Historical Romance

Category: Historical Romance

Waiting for Christmas

By Lynn Austin

MY REVIEW

Waiting for Christmas is a sequel to the terrific novel All My Secrets. I so enjoyed this lovely story. It was wonderful to re-visit the characters.

The added characters to this novella are really well done. I’m generally not a big fan of novellas, but I really enjoyed this one since I had already met the main characters. The author did a fabulous job of introducing the readers to the new characters, though, making the read cozy and so well written.

It’s a charming, warm story filled with the spirit of Christmas. Adelaide gets to really experience so many joys of the season that money just cannot buy. Howard loves showing his lovely wife the joys he experienced at Christmas time. I love children in stories so adding in children was just a super sweet treat on top of a lovely story.

It’s a wonderful novella that brings out the joy and meaning of Christmas. I highly recommend it.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado

By Kathleen Denly

MY REVIEW

Wonderful story of a daughter and her father spending a Christmas at a fancy hotel. The characters are incredibly well written in this novel. Who doesn’t love second chances, right? This read gives you a great second chance story.

I love the suspense in the story. It’s one of my favorite genres to read, and it is done well in this book. There are several twists and turns, and a terrific surprise for the readers. I knew something was going on with the characters, but one twist was a huge surprise!

It has a fantastic faith theme, wonderful and fun characters, and enough suspense to keep the reader engaged and turning those pages! You don’t want to miss this wonderful Christmas novella!

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Of Gold and Shadows

By Michelle Griep

MY REVIEW

This is a fabulous mystery suspense read! I always enjoy books by this author. This one did not disappoint. The character development is wonderful with both main characters growing throughout the story. Ami is a fascinating character who is definitely courageous and so passionate about Egyptian artifacts. Edmund is an introvert really, who has a wonderful heart.

The novel caught me from the beginning. The mystery and intrigue is incredibly well written, and it kept me turning the pages well into the night. There are several things going on throughout the book and a twist or two at the end. One came as quite a surprise to this reader.

I really enjoyed the faith theme in this story. It is very well woven throughout the story…and winding up with “Serving God is the legacy…” was a wonderful faith approach to this story.

This book has wonderful mystery, thrilling suspense, and incredibly well done characters. No historical fiction fan will want to miss this story.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor

By Roseanna M. White

MY REVIEW

Beautifully written novella that I thoroughly enjoyed! I do not enjoy short stories very often, but this one was charming and delightful.

I really enjoyed the wonderful characters and the cast that made up the community. The story really brings Christmas alive with all the scenes, smell of baked goods, tastes of sweet treats, and the sweet gift of family.

The children and their play was such a whimsical part of the novel and beautifully done. If you want to be blessed with a Christmas story that will bring out the magic and beauty of Christmas, this will do it.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Meeting Her Match

By Jen Turano

MY REVIEW

One of this author’s best yet! This book was so much fun and full of laughter. A pig is back!! Matilda was the first…Esmeralda is just as fun. The characters are fantastic. The dialogue is what really makes the book what it is and moves it along at a great pace for the reader. It’s brilliantly funny and full of very clever chatter and amusing circumstances!

I tend to think this may be this author’s best book yet, but I have enjoyed every one of her novels. If you need a book to take you away to a place where zany things happen, witty and funny dialogue rule the day, and where a story envelops you with humor-go grab this book ( or any of her books, really). I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Until Our Time Comes

By Nicole M. Miller

MY REVIEW

I thoroughly enjoyed the interesting historical tidbits that I learned in this book. It’s intertwined with fiction as is usually the case in books like these. I enjoyed the characters in this book-especially Brett and Ewin.

It was a fascinating story, and I didn’t have any problems keeping myself engaged and turning the pages. The idea of transporting so many horses for their bloodlines isn’t something I’d actually given much thought. It seemed a bit reckless at times, but it wasn’t just for the horses it was for the memory of a beloved mother. Perhaps that is what made me perceive it as plausible.

