An Uncertain Choice

Jody Hedlund is branching out into the Young Adult market with An Uncertain Choice being her first novel in this genre. Four years ago Lady Rosemarie's parents died in from the plague. On the night of her mother's death, 12-year-old Rosemarie finds a paper in her mother's chest stating that her parents invoked the Vow of Hannah promising that they would turn Rosemarie over to the convent on her eighteenth birthday. Now Rosemarie is one month shy of her eighteenth birthday and preparing to enter a life dedicated to G-d.
What if everything you believed and the life you had planned was suddenly turned upside down? One month before her eighteenth birthday Rosemarie's parent's best friend the Duke of Rivenshire has arrived bearing news that there is an exception to the ancient Vow. He has three knights with him, for Rosemarie to fall in love with one of them and marry before midnight on her eighteenth birthday, otherwise she must fulfill her parent's vow.
An Uncertain Choice is a coming of age story as Rosemarie must decide who to trust and how to become the leader her people need. The book is full of medieval life and the various roles that people play. I believe this book to be my favorite of Jody Hedlund's and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are entirely my own.

A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings

Once again Regina Jennings has written an entertaining tale filled with well developed characters. A Most Inconvenient Marriage opens with Abigail Stuart caring for a dying soldier by the the name of Jeremiah Calhoun.
He asks Abigail to marry him and go to his farm and care for his sickly sister. Abigail agrees to marry him and proceeds to his mountain farm. To her dismay , most of the stock is gone and her sister in law is a very bitter woman. Then to make matters worse, Jeremiah Calhoun comes home, wounded in body and spirit, but he is not the man she married.
The story line of A most Inconvenient Marriage is very good,I found myself engrossed in the story and lost sleep because I had to find out what happened. Every one of Regina's books is better than the one before!
I was given this book by the author in return for my honest opinion.

Mark Of Distinction by Jessica Dotta

Mark of Distinction by Jessica Dotta is the second book in her Victorian trilogy. It takes up where Born Of Persuasion ended, with Julia Elliston moving in with the man who claims to be her father, Roy Pierson. Julia Pierson, as she is now known, is the Emerald Heiress, a woman who stands to inherit a massive fortune. Her father must come up with an explanation for where she has been for her formative years, and also prepare her for Victorian Society including a presentation at Court.
Mark Of Distinction is filled with plot twists and is reminiscent of Charlotte Bronte's writings. I am anxiously waiting for The Price Of Privilege so that I can finally find out who Julia Elliston Pierson is and who she will finally marry.

The Bound Heart : The Everstone Chronicles, book 2 by Dawn Crandall

I have just finished reading The Bound Heart, book 2 in the Everstone  Chronicles by Dawn Crandall. I stand in awe at the growth I have seen in Mrs. Crandalls's writing. Lawry and Meredyth are well developed and engaging. The addition of Wynn just added charm to the story. Lawry, loves Merit as he calls her, with all his heart. I almost felt as though his character's love for Merit, represents Christ's love for us. He is willing to love and forgive her no matter what. If I had to give this book a theme, I would say redemption is the word that comes to mind. Now that is not to say this book is 'preachy', far from it. The story is that Meredyth feels bound to marry Vance Everstone, even though he has been in Europe for many years. Lawry has been out west setting up an orphanage. Lawry comes home to Bar Harbor and begins to gently woo Meredyth. All seems settled when Vance sends word that he has married a French woman. This book is full of romance and sigh worthy kisses, but also has strife and heartache. Join Lawry and Meredyth for the turn of the century New England social season!
I loved Lawry and Meredyth's story and eagerly await the 3rd book in the Everstone Chronicles...A Captive Impostor due out February 2 2015.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Simple Hope by Rosalind Lauer

Rachel King is so grateful that she and James were among the survivors of a van accident. But James is bitter that he didn't walk away, and perhaps never would walk again. How can he care for his families orchards or for a wife. So he decides to set Rachel free. Rachel is not willing to release James from his promise to marry he, in fact she is sure they can live in town and she will support them with her paintings, and never have to milk a cow again, an added bonus. Now James dad is refusing to allow him to receive the treatment he needs, because it would involve spending more time with the English. Add in an Englisher runaway hiding out in James orchard and you have a wonderful good read.
A Simple Hope is book 2 in Rosalind Lauer's Lancaster Crossover novels. It is really nice to also have a chance to visit with old friends from her Seasons of Lancaster trilogy. I find Lauer's books to be entertaining and thoroughly engrossing. I am eagerly awaiting A Simple Charity due out October 28.

Wonderful Lonesome

Olivia Newport tells the story of Abigail Weaver and Willem Peters in Wonderful Lonesome. Based on an actual Colorado Amish settlement in the early 1900s, Wonderful Lonesome is quite different than most of the Amish fiction in the market today. I would say it is more like Dale Cramer's Daughter' Of Caleb Bender trilogy than Lewis' or Brunstetter's works.
Abbie is a single woman who does the housekeeping and baking for the widowers and bachelors in her small community. With only 12 households and no minister the community must decide how to proceed. Should they continue to look for a minister? Should they disband and go back east? Or should they surrender their beliefs and join the Mennonite church? To complicate matters the county is experiencing a serious drought. Each family will have to decide what "Gotte's wille" is for them. Willem would like for Abby to marry him, but she will not join with him in exploring the Mennonite faith.
This book makes one think about what is most important, faith, family or community. The decisions each family makes affect all of the other's lives. I believe anyone interested in the Amish or in Historical fiction would enjoy this book.
 I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to offer a favorable review.

Daughter Of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

I loved Carrie Turansky's Daughter Of Highland Hall. Set in Edwardian England,it is the story of Miss Katherine Ramsey's Debut to society.With her Aunt as sponsor, she will begin by being presented at court and then join the  social gatherings with all the cream of society, hopefully ending the season with the prize, a proposal of marriage to one who will someday have a title and wealth.
Jon Foster is the son of a medical missionary. He has plans to finish his medical training and return to India to take the place of his father. Jon's sister is engaged to Katherine's guardian, William Ramsey. When Jon finds himself temporarily homeless, he joins the Ramsey's household.
The Daughter Of Highland Hall will take you from the halls of Buckingham Palace to the streets of London's lower East End. I found the characters to be delightful and the story line thoroughly enjoyable. Fans of Upstairs Downstairs and Downtown Abbey will surely love this book. I found myself reading slowly , enjoying each page, not wanting the story to end. I am delighted to see that there will be a third book, A Refuge at Highland Hall due out October 2015.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to give a favorable review and was not compensated for my review.