Book Review: Love's Guiding Light by Andrea Boeshaar

Barbara Thompson | @barbmaci61

Love's Guiding Light

by

Andrea Boeshaar

Amanda Lewis is about to lose the only home she's ever known--the cottage at the North Point Light in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her mother had received the commission to operate the lighthouse, but tragedy rips away that commission. 

Captain Ezra Danfield is new to the city. He plans to give his daughter stability, which includes a home and proper schooling. But a violent storm on Lake Michigan threatens their lives on the night of their arrival, and it’s Amanda Lewis, operating the North Point Light, who guides them safely into Milwaukee's harbour. He makes a point to thank her, and when she asks for his help, Ezra cannot refuse. 

However, Amanda has a few cockamamie ideas that could ruin her life, so Ezra must put a stop to them--even if it means shedding light on the darkest recesses of his heart and soul.

Review

Love's Guiding Light is my first book to read by this author. She immediately captured my interest with this storyline. I enjoyed the author's way of using the characters, romance and the historic information and it's fabulous. The book is well-written and well-developed and the author's writing is marvelous. I highly recommend to read Love's Guiding Light By Author Andrea Boeshaar.

I received a copy from the author, but was not required to review it. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.

BARBARA THOMPSON (aka barbmaci61) is an avid reader. When not reading, she likes to cross-stitch on her kindle. Reading is an important aspect of her life because she has quite a few health issues. While she doesn't have a blog she does try to promote great books anywhere she can. You can finder her on twitter at @barbmaci61

Book Review: The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green

Lucy here with a review of

The Mark of the King, by Jocelyn Green

 

Can we pause for a moment and admire the cover?? How gorgeous is that! 

Right. Onto the review. I give "The Mark of the Kin" a solid 4 stars. 

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I had no expectations (warnings?) when I started reading and LOVED it up until about the end of the first 1/4 or 1/3. It then dawned on me that this was NOT going to be a "standard" romance. I left it sitting idly on my Kindle for a few days before swallowing hard and diving back into it.

What drew me back? 

The description.

Slate grey clouds now drifted in the sky, veiling the constellations like wraiths.

Green, Jocelyn (2017-01-03). The Mark of the King (Kindle Location 934). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

Mmm mm. I'm a sucker for description (I still vividly remember Laura Frantz's Courting Morrow Little's first page and the line about "the dust beneath her bare feet fine as flour") and wow does Jocelyn do description really well. Seriously. I felt like going to a southern bayou and finding a crayfish chimney to stand on just to feel it crunch beneath my heel as Julianne had. I could practically feel the humid slap of Spanish Moss upon my face as we traversed the muddy 18th century frontier. Could hear everything. Feel everything.

And that was part of the problem. I could visualise everything so clearly that the brutality of midwifery, greedy soldiers, backstabbing Indians (as portrayed in the book, not my personal opinion), and the lack of care from France was so, well, in my face. So raw. Refreshing, for a Christian book. But also uncomfortably so at times. 

A dilemma. 

Also...the romance. Great setup for romance, at least at the start. An arranged marriage. Between 200 men/women. Wow! Nothing like having to pick one's life partner in ten minutes or less. 

But the romance...wasn't. At least not how I've come to expect romances to be. Julianne's first marriage isn't her last (not wanting to give any of the plot away), and that second marriage is more of a thin candle than an bushfire romance. 

Still, there are gems such as this one:

“We all have scars, my beautiful one. They make us who we are, and if we let them, they bring us together.” His lips curved gently. “Now, let me show you how much I love you.”

Green, Jocelyn (2017-01-03). The Mark of the King (Kindle Locations 3258-3259). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.  

 Excellent advice.

In parting, I do recommend The Mark of the King but be prepared to sit down to a meal, not an ice-cream. Available here.

Lucy Thompson loves a good story, a hot coffee, and silence. Blessed silence. But with five children, a tool-wielding hubby, and numerous characters yammering away at her, that isn't likely to happen any time soon. :)

Come find me on Facebook. I'd love to make a new friend. :)
If, by any chance, you'd rather fancy a cowboy romance, then I have two on Amazon. Mail Order Surprise and A Cowboy's Dare. Enjoy!

  

Book Review: My Heart Belongs in Ruby City by Susanne Dietze

By Jenny Blake

My Heart Belongs in Ruby City

by 

Susanne Dietze

• Publisher: Barbour Books (May 1, 2017)
• Amazon Link

Book Description:

Journey now to Ruby City, Idaho of 1866 where...
A Marriage Mishap Creates an Awkward Love Triangle in this Silver Mining Town
 

Looking forward to a quiet life and a full stomach, mail-order bride Rebecca Rice is pleased to marry her shopkeeper intended, Mr. Fordham, until the justice of the peace calls him Thaddeus, not Theodore—proceeded by the title Deputy.

Is it possible to marry the wrong man?

