Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

This Road we Traveled by Jane Kirkpatrick is a story of determination, hope, and faith that God will provide no matter how bad things get.

Tabitha Brown (known as Tabby) is determined not to be left behind as all her children decide to pick up and leave Missouri for Oregon. Her son, Orus, doesn't want her to come because of her age and her lame foot. She would, quite simply, be too much of a burden to them. But Tabby doesn't take orders from her son and with his Uncle John, she gets her own wagon, a driver, and oxen and with her pet chicken Beatrice, they set out on the Oregon Trail.

The story is true, which makes it all the more interesting. What happened to them on the trail is a testament to the strength and determination of the men and women who paved the way to a new frontier. While the story seemed to drag at times, it soon redeemed itself by picking up the pace and creating a story rich in history. The author is known for her excellent research and it shows. I had never heard of Tabitha Brown before I read this book and about the impact she had in Oregon. This should be required reading in schools. If you like historical fiction you will like this book.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Reviewer: A. J. White

“A Lady Unrivaled” will transport you back in time to the Edwardian Era of Britain.  This is Roseanna White’s third book in her Ladies of the Manor Series. This author has an excellent ability to create the world of the Cotswolds and its upper class during this time period.
 
Since I was not acquainted with the previous two books, sometimes I felt as if I had entered into the middle of the conversation.  A curious reader could find out more from the previous installments.  I think doing so would give a better perspective and more connection to Ella, her two suitors, and the mystery of the Fire Eyes diamonds. 
 
It was difficult to hate or fear the villain to any great degree. The author gave many reasons for sympathy for the villain and that made it seem he was not quite as ruthless as he appeared.  The last several chapters seemed rushed and I did wonder about the accuracy of some historical social settings such as the many hours Lady Ella spent alone in the library with Cayton.
 
However, the message of the gospel’s ability to transform an individual and give hope to those who believe was well depicted in Cayton and some of the other characters.  Overall, this was a pleasant romantic mystery set in an age of beauty and elegance. 

Reviewer: Elsie Stoltzfus

Wow! I'm speechless. This book is quite simply, fantastic. The story kept me on my toes, trying (and failing) to see where it was headed. It was interesting, realistic, imaginative, and exiting. As for the characters, they were enthralling. And realistic. Lady Ella was captivating, and Cayton was, well, Cayton. The other characters are fabulously done. The good ones made mistakes, and the bad weren't completely bad. There was a very strong theme of redemption throughout, without being blatant.

And, very high praise from me, it is a good Christian book. It isn't preachy while being very Christian, and without sacrificing the plot.
 
I highly recommend this to everyone who likes a good historical fiction adventure/romance story.
 
So, all in all, I desperately want to read more books from this author. 

​This book  has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M. White is the third book in the Ladies of the Manor Series, which was probably why I was confused at times while reading it. However, that did not stop me one minute from enjoying it! In fact, if I didn't now know how this series ended I would go back and read the other books - this one was that good.

I found the character of Ella absolutely charming in her ability to get herself in trouble and in trying to make Lord Cayton aware of her charms. While she seemed a very quick thinker in dangerous situations, she was ever attuned to the Lord's voice, which guided her when making decisions that her family and friends seemed to never understand. The character of Lord Cayton was irresistible as far as a "prince-charming" type of hero could get. Wanting to stay clear of his "Cinderella" (Ella) but inextricably drawn to her as she is to him.

At times I was incredibly lost in this story, simply because I'd never read the other books. Characters would suddenly appear without introduction and I'd be scratching my head. Also, near the end of the book Ella starts calling Lord Cayton "Drat", for reasons I'm stumped on. I thought she was talking to someone else until I realized she had given him a nickname of sorts. Why, "Drat" is the nickname I have no idea, but I just chalked it up to something else introduced in one of the other books.

Leaving the other books out of the equation, I really liked this story once I got into it. Eventually, bits and pieces of information filtered through and I got a good enough idea of what had gone on before. For example, Lord Cayton used to be a cad, and Catherine used to be a shrew, but people change. In Lord Cayton's case, he found the Lord and Catherine found redemption as well, making her story bittersweet.

Overall, A Lady Unrivaled is an excellent book filled with action, adventure, mystery and of course love. Do yourself a favour though and read the other books in the series before this one, as I'm sure the ending will have much more of an impact.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"The man you are, not the man you were."

Lord James Cayton remains buried under a mountain of guilt and regret; he broke the hearts of two women that he never truly loved, one of whom was his wife. Utterly bewitched by the lovely and optimistic Lady Ella Myerston, he catches a glimpse of the kind of man he would like to become; his newfound faith steadily growing and his beautiful little daughter giving him measure of hope. When Ella refuses to accept his surly moods, their acquaintance becomes a tender friendship, until the storm clouds of their past suddenly appear on the horizon, and Cayton is once again recruited to betray his life long friends.

