Showing posts with label my bookshelf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my bookshelf. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

My Bookshelf: Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano


Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high-society world she’s always known and finds herself an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.
Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely through traditional hard work. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.
Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing but when a chain of mysterious incidents on the farm point to a larger threat, they’ll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happily-ever-after.

Monday, January 14, 2019

My Bookshelf: A Stranger at Fellsworth by Sarah E. Ladd

Could losing everything be the best thing to happen to Annabelle Thorley?
In the fallout of her deceased father’s financial ruin, Annabelle’s prospects are looking bleak. Her fiancé has called of their betrothal, and now she remains at the mercy of her controlling and often cruel brother. Annabelle soon faces the fact that her only hope for a better life is to do the unthinkable and run away to Fellsworth, where her estranged uncle serves as the school’s superintendent. Upon arrival, Annabelle learns that she must shed her life of high society and work for her wages for the first time in her life.
Owen Locke is unswerving in his commitments. As a widower and father, he is fiercely protective of his only daughter. As an industrious gamekeeper, he is intent on keeping poachers at by even though his ambition has always been to purchase land he can call his own. When a chance encounter introduces him to Annabelle Thorley, his steady life is shaken. For the first time since his wife’s death, Owen begins to consider a second chance at love.
As Owen and Annabelle grow closer, ominous forces threaten the peace they thought they’d found. Poachers, mysterious strangers, and murderers converge at Fellsworth, forcing Annabelle and Owen to a test of fortitude and bravery to stop the shadow of the past from ruining their hopes for the future.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Featured Release: Lady of a Thousand Treasures, Giveaway, and More!



Welcome to  Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd Scavenger Blog Hunt with an awesome giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!  On each stop, there will be:
  • special content by the blogger, plus
  • a clue
  • then head back to the launch post on JustRead or straight to the main crossword puzzle to fill in the words and get the special phrase to enter the  giveaway!
Before we begin, there's a bit about Lady of a Thousand Treasures. 


ABOUT THE BOOK



Title: Lady of a Thousand Treasures
Series: Victorian Ladies, Book 1
Author: Sandra Byrd
Publisher: Tyndale House
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Genre: Historical/Gothic Romance
Links: Goodreads

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her elderly uncle’s decline, the family business is at risk, and unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.
The death of a wealthy client offers an unexpected opportunity when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She alone must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke her heart.
Harry claims to love Eleanor still, and though she yearns to believe him, there are circumstances that make her question if this is true. Yet she also distrusts the late baron’s motives, especially after her uncle and her home are attacked. With her family’s finances dwindling and the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win favor among potential clients, saving the family and its firm. But the more time Eleanor spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Can she risk bestowing upon him the treasures, and her heart, after all?
Ultimately, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.


Lady of a Thousand Treasures is the first book in Sandra Byrd’s Victorian Ladies series, and is actually only the second book I have ever read by her. However, it has made me want to read many, many more of her novels, because I REALLY enjoyed this book. In fact, I’ve already borrowed another of her novels from the library, because I am certain that if it is anywhere near as good as this one, I will enjoy it. To be perfectly honest with you, I had never read anything quite like this story before, but I liked getting to know more about antiquities and what evaluators were like back in those days. It was such an interesting storyline, with a riveting plot and fascinating characters, and I quite honestly couldn’t get enough of it.
When I first started the book, there was a lot of suspicion going around about Harry—and others—and it made it hard for me to know who to trust and who I should like, but I really enjoyed that! It gave a nice, mysterious edge to the story, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out who was good and who was bad along with Eleanor. Then, the deeper I got into it, the more twists and turns and unexpected events I found, and I couldn’t help but be captivated by every page. There wasn’t a moment when I felt like a scene was boring or could have been done without, every piece had a part to play in the story, and each one was just as interesting and well written as the next.
Obviously, I cannot help but give this story all five bookshelves. Sandra did an amazing job of weaving together a touching, captivating, unforgettable tale, and I already want to read it again as I’m writing this. I couldn’t have imagined a better story. Clearly, I also am giving Lady of a Thousand Treasures a place on my all-time favorites list, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves a good historical novel. Sandra has now become one of my favorite authors, and I want everyone to enjoy her books just as much as I did.


