Vying for the Viscount by Kristi Ann Hunter - a Bethany House book review

How do you handle it when everything changes in your life and you feel adrift? Miss Bianca Snowley is about to find out. Her step-mother decides that as the oldest daughter she needs to hurry up and get married so Mrs. Snowley's preferred younger daughter can become the center of attention and make a good marriage match. If that was not disturbing enough to Bianca's normally peaceful life, there is a new Viscount next door, and her access to his horses she loves to ride may be in jeopardy.

Hudson has endured a grueling six month sea voyage from India to England, yet once he arrives he finds out that assimilating into English society is exceedingly more complicated than he expected. As the new Lord Stildon Hudson now owns a vast home and grounds, and a well-known racing stable. Can he learn the nuances of moving within society and balance breeding, and racing, his horses while still looking for a wife? After all, would not a wife with good connections be an asset he needs? The life Hudson finds himself in is so different from the one he was raised in that he struggles at every turn.

Vying for the Viscount is Kristi Ann Hunter's newest Regency era romance from Bethany House Publishers. Hunter does a masterful job of weaving the history of Regency England into a charming and challenging story of life, friendship, and chances at true love. Fans of Jane Austin will find a wonderful tale filled with characters to adore and despise. 

Lord Stildon and Miss Snowley decide to work together to help each other find spouses. They start as neighbors and end up as friends. The problems arise when Bianca starts to realize she is comparing each of her possible suitors to Hudson. How can she keep her word to help him court Lady Rebecca while secretly pining for his attention herself? 

Hudson is struggling as well. His stable manager Aaron Whitworth becomes Hudson's only other friend besides Bianca. Aaron admits he is an illegitimate son and therefore no help in matters of navigating the society circles. How can courting Lady Rebecca be so difficult? Hudson starts to doubt his own plans for his future when an acquaintance of Aaron's invites Hudson and Aaron over for a game of cricket and dinner. 

I enjoyed this story immensely. The characters might be set in Regency England, but they deal with problems that people have had since the beginning of time. How do you know who to trust? Is it better to have a wide swath of acquaintances or a few close friends? Is marriage a business deal, or a love match? Can financial security make up for a broken heart, and who would ever choose a broken heart?

Miss Snowley learns a lot about herself, and comes to realize it was not her step-mother's decision that set her adrift, but rather that she had been adrift for a while, and the command to marry soon simply pointed that out to her. Bianca learns how to invest time in friendships, to choose to offer compassion, and how help can come at just the right time from the most unlikely places.

Step away from the challenges of today and get lost in a wonderful story of friendship, choices, consequences and love in the English countryside.


I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

Line by Line - by Jennifer Delamere - A Bethany House book review

The year is 1881 and Alice McNeil is ready to leave her position at London’s Central Telegraph Office in search of a position with private company. With seven years’ experience and dreams of living somewhere other than a boarding house, Alice expects that her skills plus her determination will land her a job with a promising future.

The world of the telegraph has always fascinated me. How can someone have the skill to not only memorize the dots, dashes, and pauses needed to send a message in morse code, but understand it deeply enough to receive a message in code? Line by Line is a work of Historic Fiction by Jennifer Delamere focuses on an interesting point in London’s history approximately 20 years after the completion of the Transatlantic telegraph cable.

Alice gains a step forward in her career when she is hired by Henley and Company, an importer of wheat and cotton. There she soon meets Douglas Shaw, Mr. Henley’s second in command who travels the world gaining the contracts for their imports. Mr. Shaw sees the benefit of having Alice, who is an excellent telegraph operator, learn more about the business overall, and Alice begins to see new possibilities for her future. The problem is, even though sparks begin to fly, Alice is prepared to be a spinster because she thinks it will allow her freedom to live as she wants, and Douglas has his sights set on a young society lady, Miss Rolland, he has yet to meet. 

