After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot ~ a book review

This is the first book in Amanda Cabot's Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing series.  This first book is set in the late 1800’s in Texas. 

First of all, I want to be clear about why I read and what I like to read.  I read for the enjoyment of learning about the various customs and the culture of different times in history.  I don’t read simply to stretch my thinking or expand my intellectual knowledge, or even to strengthen my faith. However; if a book does that for me it is definitely a bonus!

This book does some of each of those things so it earns 5 stars from me.

The dialog is easy to follow. The story line is very interesting and deals with not just the history of late 1800’s Texas but also deals with various social issues.  The family in the story is a unique blended family with a variety of issues. This book is also about faith and being strong in what you believe.  The characters are all very believable, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.  There is also an element of what some might call prejudice but what probably was more lack of knowledge and understanding.  And added to all the family issues, there is a mystery that keeps the reader very engaged.

This is from the publisher’s website:

“A brighter future awaits--if she can escape the shadows of the past

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the handsome new schoolteacher, Craig Ferguson, and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

Alone and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father's death--and to aid Craig, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. As they work to uncover the truth, they just may find the key to unlock a future neither could have imagined.”

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Go HERE to read an excerpt:

Go HERE to learn more about Amanda Cabot and her other books: 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and Baker
Publishing Group through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz - a book review

 

Set primarily in Scotland in the early 1700’s, this historically accurate book is based on the author’s own family ancestry. That’s the first thing I loved about it.  The second is how the characters are totally reliant on their faith in God, even though they are different denominations.  Everard Hume, Lord Wedderburn, is protestant while Lady Blythe Hedley is a devout Catholic.  Through their love of God, they are able to accept and even embrace their differences. Besides the differences in their religions, they are also on opposite sides politically.  Her family supports the Jacobian cause while his is loyal to the monarch of Great Britain, King George I. Who, by the way, spoke German, not English, as I learned from this book.  The third thing I loved about this book was the author’s obvious attention to historical facts, customs, and language.

 

The plot of the story and the characters are very interesting.  You are slowly drawn into the story and become invested in the outcome.   That is my one “con” concerning this book.  It is very slow in the beginning.  This is not a book that you can pick up and read in a couple of evenings.  You have to devote a good amount of time to read it.  About half way through it tends to pick up.

This is from the publisher’s website:

"In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley's father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Blythe quietly awaits the crowning of a new king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with her maid in tow. He has his own problems--a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.

In this whirlwind of intrigue, ambitions, and shifting alliances, Blythe yearns for someone she can trust. But the same forces that draw her and Everard together also threaten to tear them apart.”

 Read an excerpt HERE

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a strong, faith based, historically accurate, Christian romance and who doesn’t mind devoting several hours to read it.

Learn more about Laura Frantz and her other books HERE  

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and Baker
Publishing Group through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

 

The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano

 

This book is not one that you can read quickly.  For me, it was a struggle to get through.  That’s not to say I didn’t like it, it just isn’t what I’m usually drawn to.  The subject matter is not happy. This isn’t a “feel good” kind of book.  It took me several chapters to become engaged with the story. 

The author has obviously researched the subject of mental health in the Victorian age.  The sadness and darkness of the setting is occasionally brightened by the relationships of the various characters.  Many of the characters are known by multiple names that made it hard for me to follow.  It was a bit confusing.

This is from the publisher’s website:

“When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant's father dies, he leaves to her the care of a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. Vivienne had no idea the woman existed, and yet her portrait is shockingly familiar. When the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know.

But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?

Joanna Davidson Politano casts a delightful spell with this lyrical look into the nature of women's independence and artistic expression during the Victorian era--and now.”

The intrigue and suspense of the story and the twists and turns of the plot will keep the readier interested and looking forward to the mystery being solved.

If you’re looking for a “feel good”  warm and cozy story, this is probably not for you. If you like books that are thought provoking and make you concentrate, then you might like this one. 

You can decide for yourself by going HERE to read an excerpt.

Learn more about the author HERE. 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and Baker
Publishing Group through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Quilt for Christmas - a Christmas novella by Melody Carlson

 

 Thank you to Revell for sending me this book to review.  This is a story that makes you want to read it every year.  But besides being a wonderfully , heartwarming story, they sent a hardcover!  Double win!

While I can’t say this is strictly a Christian book,  it does touch on faith and Christian attributes like grace, forgiveness, acceptance and humility.  It is decidedly “clean” and uplifting.

The characters are very believable.  While each character has their own flaws and strengths, the one I found most enjoyable was little Fiona.  In an interview, the author called her an old soul.  She displays the wisdom of innocent youth.

This story is about relationships and newly formed friendships, the struggles of personal loss and economic hardships, and overcoming hurt and disappointments. And yes, a budding romance.

The dialog flows well, making it very easy to read and follow. By the end of the story, there will be strong friendships formed, spirits uplifted, and love found.

This is from the publisher’s website:

“Cuddle up with this cozy story of giving and forgiving--with a little bit of romance

Christmas should be celebrated with family, but for Vera Swanson, that's not an option this year. Widowed and recently relocated, she is lonely in her condo-for-one--until little Fiona Albright knocks on her door needing help.

With her mother seriously ill and her father out of town, Fiona enlists Vera's aid, and when she finds out her new neighbor is a quilter, she has a special request--a Christmas quilt for Mama.

Vera will have to get a ragtag group of women together to fulfill the request. Between free-spirited artist Tasha, chatty empty nester Beverly, retired therapist Eleanor, and herself, Vera has hopes that Christmas for the Albright family will be merry, after all. And she may even find herself a new family of friends along the way.”

                This is one of those stories you will want to keep on your bookshelf and read every year.

Read an excerpt HERE 

Learn more about the author, Melody Carlson, and her other books HERE 

 

 

 

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and Baker
Publishing Group through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”