by admin | Oct 22, 2011 | Books, England, Historical, Regency, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I was a little skeptical about this book when I realized it was a Regency romance, however I didn’t have to read very far before I learned that “A Necessary Deception” would far exceed my usual expectations for this category. Although the author included some necessary descriptions of clothing, homes, society events, etc. to define her setting, far more valuable space was used to communicate the actual plot.
Lady Lydia Gale is an independent widow who has sworn off men after her experiences with an overbearing father and husband who discouraged her love of painting. Her self-reliance has also distanced her from God who she also suspects wants to control her. When she is blackmailed and tries to protect her family, she soon finds everything spinning out of her control and has no idea who she can trust. Even her new friend and self-appointed protector Christien de Meuse is suspect. Can Lydia trust her own heart that wants to love Christien and can she finally learn to turn her problems over to the Lord?
“A Necessary Deception”was filled with suspense almost from beginning to end. There was so much going on that I was just as puzzled as Lydia and Christien as to who might be behind the sinister plot. It was only as I neared the end of the book that I suddenly had an idea of who had to be the mastermind of everything that had happened. Plenty of action, romance, and interesting characters made the story a delight to read. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
“A Necessary Deception” is a must read for those who love Regency romance but I also recommend it to those who love a good historical mystery.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Available October 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Who Can a Lady Really Trust?
A young widow, a mysterious Frenchman, and the threat of blackmail keep readers guessing in this Regency romance
Laurie Alice Eakes captures the hearts of her readers once again by weaving intrigue, suspense, and romance together in her new novel, A Necessary Deception, set during the Regency time period.
When young widow Lady Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never expected doing so would put her family in jeopardy. But that’s just what happens when a shadowy figure corners her during an evening stroll and blackmails her with the threat of treason.
She returns to her family just as the London Season is getting underway, and is shocked when the French prisoner appears in her parlor calling himself by a new name, Christien de Meuse, and carrying a letter from the shadowy man.
While she should be helping her younger sisters, bookish Cassandra, who’s about to get married, and headstrong Honore, who’s about to enter into London society, Lydia can’t help being preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Nor can she deny her attraction to him. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can he be trusted? Is she putting her family in danger or sparing them from harm?
With an eye for detail and in-depth knowledge of the period, Laurie Alice Eakes brings alive the drawing rooms of London’s elite .
(ISBN: 978-0-8007-3466-4, $14.99, October, 352 pages)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laurie Alice Eakes is also the author of Lady in the Mist 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.
by admin | Oct 21, 2011 | Books, Depression Era, Historical, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingWonderland CreekBethany House (October 1, 2011)byLynn AustinABOUT THE AUTHOR:
For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband’s work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she’d earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women’s roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve’s Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn’s lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. And two of her inspirational fiction books were chosen by Library Journal for their top picks in 2003, and 2005. One of Lynn’s novels has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But happily-ever-after life she’s planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.
Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.
But the librarian turns out to be far different than she anticipated–not to mention the four lady librarians who travel to the remote homes to deliver the much-desired books. While Alice is trapped in Acorn against her will, she soon finds that real-life adventure and mystery–and especially romance–are far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Wonderland Creek, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Beautifully descriptive, Wonderland Creek tells the story of Alice has spent her entire life absorbed by the fantasy world of her books. When her own life is dealt some unexpected blows, Alice seizes the chance to travel to the isolated coal-mining town of Acorn to deliver book donations. Life in Acorn is far different than her expectations but she has no choice but to try and make the best of things. To her surprise, Alice soon finds herself in the middle of an adventure of her own rather than within the pages of a book. And as she finds herself becoming attached to her new friends, Alice also discovers new purpose for her own life.
by admin | Oct 18, 2011 | Amish, Books, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Treasuring Emma” is a bit different from most Amish novels I have read. In most stories, the heroine is described as pretty or beautiful despite her plain lifestyle. In this novel, the impression is given that Emma is overweight and unattractive with “stubby” fingers. However that concept of her appearance comes primarily from three sources – her own view of herself and from the impressions of two men. Of course one of those men sees her as fat and the other views her as curvy so it seems as though her appearance is dependent upon the point of view. I prefer to believe that Emma is a full-figured woman who does not fit the current popular slim model.
Another difference is that this is the first Amish novel in which I’ve run across an Amish con artist, a young man who makes a habit of manipulating people for his own gain. As the book progresses, his personality and intentions become darker and darker which adds a unique twist to the story.
