son, and as a result falls in love with Ethan Sharpe, an honorable son of the south who chooses to take up her cause and to seek her hand in marriage. The obstacles that keep Marietta and Ethan apart seem to multiply over time, but their reliance on God and their dependence on His Word sees them through, even though, like many of us, they are tempted to and sometimes seek to help God along by pursuing plans of their own.

I always feel like I am taking a chance when I agree to review a book for a new-to-me author of whom I have received no specific recommendation from a friend. I am so glad that I took that chance on this author and this book, and I will gladly agree to review any other books she writes in the future. I am one of those readers who has several fiction and non-fiction books going at once. This time, all other reading was halted as I became immersed in The Abolitionist's Daughter. I thank Kathleen L. Maher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.