A Life Once Dreamed

A Life Once Dreamed
By Rachel Fordham
Published by Revell
Publication Date: August 4th, 2020

Description:
Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.
When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie's pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves--but he is the one person who can never know.
In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can't seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?
Fan-favorite Rachel Fordham brings to life the dusty streets of an 1880s frontier town in this story that affirms where you come from matters far less than where you're going.

Review:
Aaahhh, big sigh. This book was just wonderful. I fell in love with everything about it--the setting, the characters, the messages, and more. Aggie is great--she's sweet but also strong and has her feisty moments. James, with his love for Aggie and his confusion about why she left him, just made me smile. Other characters--from little Freddie to Tommy (who asks the most embarrassing questions) to Sam and more--all just stole my heart. They all seemed real. I love reading characters who seem like real people with real problems that they have to work through, and Rachel Fordham is terrific at writing that type of character. The storyline moved along well, with serious moments balanced with laugh-out-loud moments, and the messages--of hope, of God taking the bad and following it with something good, of learning to look at people for who they are--were definitely ones that spoke to my heart. They were woven into the story in a way that didn't make them overbearing; they just felt right and good and uplifting. I seriously just loved everything about this book--including what is perhaps the best love letter I've ever read! This is easily one of my picks for the best books of 2020!
5 stars.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher.

Check out the book club guide, with discussion questions, games, and more!

A Foreign Crown (Royal Regency #1)

A Foreign Crown (Royal Regency #1)
By Jen Geigle Johnson
Published by Covenant Communications
Publication Date: August 4th, 2020

Description:
Following a devastating series of misfortunes, Lady Aribella Bardsley has bravely shouldered the responsibilities of her household. But just as the bleakness of her situation threatens to overwhelm her, a summons arrives from the Queen with a providential offer: Aribella’s presence is requested as a lady-in-waiting at the palace.
Prince Layton Wilhelm’s family has clung to their neutrality in the war for far too long. As the youngest of the King of Oldenburg’s eight sons, Layton is determined to prove his worth and is unwilling to turn a blind eye to Napoleon’s encroaching privateers. When Layton embarks on a journey to England, it is for one purpose: to petition the British navy for aid. But when he becomes acquainted with the lovely Lady Aribella, he cannot deny their powerful connection. Amid the intrigues and schemes within the walls of the palace, Layton and Aribella know a future together is impossible—but torn between loyalty and love, will they risk everything to follow their hearts?

Review:
This book was different from other Regency romances I've read in that it begins just before Prince George became Regent, and I found it very interesting to get a glimpse into the king's bouts of madness and the queen's efforts to keep it quiet so Prince George wouldn't be named Regent. I also thought it was interesting to see how Aribella served as a lady-in-waiting to the queen. Seeing the royal family, not just the upper ton, was different from the typical Regency romance. The writing style just didn't pull me in, however, and there were some aspects of the story (like pretty much a lack of mourning, beyond wearing dark colors and lots of unchaperoned time, without seeming worried about that at all) that just didn't feel right to me. Layton and Aribella were both sweet, and those looking for a clean romance may enjoy reading this one.
3 stars.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts

Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts (Steampunk Proper Romance #4)
By Nancy Campbell
Published by Shadow Mountain
Publication Date: August 4, 2020

Description:
Emmeline O’Shea is determined to save the world—single-handedly, if necessary. A strong voice for societal reform, she is the natural choice to deliver a key speech at the end of the International Shifter Rights Organization’s week-long Summit in Scotland. But when a death threat arrives at Emme’s home, she is immediately placed into protective custody, watched over by none other than her personal nemesis, Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed. The two have crossed paths many times, with disastrous results, but now they will have to work together in order to reach the Summit before midnight of the last day in order to ensure legislation is passed to protect the Shifter community. As unseen enemies close in around Emme and Oliver, they struggle to reach Edinburgh by any means necessary, only to find Emme’s vindictive stepsister, Oliver’s vampire brother, and a dangerous political minefield awaiting them in Scotland. Even more difficult is their own refusal to admit that the fiery animosity that once burned between them might be turning into the heat of romantic passion. Could a straitlaced policeman determined to uphold the law and an outspoken activist willing to break the rules ever find true love? Or will all their dreams shatter like glass when the clock strikes midnight?

