The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What country would you set a new book?  I realized that while I love L.M. Montgomery, I don’t read many books set in Canada.  The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Sutz is set in Toronto Canada in 1837.  I read this while on a camping trip to Duluth, Minnesota.  I just returned this evening and I am a bit late with my post.

Sara O’Conner is a young widow trying to make ends meet as a laundress.  She befriends a motherless child, Evie, and through her, her father James.  After Evie falls ill with scarlatina, Sara nurses her back to health and stays on as her governess.  Sara’s new role in the home causes scandal across town.  Why is a laundress so educated?  What secret is she trying to hide?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved the romance between Sara and James.  It was slow burn, and a marriage of convenience.

·       I loved Sara and Evie’s relationship.  It was made all the more special as Sara had lost her own mother as a child. She sympathized with Evie and did not want her to have the hard life that she herself endured.

·       I loved Henry, a poor young waif, who is sharp and knows all that is going on around town.  He helps Sara, Evie, and James through many pickles.  They help him too.

·       Ivanhoe is featured prominently throughout the novel and the characters enjoy reading and discussing it.  I still need to read Ivanhoe!

·       I had never heard of the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.  I enjoyed learning about it in the story and the author’s note at the end of the novel.

·       This is my first book by Christine Hill Suntz and it won’t be my last!  It is hard to believe this was her debut novel.  It was very beautifully written with great characters.

·       Sara has lost her faith through life’s trials, but James has kept his own faith.  Sara has a journey back to faith in this novel. 

·       This was a clean read.

·       There were great discussion questions at the end of the book.

Overall, The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz was an engaging historical romance with wonderful characters set in Toronto in 1837.  I highly recommend this fabulous debut.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @christinehillsuntz @tyndalehouse @crazy4fiction @austenprose for the review copy as a part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.

Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep (Austenprose PR Tour)

 

Title:  Of Silver and Secrets

Author:  Michelle Griep

Narrated by:  Sarah Zimmerman

Publisher: Tantor Media

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 32 minutes

Source: Thank you, @michellegriep @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose for the physical book copy as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.  I purchased an audiobook version on Audible.

Have you visited any archeological digs?  I’ve been to a few museums that have digs going on and I find it fascinating.  I also love museum displays that show things that were found when they dug through areas like the outhouse.  I took an Intro to Archaeology class while in college and I loved it. 

Eva Inman is in a pickle.  After her father’s death, she discovers that their family finances are in dire straits.  Her father’s last wish was that she keep their family estate.  She also has the care of young, blind sisters, Penelope.  She decides to plow up and plant in the “cursed fields”  on her estate to make more money.  Her employees find a strange silver specimen that appears to be Roman.  She goes to Cambridge to have the piece evaluated and runs into her childhood crush, Bram Webb who is now a Cambridge professor.  Bram is looking for a lost Roman Settlement with his history professor uncle, is this it?  Will Eva be able to save her estate?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved all the characters, but especially Eva and Bram.  They have both had hard times in their youth and are trying to move beyond it.  Bram is trying to make his way as a professor while also helping his uncle who is starting to suffer from dementia.  Eva suffers from guilt that she thinks she killed her parents and caused Penelope’s blindness.  Guilt and forgiveness are major themes in this novel.  Bram’s deep faith was wonderful to read about, and he shares this faith to Eva.

·       The romance was sweet, and this was a clean read.  There was second chance romance, slow burn, and forced proximity.

·       I loved that the sister’s name was Penelope Rose.  That’s my daughter’s name!  Penny was a spunky character who wanted to explore and learn all that she could about the world, despite her blindness.

·       The archaeology was very interesting, and I wanted to know more about the Romans in Great Britain.

·       I also loved the mystery that was threaded throughout the novel.

·       This is the second novel in the Time’s Lost Treasures series.  I loved the first book too, but this can be read as a standalone novel.