Like other reviewers, I noticed that the back cover copy and what actually occurred in the novel were not in agreement but I can’t blame that on the author. I have noticed this type discrepancy before and I believe that the publishers should be more careful because this leaves a bad impression. I feel the same way about cover art that is entirely different from what is described in the book. How about a bit closer proofreading before the book goes to print?
Overall, “Treasuring Emma” was a pretty good read. It contained elements I have come to expect with Amish novels including the prodigal who has a change of heart and returns home and reunites with a former love who has pined for him since he left. The secondary plot with Emma’s sister Clara and her husband Peter added a touch of reality as they struggled in their marriage. A primary lesson gleaned from the story is the importance of depending upon God rather than yourself or others.
“Treasuring Emma” may not be for everyone but those who truly enjoy Amish fiction should like it.
This book was provided for review by the Amazon Vine Program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Emma always put the needs of others ahead of her own. When will it be her turn to be treasured?
Adam was her first love and best friend. But then he went away. Determined to experience the freedom of living in the Englisch world, he left Emma heart-broken. How could he have chosen the world over her?
Now Adam is back in Middlefield and Emma can’t seem to keep him away from her family’s farm. But this time she’s determiend to guard her heart. It might be love that keeps him there . . . or perhaps just guilt.
When a newcomer arrives in town and shows an interest in Emma, she dismisses Adam’s insistence that she be cautious. All this attention is new to her and she doesn’t know quite how to accept it. Emma knows her Heavenly Father treasures her. But will her new beau?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Just the facts…I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and now make my home in beautiful Geneva, Ohio. I’ve been married to James for 15 wonderful years (really, they have been wonderful!) We have three terrific children, three dogs, and an overwhelmed cat. We have also raised cattle, pigs, and chickens at various times over the years. We would have gone into the goat business, but I had to draw the line somewhere. I started writing in 2000, and published my first short story a year later. Since then I have authored several short stories, novellas, novels, and have done a lot of freelance non-fiction work. I have also worked as an editor. I have a Masters degree in Special Education, emphasis on teaching the blind and visually impaired, and a Bachelors in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. I have taught all age groups ranging from age 4 to age 18. A few of my favorite things: my relationship with Christ, chocolate (of course!), autumn, a satisfying book, good friends, a sense of humor, people who don’t take themselves seriously, haunting melodies, NFL football, and did I mention chocolate?
by admin | Oct 17, 2011 | Books, Historical, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingLove on the LineBethany House (October 1, 2011)byDeeanne GistABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After a short career in elementary education, Deeanne Gist retired to raise her four children. Over the course of the next fifteen years, she ran a home accessory and antique business, became a member of the press, wrote freelance journalism for national publications such as People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel, and acted as CFO for her husband’s small engineering firm–all from the comforts of home.
Squeezed betwixt-and-between all this, she read romance novels by the truckload and even wrote a couple of her own. While those unpublished manuscripts rested on the shelf, she founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products that would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities.
After a few short months of running her publishing company, Gist quickly discovered being a “corporate executive” was not where her gifts and talents lie. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.
Eight months later, she sold A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers. Since that debut, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, three RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.
Her latest releases, Beguiled, Maid To Match, and Love on the Line are now available.
Gist lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-eight years and their border collie. They have four grown children. Click here to find out the most up-to-the-minute news about Dee.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man’s world … which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.
Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though. He’s a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers. Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do. But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Love on the Line, go HERE.
Learn more about Deeanne and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
As usual, Deeanne Gist has done her research and her story about Georgie Gail, a rural switchboard operator rings true. Because she is know for her meticulous research, I have to assume that Gist’s fact about using bird parts to trim hats and garments must also be the truth. Although not birds, I do remember sitting in church fascinated by the mink stole on the lady in front of me that was made of several entire animals. I shudder to think about it.
But I regress. Overall, Love on the Line was an enjoyable tale. Georgie’s obsession with birds may have been a bit over the top but extreme behavior is one thing that keeps Gist’s books interesting. I was not at all impressed with Lucious Landrum (Luke Palmer) at the beginning of the book. He seemed like such a pompous jerk. But he did grow on me before the end. The plot was well paced with interesting characters and circumstances. A good blend of drama, action, humor, and suspense kept the pages turning. A surprise revelation near the end was easy to figure out if the earlier hints were detected. The romance between Georgie and Luke/Lucious was a bit disappointing compared to earlier Gist novels. Although lacking a strong spiritual message, Love on the Line is still a good, clean story that is appropriate for Christian readers.