Review:
This series has been so interesting--with the unique world, the romance, the fairy tale elements, and more. I enjoyed the plot of this book and found Emme's work for the slighted and feared populations to be particularly compelling. I enjoyed the romance, too, and seeing how Emme and Oliver went from being enemies to falling in love. There were some elements that felt rushed, but all in all, this was another fun book from Nancy Campbell Allen.
 As a side note, I'm NOT a steampunk fan; I don't particularly dislike it, but I would never seek out a book simply because it was steampunk. For others who may not be steampunk fans, be reassured that the unique setting doesn't overpower the rest of the elements of the story.
3.5 stars.
 I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

An Appalachian Summer

An Appalachian Summer
By Ann H. Gabhart
Published by Revell

Description:
In 1933, most people are focused on the Great Depression but all Piper Danson can think about is how to get out of being a debutante and marrying Braxton Crandall, especially when her heart belongs to Jamie Russell. Even with Jamie out of the picture, Piper isn't quite ready to commit to Braxton, and in an act of defiance, volunteers as a frontier nursing courier in the Appalachian Mountains where adventure awaits.

Review:
This is a lovely book. The Appalachian setting just might be the star of the novel. Gabhart's descriptions of the flora and fauna and the people made me want to head to Appalachia to listen to birds and cross swinging bridges. The frontier nursing program was so interesting and I loved being able to get a glimpse of what that entailed. Although lacking any big problems or tension, the sweet romances made it a gentle and enjoyable story.
4 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Not Over You Blog Tour

Not Over You (Prosperity Ranch #3)
By Heather B. Moore
Published by Mirror Press

Description:
He left her behind. She's spent years ignoring him. But some things can never be forgotten. Knox Prosper knows he can never go back in time and correct his mistakes, so he has to find a way to move forward, and start a new life. Become a better man, and a father, if only for his young daughter. His regrets have taught him to simplify and to focus on what’s real and important. Returning to his hometown to ride in the rodeo gives him a chance to spend time with his daughter and to continue mending bridges with the rest of his family.
But what he doesn’t expect is to run into Jana Harris—the first woman he loved—the woman who faded from his life years before because Knox continued to mess up one thing after another. Someone as good and as sweet as Jana is the last person he deserves. Hope is dangerous. And hope can break his heart once again. Yet Jana might be the one person with the power to redeem his past once and for all.

Review:
This is a clean contemporary romance, with a second chance trope. I liked seeing how Knox, who we get glimpses of in earlier books, has really worked to make necessary changes in his life, and he was pretty cute as he tried to woo Jana. This was a fun, quick read. 3.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the author:
Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
Literary awards: 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner


Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Blog: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com
Website: HBMoore.com
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Facebook: Fans of H.B. Moore

A Bride of Convenience

A Bride of Convenience (The Bride Ships #3)
By Jody Hedlund
Published by Bethany House
Publication Date: June 30th

Description:
Upon discovering an abandoned baby, Pastor Abe Merivale joins efforts with Zoe Hart, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, Abe and Zoe get married. But after a hasty wedding, they soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all.

Review:
This might just be my new favorite book by Jody Hedlund--and with how much I've enjoyed all of her books, that's saying something. I loved Zoe from the get-go; she was so sweet and always caring for others. Her absolute devotion to Violet, a half-white, half-Indian child whom a lot of people would have rejected, was just so sweet. Zoe's mother-heart, combined with her spunk, just drew me in right away. Abe was lovable, too, although there were a couple times I wanted to smack him upside the head for not realizing how wonderful Zoe was. However, he had a good heart as well and truly wanted to help others and was trying to follow a plan he thought would allow him to do that. Seeing his journey and ultimate realization of what God was truly calling him to do was such an engaging story that it kept me interested just as much as the romance did. I just devoured this book, enjoying every minute of it. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year!
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Set the Stars Alight

Set the Stars Alight
By Amanda Dykes
Published by: Bethany House
Publication Date: June 30, 2020

Description:
Lucy Clairmont's family treasured the magic of the past, and her childhood fascination with stories of the high seas led her to become a marine archaeologist. But when tragedy strikes, it's Dashel, an American forensic astronomer, and his knowledge of the stars that may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she's discovered in her family home.
 Two hundred years earlier, the seeds of love are sown between a boy and a girl who spend their days playing in a secret sea cave, while the privileged young son of the estate looks on, wishing to join. As the children grow and war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption unfolds, held secret by the passage of time. As Lucy and Dash journey to a mysterious old estate on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers--and the healing--they so desperately seek.

Review:
This book has so much going for it--there are wonderful characters (both the main and secondary characters), two storylines (the contemporary one with Lucy and Dash, and the one set two hundred years ago, with Frederick), each of which is compelling, a mystery, family dynamics of both the heartbreaking and heartwarming variety, sweet stories passed from Lucy's father to her and Dash, love stories, and so much more--and it's all wrapped up in this beautiful writing style. There are lots of great authors in the world, but only a few of them have this almost mystical storytelling ability, and Amanda Dykes has it. This is one of those books that you want to hurry through because you HAVE to know what's going to happen but that you also want to read slowly so you can savor every single bit...and that you then want to go back and re-read as soon as you finish. Very, very well done. This will be very well-loved by many, many readers.
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.