·       There is a great historical notes section at the end of the novel that gives background details of the historical elements of the story.  There were also great discussion questions for a book club to use.

·       I am super excited that Michelle Griep’s next book available in the fall of 2026 is a Christmas Victorian novella.  I love Christmas historical fiction and historical romance!

·       I read part of this as the physical book and finished it up on audiobook.  The audiobook was interesting to listen to as well and the narrator had a great voice to listen to.

Great first paragraph, “The end of Eva’s world started with a window she never should have left open.  A small neglect, yet twelve years later, one that had culminated in a leaky roof, a ledger that refused to balance, and a blind sister.”

Overall, Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep is a riveting Victorian historical romance and mystery.

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Title:  Where Secrets Lie

Author:  Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

Narrated by:  Karen Peakes

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 16 minutes

Source: Thank-you NetGalley for the Audiobook Review Copy and Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @tnzfiction for the physical book copy as part of the Bibliolifestyle Book Tour.

What is your favorite book series?

Savannah Webster and her ex-husband Hez are trying to give their love a second chance.  They had previously been married, but their marriage broke when they lost their child and Hez turned to alcohol. Things look bright until Savannah finds an empty wine bottle in Hez’s garbage.  Has he turned back to alcohol?  Savannah takes on a new role as the president of her beloved Tupelo Grove University and Hez starts a new legal clinic.  Together they discover many problems with finances at the university including someone at the university using it as a front for a smuggling ring.  Will they be able to save the university?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the second book in the Tupelo Grove series.  I enjoyed the settings, characters, and suspense in the first book and was excited to read more in the series.  I would definitely recommend reading both books in order in this series. 

·       There is a theme of forgiveness throughout the novel paired together with the desire for revenge.

·       This novel also showed that the path of love is not always simple and takes work. 

·       This was a great family drama that was action packed and showed the importance of family.

·       It was a clean read.

·       I really enjoyed the audiobook narration.  The narrator did different voices for each character and even had a British accent for Savannah’s nephew, Simon.

·       There were faith elements throughout the novel relative to forgiveness and a character’s death.

·       Colleen Coble and Rick Acker are a great writing team.  Colleen is an experienced writer and Rick knows the legal ins and outs.

·       The novel had a fantastic ending with a mic drop moment.  I can’t wait to see what happens next and look forward to the third book in the series.

·       I also like the authors note at the end which included interesting information about artifact smuggling.

Overall, Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is a great Southern romantic suspense novel.  I highly recommend this enjoyable series.

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann H. Gabhart (Austenprose PR Tour)

 

Do you have a favorite vacation spot?  One place I think is wonderful is Mackinac Island in Michigan.  It’s a beautiful and unforgettable place full of history and natural beauty.  My great great grandparents met on the island working there one summer and married.

Elena Bradford’s father has recently died, and her mother discovered that he left them greatly in debt.  The only way she can think of to save the family from destitution is to find a wealthy husband for her “old maid” daughter, twenty-two-year-old Elena.  Her younger daughter, Ivy, is the beauty of the family, but is considered too young for this task.  They travel to a resort, Graham Springs, Kentucky for the summer.  While there, Elena works on her artwork and meets two men who will not meet her mother’s standards.  Kirby Frazier is a penniless artist, while Andrew Harper has come to the resort to repair his wounded heart after being left at the altar.  Will Elena find love, or will she marry an older wealthy suitor to save her family?  When a mysterious woman arrives alone at the resort, her fate will change the Elena’s path.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I always love a good love triangle and the Elena, Kirby, and Andrew love triangle was a good story.  I liked the resolution.

·       The story had an interesting mystery about halfway through and also some action/suspense towards the end of the novel.

·       I loved the setting of the Graham Springs resort in Kentucky.  I didn’t realize this was a real place until the end of the novel.  The author’s note was so interesting.  I was especially fascinated to learn that the mysterious death was a true mystery that was never solved.

