After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?
Christmas has always been special to cake decorator Mattie Eash, who was born on the wondrous holiday.
Yet the season has lost its appeal in the three years since then, her childhood sweetheart abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve. Mattie has moved on, left Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania and pursued her dreams of a cake shop in Berlin, Ohio and given her heart to someone new. Someone unlike Gideon Beiler. Someone safe.
Then an unforeseen setback forces her home and into painful proximity to Gideon. Will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy—or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?
I GIVE THIS BOOK:
MY THOUGHTS:
The Christmas Singing was a terrific story! It was one that I didn't want to put down and having only 189 pages is thankfully a book that can be read comfortably in one sitting. Though the story is short, it never felt rushed and it actually came across more like a full-sized novel.
Gideon almost always called Mattie "Mattie-Lane" and he was the only person to call her this. I was wondering why he gave her that nickname and when I finally learned why, I thought it was so sweet.
If you are looking for a sweet, heart-warming novella - this is it! While this story is set during the holiday season, I feel that it is a book that can be enjoyed anytime of the year. However, since I have already read it, I can see myself rereading it every Christmas season.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***
Quinn Robbins' life was everything she thought a teenager's should be. She has good friends, a family that she loves, good grades, and an after-school job she enjoys. And, she's just been asked out by Zander Cunningham, a popular football player and great guy. But one day when driving home after picking up her little sister from the baby-sitter's, she nearly hits a boy who, after running blindly into the street, mysteriously disappears.
The mystery only deepens as she figures out who the boy is; William Rose, a reclusive, awkward boy from school who always has his nose in a pile of books. As she becomes more aware of his behavior it becomes more obvious how out of the ordinary William is and how hard he deliberately tries to blend into the background. This only intrigues her more and she finds herself working to find out more about him, and exactly where he keeps disappearing to.
On a whim one night she follows him and suddenly finds herself in a new world. One where William is a prince, literally, and she is treated like a princess. She also discovers that she is stuck; the gate back to her own world isn't always open.
Quinn finds herself smack in the middle of a modern-day fairy tale, on a course that will change her life forever.
I GIVE THIS BOOK:
MY THOUGHTS: The beginning of Seeds of Discovery was a bit boring, but once Quinn crossed over to the other world, the story became very interesting. The ending was very abrupt, but maybe that is part of the reason I want to read the next book so much!
There were two things that stood out in this book as very different. The first is that William is the fourth child in a family of thirteen and the second is that his family is one that genuinely loves to be around each other.
I thought that many parts of the story were predictable, and that is the main reason I am not giving this book 5 stars. The other reason is that it took awhile for me to get interested in the book.
I think that Seeds of Discovery is a wonderful debut novel. I am looking forward to reading Roots of Insight, the second book in the Dusk Gate Chronicles, which will be available on January 9, 2012.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***
Product Details Paperback: 286 pages Publisher: Musefish Independent Press (September 16, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0983993017 ISBN-13: 978-0983993018 Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches Available to purchase at Amazon
AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
Breeana, welcome to Hardcover Feedback! Would you tell us a little about yourself? I'm not all that exciting of a person, really. :) I'm a single mom of a beautiful little girl who keeps me on my toes all the time. I was an elementary school teacher in public schools for the last eleven years, although I quit my teaching job last May to write and to start my own preschool program. I plan to homeschool my daughter for at least a couple of years and see how that goes.
What are you currently working on? My current writing project is Book Three in The Dusk Gate Chronicles, which does not yet have a title. I've also been excessively busy with the launch of Book Two, Roots of Insight, which releases on Monday.
What or who made the biggest influence on you wanting to become a writer? I don't think there's such a thing as "becoming a writer." There's putting your work out into the public sphere for others, but a writer is someone who writes, and in that sense, I don't remember a time when I wasn't a "writer." I've always loved writing and telling stories. My second grade students were writers, and my four year old daughter is, also, a writer. :)
That being said, my grandmother, Virginia, was a poet. She died when I was eight, and her poems are the biggest piece of her that's left to really get a glimpse into who she was. She was my mom's mom, and she was only 45 when she died. My mom died at age 50. She wasn't a writer -- though I still comb through her belongings looking for things she might have written. Every signature on a Christmas card is special because it's kind of a personal part of her.
After her death, it became very important to me to make sure that my daughter has something she can have. Published or not, something someone has written is just special in a lasting kind of way.