Ella Mysterson refuses to be daunted by the very handsome, but moody Lord Cayton, choosing instead to believe in the man that he is becoming. When the ownership of a much sought after family heirloom is once again the object of diabolical attention, Ella and Cayton go on the offensive; having everything to gain and nothing to lose, except perhaps, those that they love. Fortunately, there is always reason to hope," and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts . . . "

"A Lady Unrivaled" is beautifully plotted. The author's ability to ingeniously re-introduce familiar characters, while carefully inserting a support cast who add an impressive level of interest and intrigue, is invigorating. The entire "Ladies of the Manor" series has been an absolute pleasure to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"I'm a treasure hunter . . . . . it's my job to find precious things."

You would think those words would penetrate any girl's speculative heart, but the handsome, flirty treasure hunter with the cavalier attitude was just so . . . . . . daring? Self-confident? Dare she admit . . appealing? Marine photographer Summer Arnet isn't easily fooled and there is something about Trent Carrington and his eagerness to explore a recent dive location for sunken treasure that just doesn't ring true.

Centuries Earlier - a young Spanish woman has made a brave decision as she boards Captain Montoya's galleon, the "Santa Rosa" as a newbie sailor, carefully hiding her gender in order to escape her abusive stepfather. She has nothing of value except her grandmother's pendant, an heirloom of great value which Isabella has carefully tucked within her clothing, knowing that she will have no means to start her life over in the New World without it.

Monzon deftly weaves these two time lines together towards a climatic intersection, allowing Summer and Trent the opportunity to discover the significance of an everlasting treasure that can never be destroyed. Yes, "there is always a story".

Reviewer: Beverly Wallin

This was a well-written book and has potential. I found it to be too slow paced for my preference. It had a lot of unnecessary information which took away from the flow of the story. The Christian star-crossed lovers was great but I needed more excitement to keep me wanting to keep turning the pages. ​

Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

When I saw the cover of Sarah's Smile by author Dawn Kinzer I was immediately intrigued. When I read the synopsis I knew I was going to have to read this book. I'm so glad I did, because Dawn Kinzer is an author I will be keeping on my radar.

This historical novel was so descriptive in its telling of the town of Riverton, I could clearly imagine it in my mind. The author knows how to drop the reader into the action and she lets you greet the characters in such a way that you can't stop reading. The friendship between Sarah McCall and Rev. Peter Caswell goes back to when they were children. She dreams of one day marrying him, but he marries someone else. From that betrayal of trust the author builds on Sarah's feelings of insecurity and mistrust of men in general. Added to that is her sense of feeling unloved because of her parents who abandoned her when she was a child. These feelings are explored in Sarah as she awaits word on whether or not she has been accepted into the mission field. Peter on the other hand is dealing with his own secrets and failures and while their reveal is a little too late and lacklustre in the telling, the book is still intriguing.

While this book has a strong salvation message, with an emphasis on trusting in God, the author also explored, through secondary characters, the lives of those who reject God, making this a well-rounded book with one central story and others surrounding it. At the same time, her antagonist, who does her utmost to destroy Sarah and Peter's reputation, is met with grace and forgiveness reminding us that everyone makes mistakes and we all need mercy.

Aside from a few editing inconsistencies, I found this book really hard to put down and I am looking forward to more historical fiction from this author.

Reviewer: Jessica Sichel

“Sarah’s Smile” tells several stories:  lost love, broken faith, and checkered pasts, to name a few.  At the heart of the book are Sarah McCall and Rev. Peter Caswell – the closest of friends years ago, but now estranged and trying to see the way forward.  Even the most faithful are not perfect and have much to figure out.  “Sarah’s Smile” explores these essences of human nature.

The setting of this book is beautiful.  The author, Dawn Kinzer, does a great job of describing the landscape and the buildings used in the story, as well as fitting the characters in with their surroundings.  Placed in the American 1900s, it is easy to envision the ladies in their dresses and hats, the minister in his gown, and the houses with their porches.  There is a little of the forcedness in a few of the descriptions which are often found in an author’s early writing, but in general, Kinzer crafts the scenes well.

Kinzer uses a wide cast of characters, several of whom have backgrounds of their own and are thus “fleshed out.”  Often, the core characters are interwoven and dependent on one another (for example, one character might need another to tell his or her story so that certain questions will be answered, like pieces in a puzzle.)  This aids with the flow of the book as well as providing a platform for diversity from character to character, both of which help make the large manuscript able to hold the reader’s attention.

