The Guardian Duke

The Guardian Duke
Jamie Carie
B+H Publishing Group
February 1, 2012
Genre: romance, historical, fiction




Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. Unfortunately due to ill health Gabriel is not able to travel to Lady Alexandria right away so he starts a letter correspondence with her. While Gabriel struggles with regaining his mysteriously lost hearing Alexandria is slipping away. Convinced her parents are still very much alive Alexandria sets out on her own to find them. Her journey leads her directly into trouble and thankfully into the very capable hands of two unlikely protectors. Together the three of them follow the clues to Ireland. Meanwhile the Duke is giving chase in desperation to not only find this woman he has become attached to but because the King has told him the whole story behind her parent's disappearance and she is not safe. 

The twists and turns in this book will keep you up reading late into the night. You'll also find yourself frustrated as time after time the Duke misses the Lady but mere moments in his quest for her. The first in a trilogy The Guardian Duke will keep you guessing and will leave you delighted and wanting for more. Carie writes with beautiful detail of a time and places that are intriguing and colorful to the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment and look forward to the next two.

You can purchase your own copy here.

Thank you to Netgalley and B&H Publishing for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Beauty for Ashes

Beauty For Ashes
Dorothy Love
Reviewed by: Melissa J. MacDonald
Genre: historical fiction
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Date: 2012

Carrie Daly is a Civil War widow who is somewhat content with her rather ordinary life. She and her brother are happily living together on their childhood farm and her soon to be fiance is a steady likeable fellow. Things change drastically in her ordinary life when her brother takes a peckish wife with two rambunctious and rude boys. Then mysterious horseman Griff Rutledge comes into town and sets Carrie's heart to beating. Unable to endure her mean-spirited sister-in-law Carrie sets out on her own to pave her own wave. However, there is a depression going on and when her brother has to leave to find work and her sister-in-law discovers she is pregnant Carrie moves back in to take over the home. Meanwhile Griff keeps showing up and causing her to rethink what she has always known. Add to this that her "fiance" ran away and got married and you've got a recipe for an interesting book.

Neither Griff nor Carrie are perfect and it's always refreshing to see real characters portrayed in a book. I particularly found the historical aspects of the book to be quite interesting. The depression of that time was really quite severe and it was intriguing to watch the characters struggle through. Griff himself struggles through forgiveness and misunderstanding that adds depth to his character. While it is plain to me that Love had a number of good ideas for some reason the book did not completely mesh and come together for me. The characters could have used a good deal more developing and at times the story line was a bit confusing and down right dull. There were moments of interest and laughter but for the most part this book did not hold my attention for long. I do think Love has great potential and I look forward to reading more from her. If you're looking for an easy read that looks at a time of history in a different perspective than you just might enjoy this read.

Rated: PG 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Desired

Desired 
Ginger Garrett
October 1, 2011
David C. Cook Publishing
Biblical Fiction, Romance, History   

Book Description:

 Before Samson was an Old Testament legend, he was a prodigal son, an inexperienced suitor, a vengeful husband, and a lost soul driven by his own weakness. This is his story as told by three strong women who loved him-the nagging, manipulative mother who pushed him toward greatness, the hapless Philistine bride whose betrayal propelled him into notoriety, and the emotionally damaged seductress-the famous Delilah-who engineered his downfall and propelled him to his destiny. Desired celebrates the God of Israel's to work powerfully in the midst of hopes, fears, desires, and sorrows

My thoughts: 

Growing up I used to love the story of Samson. Without fail when dad got boring (pastor's kid speaking here) I would have mom find the story of Samson in my Bible and I would read it over and over again. Love, gore, adventure, and riddles would grip me. This book was no different. I was gripped from the very beginning. Garrett is a masterful storyteller. She describes in great detail and her characters come to life. Unfortunately the tale of Samson and the women in his life is one of great sorrow. Even though I knew how things ended I was profoundly saddened by this story. Samson's tale is one of great heartache and misdirection and yet God chose to use him. Another lesson for me. Delilah is portrayed as misunderstood instead of the vixen I was taught growing up. I enjoyed seeing her in a different light. All in all this was a good book. I would suggest entering into the world of Biblical fiction with this one but definitely put it on your "too read" shelf. 

My thanks to Netgalley and David C. Cook for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Pearl in the Sand

Title: PEARL IN THE SAND
Author: Tessa Afshar
Publisher: Moody Publishers
September 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8024-5881-0
Genre: Inspirational/historical/biblical

It's easy to get bogged down in the lineages listed in the Bible. So and so begat so and so and on it goes. What I often forget is that each person in the lineages has a story. Each names listed has significance. Pearl in the Sand takes us into the life of Rahab. Rahab was listed in the lineage of Jesus and Rahab was a prostitute. You may remember Rahab as the one who helped the spies escaped Jericho. Because of her bravery and honor to God she and her family were spared when the city was demolished. We know she goes on to live life and have children because from her line comes Jesus.

