I requested to read and review this book through LibraryThing. I am thankful for the chance to do this. This review is totally my own opinion and in no way influenced by my winning this ARC version book.
First, I always have enjoyed reading books by Laura Frantz and this is no different. She has a way of transporting you to the era and place she is writing about. This book did exactly that.
The characters were very well developed and the story original and well told. The story flowed well. I just wish it had gone on a little longer but all the major areas were addressed.
The one thing I did not like about the book was Ms Frantz's use of words I've never heard before. I felt like I needed a dictionary next to me to look up the words. I am an avid reader and know a fair amount of words, but she likes to use uncommon words. My feeling is that the simpler the words the better and her opinion seems to be the opposite of mine.
Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 star rating and would recommend it to my friends.
My 5-star reviews are for the over-the-top, exceptional book and though I gave this 4-stars it is close.
I have enjoyed every book by Anne Greene. I usually do not enjoy novellas, but I always enjoy Anne's novellas. She has a way of making a short story a great read.
The characters were well developed and mostly believable. The story is a light read with an underlying depth that shines through.
The editing was very well done. This is a Christian book without being preachy. You will enjoy it.
I just loved this book. It was written non-linear in time and person, but very well done. This dealt with being black in the early and mid-1900s. The characters were very well developed. The story kept my interest and had nice twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing.
The story is Christian, but not at all in a preachy way. In fact, you really don't know it's Christian until the end. It is a clean, well-written book.
Editing is very important to me and this is very well done.
This is Ashley Clark's first book.
I highly recommend this book and give it a strong 4 out of 5-star rating.
First, I received an ARC e-book to read and review through Netgalley and Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.
I have read several books by Beverly Lewis and have enjoyed them all. This book is no exception but, that said, it is not my favorite. The story was pretty easy to follow. It mostly kept my interest but I did find some of it less compelling than the rest. I did have one problem, for me, about the book. It was that the main character was encouraged to lean on her feelings when making a major decision. Since this is a Christian book, I had a hard time with that when the Bible clearly states that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. We are also told in the Bible to lean not unto our own understanding but to trust in the Lord. That aside, it was a good, clean book.
The editing needs to be refined. There were a few, not many errors mostly with punctuation or the order of the words in a sentence. There were about 2 places that I had to re-read the sentence a couple of times to understand What was being said.
Overall, I give this a 3 out of 5 rating. I would recommend this to a friend.
Book 8 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
In Carroll County, a corn shucking is the social event of the season, until a mischievous kiss leads to one of the biggest tragedies in Virginia history. Ava Burcham isn’t your typical Blue Ridge Mountain girl. She has a bad habit of courtin’ trouble, and her curiosity has opened a rift in the middle of a feud between politicians and would-be outlaws, the Allen family. Ava’s tenacious desire to find a story worth reporting may land her and her best friend, Jeremiah Sutphin, into more trouble than either of them planned. The end result? The Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912.
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She’s a native of the Blue Ridge Mountains where her family have lived for generations. She’s the mom of five kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus, and proud AlleyCat over at the award winning Writer’s Alley blog. Her debut historical romance novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in April 2015, and the second in February 2016. Her first contemporary romance debuted in April 2016.
More from Pepper
Feuds, Moonshine, and Family Loyalties by Pepper Basham
My upcoming release for Barbour’s True Colors series is really close to my heart…and pretty close to my house.
The Red Ribbon, my first foray into a historical suspense novel, takes place in the county where I grew up. Carroll County, Virginia, is a county on the border of Virginia and North Carolina, not too far from Mt. Airy (Mayberry). Nestled in the foothills and mountains of the Blue Ridge, it is a part of the Appalachian Mountains, and with that comes similar histories as other backwoods Appalachian communities: feuds, moonshine, and family loyalties.
One thing I love most about my Appalachian upbringing is the intense closeness of family – and when I say ‘family’ I mean, of course, my mom, dad, and brother, but also my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents…the whole “gang”, as my granny used to say.
The closeness of family, and the protection of the family name, is a big deal in Appalachia. There’s a lot of pride in the way your ‘name’ is thought of throughout the community, so when someone insults your name, there’s a good chance the repercussions aren’t going to be pleasant. Especially back in the early 1900s, when The Red Ribbon takes place. In fact, insulting someone by “stealing a kiss” is one of the events that leads to The Hillsville Courthouse Massacre/Tragedy.