If you'd like to purchase a copy, just click on one of these links:

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Christian Book | Book Depository | Books-A-Million


About the Author

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published fifty books.

Sandra's delighted to kick off her new historical romance series with Tyndale House Publishers, Victorian Ladies, with Lady of a Thousand Treasures. The three-book Victorian Ladies series follows her historically sound Gothic romances, Daughters of Hampshire, launched with the bestselling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor's Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, was published in 2017. Check out her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.

Sandra has published dozens of books for kids, tweens, and teens, including the bestselling The One Year Be-Tween You and God Devotions for Girls. She continued her work as a devotionalist, with The One Year Home and Garden Devotions, and The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional.

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype.

CONTACT: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

SCAVENGER HUNT CROSSWORD PUZZLE


Instructions: Head to every stop on the tour to collect a word to finish the crossword puzzle. Hint: You might want to print out the crossword puzzle (link below) and enter it everyday to make it easier.

Not a crossword puzzle fan? Just compile the clue words from each stop and enter it on the Rafflecopter entry.

This stop's CLUE is:  His



TOUR GIVEAWAY




(1) winner will receive:
  • a copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures (print to US addresses OR ebook to international)
  • Cork coaster set of the British Isles (US Only)
  • "To The Lighthouse" diffuser made by Seawitch Candles in Cornwall, England. (US Only)
  • $10 Amazon gift card (open international)
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 15, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm October 22, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.



Be sure to stop on every stop on the Tour Schedule for all the clues to enter!




TOUR SCHEDULE


For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.
(All stops expected to post by 12:00 NOON EST)

Launch Page at JustRead

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.





I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Sandra Byrd and Tyndale House Publishers.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Featured Release: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

With danger creeping ever closer, do their dreams still matter?
Once London’s top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war, including keeping an eye on a talented engineer working as a clockmaker. But not until he rescues the man’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.
Evelina Manning has constantly dreamed and worked for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end their engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clock repair with her father, she can’t help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.
As 1915 England plunges deeper into war, the race is on for any technological edge, and Evelina’s father’s ideas have captured the attention of many—perhaps too many. As danger seems to encroach from every side, it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape.

Monday, September 17, 2018

My Bookshelf: When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti

1890s—Morning glories climb the wall of the home where Anna nurtures unwed mothers and their babies.
1951—Ivy works at a nursing home caring for an aging Anna, whose wild tales are not just idle ramblings but memories of a remarkable life that must be shared.
2013—Becky rocks a grandbaby who has rocked her world, unaware of the significance of the house across the street.
Three eras. Three women desperate for hope. Three reasons to believe it won’t come in time. Can Ivy preserve Anna’s emotion-packed, grace-hemmed memories? Will Becky’s prayers for the child of her unwed daughter be answered? And how will one child bring together the intertwining stories of women across generations? As each fights a tangled vine of deception, each uncovers possibilities for hope—and the blossoming simplicity of truth.

Monday, August 27, 2018

My Bookshelf: Secrets Over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones

Secrets can be funny things…
We think they keep us safe, but more often than not, they spill out when we least expect and make a mess out of everything. It’s a truth Scarlett Jo Newberry knows all too well—a truth Grace Shepherd and Zach Craig are about to learn the hard way.
As the lives of this boisterous pastor’s wife, polished news anchor, and beleaguered divorce attorney intersect on the tree-lined streets of Franklin, Tennessee, scandal threatens to topple their carefully constructed worlds. Grasping at survival, they embark on a journey of friendship and courage, desperate to find a way back to laughter, love, and life. 

Saturday, August 4, 2018

My Bookshelf: Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter


When Noah and Josephine discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down.
Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job and settled at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.
Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage—and botched divorce—was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.
But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah’s endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife—still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he’s ever known.
As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she’s never been loved unconditionally by anyone—including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine’s heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah?

Friday, August 3, 2018

My Bookshelf: Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano

After years of hiding her true nature, Miss Temperance Flowerdew is finally enjoying freedom outside of the shadow of her relations, so the last thing she expected on her way to work was to be grabbed off the street by a stranger and put on a train bound for Chicago.
When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend, Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind her abduction, they’re spotted alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.
Even though Gilbert is willing to propose marriage, Temperance is determined not to lose her newfound independence. But when the misunderstanding in Chicago escalates into a threat on her life, accepting Gilbert’s help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.