Faith is an essential part of “Sarah’s Smile.”  Each core character has a bit of a different faith story to tell, whether it feature seemingly unrequited love in a relationship with God, a person who seems to be brand new to the faith, or perhaps a person who does not seem to focus on faith at all. Particularly with Sarah and Rev. Caswell, the faith of characters as individuals is rather multifaceted.  Sarah and Peter both struggle with their vocational callings from God.  Both literally cry out to God – though for different reasons.  Both seek God’s direction in their lives.  As in reality, faith impacts lives in many, often different ways and Kinzer does a good job reflecting that in her main characters.  At some points, however, there are disconnects between a character’s ‘usual’ faith and his or her ‘current’ faith.  For example, Sarah earnestly seeks God’s will often, but there are occasions where it seems rather obvious that she should be seeking God’s will, but doesn’t.  This gives the story a little trouble where continuity is concerned, though it does point to a general theme in the book:  people aren’t perfect – even faithful people!

Two areas of improvement with “Sarah’s Smile” are editing and ‘racey-ness.’  Speaking to the latter, the blood gets flowing a little uncomfortably at times, as there is a Harlequin-esque feel with some of the character interactions. Taming these down might allow a better focus on the true themes of the story instead of being almost as distracted as the characters.  With regard to the former, a good couple-of-times-over with a quality editor would help resolve some of the typos and continuity issues with the book. 
Overall, “Sarah’s Smile” is a solid, enjoyable read.  The author is successful in that she answers a lot of the questions posed by the story itself, which helps a reader feel satisfied.  Before those answers, though, there were times when I didn’t want to put the book down – always a good problem for a writer to have!  Well done, Dawn!

Reviewer: Mary Hosmar

This historical novel, set in the early 1900's gives us a glimpse into, not only small town life, but also the hearts of two best friends. Although Peter Caswell had left Riverton many years prior, leaving Sarah McCall with a broken heart, she had never forgotten him. In order to break with the past, Sarah had applied for a job on the mission field and was just awaiting her marching orders. When Peter returns to town, with a daughter, Sarah’s heartbreak is brought to the fore. She must get out of town. And then there’s Will Reed, her boss. What about Will?

This story is well-written and moved along at a good pace.

The characters come to life as we learn of their innermost thoughts. We also learn that, even though one might have a strong faith and trust in God, life is not always easy, nor is following His will when it seems to conflict with following the heart’s will. The only difficulty I have here is that sometimes the characters seem too perfect. The first action when faced with an obstacle is usually to pray. Now I know that is the correct action to take, but does any one person, let alone two, always do that?

Although the end is predictable, the path to that end has many twists and turns leaving the reader shaking his/her head at the roadblocks one can put in one’s way.

I did find that the author repeated some of the characters’ thoughts and reasonings a little too much. It was almost as if the reader would miss the point if it were not repeated again.

In spite of that is was an enjoyable read with a strong faith and redemption message.

Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

Once again author Jody Hedlund has managed to write a story that not only captured my attention, but lifted my spirit with a positive message. Newton & Polly takes us back to that time in history that would not only change the life of one man in a remarkable way, but bring out of his conversion experience a song that has lasted for centuries.

The author has done a remarkable job in keeping to the facts of John Newton's life - his dealings in the slave trade, his disreputable character, his lack of morals and most of all his unbelief in God. I would like to say that Polly made him into a better man and she did, but it would take many years for him to grow into that man. Yet Polly's love for John and her belief that God had a purpose for him was clearly the hope John clung to in his lowest moments. The story of how far he sank into sin, was made all the poignant when he finally realizes God has been loving him and with him through it all.

This is the story of Amazing Grace and how God took a man who had rejected him and through the love of a good woman, changed him forever. I was not able to put this book down. I guarantee you won't be able to either.

Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"He hated his father. He hated God. Most of all he hated himself."

How could the same man, once filled with so much hate, manage to pen the words to one of Christendom's most beloved hymns? . . . . .. . The answer is startlingly simple, amazing grace.

It was love at first sight for John Newton. Polly Catlett had the voice of an angel, coupled with a face and form that a man could not easily forget. Innocent, enchanting and deeply religious, Polly embodied everything that Newton was not, for although young and intelligent, John Newton was daring, reckless and habitually irresponsible.

Paying the price for his obstinate behavior, John finds himself impressed into the British navy, violently punished for insubordination and ripped from any hope of a future with the lovely Polly. Yet his steadfast devotion to her memory, along with God's powerful, providential and unconditional love, ultimately saves Newton's life; paving the way for one of history's most incredulous stories surrounding a prodigal, who finds his way home.

"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see." Jody Hedlund has penned a masterpiece!

I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.