Forsaken Dreams - My Review

MaryLu Tyndall's books always surprise me.  I don't know what I originally expect, but they always blow my expectations and this book is no different.  It is set after the Civil War and is about people escaping the South trying to build a new south so to speak.  They are heading to Brazil to build a new life trying to escape different things. 

Colonel Blake Wallace is trying to escape the Yankees who want him dead. He has nothing left in the his southern home, no family, no plantation and no hope of a future as long as he is always looking over his shoulder.

Eliza Crawford, a former Civil War nurse, has nothing to call her own after to war tore apart her family.  She longs to begin fresh where no one knows her past. 

There are numerous other characters from all walks of life that make up this voyage to Brazil. Each one has his or her own purpose in the new colony that Wallace is heading up.  The different personalities and roles make for some very interesting story lines.

The main story is the back and forth between Eliza and Blake.  Can they look beyond their pasts and the deep rooted loyalties to find a true love. 

I think the part that fascinates me the most about this story is the true historical aspects of it.  Southerners really left the South and fled to Brazil because they refused to live under the government of the United States of America.  I never learned that in history class.  I learned so much reading this book and really enjoyed this book too!  I look forward to the next book and am curious who the story will be about. 

Good job MaryLu!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Swept Away - My Review

I love Mary Connealy and will read everything she ever writes!  I can always count on a good fun read full of surprises and a sweet romance.  I was so excited to start a new series!  I don't know how I missed it but this is somewhat of a spin off of the Kincaid Brides Series.  It is a totally stand alone series, but I find myself wondering if there will be a series connecting the two series like Mary has done in the past.  Hmm... 

Luke Stone is a former Civil War soldier who is headed home to reclaim his family's ranch that was stolen.  He has carefully plotted and planned with his war buddies how to regain control of the ranch.  He has to be smart and maintain his long running plan.

Ruthie McNeil is swept away from her wagon train by the rushing river, but she is not sad to lose the family that has took her in years ago.  They never treated her as family and took advantage of her.  Luke happens upon Ruthy and can't just leave her there, but his plan can't be changed or delayed.  He had to take her with him. 

Luke heads home to town and meets up with his buddies "the Regulators".  They have a plan to take back his ranch and its a good thing Ruthie is there to help them fight. 

This is another winner by Mary Connealy.  I liked the book and look forward to her other books.  I laughed outloud as always and the romance was sweet.  It's not my favorite Mary Connealy book, but is a great start to a new series.  I look forward to the continued development of the other characters.

I was given this book for free by NetGalley in exchange for my review. 

A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano - My Review

This is a fabulous book!  It's funny, the characters are enjoyable and it makes you want to keep reading.  I have a hard time believing that this is Jen Turano's first book.  The story is original.  There is a novella that accompanies this book called Gentleman of Her Dreams.  It is not something that you have to read in order to follow A Change of Fortune, but it briefly introduces the main characters in this book.

The story is about Lady Eliza Sumner who has come to New York in search of her missing fortune that was stolen once her father passed away.  She is left in London with no money, rumors of her father swindling their money, and an ex fiance that became an ex when she told him all her money was gone.  Liza comes to New York alone and poses as a governess while she is searching for the couple who stole her money. Eliza becomes a governess for the Watson family where she is thrust into filling in at a dinner and ball for their daughter Agatha.  Agatha is quite the character!  She wants to be a journalist and has no intention of making a match with a man anytime soon. 

Hamilton Beckett is a wealthy, young widower with two small children and is the man that all the mother's have picked for their daughter to make a match with.  Hamilton however has no intention of becoming anyone's match.  He and his brother Zayne are trying to determine who it is that has been stealing business from their family's company. 

Eliza and Hamilton along with Zayne and Agatha find themselves in quite a few predicaments that will make you laugh out loud.  Their paths continue to cross in unique circumstances and there is a common thread in both of the investigations.  They work together to uncover the truth that they are both looking for.

It is a delightful read.  It is a little far fetched but that is part of its charm.  I would absolutely recommend it.  I look forward to more books by Jen Turano!

