adult Christian fiction

Handsome appearance counts for naught unless matched by good character and actions.

That’s the firm opinion of not-so-meek minister’s daughter Lavinia Ellison. So even though all the other villagers of St. Hampton Heath are swooning over the newly returned seventh Earl of Hawkesbury, she is not impressed. If a man won’t take his responsibilities seriously and help those who are supposed to be able to depend on him, he deserves no respect from her. In Lavinia’s pretty, gray eyes, Nicholas Stamford is just as arrogant and reckless as his brother–who stole the most important person in Livvie’s world.

Nicholas is weighed down by his own guilt and responsibility, by the pain his careless brother caused, and by the legacy of war he’s just left. This quick visit home to St. Hampton Heath will be just long enough to ease a small part of that burden. Asking him to bother with the lives of the villagers when there’s already a bailiff on the job is simply too much to expect.

That is, until the hoydenish, intelligent, and very opinionated Miss Ellison challenges him to see past his pain and pride. With her angelic voice in his head, he may even be beginning to care. But his isn’t the only heart that needs to change.

These two lonely hearts may each have something the other needs. But with society’s opposition, ancestral obligations, and a shocking family secret, there may be too many obstacles in their way.

If you’re a fan of Regency romance, you’ll love The Elusive Miss Ellison.  It has it all – inter-class attraction, a poor village in need of attention, a faith journey by one unaware, slanderous gossip by the wealthy, drama, tragedy, and more.   I think Miller’s book would attract even those unfamiliar with this time period because of the great drama and repartee that lies within these pages.

I loved the descriptions.  From ball gowns to wild blossoms by the roadway, Miller set the backdrop to each scene well.  I could picture how it must look and loved the extra oomph that gave to the story.

Nicholas is a very complex character.  With much tragedy in his past and unwanted responsibility now sitting on his shoulders, he struggles to deal with it all, and yet he comes across as a now-honorable man, at least most of the time.  I found myself wanting him to fare well even when he wasn’t behaving well, and yet you could see the man that he could be. 

The best element to Miller’s writing, though, was the way that she wrote subtle mysteries into the story.  This wasn’t an ordinary historical romance; she fed you small pieces of backstory at unexpected times, often when you hadn’t been sure there was even more to tell.  I loved the way that more kept coming just when I wanted it.

There are more books coming soon in the Regency Brides series – I can’t wait to read them.

You can read other reviews on this bloggy hop here or purchase your own copy here.

    

I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity.  All opinions are my own.

After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne’s brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king’s mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

Jocelyn Green has penned an epic new adventure saga in The Mark of the King.  A fantastic and dramatic look at life in the French Louisiana colony in the early 1720s, I couldn’t put it down.

There were so many aspects of history that Green wrote into this book that I was completely unaware even existed; I didn’t realize that any part of North America was ever forcibly populated by criminals; that there were wars between the French and the local Native Americans long prior to the well-known French and Indian War; that New Orleans was a planned city, and much, much more.  Knowing that these true historical facts formed the basis of this story made it even more exciting.

Not that it wasn’t on its own.  Life was hard in New Orleans, and Julianne faced more than any one woman should ever have to endure.  I constantly wondered at her persistence and diligence, because I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have her outlook if I lived in her circumstances.  The humidity and mosquitos alone would have done me in!  Her faith and character are to be admired and can teach much.

I loved Green’s smooth writing style, too.  Each time I thought I had something figured out, due to words that stood out or perceived foreshadowing, the story swung into a new direction.  I never saw it coming, but the transitioning was smooth, and the details made it all fit perfectly as events unfolded.  That can’t be easy to do, but it makes for a fabulous story.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction of any kind, definitely give Green’s The Mark of the King a try.

Click here to see more reviews in this bloggy hop or here to purchase your own copy now.

 

I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity.  All opinions are my own.

About Pursuing Gold:  With his father dead and his business partner incapacitated, Peter Chandler inherits the leadership of a bank in economic crisis. With only a newly-minted college degree and little experience, Peter joins his partner’s daughter, Mary Beth Roper, in a struggle to keep C&R Bank afloat while the Civil War rages around Chattanooga. Political pressure for unsecured loans of gold to the government stirs up trouble as tempers and prices rise. Their problems multiply when Mary Beth discovers counterfeit money with Peter’s forged signature. Can they find the forger before the bank fails? The two friends must pursue gold on behalf of their business, as they learn to pursue their heavenly Father to find hope and peace.

