by admin | Aug 16, 2013 | Books, Cozy Mystery, England
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingRules of MurderBethany House Publishers (August 1, 2013)byJulianna DeeringABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, 2014).
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Downton Abbey Meets Agatha Christie in This Sparkling Mystery
Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.
Soon, financial irregularities at Drew’s stepfather’s company come to light and it’s clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer–and trying harder to impress Madeline–Drew must decide how far to take this game.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Rules of Murder, go HERE.
by admin | May 21, 2013 | Books, England, Historical, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingFollow the HeartB&H Books (May 1, 2013)by
Kaye DacusABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Humor, Hope, and Happily Ever Afters! Kaye Dacus is the author of humorous, hope-filled contemporary and historical romances with Barbour Publishing, Harvest House Publishers, and B&H Publishing. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, is a former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, and currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is a full-time academic advisor and part-time college composition instructor for Bethel University.
Kaye Dacus (KAY DAY-cuss) is an author and educator who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. A former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kaye enjoys being an active ACFW member and the fellowship and community of hundreds of other writers from across the country and around the world that she finds there. She currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, which she co-founded in 2003 with three other writers. Each month, she teaches a two-hour workshop on an aspect of the craft of writing at the MTCW monthly meeting. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is an academic advisor and English Composition instructor for Bethel University.
Learn more about Kaye and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Set during the Industrial Revolution and the Great Exhibition of 1851, Follow the Heart is a “sitting-room romance” with the feel of a Regency-era novel but the fashions and technological advances of the mid-Victorian age.
Kate and Christopher Dearing’s lives turn upside down when their father loses everything in a railroad land speculation. The siblings are shipped off to their mother’s brother in England with one edict: marry money.
At twenty-seven years old, Kate has the stigma of being passed over by eligible men many times—and that was before she had no dowry. Christopher would like nothing better than to make his own way in the world; and with a law degree and expertise in the burgeoning railroad industry, he was primed to do just that—in America.
Though their uncle tries to ensure Kate and Christopher find matrimonial prospects only among the highest echelon of British society, their attentions stray to a gardener and a governess.
While Christopher has options that would enable him to lay his affections where he chooses, he cannot let the burden of their family’s finances crush his sister. Trying to push her feelings for the handsome—but not wealthy— gardener aside, Kate’s prospects brighten when a wealthy viscount shows interest in her. But is marrying for the financial security of her family the right thing to do, when her heart is telling her she’s making a mistake?
Mandates . . . money . . . matrimony. Who will follow the heart?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Follow the Heart, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Follow the Heart is essentially a “twofer” – the reader gets two romances in one novel! Although Christopher and Kate Dearing have been sent to England where their wealthy uncle has promised to help them make a marriage match that will help rescue their family from financial problems, each of them has fallen for someone who is most unsuitable. Not only that but Kate who has been considered a hopeless spinster back home in America, has caught the attention of the most eligible bachelor in Oxford much to her cousin Edith’s displeasure. Will brother and sister sacrifice true love for advantageous marriages or will they follow their hearts?
I liked both Christopher and Kate as well as Nora and Andrew and sympathized with their dilemma but what I really enjoyed was the interesting historical information woven throughout the story. I found it fascinating that it was apparently common for British estates to have orangeries and/or conservatories where food was grown for the family’s use and included such exotic varieties as pineapples and oranges. The brief description of the Crystal Palace in London that so fascinated Christopher that he walked backward when leaving it, inspired me to do a little online research to learn more. The building was even more spectacular than I imagined and although it no longer exists, I would love to learn more about its history.
Follow the Heart is an interesting and enjoyable book that is sure to appeal to those who especially love Regency or Victorian novels.
by admin | Mar 9, 2013 | Books, England, Regency, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Moonlight Masquerade” is sure to appeal to fans of Regency era romance novels. Its heroine is Celine, a young French widow of an English earl. Bored with her privileged lifestyle, Celine agrees to a bit of “innocent” espionage for the French. In turn, Rees Phillips is sent into her household as a butler to spy on her just in case she is passing along sensitive information to the French. Yet another group of French men are also watching Celine to make sure she does nothing to interfere with their own plans. All these spies spying on each other result in danger for Celine and Rees finds himself torn between proving that she is a spy or finding a way to protect her.