·       This was a slower read for me, but I still enjoyed the story.  It seemed to slow down in the middle for me, but once the mysterious beautiful Vanessa arrives alone at the resort, the action picked up. 

·       I loved the focus on healing throughout the novel.  Elena, her sister Ivy, and her mother are still healing from her father’s death.  Andrew is healing from his fiancée’s betrayal. Other characters have similar stories of coming to the resort to heal.

·       I loved the beauty of nature that was woven throughout the story.

·       Cats were a key feature.  Elena must leave her beloved cat at home and then a mysterious cat at the resort helps her to survive a misadventure.

·       I loved how there was dancing every night at the resort.  It sounded like such a wonderful place to visit.

Overall, the Pursuit of Elena Bradford by Ann H. Gabhart is a delightful historical romance and a perfect read to bring along on any vacation.

Book Source: Thank-you to @annhgabhart @revellfiction @austenprosefor the review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Tour

Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer (Austenprose PR Tour)

 

What book did you read over the weekend?  I read Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer while camping this weekend and I couldn’t put this book down!

Kathryn lives in two worlds.  In 1888, she is a Victorian lady from a rich and socially prominent  family while in 1938 she is a museum curator putting together an exhibit for the British Museum on Jack the Ripper.  She lives a day in one world, goes to sleep, and then wakes up in the other.  She has until the age of 25 to pick the timeline that she would like to live in forever.  As she goes through the material for the museum exhibit in 1938, she realizes that her beloved sister in 1888 is Jack the Ripper’s last victim.  How can she save her sister in 1888, but not impact history?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the fifth book in the timeless series.  I seem to love each book even more than the last book.  This book can be read as a standalone, but it’s fun to see returning characters from other books and know their back stories.

·       I really liked how Kathryn was able to use both timelines to put together the clues to solve the mystery of her sister’s exile from her family, and to solve the ultimate mystery of who was Jack the Ripper.  It definitely kept me riveted!!  I have always been fascinated by Jack the Ripper and I though author Gabrielle Meyer really put the facts together in an engaging way while also putting together an interesting theory of who the Ripper was and why he committed his crimes.

·       The love between Kathryn and Austen in 1888 was palpable and alive.  I greatly enjoyed their romance.  It was very poignant in the future timeline when she saw old Austen from afar and he would not come to her.

·       This is a clean read.  There is some kissing.  Jack the Ripper and his crimes are discussed, but they happen off screen and the story doesn’t go into detail on the gruesomeness of the crimes.

·       There were lots of goodies at the end of this novel including an author’s note, historical note, a chapter from the next novel, and discussion questions.  I can’t wait for November and the next novel in this series – Through Each Tomorrow.  One setting is Fredericksburg, Virginia.  I have visited that beautiful city a few times in my life.

Overall, Every Hour Until Then is a captivating time travel historical romance with plenty of mystery and suspense and great characters.  I highly recommend it and this entire series!

Book Source: Thank-you to @gabrielle_meyer @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose for the review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Tour

To Kiss a Knight by Grace Hitchcock (AustenProse PR Book Tour)

 

What are you planning to read this weekend?  It’s a holiday weekend in the United States (Memorial Day) and I am going camping with family and friends. I am loading up my bag with lots of different types of books to read from nonfiction to historical romance.

Vivienne Poppy is a young woman and orphan who writes novels using the nom de plume of Lady Larkby.  Her evil stepbrother is trying to force her to marry a man that she finds contemptable.  She runs away to live in the home that is her only inheritance and to support herself through her writing.  She is kidnapped by a handsome highwayman along the way only to find out once she reaches Bath that there is actually a Sir Larby who everyone assumes is her husband.  Sir Sebastian Larby’s dying grandmother has found out about Vivienne’s existence and is thrilled.  Will pretending to be married to Sebastian solve her problems while keeping his grandmother happy?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel starts off with great exciting with Vivienne being kidnapped by a dashing highwayman.  Things about him don’t add up and he rescues her in her time of need.  They also share a passionate kiss before he leaves her at her home in Bath. 

