Review: Freedom's Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli

Blurb (from Amazon):

Boston, 2015

Two years after nearly losing her life in the Boston Marathon bombing, Annie David is still far from “Boston strong.” Instead she remains isolated and defeated―plagued by guilt over her niece, crippled in the blast, and by an antique ring alongside a hazy hero’s face. But when she learns the identity of her rescuer, will he be the hero she’s imagined? And can the long-past history of the woman behind the ring set her free from the guilt and fears of the present?

Boston, 1770

As a woman alone in a rebellious town, Liberty Caldwell finds herself in a dangerous predicament. When a British lieutenant, Alexander Smythe, comes to her rescue and offers her employment, Liberty accepts. As months go by, Alexander not only begins to share his love of poetry with her, but protects Liberty from the advances of a lecherous captain living in the officers’ house where she works.

Mounting tensions explode in the Boston Massacre, and Liberty’s world is shattered as her brother, with whom she has just reunited, is killed in the fray. Desperate and alone, she returns home, only to be assaulted by the captain. Afraid and furious toward redcoats, Liberty leaves the officers’ home, taking with her a ring that belonged to Alexander.

Two women, separated by centuries, must learn to face their fears. And when they feel they must be strong, they learn that sometimes true strength is found in surrender

My Review:

I am just lost for words to describe my feelings for Freedom's Ring. I just keep going to WOW! Being a debut novel, I was not sure what to expect. Well, I have to say Heidi Chiavaroli nailed it! This is definitely my top pick for 2017 and among my top picks ever. I had no clue which way the story was going to go, all the way to the end. The quote, "His strength will hold me fast", really spoke to me. Great reminder!

This book is a fabulous Revolutionary era piece of historical fiction. I highly highly recommend it and would give it 1000 stars if I could. This is one book that is not to be missed. Looking forward to more by Heidi Chiavaroli in the future.

I received this book from the Tyndale Blog Network program. This book is 100% my own honest opinion.

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Review: A Name Unknown (Shadows Over England #1) by Roseanna M White

Blurb (from Amazon):

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?



My Review:

A Name Unknown is the first installment to Roseanna M White's whole new series, Shadows Over England. I cannot say how much I love this story. This is by far my favorite of Roseanna M White's books to date. Rosemary is a fabulous, lovable character and I love the chemistry between her and Peter. The story is full of intrigue, humor, adventure, danger, and faith. It has got it all. I most definitely recommend this book. Looking forward to see what happens next in the series. A well deserved five star read.

I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.



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Review: Fraying at the Edge (The Amish of Summer Grove #2) by Cindy Woodsmall

Blurb (from Amazon):

The Old Order Amish life Ariana Brenneman loved vanished virtually overnight with the discovery that she was switched at birth twenty years ago. Now she’s immersed in the Englischer world, getting to know her mother and under the authority of her biological father, an atheist intellectual with resolute plans to expand Ariana’s worldview. Only Quill Schlabach, a childhood friend living Englisch, can steady the tilting ground between Ariana’s two worlds, but can she trust him after so many betrayals?

At the same time, Skylar Nash is forced to choose rehab or spend several months with her true relatives, the large Brenneman family and their seemingly backward life—no electricity, no technology, no fun. What the young woman can’t leave behind is her addiction to illegal prescription drugs and a deep emptiness from the belief that she doesn’t belong in either family.

New ties are binding Ariana and Skylar to the lives they were meant to have. Can they find the wisdom and strength they’ll need to follow God’s threads into unexpected futures?

My Review:

Fraying at the Edge is book two from Cindy Woodsmall's The Amish of Summer Grove series. I want to warn the reader that it would be best to read Ties That Bind first. I think it may be confusing if it has not been read yet.

Fraying at the Edge is a wonderful sequel and I was happy to catch up with the characters. I have always loved Ari and now Skyler has started to grow on me. The two women were thrown into unknown worlds and certainly had their struggles adjusting. Which is the main focus of this book. The ending had quite a cliffhanger that I did not expect at all. I cannot wait to pick up the next book in the series, Gathering of the Threads, to see what happens next.

Highly recommended.

 100 stars.

 This book came from my own personal collection. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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Review: Ties That Bind (The Amish of Summer Grove #1) by Cindy Woodsmall

Blurb (From Amazon):

Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish. 

Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.

My Review:

Ties That Bind is the first book from The Amish of Summer Grove series. I have to say this is one of the best Amish novels I have read so far. I was captivated from the start all the way to the end. There are several different story lines throughout the book and quite a cliffhanger on the last page, making me want to immediately pick up the second book of the series, Fraying at the Edge. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Highly recommended!
100 stars.
This book is from my own personal collection. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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Review: My Daughter's Legacy (Cousins of the Dove #3) by Mindy Starnes Clark / Leslie Gould

Amazon

My Daughter's Legacy is the final book from the Cousins of the Dove series. In this installment, Therese is living in Confederate Virginia in 1864. She is fighting against her family over their beliefs of being slave owners. I was fascinated with this story and was hoping she was able to overcome everything she endured to do what was right.

Fast forwarding 150 years, brings the reader to recovering drug addict, Nicole, who is working at a horse therapy facility. I have personally volunteered at these facilities and know how well the horses can help heal. These scenes were definitely true to life and I enjoyed them. There is, also, a murder that needs to be solved, bringing some mystery and suspense to the story.