Caught by Surprise is the third book in Jen Turano’s Apart from the Crowd series, coming after Behind the Scenes and Out of the Ordinary. I have been a huge fan of Jen’s ever since I first read one of her books years and years ago, and I have read everything she has written ever since. Honestly, I have to say, I think that this is my favorite series she has written so far, there is just something about it that has made me really enjoy it. Although, I always enjoy everything she writes. There is always the perfect mixture of romance, hilarity, and mystery, and I happen to be extremely fond of Jen’s writing style. And historical novels.
As I said in my review of the last book, I was waiting until I read Caught by Surprise before deciding which of the three books was my favorite in the series, and…that was a good idea. Because Caught by Surprise is DEFINITELY my favorite. Although I have absolutely loved every book in this series, I just couldn’t help but fall in love with Temperance and Gilbert, and I found their story to be even more irresistible than the others. There is just something about Temperance—maybe it is her great affinity for adventures, or the way she is completely happy when she’s truly herself, no matter what others think—that reminds her a little bit of me, and that made me love her all the more. So much about her joy, her true character that she heartily embraced once she found her independence that really inspired me, and reminded me of how I should always embrace myself as well and never be afraid to be truly me. And I just love characters who inspire me.
Another thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the mystery of it all. There were so many wonderful twists and turns, some unexpected, some I hoped would happen so in a way they were somewhat expected, both just as intriguing and just as perfect. The way they were constantly dodging threats, running from that first abduction and then all that came after, leant such a delightful amount of suspense—of the lighthearted variety—to the story, and I absolutely loved the way that Jen weaved it all together, especially with the numerous revelations that came with it. The plotline of this novel was just so perfectly mapped out; I couldn’t have imagined it any better myself, and that made it all that much more wonderful.
Not only that, but Gilbert is also one of my absolute favorite parts of this story. I absolutely loved watching how he grew as a character throughout the course of this book, and though I won’t spoil it for anyone, suffice it to say that even though I loved him at the beginning, I loved him all that much more at the end. He really is the perfect match for Temperance, and though I won’t spoil any part of that either, I absolutely loved how their story progressed, and especially how it ended. Besides that, the many parts that Permilia, Asher, Gertrude, and Hamilton played all throughout this book were just the perfect addition, and I loved getting to catch up with them since I have missed them in the time it’s been since I read their novels.
All in all, I absolutely loved this book. Caught by Surprise is the perfect conclusion to this series, and I cannot imagine it being any better. Jen did a phenomenal job of capturing these characters, and their stories, in a way I will not soon forget. I am so very glad that I have this book on my bookshelf, as I know it is one that I will read many more times in the years to come, and I cannot wait to lend it to all of my lovely reader friends. I highly recommend Caught by Surprise, and the rest of the series, to anyone who loves a good romance, an intriguing mystery, and a lot of laughter, and I can promise you that this book is one that you are sure to enjoy.
Happy reading!




I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for only my honest review.

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Jen Turano and Bethany House Publishing.

Saturday, July 28, 2018

My Bookshelf: All This Time by Melissa Tagg


Bear’s past refuses to let go.
Ten years ago, Bear McKinley gave up everything—his freedom and his reputation—for his mess of a family. But after years of distance and too many attempts at starting over, he finally has a new life…until his past catches up to him once again. Suddenly, he finds himself charged with the care of his missing brother’s children, convinced he’s out of second chances to make his life count. And yet, with every day that passes, these kids and the woman he never stopped missing help patch the holes in his heart. Maybe this is the fresh start he’s been longing for all along. But as his newfound hope grows, so does the mystery surrounding his brother’s activities—and when the threat reaches into the lives of those he loves, it’s clear he can’t run away this time.
Fear holds Raegan’s future captive.
Raegan Walker is fine. She’s happy working part-time jobs and rarely venturing from her hometown. At least, that’s what she tells everyone…and herself. But she can’t help wondering what might’ve happened if she hadn’t abandoned her art so many years ago—and if Bear McKinley had never left. When Bear returns and she’s commissioned for a painting that just might revive her artistic ambition all in one week, it’s time to finally reach for more than fine. But doing so means facing the fears that have held her back all this time, including admitting the secret she’s kept from Bear and her family. With her dream and her heart on the line, how much will Raegan have to risk to finally chase her happy ending?