When Douglas and his friends find an etiquette book for ladies at a local bookstore, they read a few sections and laugh. Unbeknownst to Douglas, Alice is also in the bookstore and overhears their conversation. She isn’t out to catch a man, she just wants to read the book and laugh at its suggestions… or maybe find one or two to help her with a difficult co-worker, Archie Clapper. So she purchases The Spinster’s Guide to Love and Romance and takes it home.

I enjoyed the banter between characters, the history lessons on the ins and outs of detailed telegraph work, and the everyday look at life in London, England in the 1880’s. A fun read, Line by Line is the first book of a new series from Delamere: Love Along the Wires. I look forward to her future books to see whether they will follow Alice’s friends Rose and Emma, or Douglas’s friends Stuart Carson and Hal Halverson. 

I received an electronic ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

Graphic credit: Arlene @ Modern Vintage

A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund - A Bethany House book review

Jody Hedlund has a gift for weaving fictional characters into real historical events in a way that makes a reader want to read more. Her latest novel, A Bride of Convenience, is no exception. This well written book is set on and around Vancouver Island, British Columbia in 1863.

Abraham Merivale, known to locals as Pastor Abe is serving the Church of England during a five year stint as a missionary in the British Colonies. He spends most of his time in the mining camps outside of Vancouver, but comes down to check in with his Bishop and get supplies several times a year. He loves his job, the miners he serves, and the rugged mountains. What he doesn’t love are the Bishop’s ideas about how he should be re-creating the Church of England in the wilderness. Abe is more concerned with the state of men’s hearts than whether or not a new church building gets completed this year.

Zoe Hart has recently arrived in Vancouver upon one of the Bride Ships that left England, sailed around South America, and has brought dozens of former millworkers, all women, to this rugged land. She isn’t sure she wants to marry, unless it helps her find her twin brother who ran away from home after being falsely accused of setting a mill on fire. 

Zoe has a huge heart for others, and soon finds herself taking over the care of a native baby, Violet, whose mother died and whose English-born father has failed at mining due to his alcoholism. But she cannot keep the baby in the Marine barracks where the other bride-ship women are staying. The baby cries, and the women are looking for husbands, not outside responsibilities. While none of the women will be forced to wed, many are hopping to find either a husband of a job and leave the barracks as soon as possible. They do not understand Zoe's desire to take on baby that night prevent finding a husband, or a job.

Zoe is hurting from the loss of her friend who dies shortly after they arrive. Now she really needs the help of others, but isn’t sure whom to trust. Through an unusual turn of events, Pastor Abe finds himself suddenly without a fiancé back home. He is reeling. Zoe is determined to find someone to help her find her brother. Local Dexter Dawson says he will take her if she marries him, but should she trust him? What about Pastor Abe?

Want to know what happens next? Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or online. It is also available as an E-book.

I found the storyline compelling. To think that literally hundreds of women arrived on a handful of bride ships, trusting that there would be something better than their lives in England when they arrived in Vancouver. What challenges and trials must they have faced back home to board a ship knowing they would very likely never return? Not only were they sailing half-way around the world, they were doing it through the same oceans that were filled with the warships of the American Civil War. 

One part I always appreciate about Hedlund’s series is that she includes some historical information at the end of each story. This helps the reader walk away with a deeper understanding of what parts of the story were history, and what were fiction. She often references the historic texts she used while researching as well.

If you are a fan of Jennifer Delamere, Elizabeth Camden, or Jocelyn Green you are sure to enjoy this third book in Hedlund’s The Bride Ships series. I give it 4.5 out of five stars.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

At Love's Command by Karen Witemeyer - a Bethany House book review

Karen Witemeyer's latest book, At Love's Command, is a historical romance set in Texas in 1893. Since my family took a trip out west when I was in 8th grade, I've always enjoyed reading about the landscape and people of the western half of the United States. 

One of the things I have come to appreciate about Witemeyer's books over other authors in this genre is her inclusion of the hardest parts of western life. Not just the tough landscape, but the tough questions that people faced back then and are facing again today: Whose land is this? Are we better or worse with law enforcement, what are the challenges of seeking justice in a rugged and often unforgiving landscape? Must our future life (and happiness) be dictated by our past mistakes, or does forgiveness really change us?