When the newlyweds realize they’ve married the wrong partners with similar names, an annulment seems in order—and fast, since Rebecca’s true intended is impatient to claim her as his own, not to mention Rebecca would never marry a lawman like her father. But when the legalities take longer than expected, Rebecca wonders if Tad wasn’t the right husband for her all along. . . .

My Review:
Firstly thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

I loved this book. It was a different mail order bride story. Rebecca arrives in Ruby city after being held up on the stage. She is a little shaken as they have taken her few items she owned. She is there to marry Theodore Fordham the local shopkeeper. This is where it gets interesting. When she arrives she is greeted by Mr Fordham and they get married but doesn't realise the judge is saying Tad not Ted as she thinks its his nickname. It is only after they are married and Theodore comes in the door do they realise what has happened. They decided to have an annulment but have to wait or the judge to come to Ruby City. Tad and Theodore are cousins who dislike each other which makes things interesting. 

Rebecca wants to pull her weight while waiting and works out way to do this. She also never wanted to marry a lawman because her father had been one and been killed in the line of duty.  Tad is a lawman and determined to catch the gang that had robbed the stage along with many other stages and people. We the mystery of who is in the gang and will they catch them.

I really loved how Rebecca cared for people in the community and loved people others didn't love. This is another good read if you enjoy historical fiction with a twist of mystery.

Book Review My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains by Susan Paige Davis

By Jenny Blake

My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountians

by 

Susan Page Davis

Barbour Books

(1 March 2017)

Book Description 

Journey now to Tuscon, Arizona, and into the Superstition Mountains of 1866, where...
 A Chance for Escape Takes Two Unlikely Allies on a Romantic Adventure Along a Desert Trail

Since orphaned at age twelve, Carmela Wade has lived a lie orchestrated by her uncle, pretending to be a survivor of an Indian kidnapping and profiting from telling her made-up story on the speaker circuit. But as she matures into adulthood, Carmela hates the lies and longs to be free. On a stagecoach in Arizona Territory, Carmela and her uncle are fellow passengers with US Marshal Freeland McKay and his handcuffed prisoner.

The stage is attacked. Now a chance to make a new life may suddenly be within Carmela’s reach. . .if she can survive the harsh terrain and being handcuffed to an unconscious man.

Will Carmela’s wish come true, or will she forever be branded by her past?

Book Review:
Firstly thanks to netgalley for my review copy.

I have been reading books by Susan paige Davis for many years and have always enjoyed them as she writes many different genres. This book is a historical with a mystery. The book starts with Carmela at around the age of 14 and upset she has to tell the story her uncle forces her to tell. It is here she meets a young boy who says he will get his brother to help only for her uncle to come and take her away before he gets back.

Fast forward to when shes around 20 we see Carmela and her uncle on the stage along with the local Sheriff who is transporting a prisoner to the state capital. As they travel on they encounter both Indians and outlaws. Here uncle is hurt and she ends up handcuffed to the Sheriff in the Arizona heat. This is just the start of the story and from here we see what will happen. 

I enjoyed the pass of this story and how Carmela has to deal with all her uncle had forced her to do and what she would do. I also really liked Freeland he had integrity and the strength to help her with some of her decisions. There are also secondary characters that are very endearing and pivotal for the story. The story deals with forgiveness both from others and forgiving yourself. If you enjoy historical fiction I would recommend this book. 

This book will be released on March 1st.

Review Cowboy Creek Christmas by Cheryl St.John and Sherri Shackleford

By Jenny Blake

Cowboy Creek Christmas

Love Inspired Historical

8 November 2016

Mistletoe Reunion by Cheryl St.John 
When Marlys Boyd moves West hoping to find acceptance for her doctoring skills, she's surprised to find her former fiancé, Sam Mason, running the local newspaper. And with the ladies in town determined to make a match of the doctor and the single father, she's not sure she can resist building the family they once dreamed of.

Mistletoe Bride by Sherri Shackelford 
Pregnant by a man who betrayed her trust, a mail-order marriage is Beatrix Haas's only hope. But when she arrives in Cowboy Creek and learns her intended groom has died, she needs a new daddy for the baby that's coming right away. Blacksmith Colton Werner offers the mother and child the protection of his name, but can their marriage of convenience ever lead to true love?




My Review.
This book is set in Cowboy Creek. It follows three books in a continuum all about mail order brides. These two novellas are stand alone stories but do include characters from previous books. Both novellas are written by authors who wrote in the original series. (I haven't read the previous three books yet but had no problem following the stories)

Mistletoe Reunion by Cheryl St John

This book is features Marlys who is a doctor of alternative medicine and a woman who has moved west hoping she will be accepted. Sam has also moved west to Cowboy creek to run the newspaper with his son. They knew each other previously where Marlys broke off an engagement. I enjoyed the story and how the characters interacted. Throw in a young son who is withdrawn and you have the making of a good story. In fact he stole the story at times. I enjoyed how the story was written and now want to read the first three books.