A long-time feud between the Allen family and the “Courthouse Clan” came to a head inside the Hillsville Courthouse in March 1912 and this event resulted in the largest shootout within a courthouse in Virginia history. The story followed with a nationwide manhunt and made national news until the sinking of the Titanic the following month.
Growing up in Carroll County, I knew a few things about this story. Rumors and whispers, really. Most folks didn’t talk about it because it still caused a stir among those who were descendants (because another thing about Appalachia is that families tend to stay on or around family land for generations). People still took “sides”. So, when I decided to write this book, I knew I was stepping into precarious territory. Not that anyone would start up a shootout nowadays because of a book, but because people still have some deep feelings about how their ancestors are portrayed in history, and since many of my family members still live in Carroll County, I wanted to tread carefully into the events of “The Allen Tragedy”.
What I discovered was a story that still held a whole lot of mystery even one hundred years later. Bullet holes still mark the courthouse steps from that fateful day, rumors still circulate about who was to blame, and no one knows who fired the first gunshot that began the tragic shooting.
I’m not a “scary” book writer or reader, but I love a good adventure, so this book takes the reader on an adventure into Appalachia to my neck of the woods, and follows the journey of Ava Burcham and Jeremiah Sutphin as they live among the illegal moonshiners, dirty cops, and mountain gunslingers of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Have you ever read a book set in Appalachia? If so, what was the title and what did you learn about the Appalachian culture? Have you ever visited the Blue Ridge Mountains?
Let’s chat mountain people, mountain ways, and mountain books
My Thoughts: I have not read anything by Pepper Basham but I enjoyed this book and her writing style.It is the 8th book in the True Colors series. It is based on a true story but fictionalized. The history behind this book is a courthouse massacre.
The main characters are quite well defined and believable. Ava is a spunky, young adult that was orphaned. Jeremiah is her childhood friend. The story revolves mostly around them. They are brought to life in this book and it's like reading about a friend of your friend. The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout. It was not boring at all and it was a book that was hard to put down at times. This is a Christian book in a very good way. It is not preachy but shows how you can depend on God. It also shows that you can have growth in your Christian life. The editing was very well done.
I received a copy of this book through Barbour Publishing and Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review. I would recommend this book to my friends. I give it a 4 out of 5-star rating.
The characters were mostly well developed. The story flowed quite well, though it wasn't just through the eyes of Willa, the main character. Spread throughout the book were the prayers and encouragement of some of the character's faith in God.
The editing was quite well done. I didn't notice any punctuation or spelling errors nor did I notice misused words. Sometimes I did feel like the story rambled a little, but not to distraction by any means.
The one negative I have is that I feel the story ended too soon. If I say more, I'll give away the ending but I would have liked to have seen the story continue a little longer.
Overall I give this a 4 out of 5 star rating. I debated between 4 or 5 stars but the ending made me choose 4 stars. Yes, I would recommend this book. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. A positive review was not required and I am freely giving this review.
This is the third book in the Amish of Weaver's Creek series. It is a good stand-alone book, but I read the first in the series and recommend doing that.
The main characters in this book are Elizabeth and Aaron. Both are very well developed and believable. The minor characters are also well done and the sub-stories going on make for an interesting, if not mostly predictable read. I did feel that at least one aspect of the story wasn't completely resolved but it was not a major issue.
This is a good, clean book. It is a Christian fiction book genre.
I received a copy of this book from Revell, the publisher, in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. My review is freely given and fully my own opinion.
I give this book a 3 out of 5-star review and I would recommend it to my friends.
This is the second book in the Jerusalem Road series by Angela Hunt. I have enjoyed every book she has written and this is no exception BUT, I was a bit disappointed in this one. It was a very slow start for me and I almost gave up. I'm glad I didn't as it turned out to be a good book. It was written from the viewpoint of Jesus' 2 sisters. The narrative switched back and forth between them but not in equal shares.
The book, of course, is a Christian book and the main theme was forgiveness. The shepherd's wife is one of the sisters and the book is mostly from her view. The rest of the family is involved, but only as supporting characters.