At Love's Command focuses on Dr. Josephine Burkett, and a retired calvary officer, Matthew Hanger. Though these are fictional characters, the challenges and choices they face come right from the pages of history. Calvary life after the Civil War ended was challenging, and many soldiers then, as today, face a certain amount of PTSD as well as self doubt. Being a female doctor in what was considered a man's profession was an almost unsurmountable obstacle, yet, some women trudged through the bias and misunderstanding and forged the way for others. 

Dr "Joe" and Matthew face challenges from within and without. Josephine is worried for her younger brother Charlie, who cannot seems to accept their father's direction and insistence he work for a living, instead of relying upon Dad to provide him with funds. She also wonders if part of Charlie's waywardness could be attributed to her leaving home and striking out for a new place to begin her medical practice, instead of trying to begin nearer to home. Texas is a big state, even with the use of trains it takes time to get home and back.

Matthew and his group of Horsemen: Jonah Brooks, Luke Davenport - commonly called 'Preach', and Mark Wallace have decided to leave the calvary behind and work as guns for hire. Not in a traditional mercenary fashion, but in trying to use their refined skills to search out justice for the oppressed and a fair ending to disputes and cattle rustling. When Mark gets shot while on an assignment, the nearest town with help is a wide spot on the trail with a single Doctor: Dr Joe. Sparks of a different kind fly when Matthew, who is used to being in charge, must defer to Josephine's directions, and her rules.

The only good thing about reaching the end of this book is knowing that it is book one in the series, and more will follow! I read it twice. I found the characters well-developed, unique, and achingly human. I look forward to the second book in the Hanger's Horseman series. If you enjoy reading about less-than-perfect people as they learn about God's love and forgiveness, this one is sure to entertain and inspire you. You too will become friends with Dr Joe and the Horsemen, and will look forward to their further adventures.

I received a digital ARC of At Love's Command in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

P.S. Big thanks to Arlene for creating the graphic for this post.

A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden - A Bethany House review

Caroline Delacroix is a princess of Washington society. She knows all the right people and understands the ins and outs of social calls, elegant dinners, and how to not offend society matrons. Her skills are about to be put to the ultimate test as the personal secretary to Mrs. Ida McKinley, the reclusive wife of President William McKinley. It is the end of July, 1900, and King Umberto of Italy has just been assassinated. Caroline must help the First Lady navigate the correct protocols while paying her respects to the Italian Ambassador’s wife. Thankfully Caroline knows Italian, and puts an appropriate, if not 100% truthful, spin on the First Lady’s words.

Nathaniel Trask has been working for the US Treasury Department tracking down counterfeiters and solving other crimes. Under his supervisor, John Wilkie head of the Secret Service, Nathaniel has just wrapped up an investigation in Boston when the news of King Umberto’s assassination hits. Against his wishes, Trask is assigned to the White House, in hopes that an actual plan for the President’s safety can be developed before similar threats arise in the US.

Fans of Elizabeth Camden’s The Spice King will enjoy returning to the Delacroix family and the mystery that surrounds them in A Gilded Lady. Caroline is a free-spirited lady who wants to DO something more than just choose a husband and settle down. Her twin, Luke, is languishing in a Cuban prison, charged with treason. Caroline knows that something just is not right about Luke's arrest, but cannot figure out how to help her brother. Their older brother Gray is balancing the day to day operations of the family’s  spice import business with a need to free Luke from prison.