Overall “Moonlight Masquerade” was a good story but at times I became confused about exactly who Celine was working with and the difference in objectives between the two French groups. I really liked Rees and his integrity and would have enjoyed a bit more interaction between him and Celine. I also liked Celine and her lack of arrogance toward those who were in service to her. For my personal preferences, there was just a bit too much thinking going on and not enough action or real danger to keep things moving along.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In this new Regency Romance, Ruth Axtell deftly creates a world where black and white burst into a confusion of colors and no one is who they seem. Axtell’s expert storytelling and attention to historical detail bring the Regency era alive with intrigue and romance.
Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need–or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess’s butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London’s West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham’s spell.
Endorsements for Moonlight Masquerade
“Intrigue, romance, a clandestine kiss . . . all cast in a Regency setting so magnificently detailed I could see the fabrics and feel the glow of another era. Secrets and past disappointments keep Céline and Rees apart, not to mention the largest chasm of all—class. A wonderfully romantic and memorable read!”—Maureen Lang, author of Bees in the Butterfly Garden
“The first paragraph drew me into the story, and the next twist held me there to the end.”—Laurie Alice Eakes, author of A Flight of Fancy
“Moonlight Masquerade is a wonderful romance, graced with expert detail of the Regency period, as well as with Ruth Axtell’s usual flair for intensely romantic situations between characters so real I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Moonlight Masquerade is an exciting romantic adventure of spies, forbidden love, and happily-ever-after that I thoroughly enjoyed.”—Melanie Dickerson, two-time Christy Award finalist and author of The Healer’s Apprentice and The Merchant’s Daughter
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ruth Axtell is the author of thirteen novels, including Wild Rose, one of Booklist‘s Top Ten in Christian Fiction. Currently a resident of Downeast Maine, Axtell has lived in the Canary Islands, Miami, and the Netherlands.
by admin | Jan 30, 2013 | Books, England, Historical, Regency, Romance
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Ashton ParkHarvest House Publishers (January 1, 2013)
by
Murray PuraABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Murray Pura was born and raised in Manitoba, just north of Minnesota and the Dakotas. He has published several novels and short story collections in Canada, and has been short-listed for a number of awards. His first books to be published in the United States are the inspirational works Rooted and Streams (both by Zondervan in 2010). His first novel to debut in the USA is A Bride’s Flight from Virginia City, Montana (Barbour), which was released January 2012. The second, The Wings of Morning, will be published by Harvest House on February 1. Both of these novels center around the Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
For fans of the hugely popular Downton Abbey series, comes this equally enthralling story of the Danforth family of Ashton Park. Among the green hills and trees of Lancashire, only a few miles from the sea, lies the beautiful and ancient estate of Ashton Park. The year is 1916. The First World War has engulfed Europe and Sir William’s and Lady Elizabeth’s three sons are all in uniform–and their four daughters are involved in various pursuits of the heart and soul.
As the head of a strong Church of England family for generations, Sir William insists the Danforth estate hold morning devotions that include both family and staff. However, he is also an MP and away at Westminster in London whenever Parliament is sitting. During his long absences, Lady Elizabeth discreetly spends time in the company of the head cook of the manor, Mrs. Longstaff, who is her best friend and confidante. This friendship includes visits to a small Baptist church in Liverpool that exposes Lady Elizabeth to a less formal approach to Christian worship and preaching than she is used to and which she comes to enjoy.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Ashton Park, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
I have heard this book recommended for fans of the currently popular Downton Abbey television series but since I have yet to watch it I am unable to make a comparison. Ashton Park chronicles the lives of the Danforth family which includes Sir William and Lady Elizabeth and their three sons and four daughters as well as the lives of their servants. Set primarily in England during World War 1, the tale jumps from character to character and place to place so often that I found it a bit difficult to keep up with who was who and what exactly was going on. With one son in the Navy aboard ship, another son in Ireland dealing with the rebellion there, another son a fighter pilot, and daughters with ideas and troubles of their own, there are plenty of interesting historical details as well as some intriguing personal stories. Interaction between the Danforth family and their servants is detailed including more than one forbidden romance.
Personally, I prefer a novel that does not have quite as much going on in it. I like to read about fewer primary characters and get to know them a bit better so that I become somewhat invested in their story. I know that different authors have different styles and that I have probably gotten used to series that feature one hero and one heroine with perhaps a side story or two that lead up to the next installment of a series. There are just so many interesting characters in Ashton Park that I would have liked to spend more time with each of them in stories of their own.