The plot didn't seem to be as important and the theme and I guess that was one of the things I didn't care for.
Overall, I did enjoy the book once I got past the first chapter or so. It is not my favorite, but I did enjoy it. I think anyone that enjoys Biblical fiction will enjoy this book also. I give it a 3 out of 5 star rating.
I requested to read and review this book through Revell Reads. I am thankful to be chosen and this review is totally my own opinion and freely given.
I have read one other book by Irene Hannon in a very genre. So much so, that I thought it was a new author. This book is just as good as the other book and I am happy to have read it. This book is a suspense/mystery genre and is very well written. The characters are all believable and the story flows well. I was hooked from the very beginning. There are a lot of twists and turns and it keeps you guessing as to "who done it".
The only editing errors I really noticed was the misuse of the word I instead of me. Otherwise, the editing was very well done. This is important to me as a poorly edited book can ruin a very good story.
I give this a 4 out of 5 star rating and would recommend this book to my friends.
I was very excited to be part of the launch team for this book. I have never been disappointed in any book I've read by Hallee Bridgeman. This book was no exception.
It is the 3rd book in the series. I have only read the second book before reading this one, but that really doesn't matter as this can be a stand-alone book also.
The characters were very well developed and the story flowed well. You met characters from the previous books but they only add to the story, not make you depend on reading any of the previous books, though you would enjoy reading them also.
The story flowed well and had a unique twist in a Christian book. It is a good, clean story showing belief in God but not preachy.
The book I read was an advanced copy so I will not comment on the editing, it was still going through one more and that should fix the few problems I saw.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a contemporary romance that is well written and clean.
I requested and was granted a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is not required and is my own, unbiased opinion.
When I started reading this book, I kept thinking I had already read it. I then realized I had and that this is a revised version of the original book. I had read the original so many years ago I cannot tell you what the revisions are but, I did truly enjoy the book. I have always enjoyed anything by Tessa Afshar.
The book is a fictionalization of the Biblical account of Rahab, the harlot. Since she was from Jericho and married an Israelite we can assume she converted. She is also in the lineage of Jesus.
The story was very well written and all the characters were very well developed. It was a believable account of how it might have happened.
The editing of the book was very well done as well. That makes reading more enjoyable.
This book is a fictionalized biography of the suffragist Abigail (Jenny) Scott Duniway. She was on a wagon train from Illinois to Oregon in the 1800s. Her mother died and she had a great influence on Abigail.
I enjoyed the first half to three-quarters of the book, but after that, it just seemed to run on and on. It didn't seem to change very much and I felt that a lot of the book could have easily been eliminated. A lot of it felt more like a history book of details and not truly a story.
The main character, Jenny, seemed like a very self-centered person. Her whole goal in life was to make women equal to men. This isn't a bad goal, but it seemed like it was put above everything, including her family.
The characters, in general, were not deeply developed. Abigail/Jenny was more developed than the others but even her character seemed shallow.
I thought this was going to be a Christian book since Revell is the publisher. I would not call it a Christian book at all. In fact, I was totally offended by Abigail continually saying "Holy cow chips". Only God is holy. Pray or church was rarely mentioned and I would not consider Abigail to be a Christian by the way she was developed in the story. This is my opinion and others may not feel this way at all.
Overall I would give this a 3 out of 5-star rating. I probably would not recommend it to anyone unless they were wanting to learn more of the Northwest's suffragist movement.
I was given this book to read and review through the Revell Reads Blog program. This opinion is fully my own opinion.
I was excited to receive this book to read and review. I had not read anything by Ms. Cox so I wasn't sure what to expect. Not only did I enjoy the book, I enjoyed the book very much.
The main characters were very well developed. Ivy is trying to figure out her life and her past, Harvey is trying to overcome his past. The other supporting characters were very well defined as well.
This book jumps back and forth in time, but it is not in an annoying way, it works very well. This book is one I did not want to put down and one that I also was sad to see come to an end.
This book is a Christian book, but not in a preachy way. Two of the characters are a pastor of the church and his wife this book shows that we are all sinners and have our faults. I felt that the book shows the importance of leaning on your faith to help you in your everyday life.
The editing of this book was also very well done. I did not notice any errors at all.