It was interesting how Therese and Nicole's stories evolved and I was not expecting how it all ended. This is most definitely the best book of the series.

4 stars.

I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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Review: Beneath Copper Falls (Rock Harbor #6) by Colleen Coble

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Beneath Copper Falls is the sixth installment from the Rock Harbor series by Colleen Coble. Dana looks to find a new life in Rock Harbor. Her first day working as a dispatcher, she received a disturbing call from her friend, Allyson. Dana sends a deputy to help but it is too late and Allyson is found dead. To Dana's disbelief, the death is ruled an accident. With the help of two friends, Bree and Boone, she investigates further, where all three finds themselves in danger.

I loved Beneath Copper Falls. I instantly felt a connection to Dana from the start. I knew what she was going through and admired her strength to move on to new beginnings. The mystery and suspense of the story continued to keep me from putting the book down. So many twists and turns that made my head spin.

This book is a reminder why I love Colleen Coble books. I would give this book 5+ stars.

I received this book from the publisher but was not required to write a review. This review is my 100% honest opinion.

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Review: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

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The Writing Desk is another must read by Rachel Hauck. Tenley Roth debut novel was a great success and a best seller. However, she is having a hard time coming up with another successful book to follow up with. And the publisher is not helping her at all putting pressure on her with a deadline. She unexpectedly receives a call from her mother who is sick and needs help. Tenley packs up and goes to Florida to be with her. This is where she meets several people from the present and the past that may change everything she thought possible.

The Writing Desk has got to be my favorite book by Rachel Hauck to date. I love these time slip novels and I was definitely not disappointed with this one. It was quite intriguing how Tenley and Birdie’s lives intertwined and connected to one another, even though they lived over 100 years apart. I did not want to put the book down and was sad to see it end.

I would give the book 100 stars if I could.

Highly recommended.

I received this book from the publisher but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Amazon

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring is a fabulous addition to Barbour Publishing's My Heart Belongs line. It is summer 1895 and Heiress Maude Welling disguises herself and works as a maid at the island's Grand Hotel. Journalist, Ben Steffens, comes to town and goes undercover as a wealthy businessman, trying to investigate a future story about gold digging men pursuing heiresses. Maude and Ben meet and begin to fall for one another. What will happen when the truth comes out about who they truly are?

Carrie Fancett Pagels has written a winner with My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring. I love how she used the beautiful setting at Mackinac Island in the story. The descriptions of the island and hotel we're so vivid, that I felt like I was transported back in time. I just love the character of Maude, how she was so determined to become her own person and knew what she wanted. I was not sure how I felt about Ben in the beginning, but he grew on me by midway. A wonderful story of forgiveness, faith, and inspiration.

Highly recommended.

5+ stars. 

I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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Review: Abiding Mercy (Amish Mercies #1) by Ruth Reid

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Abiding Mercy is about 16-year-old Amish girl, Faith. She loves her community and her family, working at her family's restaurant. She is looking forward to being baptized into the church and one day getting married. But with a buggy accident involving her parents, a sister who was curious about the English, and a newspaper article that changes her world, how much heartache can she take?

Oh my goodness! Abiding Mercy is a fabulous piece of Amish Fiction. I found the story to be unique and quite refreshing to read a little bit of a different Amish story. I felt connection to Faith from the beginning. She endures so much heartache in such a short time. I cannot wait to read the second installment in the Amish Mercies series.

Highly highly recommend.

 

5 plus stars.

I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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Review: The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories by Celeste Fletcher McHale

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The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories is another keeper for me by Celeste Fletcher McHale. Jacey is shocked to see the man officiating her best friend's wedding to be Colin. She and Colin were trapped on a rooftop with another woman and her children during a horrific flood a year earlier. After being rescued, they were all separated and lost contact. Jacey had believed Colin to be the man of her dreams but just knew she would never see him again. That is, until she discovers him at the wedding!

The story is realistically written. The scenes where it is known that Jacey suffers from PTSD because of the disaster were spot on. I just cannot tell into words how much I love love love this book. I only intended to sit down a few minutes to start it, but did not get back up until I was done. I laughed and I cried so much throughout. Such a beautiful, sweet, inspiring, unique, refreshing and realistic read. I highly recommend this book!.

I do want to caution the Christian Fiction readers. Though the book is marketed as Christian Fiction, it does have some very mild language that some readers may find offensive.  

100 stars.

I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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Review: The Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies

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The Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies is set during the 1920s in Ceylon, which is now referred to as Sri Lanka. Gwen leaves the comfort of her home in London for Ceylon and marries a widowed and wealthy tea plantation owner, Laurence. Being in a totally new environment, surrounded by new people, dealing with a difficult sister-in-law, and a mysterious and secretive husband, she quickly realizes this life will not be like what she's used to. Will she ever be happy with this life?

I have to say I have completely conflicting thoughts about The Tea Planter's Wife. One minute I wanted to turn the page to see what is going to happen and the next minute I wonder if this story is ever going to end. There were times I felt like putting it down and not finishing the book. But I pushed myself to continue and am glad I did. The plot has mysterious and suspenseful elements to it, with secrets finally coming out in the very end. This makes the book worth reading but I wished many scenes were cut out to make the story flow better for me.

I would give this book 3 stars.

I received the book from the Blogging for Books program. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.