Thanks to Bethany House for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Tutor's Daughter - A Review

I have loved all of Julie Klassen's books and this is no exception!  I don't read many regency romance books, but I can't resist Klassen's books.  They are always engaging from the very beginning and keep you reading way past the time you should have put it down!

The Tutor's Daughter is a centered around Emma Smallwood.  Emma is trying to help her father rebound back after her mother passed away and the school that has been his life has experienced a declining enrollment. They reach out to a former family that had send their older boys to the academy, but had yet to send their younger boys.  To Emma's surprise the Weston family invites them to live at Cornwall estate and tutor the younger boys in residence.  A change would be good for both of them and Emma is excited to see the one brother that was her friend and slightly dreads seeing the one who used to torture her, the only girl at the school.  Upon arriving at Cornwall the Smallwoods are strangely welcomed, the family is obviously hiding something. Then Emma notices odd things at night and things missing from her room. 

What will become of the former friendships?  What is going on in Cornwall?  What are they hiding?

This is a great book.  It touches on some different and tough subjects that were unexpected.  I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy of this book. 

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs is a sweet Christmas novella.  It is set in Scotland at Christmastime in 1894.  It is centered around Meg and Gordon, two lonely traveler's whose paths cross unexpectedly.  They discover that they share a painful common history.  Once the two are pushed together on Christmas Eve will they be able to reveal their common path in order to make amends with her family?  Will they form a unlikely bond?

Meg and Gordon were likeable characters.  I wish they could have been a little deeper and their relationship more developed, but it was just a novella and not at 400 page novel.  I think it could have used an epilogue set a few months or a year later.  There were a few questions I had after finishing the book.

I enjoyed this simple novella.  It was a quick and enjoyable read.  The story was very original and not something you have seen over and over again.  It was a story of redemption as well.  I liked it and would recommend it to others. 

I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

Finally ...the story of how it all started

I love each and every one of Julie's books about the O'Connor family. I was eager to read the story about the relationship that started the O'Connor family and it didn't disappoint. The only thing wrong with it was that I wish there was more! Julie's books are always very well written and as I always I hate to see them end. Things that were mentioned in the previous books made me wonder how Marcy and Patrick's relationship started and now I know. I think I will have to pick up all the books and read them in order again now that the whole story is complete! I loved how Patrick allowed God to change him and how the friendship blossomed into something much more. Well done Julie! I highly recommend this book and any of her others. Waiting anxiously for her next book to be released!

Strong and Stubborn by Kelly Eileen Hake

This is the third book in the Husbands for Hire series by Kelly Eileen Hake.  This book focuses on Noami as the last unclaimed bride in Hope Falls.  Michael Strode is a recently widowed carpenter setting out to try and make a new life for himself and his son.

One of my first thoughts about this book is that it is not a stand alone book.  I think you must have read the first two books in order to follow the third.  With that being said I read the first two books when they were first published and it has been a while so I really could have used a refresher.  I got a little lost at times trying to remember details from the previous books.  There is a handy little guide that gives a brief description of each character that was helpful though. I might have to go back and read all three in a row in order to make sure I got it all.  There is alot going on in each book. 

Naomi and the other three ladies in the story put an ad in the paper for husbands.  They are landowners in what used to a be a mining town and is now a logging town thanks to the mine collapse and their attempt to redeem the town and their lives.  They had no clue that when they got to Hope Falls they would be greeted by many men who came as a result of the ad.  The first two books cover two of them women meeting their men and the third focuses on Naomi.  The men were happy to work for food and shelter as long as the women were still available to woo, but with just one woman left the game changes.  Michael has no idea what he has happened upon in Hope Falls.  He simply came for a job and a fresh start from his wife's family.  The story also continues with the story of Braden and Cora and their struggle to determine what their relationship will be after the accident. 

I liked this book. The story wrapped up part of it, but also left so questions and more story that needed to be told.  I feel like it set up for more books to be written in either this series or an additional series.  I didn't feel like Braden and Cora's story had been completed and then there is more to tell about all those loggers wanting brides. 

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