As Nathaniel and Caroline are forced to work together, sparks fly - but not always the romantic kind. Caroline looks for the fun in life, and admits to having a few bad habits. Nathaniel is straight laced, focused, and does not have time for nonsense like flowers and tea parties. In order for each of them to do their jobs well, they have to learn to work through their own pasts, and accept help from each other. Caroline must learn to appreciate the hard work of others, even if it feels like a wet blanket on the plans she is making to help Mrs. McKinley entertain Washington Society. The lessons Nathaniel has to learn are even harder: forgiveness, trust, and hope.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Gilded Lady. Since The Spice King was one of my favorite books from 2019, I had been eagerly awaiting book 2 in Camden’s Hope and Glory series. A Gilded Lady is thought-provoking, interesting, and filled with plot twists. Definitely a great book. Along the way I found myself searching the web to learn more about President and Mrs. McKinley, their transcontinental tour, and American life in 1901.

If you are a fan of Lynn Austin, Jennifer Delamere, Tamera Alexander or Jocelyn Green you will enjoy meeting the characters of Elizabeth Camden’s books. Their real-ness, faults, and small victories will both challenge and encourage you, while the well written storyline will keep you entertained. Just don’t start this book in the evening - you’ll have trouble putting it down and heading off to sleep!

I received an advance reader copy of A Gilded Lady from Bethany House Publishers. No other compensation was provided. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations. All opinions are my own.

The Spirit-Led Heart ~ a Bethany House review

Have you ever wondered why some believers seem so in step with the Holy Spirit in their lives, while others struggle so mightily to understand who this Helper is supposed to be? I’ve been on both sides of that questions at various times in my life. That is why I jumped at the chance to review Suzanne Eller’s new book, The Spirit-Led Heart. I wanted to see if she could put those lessons about Who the Holy Spirit is and what He does in our lives into layman’s terms. The simple answer? Yes!

For too long in my own life, I had heard about the third person of the God-head, but never really understood his position, or his power. Too often the church as a whole gets caught up in debating whether or not the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today, instead of focusing on HOW the Holy Spirit works in our lives. 

Thankfully, in the past two or three years, there has been a recognition of the Holy Spirit at work in the teaching and preaching within the church in the United States that was sorely lacking for most of my adult life.

Suzanne’s book is a refreshing look at how the Holy Spirit helps us live our faith. These ten chapters each focus on one of the ways the Holy Spirit leads our hearts and shapes us to be more like Christ. For each of these areas, such as Chapter 3: We Will Live in Truth, Suzanne gives examples of the Holy Spirit at work, either in her own life, or in the lives of one or more of the many women she has ministered to over the years. Then she takes the reader back to how the Holy Spirit worked on that trait in the early church, and then brings us back to understanding the working of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. Each chapter ends with a Scripture verse to remind us of the truth, a promise, and invitation to have the Holy Spirit work in your own life, and a prayer.

Normally I can read thought a book like this (about 200 pages) in a month and summarize my thoughts pretty quickly. Not so with this one. It came at just the right time, when God had been whispering to me through various other avenues - like sermons at church - about how the Holy Spirit had some work to do in my life. This book challenged me to be listening for the Holy Spirit's promptings in a way I had not been doing for far too many years. Sometimes, the raising of our children causes us to stop listening well, when it should be causing us to cling to every whisper the Holy Spirit is uttering. 

I highly encourage you to get yourself a copy of this book, either in print (my favorite) or e-book version and take that small step of faith in releasing your grasp on living a "good enough" life and move into a Spirit-Led life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in a accordance with FTC regulations.

The Accidental Guardian ~ a Bethany House book review

Trace Riley has spent ten long, lean, tough years carving out a ranch for himself in the Sierra Nevada mountains. But have his toil and struggles prepared him for the upheaval that ensues when he find the survivors of a wagon train massacre on his way home from his first cattle drive to Sacramento?

Thus begins the story of The Accidental Guardian, the first book in Mary Connealy’s new High Sierra Sweethearts series from Bethany House. Fans of Connealy’s other cowboy themed books will enjoy this look into the life of cowboys and wagon train pioneers set near Lake Tahoe, Nevada in the late fall of 1867.

Deb and Gwen Harkness are the only adult survivors of the wagon train massacre wrought by spineless outlaws who try to blame the attack on the local Paiute Indians.  They left false evidence at the attack site before they set the wagons and dead bodies on fire. 