What was the first book you ever wrote about and was it ever published? I don't remember the first book I ever wrote, but no, Seeds of Discovery is the first thing I've ever published. Over the last two decades, most of my writing was pieces I was modeling for my students, journal entries for my daughter, and huge long papers for my Master's degree -- and before that, my Bachelor's.
Do you have any writing habits that people might find unusual? I don't think so. Aside from the fact that I tend to be a very "organic" writer -- I plot as I go along, rather than much beforehand (at least, so far!), my writing habits are very, very typical -- procrastinate, Twitter, procrastinate, write a sentence, Facebook, another sentence, realize it's bedtime and write 2,000 words in a go ... get up the next morning and repeat. :)
I have heard that many authors listen to music while they write. Do you? If so, what do you usually listen to? Sometimes I do. If I do, I usually turn on Pandora. If it's not Pandora, it's piano solos.
Do you have a favorite character or one that is especially close to your heart? Picking a favorite character would be like picking a favorite child -- can't do. They're all close to my heart in different ways, for different reasons.
What is the best gift you have ever received and who gave it to you? Cliche, I know -- but some things are cliche for good reasons -- the best gift I have ever received is my precious little girl. Everything else doesn't matter so much.
What are three things (not people) that you wouldn't want to live without? Hmmm... my cell phone, my laptop, and a ponytail holder. :)
What is something that you have always wanted to do, but just haven't gotten around to it yet? Visit Australia.
All the music in the world is being destroyed and you can only save one album, what would you save and why? I'd get bored of any album after a short amount of time. I'd rather save some musicians who could make music all over again.
What is your all-time favorite book? What is your favorite book you have read this year? I really don't have an all-time favorite book. Too many of them are special to me. And this year? I haven't read as much as I normally do, with the release of two books. But I recently read The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund, and I enjoyed it. My current read is The Daddy Pact by Kristy K. James, and I am enjoying that very much as well.
Are you an early bird or a night owl? A night owl in the extreme. Or, as extreme as one can get when a job calls at seven in the morning. :)
Where can people connect with you online? People can connect with me in a few places.
Thanks you so much Breeana for being on Hardcover Feedback!
Thank you so very much for hosting me! :)
I am giving away an e-copy of Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff. To enter, all you have to do is follow this blog in at least one way and then complete whichever extra entries you want in the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway is open internationally and ends January 11 at 11:59pm (EST).
A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for decades. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families.
When important documents go missing from the house, Libby suspects Michael is the culprit. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find more layers of mystery surrounding Michael and his family. Despite their rivalry, Libby finds herself developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past.
As a decision about the house looms in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing to remain loyal to her family or give her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.
MY THOUGHTS: Before I get to my opinion of the story I have to say that the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous! When I first saw it online I thought it was very pretty, but it's even more beautiful in person; and it's not just the front cover, but the back cover too. Before I read the story I thought the back was nice, but now I see that each object on there represents a part in the story - very clever!
I have to be careful not to give away too much of the story, otherwise I might spoil it for you. I loved how this book didn't seem like a typical novel, where everything is very predictable, but instead slowing unfolded - that made it SO enjoyable!
The Rose of Winslow Street begins with Mikhail Dobrescu, arriving in Colden, MA with his sons (Andrei and Lucca), his two friends (Joseph and Turk), and Lady Mirela after having fled from Romania. It's late in the evening when they arrive at the house on Winslow Street (the Sawyer's house). They discover that no one is at home and quickly make themselves at home.
Once in America, Mikhail decides to change his name to the more American name Michael. At first Michael came across like a brute, however, very quickly a different side of him was shown. I realized that he is a man that cares deeply for his family and is willing to do just about anything to protect them.
Both Michael and Mirela have an air of mystery surrounding them and the story is purposefully vague about why they fled to America. I had an inkling of what Mirela's secret would be, and while I was partly right, I was still shocked by it.
I felt an immediate connection with Libby. There were many times when she was reflecting on painful moments from her childhood which were caused by a secret she had, and I felt so bad for her. However, there is one scene in the book that was so heart-wrenching that it made me cry and at the same time so mad!
I learned Libby's secret on page 23 and it's something that everybody in Colden knows, so it's not really a secret there, but when she goes to her brother's summer house no one there knows about it. I was quite surprised when I first read what her secret was - it was very unexpected!