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

My Bookshelf: Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano


Working as a paid companion may be quite commonplace, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s eccentric employer makes her job unpredictable, to say the least. She finds herself carrying out an array of highly unusual tasks, including wearing peculiar outfits and returning items the woman pilfered. But when the wealthy Mrs. Sinclair catches Gertrude sneaking around the Sinclair yacht with some of the missing items in her possession, she immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion.
Shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair is caught in the middle of a misunderstanding between his mother and Gertrude, but he can’t help coming to his friend’s defense. Even as he hopes their friendship might become something more, Harrison is unprepared for the outlandish escapades that seem to follow the lovely, anything-but-ordinary Gertrude at every turn.

Saturday, July 21, 2018

My Bookshelf: Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano

After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, Miss Permilia Griswold has finally figured out a way to pass the time at all the New York high-society events she attends. Under the pseudonym “Miss Quill,” she is the author of society gossip columns filled with tidbits only an insider in society—albeit one on the fringes—would know.
When she overhears a threat against Mr. Asher Rutherford, the owner of one of the most up-and-coming department stores in the city, she’s determined to warn him. But the irritatingly handsome man doesn’t believe her, leaving her no choice but to take matters into her own hands. What she doesn’t anticipate is that she’ll end up putting herself at risk in the process—or that she and Mr. Rutherford, a man with secrets of his own, just might end up joining forces after all.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

My Bookshelf: Storm Front by Susan May Warren

Life and love hang in the balance during a deadly summer of storms.
A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community, and among the missing are not only a group of students but also PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved—and lost—walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.
A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn’t expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked—no ran—from over a year ago. She had her reasons—good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn’t the kind of man to give up—not on the missing students or on her.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

My Bookshelf: Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren

 Billionaire Ian Shaw can have everything he wants—except a happy ending. Or at least that’s what it feels like with his fortune recently liquidated, his niece, Esme, still missing, and the woman he loves refusing to speak to him. In fact, he doubts she would date him even if they were stranded on a deserted island.
 Despite her love for Ian, Sierra Rose knows he has no room in his life for her as long as the mystery of his missing niece goes unsolved. The only problem is, Sierra has solved it, but a promise to Esme to keep her whereabouts secret has made it impossible to be around Ian.
 When the PEAK chopper is damaged and Sierra lacks the funds to repair it, Ian offers a fundraising junket for large donors on his yacht in the Caribbean. But the three-day excursion turns into a nightmare when a rogue wave cripples the yacht and sends the passengers overboard. Shaken up and soaked to the bone, Ian finally has a chance to test his theory when he and Sierra do indeed find themselves washed up on a strange, empty shore.
 It will take guts and gumption for the PEAK team to rescue the duo. But it will take a miracle to rescue Ian and Sierra’s relationship.

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

My Bookshelf: An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter

Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, so he naturally applies this rational approach to his search for a bride. While he’s certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, she is strangely elusive, and he can’t seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.
Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, she has no choice but to agree to a bargain that puts her at odds with all her romantic hopes—as well as her conscience. And the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she regrets the unpleasant obligation that prevents her from any dream of a future with him.
As all Griffith’s and Isabella’s long-held expectations are shaken to the core, can they set aside their pride and fear long enough to claim a happily-ever-after?

Friday, May 18, 2018

My Bookshelf: A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren


It’s those we love who have the power to hurt us most…
Champion backcountry snowboarder Gage Watson has left the limelight behind after the death of one of his fans. After being sued for negligence and stripped of his sponsorships, he’s remade his life as a ski patrol in Montana’s rugged mountains, as well as serving on the PEAK Rescue team. But he can’t seem to find his footing—or forget the woman who betrayed him.
Senator and former attorney Ella Blair spends much of her time in the public eye as one of the youngest senators in the country. But she has a secret—one that cost Gage his career. More than anything, she wants to atone for her betrayal of him in the courtroom and find a way to help him put his career back on track.
When Ella’s brother goes missing on one of Glacier National Park’s most dangerous peaks, Gage and his team are called in for the rescue. But Gage isn’t so sure he wants to help the woman who destroyed his life. More, when she insists on joining the search, he’ll have to keep her safe while finding her reckless brother—a recipe for disaster when a snowstorm hits the mountain.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

