Review: Not by Sight by Kate Breslin

About the book:

 

Not by Sight by Kate Breslin

Bethany House

With Britain caught up in WWI, Jack Benningham, heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, has declared himself a conscientious objector. Instead, he secretly works for the Crown by tracking down German spies on British soil, his wild reputation and society status serving as a foolproof cover.

Blinded by patriotism and concern for her brother on the front lines, wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry will do whatever it takes to assist her country's cause. When she sneaks into a posh London masquerade ball to hand out white feathers of cowardice, she never imagines the chain of events she'll set off when she hands a feather to Jack.

And neither of them could anticipate the extent of the danger and betrayal that follows them--or the faith they'll need to maintain hope.

 

My review:

 

 

In the midst of WWI Grace Mabry, a young and idealistic suffragette, is sent to the country to avid the threat of German air raids. Meanwhile, Jack Benningham, a man of the peerage has been secretly routing spies for MI5 under the guise of conscientious objection. After a tragic accident leaves Jack blind, he retreats to his country estate where Grace is serving with the Woman’s Foraging Corps. With suspicions of treason and secrets at every turn can they overcome it all and accept each other for who they really are?

          

 This was a novel I had been greatly anticipating ever since reading For Such a Time, Breslin’s debut that was easily my favorite read of 2014. The wait was absolutely worth it! This book had it all; intrigue, romance and a bit of action to boot. With words that flew off the page, I could not put it down until I had turned the last page.

          

 The characters were superbly written and I enjoyed all of them, especially Jack, Grace and Clare Danner. Grace’s extreme patriotism and love for her brother often lead her to prematurely judge others yet, she grows greatly during her time with Jack and the WFC. She is also a fiercely loyal friend with an immensely kind heart and a desire to help those in need. Despite his external scars, Jack deepest wounds are internal and he must learn to listen to his heart and his damaged faith even when his head is telling him something completely different.

           

I cannot wait to read Breslin’s next book and would definitely recommend her novels!

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Review: The Wood's Edge by Lori Benton

About the book:

The Wood's Edge by Lori Benton

The Pathfinders: Book 1

WaterBrook Press

 At the wood's edge cultures collide. Can two families survive the impact?

The 1757 New York frontier is home to the Oneida tribe and to British colonists, yet their feet rarely walk the same paths.

On the day Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey is beside himself with grief. His son, born that day, has died in the arms of his sleeping wife. When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. He steals the white baby and leaves his own child behind. Reginald's wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples.

When the long buried truth comes to light, can an unlikely friendship forged at the wood's edge provide a way forward? For a father tormented by fear of judgment, another by lust for vengeance. For a mother still grieving her lost child. For a brother who feels his twin's absence, another unaware of his twin's existence. And for Anna, who loves them both--Two Hawks, the mysterious Oneida boy she meets in secret, and William, her brother. As paths long divided collide, how will God direct the feet of those who follow Him?

My review:

Let me start by saying what an absolute pleasure it was to read this story. Benton has such a way with words that the scenes were coming to life in my mind completely of their own free will. I thought I was getting a love story that would push boundaries and cross cultures and I did. What I wasn’t expecting was a sweeping family saga told through many tumultuous years and the eyes of such different, compelling characters. The story starts with a bang figuratively and literally. Major Reginald Aubrey makes a snap decision, driven by grief and fear, so resounding it affects and drives the lives of two separate families for years to come.

           
I was surprised to discover the romance between Two Hawks and Anna did not develop for quite some time and that I did not care one wink. I loved seeing the story unfold through Good Voice and Lydia’s eyes. They were such well written, strong characters who made me feel their emotions. I hurt with them, wept with them, longed with them and felt their peace and joy.

            
 This was my first read by Lori Benton and she has expertly earned a place as one of my must read authors. I eagerly await the continuation of this series and the continued journeys of these two families through the impending Revolutionary War.  

Review: A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson

About the book:

A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson

Lone Star Brides: Book 3

Bethany House

Texas born and raised Jessica Atherton is a wealthy young woman whose heart was broken when the man she intended to marry wedded another. But her world is upended when two new men come into her life, and both manage to stir her heart.

Harrison Gable is a successful young lawyer with ambitions that match Jessica's dreams. His warm, attentive manner and thoughtful gifts make her feel special.

Austin Todd, a former Secret Service agent, enjoys working now as a Texas Ranger cattle inspector. But after learning of forged gold certificates and missing printing plates, he's drawn back into the world of intrigue and agrees to help solve the case. Jessica is drawn to his kind nature and the unspoken pain she sees in his eyes.

If Jessica follows her heart, where will it lead?

My review:

Jessica Atherton has lived a privileged life and is used to getting her way. However, after recently being rejected by the man she had thought to marry for a woman not as beautiful or well to do as she, Jessica has started looking inward and finding she doesn’t care for what she sees. With suitors still lining up at the doors, Jessica’s world is thrown for a loop when two distinctly different men find their way into her life. Will Jessica be able to follow her heart when she is not even sure who she is anymore?

I wasn’t sure when I started this book how I would feel reading about Jessica. I haven’t had a chance to read the previous two books in the series but I know from reviews and back covers that she is not exactly a joy. I really enjoyed her character arc though and she grew so much throughout the story.

Tracie Peterson certainly knows how to write a story and I always enjoy her work. With many series under her belt, some of which can be read as standalones, I would definitely suggest reading this one in order as a little of the story and character development was lost on me having started at the end. Overall I enjoyed this story and will definitely go back and read the first two books.

***I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own***

 

Review: With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden

About the book:

With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden

Bethany House

In the shadow of the nation's capital, Kate Livingston holds a respectable position as a government statistician when she encounters a rival from her past, the insufferable Trevor McDonough. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and she's bewildered at the way he suddenly seeks her out. Surprising even herself, Kate agrees to Trevor's entirely unexpected and risky proposal to work side-by-side with him in his quest to rid the world of tuberculosis, a contagious and deadly disease.

As Kate begins to unlock the mysteries of Trevor's past, she realizes there is much more to him than she could have imagined. His hidden depths may fascinate her, but his most closely guarded secrets and a shadowy enemy lurking in the background carry a serious threat to their future.

When the truth of the past comes out, threatening to destroy everything they hold dear, how will Trevor and Kate ever overcome all that stands in their way?

My review:

            This was my first read by Elizabeth Camden but I will definitely be pulling her other novels out of to be read pile. This author has a way with words and her writing is so elegant it brought the scenes to life for me. As an added bonus, her books always have some of the most beautiful covers!

             

Kate Livingston had always dreamed of going to college but her hopes were shattered when her high school rival Trevor McDonough won the scholarship award instead. Now she has a respectable government job as a statistician where her ability with numbers could really shine if her insufferable boss didn’t discourage anyone trying to better their position. When Trevor shows up out of the blue with a job offer studying Tuberculosis, Kate leaps at the chance although it will mean working closely with the man who shattered her dreams. Can they learn to trust and forgive each other?

             

I truly enjoyed every inch of this story. It was interesting learning more about Tuberculosis and seeing how Trevor threw himself into his work with disregard for his own health in order to help others. I loved Kate as well. She was a smart and deeply caring individual who grew a lot as a character. I would recommend this book to historical fans and can’t wait to read more from this author!

***I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own***