The Rose of Winslow Street is Camden's second book, but it's the first one I have read by her. I loved every page of this book and highly recommend it. For those who don't read Historical fiction that often, I think this is one for which you should make an exception. For those who LOVE Historical fiction, I think you will LOVE this book too and it will become a favorite.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***
If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!
Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years (first in advertising, then as a fiction editor) and now writes full time. Two of her books, The Girl in the Gatehouse and The Silent Governess won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Girl in the Gatehouse also won a Midwest Book Award and The Silent Governess was a finalist in Romance Writers of America's RITA awards.
She graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoys travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends. Julie and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt--and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?
Observing both brothers as an "invisible" servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?
On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of "serve one another in love."
MY THOUGHTS: The Maid of Fairbourne Hall is a masterfully woven novel that drew me in from the first sentence, and didn't let me go until the conclusion. At first, I didn't think I was going to like Margaret at all. She seemed very self-centered, spoiled, and inconsiderate. However, my view of her changed very quickly and soon I absolutely loved her.
Margaret's father-in-law is such a horribly greedy man. He is willing and actually encourages his nephew, Marcus, to compromise Margaret in the hopes of making her marry Marcus. His plan backfires when she overhears him telling Marcus this and she flees the house that night!
I really like the scene when Margaret is cleaning the upstairs bedrooms, one is messy and the other one is nearly pristine. She immediately assumes that the neat one is Lewis's bedroom and is shocked when she discovers it is Nathaniel's. This is just the first thing she discovers she is wrong about Nathaniel.
I loved this book and think it is Julie's best work to date. I have read all of Julie's other books and this is now my favorite. I highly recommend The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. If you decide to read it, make sure that you start it when you have enough time to read it in one sitting; because if you find that you enjoy it as much as I did, you won't want to put it down. I foolishly started it late in the evening and wound up staying up very late to finish it.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Karen Baney for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Karen Baney, in addition to writing Christian historical fiction and contemporary novels, works as a Software Engineer. Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs. She also holds a Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University.
Social butterfly, Caroline Larson, longs for adventure. Since her best friend left Texas, she grows dissatisfied with her life. A little lie to her parents sends her on the journey of her life. Stranded in the Arizona desert, far from her final destination, she must rely on a stranger who gets under her skin.
Thomas Anderson has always struggled with making good decisions. A twist of fate, or Providence, leads him to Arizona to take a job as an express rider. Dealing with the ghosts of his past threatens to overshadow his future—until he meets a woman needing his help. Sparks fly as she grates on his nerves.
As they both struggle to move beyond their past mistakes, will they find their lives restored?
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 330 pages
Publisher: Karen Baney (August 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 098354865X
ISBN-13: 978-0983548652
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Wickenburg, Arizona Territory
August 19, 1865
The stagecoach bounced over the rough terrain. Caroline Larson tried not to slide into the man sitting next to her on the hard, bare wood seat. The least they could have done was put some upholstering on the thing. Then she would not be jostled so much from the side against the window to the poor young man next to her.
Another jolt of the Celerity stagecoach shoved her into his side once again.
“Sorry,” she murmured, glancing at the young man.
“No harm, Miss.” A smirk played on his lips causing the jagged scar on his right cheek to wrinkle unattractively. She wondered how he got the scar. The hint of laughter in his voice indicated he was enjoying this.
Caroline stifled a snort of disgust as she turned to look out the opening with a small canvas cover secured to the top of the window frame. The dust billowing up from the front wheels obscured much of the view, filtering into the interior of the stage. The small town—if one could call it that—of Wickenburg faded behind them. The only good thing about facing the rear of the stage was that she did not have to endure a face full of dust with each breath.
The stage jerked violently, propelling the man across from her forward, landing awkwardly in her lap. She turned her shocked green eyes towards him, narrowing them slightly until the red of embarrassment tinged his cheeks. He offered profuse apologies as he tried to return to his designated seat.
She should have listened to Millie. She and her father had acted as chaperones, escorting Caroline west. Unfortunately, their travels ended in Wickenburg. Millie and her father assured her they would take her the rest of the way to Prescott by mid-September. But, she had come this far and did not want to wait another month or more before being reunited with her brother Adam and her best friend Julia.
As the stage crossed over a huge bump, sending Caroline airborne for a few seconds, her mind returned to her present circumstance. Despite Millie’s concern, she boarded the stage this morning headed for Prescott. Things were just fine. She could handle the inquisitive looks of these men.