My review is totally my own, unbiased opinion and the book was given to me in return for an honest review. I would recommend this book to my friends. I give this book a 5 out of 5 star review and am looking forward to more books by Amanda Cox.
Delany Fleet, a widowed former indentured servant living in the colonial port of Norfolk, Virginia, dreams of having an estate of her own where she will never have to compromise her freedom.
When the only man she ever loved shows up with a load of smuggled firearms, Delany is forced to leave her home and her livelihood to protect her family and property from Lord Dunmore’s raids and the conniving plots of a man who claims to be her friend.
Now, with her destiny forever altered, Delany must find a new way to happiness. Can reconnecting with her husband’s family and a former love be the path that God has for her?
I loved this book. I felt like the characters were very well developed. Delaney is the shopkeeper's widow and she is trying to determine her place in the world. She does own the shop now but was also an indentured servant when she was a child so her place in society is limited, at least in her own mind.
Field is the other main character. He is the son of wealthy landowners and his place in society is established. Delaney has had a crush on Field since she was a child but Field didn't see her that way.
The other lesser characters were also well developed. Delaney's family by marriage, the man that does want to marry her and the villains are all well portrayed.
Delaney has to decide if she will stay in town and run her shop or if she will go to live in her country home when the British start to take over her town. Field is trying to smuggle things to his father and wants Delaney's help. Will she help him?
This is a Christian book and very well done. I enjoyed how faith is portrayed in the book and I did not find it preachy. It is also historical fiction and that was also very well done. I felt like it was a very good representation of the times.
My biggest disappointment was that it ended too soon, too abruptly. I have never read a book by Izzy James before and I hope this is not the last book of her's that I read. I would recommend this book to my friends. I give it a 5 out of 5-star rating. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. This was given to me through Celebrate-Lit.
About the Author
Izzy James grew up surrounded by history and story in coastal Virginia. She still lives there with her fabulous husband in a house brimming with books.
More from Izzy
Hello! My name is Izzy James. My new book is The Shopkeeper’s Widow. It’s about freedom and second chances. I learned quite a bit of history while researching and writing this book. Did you know that the first showers began to appear in the early 1760’s? I gave Delany one of them in Shopkeeper’s just for fun. It is not likely she would have had a shower at that time, but it is fiction and as such I thought it would be a fun detail to add. We do know that some people did rig up for themselves a semblance of a daily shower by using a bucket full of water suspended above them.
I truly enjoyed this book. I read the series out of order and ended up reading this last. That meant I knew a lot of what was going to happen, but I still wished the book would have continued for a bit more.
I have always enjoyed reading Sarah Sundin books and this was no exception. They are Christian books, teaching things without being pushy. This book followed that pattern well.
The main characters were very well developed and the story flowed well. The editing was very well done.
I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 star rating and would recommend this to my friends.
I was blessed with the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Price of Valor. I will say that for an ARC the editing was well done. There are about a handful of errors in the whole book.
I have read other books by Susan May Warren and even though it would be nice to have read these books in order, it really was suitable to be a stand-alone book. But, since I have read others, though not in this series, I recognized some of the characters from the previous series.
At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like the book, but I changed my mind after just a couple of pages. I'm really not sure why I thought that, but I did truly enjoy the book.
The characters were strong and well developed. The story flowed well, also. There was a lot of mystery and contemplation but the story was well developed and was wrapped up nicely at the end. It kept me guessing throughout.
This is a Christian book but it is not preachy at all. It shows how faith is developed and strengthened in a very good fashion. In fact, the words from the preacher in this book could be used for many difficult situations.
I give this book a 4 out of 5-star rating. A 4-star book is a very good book but not exceptional. Most books that I like are 3 star. I was given this book with no requirements. The review is my own and freely given.
I really enjoyed this book, Morning Star (Maidels of Morning Star #1) by Charlotte Hubbard.
The story was original and it flowed well. The characters were very well developed Some were very likable and others not so much. The editing was well done also. I noticed a couple of minor errors but nothing that detracted from the book or my enjoyment of it. I liked that this book actually took a look at some of the beliefs of the Amish in a critical way. It was a book that went a bit deeper into their beliefs. I do not believe as they do and this was very refreshing for me. I will not disclose the outcome of this deeper look but I appreciated the author's bringing it to light. This book is listed as a Christian genre book. It is a very clean and easy read. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The review is totally my opinion.