By all means, do not let my personal preferences stop you from reading Ashton Park. I may very well be the only person who found it a bit too busy for their taste.
by admin | Nov 3, 2012 | Books, England, Historical, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“A Flight of Fancy” has a little bit of everything – an on-again-off-again romance, a spunky heroine who defies the norm for her era, a handsome, dedicated suitor, blackmail, adventure, humor, action, and intrigue. Someone wants to kill the hero Geoff, a reluctant Duke, and heroine Cassandra Bainbridge is also in danger because of her close relationship to him. Recovering from injuries suffered in a terrible accident, Cassandra is convinced she is being punished by God because of her “improper” attraction to her fiance Geoff. For this reason she spends nearly the entirety of the book trying to convince herself and Geoff that they should not be together. In the midst of the somewhat tiresome back and forth between Cassandra and Geoff, several more mysterious and dangerous incidents occur that escalate the mystery surrounding them.
Although I had a suspicion about one particular character’s involvement in the threats, the motivation and other person involved came as total surprises to me. Several scenes were quite enjoyable, especially Geoff’s unplanned balloon ride. Spiritual content was present but not as strong as I would have liked it to be. Overall “A Flight of Fancy” was an enjoyable novel and one sure to please those who enjoy a regency romance with a twist of intrigue.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Daughters of Bainbridge House Series- #2
Filled with the mystique of London society and the charming beauty of the English countryside, A Flight of Fancy explores what it means to find the true source of happiness and love amid the distractions of life. Readers will love the next installment in this rousing Regency series from accomplished author Laurie Alice Eakes.
Cassandra Bainbridge has twice set aside her scholarly pursuits–once for the London Season and once for her wedding preparations. Love seems a wonderful alternative to study, until disaster strikes. When an accident brings an end to her betrothal, she heads for the country to recover from both her injuries and her broken heart. There she pursues her love for ballooning and envisions a future for herself as a daring aeronaut. But when her former fiancé slips back into her life, what course will she choose?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of Lady in the Mist, A Necessary Deception, Heart’s Safe Passage, and several other novels. She won a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007 for Family Guardian. Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats.
“Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
by admin | Aug 29, 2012 | Books, England, Historical, Mystery, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingA Duke’s PromiseB&H Books (September 1, 2012)byJamie CarieABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As Jamie’s relationship with God grew, she discovered her heart was filled with songs and poetry. During high school she wrote lyrics for her brother’s band. (And she sang them too!) After college, Jamie married, had two sons and decided to stay home with them. While she homeschooled she wrote skits, poems, plays and short stories for school and church.
When her eldest son turned five she dove into the world of novels. She’d read romance novels for years, but couldn’t relate to the flawless, saintly heroines in Christian romance novels. So she decided to write her own.
Snow Angel was born on a frosty night in an old farmhouse in Fishers, Indiana, where the cold floor gave plenty of motivation for the snow scene. Jamie loves to write late at night when the house is quiet and the darkness seems alive. Elizabeth and Noah had been playacting in her head for a long time, so the story went fast.
Ten years later Snow Angel was published and won the ForeWord magazine Romance Book of the Year winner, was a National “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and a 2008 RITA Awards® Best First Book finalist. It was the beginning of her dream career.
Jamie and her husband Tony have been married for twenty-one years and live in Indianapolis with their three sons and a giant of a dog named Leo.
If she could only say one thing to her readers it would be, “Live the dreams God has destined you for!”
ABOUT THE BOOK:
From the Land of Fire and Ice back to England’s shores, Alexandria Featherstone finds herself the new Duchess of St. Easton. Her husband has promised a wedding trip to take them to the place where her imperiled parents were last seen — Italy and the marble caves of Carrara — but a powerful Italian duke plots against Alex and her treasure-hunting parents.
Hoping to save them, Alex and Gabriel travel to Italy by balloon. Fraught with danger on all sides and pressured by Gabriel’s affliction to the breaking point, they must learn to work and fight together. The mysterious key is within their grasp, but they have yet to recognize it. This journey will require steadfast faith in God and each other — a risk that will win them everything they want or lose them everything they have.
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Duke’s Promise, go HERE.