Abruptly, the stage skidded to a halt, propelling Caroline into the arms of the man across from her. Her almost apology died on the tip of her tongue.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Rifle fire echoed in her ears. Her head snapped towards the window. The driver fell from his perch on the front of the stage. As she jerked forward, the young man with scar clasped his hand down on her arm. She turned her eyes toward him. He lifted a finger to his lips and shook his head. He pushed her back against the seat, out of the view of the window.
“What’d ya do that fer?” another voice sounded.
“I told him not to reach for his gun.”
Caroline froze. The stage was being robbed!
“Y’all come out slow like,” the first man shouted.
“Miss,” the man with the scar whispered. “Let me go first to make sure it’s safe for you.”
A lump formed in her throat. She watched as he exited the stage. Maybe she had been too quick to judge him earlier.
“How many more of you are in there?” the first robber’s voice asked.
“Just four more,” the man with the scar answered.
That was not true. There were four more men. And her. What was he doing?
“Come out nice and slow.”
The rest of the men did as instructed. Caroline hesitated in the shadows, wondering if the scar-faced man—now she wished she would have asked his name—was trying to protect her. Tapping her finger against her temple rapidly, she tried to figure a way out of this situation. Scanning the landscape offered no solutions. Nothing but vast open desert presented itself. There was no place to hide.
For the first time in her eighteen years, Caroline had no solution. No plan.
“Bart!” the first robber yelled. “Check out the stage. Make sure no one else is lurking around.”
She heard the distinct sound of a man dismounting a horse. Moments later, shuffling feet sounded just outside of the stagecoach door. Flattening herself into the shadows as much as possible, Caroline wished she had not worn her bright yellow dress this morning. Her dark green would serve much better to hide her now.
“Looksee here,” Bart said with a broken toothed smile. “Come here missy.”
He leaned in and caught hold of her foot.
“Unhand me,” she said before realizing she had destroyed any hope of hiding her presence from Bart’s boss.
As Bart tugged harder on her ankle, she slid off the seat, landing with a thud on the floor of the stage. Kicking his face with her other foot, she freed herself long enough to make a somewhat graceful exit. Bart’s beefy arms clamped around her shoulders as soon as her feet hit the ground. He shuffled her to the line of passengers.
Bart flung her toward the scarred man who helped her earlier. The force was so hard she lost her balance and landed at his feet with a whimper. When he knelt to help her up, the robber cocked his pistol, stopping him in mid-crouch. All she could see was the scar on the passenger’s face as she tried to control her breathing. It wasn’t as noticeable now as it had been before. For some reason, she found that comforting.
The air rushed from Robert Garrett’s lungs. In all his life he had never been this lucky. There was no mistaking those flashing green eyes. The young woman Bart just pulled from the stage was definitely Caroline Larson.
As his lackey, Bart, pushed her forward, she fell at one of the passenger’s feet. Robert cocked his gun, leveling it at the passenger.
“I think she can stand on her own,” he said, covering his momentary shock.
When the passenger made no further move to help her, Robert pointed his gun at Caroline. His sinister smile hid behind the red bandana covering his face. She straightened with that defiant look she always had etched haughtily on her face. He would relish wiping that expression away later. He had to finish the business at hand first.
He spoke with an exaggerated accent to further disguise his identity, not that Caroline would recognize his true identity if she saw his full face. “Now, I want y’all to empty your pockets of all yer valuables and place ‘em in the bag Bart has. We don’t want no trouble, so just do as yer told. Otherwise, I might decide to empty my pistol into this little gal.”
Robert plotted his next move, while Bart went down the line taking all the valuables from each of the passengers, including Caroline Larson. He hated her blasted brother, Adam, almost as much as he hated Will Colter. Almost. Patience. You’ll have your revenge soon enough.
A slow plan was always much better than a hurried one. In fact, robbing this stage had been a bit hurried—it’s how he ended up doing it himself, instead of hiring it out. It was a dangerous move to get his hands dirty. After this, he would distance himself from the execution of his plans. Too risky. But, if he hadn’t been here, he wouldn’t have seen Caroline and the ideas taking shape in his head would be a missed opportunity.