I was given a free copy of this book to read and review. The review is my own, freely given.
This book is the second in the series, Thousand Islands Gilded, but is a good stand-alone also. I did not read the first book and it had no effect on my enjoyment of this book.
This is a Christian book, but by no means is it preachy. It shows how living by faith is the best. Devyn is the main character, of course, and this book tells her story from her point of view. She thinks back to when she was 10 years old and the problems she had and how they affect her life now. It tells of her fears and how she deals with them. It is also a love story and a bit of mystery, nicely told. There are a few main characters and all are nicely developed. Even the minor characters are well done. The editing of this book was also well done. The biggest problem I had was that a few times there were words used that I did not recognize and the dictionary on my Kindle could not define them. That was slightly annoying but did not make a big impact on my enjoyment. This was an easy read and I'm sure anyone that enjoys clean, faith-based, historical novels will enjoy this book. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
This is Rachel Fordham's third novel. It is the second one I have read. I really liked the first one, and this one is no exception. She is a very good writer.
This novel focuses on the hard choices one has to make. It is set in the late 1800's in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory. There are two, well developed and thought out, main characters with 3 semi-major characters and then the background characters. The most major character is Agnes. The book revolves around her choices both those made in the past and those she is being forced to make.
The other main character is her life-long friend, James. He also has choices to make.
The three semi-major characters are Hannah, Minnie, and Sam. They really help build and fill out the story.
This is a Christian story, but it is not too much a Christian story. There is not a church they attend and not a lot is mentioned about their beliefs. It does mention that they read the Bible and pray. So, if you want more faith-based books you may be disappointed. If you want a good, clean, slightly faith-based, and not preachy book, this is one you won't be sorry you chose.
The story is one where you feel you know the ending, but the development is so good you really aren't sure if you are right or not. The story keeps you guessing until the very end.
I think you will be very happy if you choose to read this. It is for people that want a good, clean, historical fiction novel that keeps your attention throughout. I give this a 4 out of 5 star rating.
I was given a copy of this book to read and review through Revell Blogger Program. The review is fully my own opinion and is freely given.
This review covers all 4 novellas in the book. I received this book through Netgalley and Barbour Publishing. The review is my own opinion and freely given.
First, all of the stories seemed too rushed at the end. It was like they had just so many words they could use and were reaching the limit.
All the stories had one central theme, a midwife as the main character. I enjoyed all the characters but I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. Each had something going on that endangered the midwife to some degree. Each also had an underlying romance.
The book was mostly well written with few errors and hopefully, the few errors are corrected in the final edition as I was given an ARC edition.
Overall, I give this a 3 out of 5 stars. Not bad, but not my favorite. If someone was looking for a series of novellas I would recommend these as ok but not great.
I really enjoyed the story of An Appalachian Summer by Ann Gabhart. This is the first of her books that I've read and hope to read more soon.
Ann did a very good job of bringing her major characters to life, especially the main character Piper. She also did a nice job of describing life in the Appalachian mountains. Not too descriptive but enough to let you know life there is not the same in the mountains as it was elsewhere at that time. The book is set during the Great Depression and this helps show the vast difference between Piper, a financially secure person, and those living in the mountains, just barely surviving.
Piper's father wants her to marry a man of his choosing, a man she has never met. Piper wants to marry for love and her choice would be her childhood friend. To help her calm her mind and emotions, Piper chooses to spend her summer as a courier for the Frontier Nursing Service. Frontier Nurses is a factual part of the story and gives a glimpse of life for them as well.
There is also the second story in a more minor character, Piper's aunt Truda, woven into this story. She has her own ideas of life and love and they are not in line with her family.
The story wasn't a book that you can't put down, it's a slower-paced book but that is a good thing. Not all books need to be that intense. The editing was very well done and that is very important to me.
This book is listed as a Christian book but it is not preachy in any way. In fact, to me, it's more a "clean" book than a Christian book. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. I give the book a 4 out of 5 rating. I liked it well enough to want to read more, but it was not my all-time favorite.