·       This novel engaged me from the first page until the last.  It was a quick read and a real page turner!  Adventure sure seemed to follow Vivienne and Sebastion.

·       I liked how Vivienne was an independent woman trying to support herself as an author.  I loved her independence!

·       This was a lovely historical romance.  I felt the romance throughout the novel and was routing for the two main characters to get together.

·       I like the trope of fake marriage and I really like stories with honorable men who work as highwaymen.  Sebastion is a Yeoman of the Guard for the Prince Regent and uses his disguise as a highwaymen to take care of delicate matters for the Prince Regent.

·       This is a regency historical romance and takes place in 1813 primarily in Bath.

·       Vivienne has a tendance to get herself into scrapes that made me laugh out loud a few times.  I liked the humor in this novel.

·       I liked the Author’s Note at the end about the real locations and history in the novel.

·       This is the second book in the “A Novel of Best Laid Plans” series.  I read it fine as a standalone novel, but I definitely need to go back and read the first book in the series.

Overall, if you are looking for a light, romantic Regency historical fiction novel full of adventure, look no further than To Kiss a Knight by Grace Hitchcock.  I need to read more novels by this author!

Book Source: Thank-you to  @gracehitchcockbooks @kregelbooks @austenprose for the review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Tour

GIVEAWAY- For a chance to win a copy of this novel, please enter the giveaway on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/laurasreviews_1/p/DJ4LTfHuQRX/

Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What book would you like to reread?  I remember loving Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen ten years ago and I loved it just as much reading it again.  I read the new 10^th anniversary edition in one day!

Hannah Rogers was formerly the companion of Lady Mayfield.  She has returned to ask for her job back after mysteriously disappearing months before.  Lady Marianna Mayfield rehires her to go on a trip with her and her husband Sir John Mayfield.  Sir John is trying to remove Marianna from being near her lover.  Along the way, the carriage is involved in a terrible accident.  Hannah wakes up confused and is being called Lady Mayfield.  She realizes being Lady Mayfield could solve many of her problems.  How will Hannah get out of this predicament?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       There were great characters, twists, and turns in this story.  I loved the twists and turns, and I don’t want to ruin it for other readers.

·       I also enjoyed the faith element and how Hannah tried to do the right thing by everyone and God.

·       This novel was set in Regency England and has shades of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte mixed with Jane Austen’s Lady Susan.  I love author Julie Klassen and how her novels are a perfect blend of Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen.

·       This is clean read, but there are some more sensual scenes that involve feelings of longing and kissing.  Adultery is on the main stage in this novel.

·       I liked how the characters, especially Hannah are conflicted and have a lot to work through.

·       There were also great well rounded side characters such as Dr. Parrish, Becky, and Mrs. Turrell.  I enjoyed them and their relationships with Hannah.

·       There is a love triangle as part of this story, and I always love a good love triangle.

What has changed in this edition?  From Julie Klassen, “I toned down the sensuality in a few scenes, expanded Mrs. Turrill’s wise mentor role a bit, improved and streamlined the writing in several places, and corrected many small historical inaccuracies throughout. The characters and story itself are the same, but I am very grateful for this opportunity to improve the first edition—I’ve learned a lot in the last ten years!”

Overall, Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen is romantic historical suspense at its best.  I highly recommend it.

Thank-you to @julie.k.klassen @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose for the review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Tour.

A Gift by Joy and Hope by Pope Francis

 

Did you read any books for the Easter season?  I read A Gift of Joy and Hope by Pope Francis.  I didn’t realize as I finished it on Easter that Pope Francis would be gone by the next morning.