Mistletoe Bride by Sherri Shackleford

This story is about Beatrix who arrives from Austria heavily pregnant to meet her mail order groom only to find he has been killed and she is about to have her child. She is in a bad way and has trouble speaking English. Enter Colton who can speak German although slowly and is able to translate for her. He also offers to marry her when things are looking bad to give them both his name and protection. We learn Beatrix's story early on but Colton also has some issues he needs to deal with and has been dealing with. I can understand how he feels and why but at the same time wanted him to realise things were not all he thought they were. Sherri has done a good job showing how things that happen to us often affect our thinking and actions long after an incident happens.

If you enjoy Historical romance with a touch of Christmas these novellas are for you.

Book Review Heart of a Cowboy

By Jenny Blake

Heart of a Cowboy

Mountain Brook Ink (March 1, 2016)

Hearts in Pursuit 
By Susan Page Davis 
Can Abby and Sam fight their way through the danger and violence and live long enough to find love? 
Texas, 1880. Abby and Sam pursue a band of raiders to rescue their younger siblings. Abby’s father is gravely injured, and she knows she can’t return home without her little sister. Sam’s father wants to thwart his powerful Mexican father-in-law and stop him from taking Pablo to live with him south of the border, but once he has Pablo back, will he continue the search for Abby’s sister? Abby and Sam feel it is up to them to keep the recovery mission on track. Though romance seems to have no place on the trail of danger and violence, can this journey draw them closer? 

Hearts Reunited 
By Miralee Ferrell 
Mercedes Taylor is determined to save her ranch after her father’s death, but she won’t let anyone help—especially not her old friend Jesse Townsend who deserted her so many years ago. The pain his family inflicted on hers goes too deep for her pride to forgive. 

After riding the trail for five years, Jesse Townsend returns to his family property to find the girl he’d once loved all grown up—and more prickly than he’s ever seen her. After his mare is seriously injured, he has no choice but to call on Mercedes—the local animal doctor—for help. 

Add the attractive banker’s daughter who Jesse seems smitten with, and trouble starts brewing. Can Mercedes and Jesse set aside the old family feud and find their way back to the love that had only started to blossom when Jesse left? 

Have Dress, Will Marry 
By Yvonne Lehman 

Julie Hayes must escape from Wildcat Mountain. Her mother died, leaving her with a step-father she doesn’t trust. 
James, who she thought would be her means of escape, is gone. Her only hope is to approach the cowboy, saddleback preacher Timothy Sullivan, when he makes his circuit into Wildcat Mountain. She asks, “Will you marry me?” He says, “Yes, of course,” expecting to perform a ceremony for her and James. 
Believing Julie is in danger, Timothy takes her to the Sullivan Ranch. Suspicions abound when she’s accused of stealing a horse and jewels. 
While Julie is trying to become the kind of woman a preacher would want to marry, Tim is trying to realize his ranching dreams, which don’t include being a circuit riding preacher. 

The Hand-Me-Down Husband 
By Vickie McDonough 

Ellen Stewart despises Lance Garrett. If not for him dashing into Isabelle’s life and stealing her heart and filling her head with his dreams, her little sister would still be alive and safe at home. When she receives Lance’s letter requesting help, Ellen rushes to Silver Springs, intent on taking charge of her young niece. A rugged ranch is no place for a motherless baby. But when she realizes the depth of Lance’s despair, she can’t leave him alone. Though everything within her wants to flee back to the big city, something makes her stay. Tessa needs her father, for one—and he needs her. Ellen knows what it’s like to lose all she’d dreamed of. When local church members make a stink about Ellen living at Lance’s ranch, they are forced to marry. Ellen didn’t want a hand-me-down husband, but could their marriage be God’s will for them both? 

My Review:
I was given this book free for an honest review.

This book contains 4 novella's each featuring cowboys. 
The first had me from the very beginning. In fact I could see it as a movie, a true western. Abby's younger sister Ellen and Sam's younger brother Pablo are taken by Mexican Raiders planning to take them to Mexico. I could see the story playing out as a movie and loved Abby's strength and courage. This story was a great start to the novella.

The second book features Mercedes and Jesse childhood friends who due to an incident led to the families becoming estranged. We see Jesse return to his ranch needing Mercedes help. We then see the struggle of being former friends with still having feelings for each other and how they deal with it.

Book Three features Julie and Timothy. Julie is stuck on living on a mountain with her step father and asks Brother Timothy to help her in an unconventional way. Timothy is the circuit pastor who wants to be a rancher. Julie learns what a real family is like when she meets Timothy's family but there are issues with trust and accusations by her step father.

Book four features Ellen and Lance. Ellen has gone to help Lance look after her niece after the death of her sister. She goes to help wanting to take her niece back to St. Louis with her but see the love Lance has for Tessa. I love how Ellen and her sister were so different and how she is able to help Lance and in turn learn more about herself and that she does have a purpose. 

All in all this is a good collection of novellas which I would highly recommend.