What an event filled ending to the Daughtry House series. If you have read the previous 2 books you will not want to miss this book. Even if you haven't read the others, you can still read this and not be in the dark. This book can stand alone but it is nicer if you have read the others. In fact, I read the first book but somehow missed the second book and I was not lost. The story flowed well and the editing was well done.
The characters were as full of life as ever. This book revolves around the youngest daughter, Aurora, and her sparkling character shown through. The supporting characters were well done also. Even the minor characters of the two women found in the newly inherited bar had their own, distinct personalities.
This is a Christian book and it wasn't disappointing with this label. It showed Aurora's faith and how she used it. It showed how faith grows in others in the way Zane was portrayed. It was not preachy in any manner. It was well woven into the story.
Beth White did a wonderful job telling this story in the post Civil War era. She showed how life was then, the good and the bad.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my friends. I give it a 4 out of 5-star rating.
Tamera Alexander has a wonderful way of bringing the characters in this book to life. Each of the main characters was fully developed and believable, transporting the reader to a different place and time. The supporting characters were well done also.
The story is heavily based on fact and I think that helps bring the story to life. It is fiction but very well done. It is also a Christian book and that is done well too. It shows how important your faith is without being preachy. It also points out some errors in a certain, unnamed, religion.
The book I read was an ARC and even so, the editing was quite well done. The biggest problem was that some of the words were missing the space between but otherwise, it was good. I did notice one or two other errors, but nothing that detracted from reading.
I have never read a book by Tamera Alexander but I hope this is not the last book of hers I read. I would recommend this book to my friends and I give it a 4 out of 5 star rating meaning I like it a lot. Very few books get the 5 star rating and most get 3 stars. I hope this helps you know how I feel about this book and if you choose to read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I requested this book to read and review through Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers. I enjoyed the book as I expected I would. I am a fan of Tracie Peterson and this book did not disappoint.
The story is set in the 1800s in Oregon. It is historically accurate and full of adventure. There is a mystery, though sadly, it didn't seem to come to a full conclusion in my mind.
The book kept my interest throughout. It is a Christian book but not a preachy type of story. It is written from a female's side/viewpoint. It is her story to tell.
I would recommend this book to my friends and I give it a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning I like it.
I have always enjoyed the books I've read by Susie Finkbeiner and this book is no exception. The story is easy going and on the bland side, but that is not a criticism but that it is not action-packed. It shows what a regular family is like when bad things happen. The main character, Betty, goes through a couple of really bad experiences in a very short time and this story shows how she deals with the situations and how her family helps her.
The story is set in the early 1960s, in lower Michigan. I can relate to these descriptions as I live near the areas described. I understand the background and surroundings.
This is a Christian book, but it is not preachy in any way. It shows how a Christian woman uses her faith to get through rough times. It also shows how weak our faith can be at times.
Towards the end of the book, there were a couple of historical happenings that were incorporated that I felt could have been left out. I felt like they were added to lengthen the timeline of the story but were not really needed. This is my biggest criticism of the book.
The editing was very well done. This is very important to me as poor editing can ruin an otherwise good book.
This review is my own, personal opinion and I received this book through the Revel Reads Blogger program. A positive review is not required. I give this book a 3 out of 5-star rating.
I have never read anything by Cindy K. Sproles and I hope this is not the last book I read. Her style is very unique and I found it very enjoyable.
The book is set in the Smokey Mountains in the late 1800's and is written in the vernacular of those people. Some may find this unenjoyable, but to me, it made the story more like listening first hand. The story has a bit of mystery and intrigue and kept my interest throughout. In fact, I read through this in just a very few evenings.
This is a Christian book, but not preachy. It shows the faith of a few of the characters, the lack of faith in some, and the growth of faith also.
The story flowed well but did leave a few questions even when the story ended. The editing was quite well done and the characters were very well developed. The style is a bit different, and I enjoyed that.
I was gifted this book through Revell Reads Blogger Program. I am not required to leave a positive review and this review is totally my own opinion. I give this book a 4 out of 5 star review. I would give it 5 stars if all the questions had been addressed. I would recommend this book to my friends.
I was excited to hear of another book in the series True Colors. I was also excited that it was written by Kathleen Y'Barbo. I have enjoyed this series and I have always enjoyed books by Kathleen Y'Barbo and this book did not disappoint.