First things first. He had to finish this job then rendezvous with his other men. He would have his associate pay off Bart before taking the stage horses to La Paz to sell. He would instruct his associate to return to the stagecoach, where he would leave Caroline alive, and have his associate fetch her and take her to the small shack on the outskirts of his property. He’d let the men have fun with her, as long as they kept her alive. He needed her if he was going to ransom her for money.
Oh, Adam Larson wouldn’t have anywhere near enough funds to rescue her. That would be part of the fun. And it would be what would force Will Colter to get involved.
The best part was that no one would have any idea he was involved in any of this. He would clean up, shave, and change into his fine clothes after his meeting with his associate. Then he would head back into Wickenburg and spend the night at the hotel before heading out to Prescott tomorrow as the respectable Robert Garrett.
Inwardly, the swell of anticipation for the next phase of his revenge sent giddy shivers up and down his spine. He would come back despite all that Colter and Larson took from him and he would do it while destroying them.
When Bart stopped in front of her, Caroline realized she would need to part with her items as well. Slowly she unfastened the broach her mother gave her and let it slip into the bag. Then she emptied her reticule, thankful she had taken the time to discretely hide half of her money elsewhere on her person this morning.
Once the man had a full bag, he began dumping luggage from the back of the stage, littering things everywhere. He picked through her trunk, strewing her clothing on the dusty ground. Finding nothing of worth there, he went to the next trunk. After several minutes ticked by, he announced he was finished with his search.
Then the boss man dismounted his horse. He came straight towards her. With a small bandana in his hands, he shoved her over to one side of the stage.
“What are you doing?” the scarred man asked, making a move towards the robber.
The robber turned and shot him.
Caroline gasped as the man’s body fell limp in a pool of blood. As his face relaxed, the scar became almost invisible. A tear trickled down her cheek.
“Any more questions?” the robber asked. When no one moved, he added, “Good.”
He turned her back towards him, pushing her face into the side of the coach. She tried to struggle, but stopped when he pressed the barrel of his pistol against her neck. When she stilled, he yanked her hands behind her back and tied them together with the bandana. Then he shoved her to the ground.
“Stay,” he commanded. “And don’t give me no trouble.”
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as she watched helplessly. He unhitched the team of four horses from the stagecoach. He barked another command to Bart, who then led the remaining four men to the other side of the stage.
At the first rifle shot, Caroline jumped. Looking through the undercarriage, she saw two of the men who sat across from her lying in a heap on the ground. Blood soaked their clothing and the odd angle of their bodies suggested they died from the same shot. Two more rapid rapports of a pistol were followed by the harsh thud of another man hitting the ground.
Tears streamed down her face as she heard the pleas of the last man. The echo of a rifle cut off his cries. Glancing over to the other side of the coach, she saw his body land on the others.
Quickly, she looked away. Fear squeezed her heart. She would be next.
Raising her knees to her chest, she buried her face in the folds of her skirt, as well as she could with her hands still tied behind her back. Lord, help. I shouldn’t have lied to papa. But, I need you. I don’t want to die.
The sound of men mounting their horses brought her eyes up.
“Boss, ain’t ya fergetting something?” Bart asked.
The robber turned dark eyes on her. “Naw. I ain’t about to kill a woman. Let her be.”
“We just gonna leave her?”
“Yeah. Desert will kill her soon ‘nough.”
Those were the last words she heard before the robber’s loud “Yaw” forced the unhitched stage horses into motion between him and Bart.
Caroline stared after their dust cloud for what seemed like hours, still stunned that she had come out of the ordeal unscathed.
When she was certain they were gone, she stood, arms still tied behind her back. Looking around, she found a rough metal edge to the harness system on the front of the stage. Kneeling awkwardly, she rubbed the bandana against the metal until her hands were free.
Flexing her fingers in front of her, she stopped short at the blood on them. Reaching down to her petticoat, she ripped off a strip and wrapped her cut left hand.
Her stomach revolted at the thought of what she must do next. Taking a few deep breaths, she walked toward the scar-faced man. Crouching down beside him, she searched for any sign of life. There was none. She didn’t even get to thank him. She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her dress.
Caroline proceeded to the other side of the stagecoach. Three of the men’s bodies were piled one on top of the other. She wasn’t strong enough to move the first to check on the other two, though she could see no evidence that any survived.
The last man lay prostrate nearby. As she approached, she thought she heard him groan. When she kneeled next to him, his body shook violently. She managed to turn him over just as the last spark of life slipped from his eyes.
