Review of Amongst the Roses

Title: Amongst the Roses

Author: Meghan M. Gorecki

Chapters: 36

Genre: Christian Historical

Rating: 3.5 stars

With Amongst the Roses by Meghan M. Gorecki I didn't know what I was going to think when I finished reading the book. I've never really liked books set during the Civil War. I think it's because of the whole damsel in distress they imply about women during that time period. I don't think that was how women actually were during that time.  Having read Wrapped in Red a Christmas novella by Meghan previously I knew how she writes and was willing to give this book a chance. 

I will say that Amongst the Roses isn't your typical Civil War book, for one thing it takes place in the North Pennsylvania   to be exact. The Northern setting gave a different view of the war.  We get the story from three points of view; Margaret Bryant, Connor Doyle and Adam Doyle two Irish brothers who find themselves enlisted in the Union Army though only one of them wanted to enlist.   I enjoyed Connor’s and Adams view, and reading how the Irish still had it in the United States even after many Irish families had been in the US for close to twenty years by this point.  I will admit that I wasn’t fond of Margaret or Maggie as Connor and his sister like to call her. Mainly because of the way she acted at the beginning of the novel, but by the end of the novel I was rooting for her.  But her growth as a character is what makes the book worth reading.

     I do like that in Meghan’s novel the battlefield scenes aren’t describe in graphic detail which is different from most war novels.  Amongst the Roses is a Christian Historical novel that takes a realistic look at the American Civil War. However as a warning to readers it is bittersweet but then most war novels are.  The cliff hanger at the end has me ready and excited for the next book in the series.   

 I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

True to you

Title: True to you

Author: Becky Wade

Series: Bradford Sisters Romance book 1

 

Pages: 373

Genre: Christian Romance

Rating: 5 stars

     True to you is the first book in the Bradford Sisters Romance by Becky Wade. Nora Bradford is a genealogist who loves researching people's families and helping them find answers. Former Navy SEAL John Lawson needs to find his birth family in order to find out about his inherited condition.   True to you was a sweet story and an even sweeter romance. 

     Even though I miss the Porter series I loved this first book in the Bradford Sister. Nora has become my favorite heroine of Becky's. Not only is Nora a genealogist and I believe librarian she's a booknerd. Who loves BBC drama's a girl after my own heart.  I have to say we need more needy heroines in fiction.   Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Not Yet Unsung

Title: A Not Yet Unsung

Author: Tamera Alexander

Series: Belmont Mansion book 3

 

Chapters: 40

Pages: 430

Genre: Christian Historical fiction/ Christian Historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

     What's a young woman who just happens to be a master violinist to do when she denied entry to the Nashville Philharmonic, just because she's a woman? If you're Rebekah Carrington and Nathaniel Whitcomb the young conductor who turned you down you do what you can to prove him wrong.  You end up working as a music teacher for the children of Miss Adelicia Acklen Cheatham mistress of Belmont Mansion.

     What neither Rebekah nor Nathaniel realize is that they both need each other in order to make their dreams come true along with God.   

     A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander is the third and final book in the Belmont Mansion series. It's my favorite of this series and not just for the musical aspect I love good violin music. I am a violinist myself though not good enough to play in an orchestra. I also loved the love story.  I hate to say it but I love hate to love, love stories.  I am looking forward to reading the final book in the Belle Meade series next and whatever books Tamera Alexander has in the future. 

These Healing Hills

Title: These Healing Hills

Author: Ann H Gabhart

Chapters: 43

Pages: 345

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction/ Christian historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

     Francine Howard thought she had her future planned out, but life and God has other plans. She had thought that with WWII ending she be planning a wedding. Instead, she finds her in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky.  As a nurse-midwife student at the Frontier Nursing Service, she starts to find her purpose in life again. She finds herself falling in love with the area and the people.  She doesn't want to fall in love again.

     Ben Locke is a solider that is happy to have made it home to his beloved Kentucky hills.  He just wants to forget the horrors of war and move on.  He doesn't know what else he wants to do with his life, though as a medic in the war he has the option to use the GI bill to expand on that. He doesn't want to fall for an outsider who could leave at any moment.

     I went into These Healing Hills knowing I was going to love it and I did.  I've loved all of Ann H Gabhart books I've read and this was one was no different.  I also loved that it was a part of Kentucky history of a nursing service that is still very much still in use today.

     As a child who loved history especially Kentucky history as it is my own state, I was fascinated by not only the Frontier Nursing service started by Mary Breckinridge and the pack horse librarians. I think the pack horse stories are one thing that leads me to become a library employee.  I am looking forward to her next book.

I received a complimentary copy of These Healing Hills from Netgalley . I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

A Name Unknown

Title:  A Name Unknown

Author: Roseanna M. White

Series: Shadows over England Book 1

 

Chapters: 28

Pages: 428

Genre: Christian Historical fiction/ Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 4 stars

     Rosemary Gresham is an orphan young woman who is a part of gang of pickpockets and thief. However Rosemary and her "family" only steal from those who can afford it.  But then a man called Mr. V hires her to find out if an Englishman with German blood Peter Holstein is indeed loyal to England. However there is more than meets the eye to Peter he's an author who writes novels. Just not under his own name not a pen name.

     Rosemary pretends to be a librarian in order to gain access to his house and library.  She however doesn't know exactly what's she is looking for. However she is willing to do whatever it takes to do the job and find out what Mr. V is paying her to find out. Because the amount of money she'll get will help her family out.

     But the longer Rosemary stays the more she learns. And what she learns is that not everything as it seems. Peter isn't like any rich person Rosemary has every meet before.  Peter also isn't your typical hero he has a slight stutter but to that me it made him an even better hero, because of the way that he chose to communicate with Rosemary.

     With A Name Unknown you will discover that both Peter and Rosemary have a lot to learn about themselves and each other. But more importantly they both have to learn to try God.  Normally with Roseanna's books I don't tend to love the first book in the series but I loved A Name Unknown. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.