Most of the books in this series are true crimes committed in America. This book covered both America and England. It covers the murders in Austin, TX and "Jack the Ripper" in London.
The book was an ARC and so the editing wasn't perfect but very well done. It is also a Christian series and I'm sad to say there wasn't much in the way of Christianity in this. It was a very clean book but not preachy in any way.
The main characters were quite well developed. I was a bit confused at first to realize that the book started in one year and then jumped to another year and I didn't catch it, but that was my fault as it was listed at the top of the chapter when it did change. Other than my missing the time jump, the story flowed well. It was well written and entertaining. I would recommend this book to my friends. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. Five stars are reserved for superbly excellent books.
I thank Barbour Books and Netgalley for giving me the ARC copy to read. I am not required to leave a review and this review is my own opinion.
Glamour, treachery, and espionage collide when an English socialite rushes to save her sister from the Nazis.
As the daughter of Sir Alfred Whitford, Kat has a certain set of responsibilities. But chasing her wayward sister, Ellie, to Nazi-occupied Paris was never supposed to be one of them. Now accustomed to the luxurious lifestyle that her Nazi boyfriend provides, Ellie has no intention of going back to the shackled life their parents dictate for them—but Kat will stop at nothing to bring her sister home.
Arrested for simply trying to defend himself against a drunken bully, Barrett Anderson is given the option of going to jail or serving out his sentence by training Resistance fighters in Paris. A bar owner serves as the perfect disguise to entertain Nazis at night while training fighters right below their jackboots during the day. Being assigned to watch over two English debutantes is the last thing he needs, but a payout from their father is too tempting to resist. Can Barrett and Kat trust each other long enough to survive, or will their hearts prove more traitorous than the dangers waiting around the corner?
My Review: I was pleased to be able to read and review this book through Celebrate Lit. I truly enjoyed the book. It is listed as a Christian book, but there truly wasn't much about being a Christian at all. But, it is a mostly clean book. One sister is living in open sin with someone but that is as "bad" as it gets. The story has a new twist on living during WWII. It told a little about the French resistance, it told a little about the Nazi's but it was mostly a love story. It was well told and the characters were very believable. It was a story that draws you in and you are pulling for the heroine throughout. The editing was done well. This was very encouraging to me. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my friends. My review is totally my own opinion and I am not required to leave a positive review. I give this book a 4 out of 5 star review.
About the Author
With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.
More from J’Nell
I blame Pinterest. Too many hours are spent chasing rabbit holes of glorious pictures of fashion from eras gone by, Highlanders in kilts, WWI ambulances, and fairytale castles. One day I was browsing something super important (or possibly escaping from the actual work I was supposed to be doing, er, we’ll never know) and stumbled across a black and white picture of six beautiful girls. Who are these lovely ladies? I wondered. A quick search brought up the Mitford sisters. Six gorgeous daughters born into an aristocratic English family, each girl with a different passion: Diana the fascist, Jessica the communist, Unity the Hitler lover, Nancy the novelist, Deborah the duchess, and Pamela the poultry connoisseur. Whoa. You know dinner time around their family table was interesting. How could such different personalities belong in the same family? What would you do if your sister got moon-eyed over Hitler??
Bam. An idea was born.
In the beginning, my little rebel Ellie was going to be a full-fledged Nazi ideology lover, but she quickly informed me that it wasn’t so much the Nazis or their crazy ideas she loved, but one man in particular. One twisted Nazi who had fallen completely under her spell, and she under his. The ideas of love can often be more difficult to break as Kat finds out when she tries to rescue her naïve sister. Luckily, she has a hunky Sottish bartender to help her while providing a few romantic intentions of his own. With everyone hiding past hurts and true identities, how will they ever hope to find the love they each long for when war rages under the bright lights of Paris? Guess you’ll have to read to find out
Delany Fleet, a widowed former indentured servant living in the colonial port of Norfolk, Virginia, dreams of having an estate of her own where she will never have to compromise her freedom.
Izzy James grew up surrounded by history and story in coastal Virginia. She still lives there with her fabulous husband in a house brimming with books.
I have never read anything by Cindy K. Sproles and I hope this is not the last book I read. Her style is very unique and I found it very enjoyable.
With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at 