The romance was interesting. It grew through his acts of saving things she loved, but they don’t really spend much time getting to know each other. I’m not disappointed in having little romance as that is the kind of book that I prefer. I just found it a bit confusing on how a bond grows when not much is there as far as knowing each other.

My biggest disappointment is the lack of a faith theme. It is mentioned at the end that God had worked things out as they were meant to be, but that was it.

I really enjoy historicals, and I enjoyed this one as it is so different from many I’ve read. It is all encompassed by the horses and what surrounds them. I’ve never quite read a book like this one before, and I’m looking forward to more books by this author. This is her debut novel.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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The Song of Sourwood Mountain

by Ann H. Gabhart

MY REVIEW

It’s a slow moving sweet story that I really enjoyed. The characters are well done. I enjoyed the main characters, and I really enjoyed so many of the secondary characters as well. Ada June was probably my favorite along with her dog Bo. She is incredibly sweet, but she needs a home and some help.

I really like how love is presented in this story. It’s deep, and it’s lasting. Mira was so careful to wait until true love was present before sharing those words with anyone. “Love” is a word that is so quickly thrown around these days. I really liked how true, abiding live was presented in the characters hearts-especially between Mira and Gordon.

The people were presented in an environment that one could feel and smell. It seemed so real and alive.

Once again this author has written a beautifully woven tale of love and loss, and the faith in God that gets people through the difficult times and gives us days in which to rejoice!

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple

by Joanna Davidson Politano

MY REVIEW

“For years I’d been running and restless. Running away, yes. But also running toward something that seemed elusive and impossible. That garden experience. The safety, the devotion and intimacy…the sheer beauty.”

Wow…I think that sums up my immediate thoughts when I finished. Terrific story. This author does such a fantastic job of using her words and stories as a shadow and allegory of spiritual truths. This book was no different, yet the faith theme is even stronger in this one. I am a big lover of A Tale of Two Cities, and I loved how that was woven into the story. The ending was a surprise for me.

There is something about this author’s storytelling that pulls me in and keeps me in the book. I read this book in one sitting…with dinner in between. I usually cherish hers over two days, but I wanted so much to just relax and enjoy-so I did. It has mystery, a strong faith theme, terrific characters , and a beauty in its story. You don’t want to miss any of this author’s books. This one especially holds so much beauty and heart. It’s beautiful lyrical prose that introduces Lily to the Master Gardener and the Master Storyteller. A person every reader should meet as well.

“They could walk over life’s burning coals and come out with strength and confidence on their faces. Because they had spent time in the garden, drinking in life from their source. They had met the Gardener.”

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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These Tangled Threads

by Sarah Loudin Thomas

MY REVIEW

Beautifully written book with wonderful, realistically flawed characters. These flawed characters are filled with experiences and circumstances used by the Master Weaver to create a more beautiful person. This doesn’t result in perfection, but in a beautiful masterpiece. We need to make better choices as our life’s story is woven. It will have flaws, but that makes each of us unique and helps us learn.

The book also has wonderful threads of forgiveness, hope, redemption, and love. The storyline is fascinating, and the book was really captivating. It is a beautifully done Appalachian story with the setting of Biltmore in the Carolinas.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane

by Michelle Griep

MY REVIEW

This is such a fun story! It’s full of action, questions of life, friendship fun, mystery and suspense. I have loved this series, and this book is no different.

I really enjoyed the main and secondary characters in this book. They have faults, difficulties, and have such a normal kinda life, but they definitely don’t have normal kind of jobs and scrapes they enjoy.

The storyline is interesting, and I really like that this takes place among normal folk-no ritzy balls and gowns. It’s been said they take place in Dicken’s London. That statement really is true. He is probably my favorite classic writer, and I thoroughly enjoy that this series doesn’t take place among the London elite.

There is so much to like about this book and this series. Good characters, intriguing storylines, faith themes, and just some wonderful fun. I’m rather sad to leave these characters behind, but I’m glad to have all three on my forever shelves.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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