Deb and Gwen only survived because they were caring for two young children, Maddie Sue and Ronnie in exchange for a place in the wagon train that was headed for California. They had left their home after their father died, leaving them a struggling newspaper and a lot of debt. Having sold everything to cover the debts, they had bartered their passage for the care of three year old Maddie Sue and toddler Ronnie so that the Mrs. Scott could drive their own wagon, while Mr. Scott scouted for the wagon train. Deb and Gwen, at 20 and 18, had taken the children into the tall grass just moments before the wagon train was attacked because Maddie Sue had awakened then saying she “had to go.”

When Trace saw the women running out of the tall grass and shouting at him for help he knew he had to take them back to his ranch, as it was the closest shelter around - only 20 miles away. The land was harsh, and winter could break loose and snow the passes shut at any time. His ranch hands Adam and Utah were surprised at the new arrivals, but quickly set to work building a better cabin to house the women and children for the winter. Their appreciation of the women grows after they eat a real, delicious meal that Deb and Gwen cook instead of their usual hardly-edible self-cooked fare.

The outlaws who attacked the wagon train had no idea that there had been any survivors until many days later when Trace takes Deb along with him to the local settlements to pass on word of the attack to the local authorities. Trace also knows he needed to warn any late wagon trains of the danger of outlaws waiting in the passes preparing for an ambush. One of the outlaws almost runs into Deb as she is exiting a store and overhs Trace and Deb’s conversation about Deb being startled.

The story that follows includes many twists and turns as Deb has to come to grips with the reality that not all men are as heartless and selfish as her and Gwen’s father had been. Trace’s world is changed as he accepts responsibility for these helpless travelers, but is not quite sure how to relate to them because he has never had  women around, and is a bit afraid of the children. Trace had grown up with his Pa and Grandpa, and after ten years of forging his way in this mountain wilderness, most of it alone, he is more comfortable talking to his horse and his wolf-dog than to people.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Interwoven in the plot are the themes of mercy, justice, and forgiveness. The characters are learning to communicate with others, instead of just having they own inner dialogue in their heads and assuming others will understand what they want. Is this not something many of us struggle with? How to communicate well in situations that are new to us.

Mary Connealy does a superb job of including the thoughts and growth of her side characters as well as those of her main characters throughout the book. The descriptions of the people, scenery and settings are thorough without being tedious. Readers will want to saddle up and join in the adventure. Once again the story comes to a satisfying conclusion while still having a closing scene left open to lead into the sequel. A great read to take along on your next road trip or simply enjoy from the comfort of your front porch. It will make you want to linger and enjoy the sunset just a bit more!

You can purchase The Accidental Guardian from Bethany House’s website or your local bookstore. It is available in both paperback and E-book forms.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

The Heart's Appeal ~ a Bethany House book review

Julia Bernay applies pressure, quick thinking, and her nursing skills, to save the life of a man injured during a wreck on the London Underground. When she later learns this man might be the very person who closes down the Medical school she wishes to attend to become a Doctor, and then a Medical Missionary to Africa, she is not quite sure what to think.

Thus begins The Heart's Appeal, the second book in Jennifer Delamere's London Beginnings series from Bethany House. Julia is the sister of Rosalyn Bernay from Book One of the series, and while there is a small bit of overlap of characters, you can enjoy The Heart's Appeal even if you have not yet read The Captain's Daughter.

Like all good historical fiction, The Heart's Appeal contains realistic scenes from London's various social circles of the time. While Barrister-at-law Michael Stephenson and his sister Corinna run with the likes of Viscounts and other wealthy Londoners, Julia is a former nurse, a poor college student, and a solid representation of London's middle class from the 1880's. Michael and his set are the type to give money to fix a problem, while Julia and her classmates are the ones who give their time to help others in similar circumstances, or those who are destitute. Reading through this book gave me a stark reminder that there has always been poverty, and only through action and compassion can we overcome it on a person by person basis.

