Sunday, August 19, 2018

My Heart Belongs in Gettysburg by Murray Pura

When War Reaches Clarissa’s Back Door, the Trustworthy Become Even Fewer.
Journey into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, of 1863 where Clarissa Avery Ross lives a full life. By day she is the daughter of a respectable shoemaker being courted by seminary student Kyle Forrester. But by night she is a conductor on the Underground Railroad, working with a mysterious man called Liberty. She would like to share her work with Kyle, but he refuses to enlist when the war breaks out. How can she remain true to a man being labeled a coward? When the war comes to her back door in an epic battle, the greatest challenges to her faith and love are yet to come.

I just finished reading this book and have mixed emotions about it.  I was excited to read about the battle at Gettysburg since I had recently visited there.  It seemed to me the book could have used less about the characters inner thoughts.  They seemed to go on and on sometimes.  To be it was more a filler.  Once you've stated your opinion go on.  I found myself skimming some of these parts. That said I did enjoy the action parts about the Underground Railroad.  I must confess I had Liberty's identity figured out before it was revealed in the book.  All this being said, it was a good book. 

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.


Freedom's Light by Colleen Coble

A young lighthouse keeper must navigate the dangerous waters of revolution and one man’s obsession with her to find safe harbor with the sea captain she loves.
Hannah Thomas believes she’s escaped Galen Wright’s evil intentions by marrying an older lighthouse keeper. Seemingly safe in faraway Massachusetts, her world is upended when John is killed in one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Hannah is allowed to continue the difficult task of tending the twin lighthouses in John’s place, though she faces daily disapproval from John’s family. She thinks her loneliness will subside when her younger sister arrives, but she finds Lydia’s obsession with Galen only escalates the dangerous tides swirling around her.

A stormy night brings a shipwrecked sea captain to Hannah’s door, and though he is a Tory, her heart is as traitorous as the dark-eyed captain. Even though she discovers Birch Meredith isn’t the enemy he seemed at first, Hannah isn’t sure their love will ever see the light of freedom.

A very interesting story about the Revolutionary War era.  It also depicts the narrow mindedness of some of the church leaders of the time.   Overall it was a very good story.  There was no great mystery, but there was times when I had to continue reading to find out what happened next.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

As a first-year law associate, Sydney Batson knows she will be updating her resume by New Year’s if she loses her current court case. So when her grandmother gets inexplicably ill while she’s in court, Sydney arranges for a cab to get her to the clinic.

The last thing cab driver Finn Parrish wants is to be saddled with a wheelchair-bound old lady with dementia. But because Miss Callie reminds him of his own mother, whom he failed miserably in her last days, he can’t say no when she keeps calling him for rides. Once a successful gourmet chef, Finn’s biggest concern now is making his rent, but half the time Callie doesn’t remember to pay him. And as she starts to feel better, she leads him on wild goose chases to find a Christmas date for her granddaughter.

When Finn meets Sydney, he’s quite sure that she’s never needed help finding a date. Does Miss Callie have an ulterior motive, or is this just a mission driven by delusions? He’s willing to do whatever he can to help fulfill Callie’s Christmas wish. He just never expected to be a vital part of it.

What a good "feel good" book.  Finn and Sydney are both in a struggle about finding themselves.  Finn has a failed restaurant and Sydney is trying to win an unwinnable case in court.  Her bosses don't see the need for her to take time off the take care of her ailing grandmother.  Finn keeps telling everyone he's just the cab driver.  As the story unfolds, they both find what's the most important.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a feel good book.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Tressa Harlowe's father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn't take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they're really up to. She'll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father's fortune--before someone else finds it first.

This book is about greed and what it can do to people.  Tressa has to find her fathers fortune so they can pay their bills so they don't get kicked off their estate.  Her mother thinks Tressa can just produce the money.  Her ex fiance shows up all contrite for breaking off their engagement.  Her cousin and his wife show up to offer their support.  All the while, all they are doing is searching for the fortune with no intentions of sharing.  Then there's the new estate manager.  Tress doesn't know what to think about him.  Is he after the fortune or does he really want to help.

Parts of the book were good.  Other parts were kind of slow.  Overall, it was an enjoyable book with some twists and turns. 

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.