My Bookshelf: A Most Noble Heir by Susan Anne Mason

Will gaining the world cost him everything he holds most dear?
When stable hand Nolan Price learns from his dying mother that he is actually the son of the Earl of Stainsby, his plans for a future with kitchen maid Hannah Burnham are shattered. Once he is officially acknowledged as the earl’s heir, Nolan will be forbidden to marry beneath his station.
Unwilling to give up the girl he loves, he devises a plan to elope—believing once their marriage is sanctioned by God that Lord Stainsby will be forced to accept their union. However, as Nolan struggles to learn the ways of the aristocracy, he finds himself caught between his dreams for tomorrow and his father’s demanding expectations.
Forces work to keep the couple apart at every turn, and a solution to remain together seems farther and farther away. With Nolan’s new life pulling him irrevocably away from Hannah, it seems only a miracle will bring them back together.

Monday, May 14, 2018

My Bookshelf: Flies on the Butter by Denise Hildreth Jones


Can you ever really go home again?
Rose Fletcher’s come a long way from her South Carolina up-bringing of Sunday church and Mamaw’s fried chicken. As a high-powered lobbyist in Washington, D. C., Rose has put the South behind her. But the peace and happiness she has sought eludes her. With her marriage on the brink of disaster, her mind races with the chaos her life has become.
Now Rose must head south for home. She’ll face her demons, relive her coming-of-age, and confront the issues that have kept her away all these years. It’ll take the intervention of strangers and a painful miracle of grace to help her find that place called “home” once again.

Friday, May 4, 2018

My Bookshelf: The Illusionist’s Apprentice by Kristy Cambron

Not all illusions happen on the stage.
Wren Lockhart, apprentice to master illusionist Harry Houdini, uses life on a vaudeville stage to escape the pain of her past. She continues her career of illusion after her mentor’s death, intent on burying her true identity.
But when a rival performer’s act goes tragically wrong, the newly formed FBI calls on Wren to speak the truth—and reveal her real name to the world. She transfers her skills for misdirection from the stage to the back halls of vaudeville, as she finds herself the unlikely partner in the FBI’s investigation. All the while Houdini’s words echo in her mind: Whatever occurs, the crowd must believe it’s what you meant to happen. She knows that if anyone digs too deep, secrets long kept hidden may find their way to the surface—and shatter her carefully controlled world.


Tuesday, April 3, 2018

My Bookshelf: Too Deep for Words by Andrea Boeshaar

Carrie Ann Collier has been a newlywed for nineteen blissful days—as blissful as life can be in the midst of war, that is. Soon that war will take a toll she never expected. When her new husband, Peyton, goes missing during battle, she refuses to believe he is dead, and must find a way to move forward with everyday life in the face of fear.
As Carrie struggles with how to welcome her estranged sister, Margaret, back into her life, another new arrival appears on her doorstep—her husband’s best friend, and rebel officer, Eli. Wounded and bitter, Eli is nonetheless committed to keeping his promise to Peyton: take care of the Collier women, no matter what. But to Carrie, he’s a painful reminder of her lost love.
Then unexpected news makes Carrie wonder if miracles do happen. If Carrie infiltrates the enemy once again, she might find out what really happened to the love of her life. Will Eli be able to keep his promise to keep her safe? Can they forgive each other if promises are broken?

Thursday, March 15, 2018

My Bookshelf: The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen


Return to Ivy Hill as friendships deepen, romances blossom, and mysteries unfold…
A gentlewoman in reduced circumstances, Miss Rachel Ashford lives as a guest in Ivy Cottage. With her meager funds rapidly depleting, she is determined to earn her own livelihood…somehow. Her friend Jane Bell and the other village women encourage her to open a circulating library with the many books she’s inherited from her father. As villagers donate additional books and Rachel begins sorting through the volumes, she discovers mysteries hidden among them. A man who once broke her heart helps her search for clues, but both find more than they bargained for.
Rachel’s hostess, Mercy Grove, has given up thoughts of suitors and finds fulfillment in managing her girl’s school. So when several men take an interest in Ivy Cottage, she assumes pretty Miss Ashford is the cause. Exactly what—or whom—has captured each man’s attention? The truth may surprise them all.