Spoiler alert

Julia and Michael interact upon several occasions, the first time after the accident on the underground is when Julia seeks him out at his sister's home, after her fellow female students tell her more about him. Michael is intrigued that she would seek him out, and surprised that she is doing so because she genuinely cares about his welfare and if he is healing properly from his wounds. In the circles Michael runs in, every action and conversation has an ulterior motive, and he is somewhat stunned and a little skeptical of Julia's lack of artifice.

When Michael makes a hasty request as to how he can repay Julia for her care in saving his life, he never expected her to want his time instead of his money. Julia realizes that as a barrister, Michael must understand Latin well, and that is where she is struggling the most in her studies. As she asks him to tutor her in Latin, Michael begins to realize just what a predicament he has gotten himself into with his generosity. His current legal case involves a libel suit against the Medical School Julia is working to get admitted to. He understands that his rash offer could get him in big trouble with his superior, and possibly even jeopardize the case. His sister Corinna, while concerned with his legal position, is even more concerned that his agreement to tutor Julia will upset her social scene and his chances of marriage to Miss Laura Maynard if anyone finds out about it.

I found The Heart's Appeal to be an interesting and entertaining read. It travels along at a decent pace, but does not draw you so far in that you cannot put it down to make dinner. The characters are believable, and just might make you think of someone you already know. Having heard accounts of how London was always a mix of the three social levels, I was drawn in by Mrs. Delamere's descriptions of the vastly different levels of societal living. Her passion for historic detail makes this a delightful book, but I am sure she could have put the interactions between Julia and Michael in any setting and still had them be enjoyable charters. They are so achingly human - foibles and all.

I recommend you pick up your own copy of The Heart's Appeal, either from the Bethany House website, your local bookstore, or request your local library to add it to their collection. I look forward to book three in the London Beginnings series. I sincerely hope she is already working on it!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. I was not require dot write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

A Light on the Hill ~ A Bethany House book review

Seven years after the fall of Jericho, Moriyah still struggles with her identity. Just before the city fell she was branded as a prostitute for the temple of Ashtoreth. Although she was innocent of any wrong doing, her innocence being the main reason the High Priestess had ordered her captured and branded, many of the fellow Hebrews she now lives amongst do not believe her to be pure of heart, or body.

Thus continue the struggles of Moriyah, the main character in Connilyn Cossette’s newest book, A Light on the Hill. This is the first book in the new Cities of Refuge series. This book continues the storyline of the Nation of Israel and their settlement of Canaan that marked the close of Mrs. Cossette’s Out From Egypt trilogy. For fans of Biblical or historical fiction this should go on your must-read list. I was once again amazed at the ease with which she brings to life the daily struggles faced by the Nation of Israel as they work to claim the Promised Land. I appreciate the work it must require to understand both the social customs of the day and the delicacy it takes to work a fictional story around the inerrancy of the Scriptures.

While the outward storyline of this book is the settling of the Promised Land and the institution of the cities of refuge to which an accidental murdered could flee for a merciful trial, the themes interwoven in the story go much deeper. While an accidental poisoning is the impetus that sends Moriyah running to a city of refuge, we learn so much more about how the struggles of having an idolatrous brand on her face have affected not only her daily life, but her inner self-worth as well. This brings the book to an entirely new level of depth and recommendation in my sight. In the church so many of our older teen girls and younger women have struggled with finding their true identity in Christ. This book points the reader to finding their identity in who God has made them, not as the world has defined them. As they cry, laugh, and empathize alongside Moriyah’s struggles, my hope is that this fictional book will point them to the healing that only God can give. 

The story of God’s faithfulness to the Nation of Israel is wonderfully portrayed in A Light on the Hill. The redemption of Moriyah’s character - both in her own eyes, and the eyes of the Hebrews around her - is masterfully portrayed with both heartache and grace. When Moriyah learns that God and God alone must be her salvation, the years of fear and shame begin to peel away to reveal a heart filled with hope for the future and greater compassion towards others and their own trials.