A Gift of Joy and Hope is a collection of thoughts taken from the speeches and writings of Pope Francis.  It focuses on how joy and hope can be found even in times of darkness and despair. I enjoyed how the book was set up with brief sections about different topics.  It made it really easy to pick this book up and read it even when I didn’t have much time. A section at the end contains the prayers of Pope Francis.

My favorite quotes give a good insight into what this book is like:

“It would be good for our Western society, always in too much of a hurry, to learn how to stop and contemplate things, even in a poetic manner.”

“Sometimes all of our youthful energy, dreams, and enthusiasm waver and we are tempted to dwell on ourselves and our problems, hurt feelings, and grievances.  Don’t let this happen to you!  You will grow old inside before your time.”

Saint Teresa of Calcutta quote was referenced, “Whoever, on the journey of life, has lit even one torch in someone’s darkest hour has not lived in vain.”

“This reminds me of just how many of us Christians live in a state of apathy, incapable of doing anything, always complaining about everything.  Apathy is a poison; it is a fog that surrounds the soul and suffocates it.”

“True joy does not come from owning things.  No!  It is born of an encounter, from having a relationship with others, from feeling accepted, understood, and loved, from accepting understanding, and loving.  It is not because of a passing fancy, but because we understand that the other is a complete person.”

“Acceptance and a dignified integration into society are stages of a difficult process, but it is unthinkable that we address this problem by putting up walls.  I grow fearful when I hear certain speeches by new populist leaders; they mind me of speeches that spread fear and hatred back in the 1930s.”

Overall, A Gift of Joy and Hope by Pope Francis was a wonderful book to read during Lent and Easter.  Pope Francis writes with wisdom and really gives great thoughts on how to live a happy life and to be compassionate to all.

Book Source:  Review copy from Hachette Book Group. Thank-you! 

Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title: Kate Landry Has a Plan

Author:  Rebekah Millet

Narrated by:  Susan Bennett

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 24 minutes

Source: Audiobook Purchased from Audible and physical book from Bethany House Books as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.  Thank-you!

Are you a planner?  I’m an engineer so I definitely like plans and lists.  I am a day behind on posting this review as I wasn’t feeling so well yesterday.

Kate Landry is the forty-year-old owner of a café in New Orleans. She is raising her niece Hayley after her beloved sister’s death.  Kate and her sister had a plan for growing their café business and Kate is determined to stick to the plan.  Carefully laid plans don’t always go as imagined.  Kate’s first kiss, Micah, is back in town and is working at her local library.  Hayley spends a lot of her time at the library.  Her ex-fiancé and nemesis, Ryan, is also back in town.  Will Kate be able to realize her and her sister’s plan for a second café location while also keeping the rest of her life on track?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I love the New Orleans setting - it was so fun.

·       Kate Landry being forty made me love all her flashback references such as Sarah McLachlan’s song “Angel” on the sad animal commercials, Uncle Jesse from Full House, Paula Abdul, and more.

·       I love her clean epithets such as Sarah McLachlan!!

·       This novel had excellent well-developed three-dimensional characters with great growth through the novel.

·       The characters seemed very real, and the story was unique.  A woman who is raising her sister’s daughter, difficult relationships with parents, grief, trust issues, caring for elderly parents/grandparents, and bad ex-boyfriends were all themes.

·       Faith was important for Kate and was discussed throughout the novel.

·       I didn’t realize this was a series until I finished the book and looked to add my review to Goodreads.  It was great as a standalone, but I need to read the first book which is the story of Kate’s best friend Julia and her romance. This series is called Beignets for Two.

·       I love the great love story between two mature forty-year-old adults.  Micah is an understanding and caring male librarian.  AKA – every woman’s dream man.

·       The novel had many real world difficult and emotional conversations.

·       This book had the theme of family is what you make of it and not what you are born into.

·       The audiobook narrator was excellent and I enjoyed listening to this on audiobook.

Overall, Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet is a delightful rom com with wonderful three-dimensional characters and a wonderful overall story.  I want to read more of this story!