Jumping to her feet, she staggered to the other side of the wagon. Sinking to her knees, she let the tears fall down her face. Her stomach roiled at all she witnessed. Crawling on her hands and knees she moved only a few feet before she lost the contents of her stomach.
Wiping the back of her hand across her mouth, she despaired. Was she going to die before ever reaching Prescott?
Then the guilt settled in. If only she had stayed in Texas and married Nathan Finley. She wouldn’t be in this fine mess.
Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt—and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?
Observing both brothers as an "invisible" servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?
On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of "serve one another in love."
What I am currently reading: "Consider this a warning." Lately, nurse Monica Grant feels she's being watched. Followed. And then she receives a threatening letter—accompanied by a dead snake. If she doesn't stop her plans to open a free children's clinic, she'll end up dead, too. Terrified, Monica turns to former lawman Shaun O'Neill—who believes the same madman murdered his own sister five years before. She understands how much it means to the handsome, heart-guarding man to save her—and her dream. Even if he has to lure a deadly stalker out of the shadows—straight toward himself.
What I hope to read this week:
The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for twenty years. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts, with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to his father. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families.
When Libby’s father’s most important and sensitive documents go missing, Michael and his family are the likely culprits. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find herself unconvinced that Michael’s to blame and at risk of developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past.
When it seems the papers have indeed made it into the wrong hands and a decision about the house is pending in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing a side and giving her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.
An Amish settlement in Ohio has run afoul of a law requiring their children to attend public school. Caleb Bender and his neighbors are arrested for neglect, with the state ordering the children be placed in an institution. Among them are Caleb's teenage daughter, Rachel, and the boy she has her eye on, Jake Weaver. Romance blooms between the two when Rachel helps Jake escape the children's home. Searching for a place to relocate his family where no such laws apply, Caleb learns there's inexpensive land for sale in Mexico, a place called Paradise Valley. Despite rumors of instability in the wake of the Mexican revolution, the Amish community decides this is their answer. And since it was Caleb's idea, he and his family will be the pioneers. They will send for the others once he's established a foothold and assessed the situation. Caleb's daughters are thrown into turmoil. Rachel doesn't want to leave Jake. Her sister, Emma, who has been courting Levi Mullet, fears her dreams of marriage will be dashed. Miriam has never had a beau and is acutely aware there will be no prospects in Mexico. Once there, they meet Domingo, a young man and guide who takes a liking to Miriam, something her father would never approve. While Paradise Valley is everything they'd hoped it would be, it isn't long before the bandits start giving them trouble, threatening to upset the fledgling Amish settlement, even putting their lives in danger. Thankfully no one has been harmed so far, anyway.
Bandit troubles intensify as Caleb Bender's family tries to settle into their new life in 1920s Paradise Valley. When El Pantera kidnaps Rachel and leaves her brother, Aaron, for dead, Jake Weaver and the Mexican native Domingo pursue the bandit leader to his mountain stronghold in a hopeless rescue attempt. Jake and Domingo manage to escape with Rachel, with the bandits hot on their trail. In a desperate attempt to avoid recapture, Domingo puts himself squarely in harm's way, giving Jake and Rachel time to get away. This is not the quiet life Caleb Bender envisioned when he led his family out of Ohio. What is a father to make of his daughter's obvious affection for a man outside the fold? And how will a pacifist Amishman like Caleb respond to the events that threaten his family and their way of life?
Quinn Robbins' life was everything she thought a teenager's should be. She has good friends, a family that she loves, good grades, and an after-school job she enjoys. And, she's just been asked out by Zander Cunningham, a popular football player and great guy. But one day when driving home after picking up her little sister from the baby-sitter's, she nearly hits a boy who, after running blindly into the street, mysteriously disappears. The mystery only deepens as she figures out who the boy is; William Rose, a reclusive, awkward boy from school who always has his nose in a pile of books. As she becomes more aware of his behavior it becomes more obvious how out of the ordinary William is and how hard he deliberately tries to blend into the background. This only intrigues her more and she finds herself working to find out more about him, and exactly where he keeps disappearing to.
On a whim one night she follows him and suddenly finds herself in a new world. One where William is a prince, literally, and she is treated like a princess. She also discovers that she is stuck; the gate back to her own world isn't always open.
Quinn finds herself smack in the middle of a modern-day fairy tale, on a course that will change her life forever.
After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?