I highly recommend A Light on the Hill for readers ages 16 and up, whether they are Christians or not. For those who do not yet have an intimate knowledge of God, it is a gentle introduction to His workings. For those who know Christ, or are searching, this book can be a strong reminder that He alone gives us our true worth, He gives us much grace, and He has a plan for each of us to follow to bring Him glory.

Pick up your own copy of A Light on the Hill from Bethany House or your local bookstore.

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Hearts Entwined ~ a Bethany House book review

Have you ever gotten to the end of a great book and wished there was just one more chapter? Or arrived at the end of a trilogy by one of your favorite authors and wished there was just one more story to read? Me too! That is why I jumped at the chance to review Hearts Entwined, a Novella collection from Bethany House. It features stories from three authors I have read quite a few book from, Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, and Regina Jennings, along with a novella from Melissa Jaguars who is still fairly new to the Christian Historical Romance genre. 

If you are a fan of any of these four engaging authors you will want to pick up your own copy to read. Karen Witemeyer’s The Love Knot is from her Ladies of Harper’s Station storyline. Claire Nevin has received a rather cryptic letter from her younger sister Polly back East asking her to meet the train in the neighboring town of Seymour, Texas. She is shipping something valuable to Claire and wishes her to protect it for Polly, as their Da had kicked Polly out of the family’s tenement apartment. Little does Claire know that what is arriving is her infant nephew, Polly’s baby, and that Polly has sent it with Claire’s old Beau, the baby’s Uncle, Pieter. This story focuses on forgiveness and regaining trust. 

Claire and Pieter both want what is best for baby Liam, but in order to do so they must work through their own troubled past and the feelings of hurt their rash actions have caused each other. Finding someone to help Claire care for Liam is rarely a problem, since Harper’s Station is filled with women, but finding help for Claire’s heart is harder to come by. Don’t we all struggle at times to forgive? It’s just a novella, not a novel, so I'll stop now before I give away too many spoilers!

Mary Connealy’s The Tangled Ties That Bind is the story I’ve been waiting a year to read… as it is from her Kincaid Brides series. When I finished the third book a year or so ago I really wanted it to go on… and not be just a trilogy. I had come to enjoy spending time with the characters and their quirks. This novella transports us a while into the future of the Kincaid family as it focuses on two of the children from the earlier stories - when they have grown up and are looking for they own paths in life. I enjoyed visiting with Audra and Ethan Kincaid again, but more then that, I enjoyed the realistic characters of Connor and Maggie. Having an almost 20 year old myself, I appreciated the struggles Maggie is going through to find her identity, her future plans, and deal with the expectations others might unknowingly have thrust upon her. If you have read and enjoyed any if Mary’s previous books, you’ll want to savor this novella as well. Maybe even read it first when you get your copy of Hearts Entwined!

Regina Jennings’ contribution to this delightful collection is Bound and Determined. Eighteen year old Ambrosia Herald, affectionately called Amber by her father, has determined that her mother’s rose garden is more important than her father's plan rescuing the camels he used in the war. She has decided to go along on his trip to thwart his plans. Private Bradley Willis has been assigned to help Captain Herald retrieve his camels as a punishment for disobedience. This story probably made me laugh the most of all four included in the book. Amber is trying to use her charm to get her way, Private Willis is trying to not get killed by a local gang - or fail the mission and end up with a worse punishment, and Captain Herald is reliving the memories of his time in the war and his companions he had along the way. 

Melissa Jagears is a new-to-me author. Her story Tied and True is set in Kansas City, Missouri in 1908. It tells the tale of Marianne Lister, a young woman who has been brought up with the wealth of her parents, but is currently floundering as she tries to find her own place in society. Her parents expect her to marry within her station in life, but her heart tells her another story. David is the man her parents expect her to marry, but try as she might, Marianne cannot see herself spending the rest of her life as David’s wife, only as his friend. The man that Marianne’s heart has fallen for is Calvin, David’s assistant. 

