Hope's Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer ~ a book review

 

 

Set in Colorado in the early 1900’s, this story is about perseverance and faith.

Jennie’s family has been living in the mountains while her father is employed to check the wooden water lines that bring water from the mountains down to the town. Unfortunately, he fell while checking them one day and has been left with a permanent injured leg. The home they have lived in for years is provided to them as part of his employment.  If he can’t check the lines, they will lose their home. Jennie has been accompanying him on his rounds and secretly takes over the job.  She and her mother are hopeful that her father will regain enough strength and movement to resume his job, however, he has become depressed and has lost interest in almost everything.  One day, on her trip to check the lines, she meets a young paleontologist, Leo, who spots a bone Jennie is carrying and is convinced it is a dinosaur bone.  They strike up a friendship and work together to look for more bones. 

Jennie’s hope is that her father will recover soon and she can go to art school to pursue her love of art. She knows that until her father resumes his job, she must carry on checking the pipes.

Leo, who is a fellow believer, offers encouragement and support.  His father is a preacher and disapproves of him studying about dinosaurs. Leo and Jennie counsel and encourage each other to keep hoping.

The characters in this book are very believable and they feel like part of your family. This is an emotional, encouraging and uplifting story. 

You can read an excerpt HERE 

Learn more about Kim Vogel Sawyer HERE 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

**A word about ARC books.   Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.

 

 

When Stars Light the Sky by Elizabeth Camden ~ a book review

 

This story begins in New York City in 1898. Inga and her immigrant family from Bavaria, have been robbed and swindled hours after leaving Ellis Island. They take refuge inside a church where they are befriended by a very well-to-do couple.

The story then jumps ahead to 1914. Her parents have died and Inga has been working as a wireless operator. The couple, the Gerard’s, that had helped her family in the church have taken her under their wings. Mr. Gerard has become the ambassador to Germany. He employs her as his secretary and they move to Germany. Mr. Gerard is not liked by his staff and especially Benedict Kincaid, his chief diplomatic counselor.  Inga’s Bavarian ancestry gives her an understanding of the culture that the Gerard’s have found challenging. Benedict doesn’t trust her and doesn’t want her involved. While the Gerard’s are living in Germany, war is declared. It is discovered that Inga has never attained her American citizenship and there is a very real possibility that she will not be allowed to leave Germany.  In order to get around that, she and Benedict enter into a marriage of convenience. As the wife of an American citizen, she is able to obtain passage out of the country. During the dangerous escape out of Germany, they begin to recognize they have feelings for each other. However, Benedict has his heart set on becoming an ambassador but Inga has no interest in leaving America again. Will they acknowledge their feelings for each other? Will they be able to have a life together?

This book is based on the real life memoirs of Mr. Gerard and deals with international diplomacy, pre WW1 tensions, and politics.

Elizabeth Camden’s books are always entertaining but while this one is a clean romance, it  includes references to intimacies that some may find too intense. The element of faith is not overly prevelant.

This is from the publisher’s website:

“In a world on the brink of war, two hearts must navigate shadows of uncertainty.

Inga Klein's carefree life in New York takes a dramatic turn when she sails for Berlin, Germany, to serve as the secretary for America's ambassador. Amid the glamour of life at the embassy, she continually finds herself at odds with the straitlaced and imposing Benedict Kincaid, the diplomatic chief of staff who harbors deep misgivings toward the German-born Inga.

As Europe hurtles toward World War I, Benedict's determination to keep America out of the conflict adds to the already tense atmosphere. Despite their relentless sparring, Inga and Benedict succeed in keeping the embassy afloat through one crisis after another. But when they run out of diplomatic options, a marriage of convenience may be Inga's only hope of escape from the impending war.”

Go HERE to read an excerpt 

Go HERE to learn more about Elizabeth Camden and her books 

 

 

 

I received a complimentary ARC** of this book from the Bethany House and Baker Publishing via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

**A word about ARC books.   Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.