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Forty-year-old Kate Landry's carefully planned life has become as messy as the powdered sugar on her famous beignets. Juggling the responsibilities of running her café, raising her teenage niece, and the emotional baggage from her breakup, Kate finds her world once again turned upside down when her first-ever crush, Micah Guidry, returns to town as the hunky local librarian.

As Kate struggles to implement her plans to expand her café amid the New Orleans Mardi Gras madness and the meddling of her conniving ex-fiancé, Micah becomes the unwitting hero of her misadventures, stirring up feelings she thought she'd long buried. How can falling in love in the Big Easy be this hard?

Rebekah Millet spins a delightful tale, set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans, proving that sometimes the messiest of situations can lead to the sweetest outcomes.

AUTHOR BIO

Rebekah Millet is a Selah Award, Cascade Award, and ACFW First Impressions Award–winning author of southern inspirational romance novels. A New Orleans native, she grew up on beignets and café au lait, and loves infusing her colorful culture into her stories. Her husband is an answer to prayer, who puts up with her rearranging furniture and being a serial plant killer. Her two sons keep her laughing and share in her love of desserts. Visit her at http://www.rebekahmillet.com/.

A Constant Love by Tracie Peterson (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Hardcover or paperback – which do you prefer and why?  I prefer hardcover for books I’m going to keep forever as they stand the test of time.  I prefer paperback for being more affordable and lighter to hold and carry.  I have a mix of both in my library.

In Wyoming, the harsh winter of 1887 not only kills entire flocks of cattle, but beloved family members.  Charlotte is haunted that the last words she with her father were in anger.  He wanted her to marry wealthy lawyer, Lewis Bradley, but she has been in love with her neighbor, Micah, her entire life.  Will Charlotte and Micah be able to work through their grief and start life anew? 

My thoughts on this novel

·       Pioneer days and the winter of 1887 are very harsh.  It was a very compelling start to this novel.

·       I liked how Charlotte and her mother, Lucille, were running a ranch as two women on their own.  It was a struggle as they weren’t even allowed to attend meetings as women and also ranch hands did not listen to them.

·       Micah deeply struggles with his faith after his father’s suicide.  I liked how he and Lucille help each other work on their faith. This novel had deep elements of faith in it and learning to forgive, and not judge others.  I really liked this part of the novel.

·       The trope in this novel is friends to lovers.

·       The characters were interesting and well developed.

·       This is the first book in the new “The Hope of Cheyenne” series.

·       The bad guy in this novel was someone that the reader will really love to hate.  Lewis Bradley wants to marry Charlotte no matter if she wants to or not.  It’s not out of love of Charlotte, but out of love for money.  I have a feeling he may be back again later in the series.

Overall, A Constant Love by Tracie Peterson is a gripping novel with captivating characters and a fascinating storyline.  I especially liked the faith elements and the realities of living in 19^th century Wyoming.

Book Source:  Review copy from Bethany House Publishers as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 BOOK DESCRIPTION

Heartache has left them emotionally desolate, but traces of love and healing could forge a future.

In the wake of a harsh winter, Micah Hamilton and Charlotte Aldrich are grappling with loss and guilt after the disaster that took the lives of their loved ones. Struggling to cope with his grief, Micah abandons his father's dreams of a prosperous ranch and cuts himself off from the rest of the world.

Charlotte has loved Micah her entire life and is determined not to lose him as well. With her mother's help, she begins coaxing Micah to live again. Despite their enduring heartache, the affection between them deepens, but just as Charlotte thinks her dreams may come true, a scorned suitor threatens everything she holds dear. Micah and Charlotte must embark on a journey of healing and renewal to build a life founded on faith, hope, and love.

A Constant Love is a clean, frontier-era historical romance of heartache, grief, Christian faith, and second chances in the newly developing American West.

AUTHOR BIO

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling author of more than 100 novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than 6 million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Learn more at TraciePeterson.com.