The themes presented in Tied and True are ones that people have struggled with for centuries across continents. Do you choose to marry because of what is expected of you, or do you defy the standards of society’s expectations and marry for love? Have you ever wondered what you would do in that situation? If yes, then you will enjoy Marianne’s journey to find out who she really is inside, who God has called her to be, and the answer about marriage He has for her.

Whether these four are already favorite authors of yours, or if you’re looking for something new to read, I highly recommend Hearts Entwined to readers of Historical Fiction, especially those who like a little humor in their romances!

Get your copy of Hearts Entwined from Bethany House or your local bookstore. 

Connect with the authors on their websites:

Karen Witemeyer

Mary Connealy

Regina Jennings

Melissa Jagears

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage ~ a Bethany House book review

Take a step back in time to Regency England with Julie Klassen's latest book: The Ladies of Ivy Cottage. The village of Ivy Hill is full of life in this second book in Klassen's Tales From Ivy Hill series. Visit with Miss Rachel Ashford as she tries to find her new place in the world after her recently departed Father's cousin has arrived to lay his claim to her childhood home. Spend time with Miss Mercy Grove while she tries to gain support for a village school, and join Jane Bell as she continues to grow in her role as village Innkeeper. 

Rachel, Mercy, and Jane have been friends since childhood, but each is facing new challenges as they find their circumstances much different than their childhood dreams imagined. The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is a step back into a slower time in England's history, when coaches brought the mail, and the news, and when gentlewomen in reduced circumstances had to be inventive and a little unconventional if they did not wish to become charity cases. In a time when many gentlewomen married for security over love, these three have chosen differently.

I found the storyline intriguing, and a pleasant step away from the typical Regency-Era historical novels as it focuses more on the everyday lives of the villagers than the quest to procure a husband. This story is well-enough put together to stand on its own, but would probably be enjoyed more if it was read as the sequel it was written to be, coming after Klassen's earlier book: The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill. I enjoyed the story of Rachel's search to find herself, a gentlewomen brought up to make a suitable wife, a means of financial support. Her determination to do something to keep herself from becoming reliant upon the charity of her friend Mercy Grove sparked a desire in me to cheer her on in her endeavors. The irony of the young woman who did not particularly care for books becoming the village librarian brought me a smile and a few chuckles. How often does God show us in our own lives that the thing we have been avoiding might be the very thing He wants to use to mature us?

Mercy grove runs a small girls' school in her parents' home and considers herself plain and destined for spinsterhood. Her parents live in their other house in London and her mother has not given up on Mercy's chances at matrimony just yet. Mercy loves to teach and enjoys the freedom her small school affords her. She desires to start another school, this one for the poorer boys and girls of the village, so she spends quite a bit of her free time trying to enlist the financial support of the wealthier members of the village and surrounding countryside. Mercy is Rachel's number one cheerleader in her quest to open and run a circulating library with the books Rachel's father had left her in his will. As Mercy introduces Rachel to her friends in the village's Ladies Tea and Knitting Society, Rachel begins to believe that maybe, just maybe, there might be hope for her yet. This eccentric group of the village's businesswomen offer ideas and support as Rachel works on her fledgling plans for the library.

The opening of Rachel's library brings many visitors to Ivy Cottage, especially several of the village's single men. Both Mercy and Rachel must deal with the unusualness of this in their own ways. As their ventures grow, so does their friendship. Their friend Jane Bell owns the local inn, having inherited it from her deceased husband John. The three women rely upon each other, and learn a deeper reliance upon God as their lives unfold.

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage has a cast of diverse supporting characters, and the ending of this story, while satisfying, leaves open a door to one or more sequels in the series. Overall this was an enjoyable read. It is not a quick read, but encourages you to linger at that slower, earlier pace of life - when each day mattered, and you realized it.


The Ladies of Ivy Cottage is available from Bethany House in paperback, hardcover or E-Book editions.


To learn more about author Julie Klassen, visit her website.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions are mine. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.