Simmons has sketched a tale of deceit, loss, and love in the midst of the chaos of the Civil War.  I’ve never before thought about how banks survived during wartime before the FDIC was backing them, but Simmons examines that reality in great detail in this new story.

I’ve always wondered about the details of how our country converted from metal coinage to paper money, and that idea is discussed a bit in the book.  I enjoyed reading about the Peter’s struggle to grow from his book education to becoming a wise business owner, especially during such a turbulent time. 

Simmons’ writing style is a bit more abrupt than I’m used to; there were many transitions between settings and characters, and while it may not be more than other stories, the distinct labeling made it feel like many.  Those transitions often came on the heels of a revelation or announcement for the main character of that section, and those big ideas were followed with little information about how that character felt.  I think that including those emotions, whether directly or indirectly, fills out the story; however, after a few chapters, I adjusted to Simmons’ style and enjoyed the story greatly.

While I felt I could point out the guilty culprit with some certainty throughout the story, I was never sure how the crime was being accomplished.  In the end, Simmons surprised me completely.  I wasn’t completely wrong about the guilty party, but the motivation came completely out of left field.  It’s a great thing when the author can keep me guessing until the very moment that the ending is revealed!

Simmons chose a very unique angle when creating this story. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you should definitely give Pursuing Gold a try.

Click here to read other reviews on this bloggy hop or here to purchase your own copy now.

Cynthia L Simmons and her husband, Ray, have five children and reside in Atlanta. She has taught for over thirty years as a homeschool mother and Bible teacher. She’s a columnist for Leading Hearts Magazine and she directs Atlanta Christian Writing Conference. Cyndi has a heart for encouraging women in today’s crazy, upside-down world. She loves history and peppers her speaking and teaching with fascinating vignettes from the past. Her first book, “Struggles and Triumphs,” was nominated for 2008 Georgia Author of the Year. She co-founded Homeschool Answers and hosts Heart of the Matter Radio.

Find out more about Cynthia at http://clsimmons.com.

I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Grant McAllister arrives in Murphy, North Carolina, with one aim: to sell his inherited property and leave as quickly as possible.

The big-city lawyer has no interest in his late, estranged grandparents or the dilapidated mansion he just acquired. After his high-profile divorce, he should be avoiding perky reporters, too. But Jami Carlisle is honest, funny, and undeniably appealing.

After breaking up with her safe-but-smothering boyfriend, Jami is determined to ace her first big assignment. A story about the McAllister estate is too intriguing to ignore—much like its handsome, commitment-phobic heir. Thanks to her digging, the pieces of Grant’s fraught family history are gradually fitting into place, but also upending all his old beliefs.

The two draw closer as they share their dreams, until misread signals and misunderstandings begin to test their trust. But in the unspoiled beauty of the Smoky Mountains, there’s healing and forgiveness to be found. And for Grant, this unplanned detour may be just what’s needed to finally guide him home…

Post puts North Carolina’s best foot forward in this new, fairytale romance.  With the North Carolina mountains creating both a vivid and exciting backdrop for Trust My Heart, there’s always a new adventure around the corner.  I love the way that Post exploited the natural beauty of the mountains and pulled the setting so strongly into the story.

Jami was an exciting character, too.  Her friendliness and courage in face of adversity make her my favorite kind of leading lady.  Grant’s not such a bad leading man, though, either.  With a few glaring flaws but the sincerity and drive to overcome them, I appreciate his willingness to make major life changes.

The supporting cast of characters really made the story.  Bernie’s antics were just hilarious, and Jami’s friends made great back-up people.  I’d love to read their stories, too.  With such colorful characters in the background and a strong setting, Trust My Heart puts me in mind of the Mitford books.  If you love Jan Karon’s work, definitely give Trust My Heart a try.

Click here to read other reviews in this bloggy hop or here to purchase your own copy now.