Afshar weaves an incredible and gripping tale. I was hooked from the beginning. I was also in awe anew of how God uses the seemingly unusable. I was touched by this story and it has stuck with me for days since reading. Whether you like biblical fiction or not I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Moody Publishers for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher

Belonging

Robin Lee Hatcher

Zondervan Publishing

Pub Date: August 2011

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Historical

In the high desert town of Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho, Felicia Kristoffersen has set out to create a future for herself that is better than her painful past. Alone in the world with only her faith to sustain her, she must prove herself as this tiny community's new school teacher. She cannot, must not, fail. But, there are those who never wanted her there to begin with. 

Five years after the death of his wife, local merchant Colin Murphy cares about just one thing: raising his daughter, Charity. Colin wants to give her the educational advantages he never had. The new schoolmarm's inexperience doesn't sit well with him, and if this teacher up and marries like the last one did, Charity's heart will be broken once again. 

A woman who hasn't known love. A man who lost the love he had. 

In the midst of the wide, sage-covered plains, each is about to discover that life's bitterest circumstances truly can work together for good.

Robin Lee Hatcher is a seasoned author. Belonging is no less than you would expect from someone of Hatcher's caliber. However, it also leaves very little to the imagination. Felicia is a likeable character and as a reader you'll find yourself resonating with some of the issues she faces. Colin is a troubled widower slowly being won over by the schoolmarm. Nothing new under the sun in this book. However, this is an easy read that will transport you to another time and place. The characters and developed well which makes for a very enjoyable read. 


Thank you to Netgalley and Zondervan Publishing for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

The Key on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson

The Key on the Quilt
Stephanie Grace Whitson
Barbour Publishing
Pub Date: Coming Soon! March 1, 2012
Genre: historical, fiction, romance

I was immediately hooked the minute I opened this book. You could not ask for a more unique story in the most unlikely setting. Taking place in woman's prison Whitson weaves her tale delightfully. The characters all have incredible depth and you immediately feel like they are friends. I found the setting absolutely fascinating and I appreciate all the research the author does for her books. While one might think this story revolves around a quilt that could almost be deceiving. The quilt plays a small but important role but this is not your typical "quilt book".

Whitson is an excellent author and I rarely read anything from her that I'm not completely taken with. She writes about people and places that she knows and she does so with effortless ability. Due in March this excellent read can be pre-ordered here .

God’s Plan Revealed. . .Stitch by Stitch

 

From a distance, the building may resemble a castle, but it’s the last place Jane Prescott, Mamie Dawson, and Ellen Sullivan thought they’d be, and the last place they expected to see love grow.

 

Broken in spirit and wondering if God has abandoned her, Jane is serving a ten-year sentence at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, even as she hides a startling secret. How will one caring physician help unravel the hidden meaning behind Jane’s courthouse steps quilt?

 

Mamie told God she’d go anywhere, never dreaming He’d send her to nurture women the world had forgotten. But while helping those around her, will she stubbornly keep the attentions of a kind guard at arm’s length?

 

Ellen was never going to leave Kentucky, but then marriage made her a Nebraska warden’s wife. Can she reach past uncertainty and fear to find God’s purpose in it all?

 

Together, these three women form an unlikely friendship that takes them to the end of themselves and, ultimately, on a journey that proves prison walls can neither frustrate God’s plans nor keep love out. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Tall, Dark, and Determined by Kelly Eileen Hake

Tall, Dark, and Determined

Kelly Eileen Hake

Barbour Publishing 

Pub Date: 12/1/11

Genere: Historical, fiction, romance

Let it be said I am very tenacious when it comes to reading books. The do not have to grab me within the first page or the first chapter. However, if by chapter 5 I'm still completely lost then we have a problem. Unfortunately this book left me completely befuddled. I honestly haven't finished it yet and I'm not sure I will. I know Hake to be a decent author and aside from the corny title I was looking forward to reading this book. However, after five chapters I was more confused than ever. Because this was a digital copy I kept assuming whole chapters hadn't transferred properly. I even went online at midnight one night to see if I was missing something, but to no avail. 

Tall, Dark and Determined is the second story in the Husbands for Hire series by award winning author Kelly Eileen Hake. Perhaps if I had read book 1 I wouldn’t have felt so lost throughout Lacey Lyman’s story.  She and her four friends are seeking to rebuild Hope Falls after the mine collapsed, which nearly killed her brother.  They post an ad for husbands who can help turn the town into a successful sawmill.  The men arrive by the dozens, but none of them catch talkative and independent Lacey’s eye.    

The story goes on but to where and how I don't know and I'm not sure I ever care to. Certain things irritate me greatly and having and author forget that her readers don't live inside her head with the characters is one of them. I will read more from Hake in the future with the hopes that she finds her way back to weaving a readable and intriguing story. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for me honest review.