With This Pledge Review

On the night of November 30, 1864, a brutal battle in Franklin, Tennessee, all but decimates the Confederacy and nearly kills Captain Roland Ward Jones. A decorated Mississippi sharpshooter, Jones has a vision on the battlefield and, despite the severity of his wounds, believes his life will be spared. But a life without his leg, he can't abide. He compels Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston—governess to the McGavock family at the Carnton mansion—to intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate. True to her word, Lizzie speaks on his behalf and saves not only the captain's leg but also his life.

When a fourteen-year-old soldier dies in Lizzie's arms that night, the boy's final words, whispered with urgency, demand that Lizzie deliver them to their intended recipient. But all she has is the boy's first name. And, as she soon discovers, there's no record of him ever having enlisted. How can she set out alone across a land so divided by war and hatred to honor her pledge? Even more, does she dare accept Captain Jones's offer to accompany her? As he coalesces at Carnton, romance has blossomed between him and Lizzie—a woman already betrothed to a man she does not love.

With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander is the first book in her new series The Carnton Novels. Lizzie's story is one of intense faith and love during the Civil War. I loved how Lizzie and Roland's relationship formed and grew throughout the story through their conversations and letters. As always Tamera Alexander amazes me with her attention to historical details. She does a wonderful job blending her research of the time and the people into her fictional world to create an amazing novel filled with romance and faith. If you have loved any of her past books you will not be disappointed with With This Pledge. 

5 out of 5. 

I received a copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review.

The Light Before Day Review

After three years on a whaling voyage, Henry Macy returns to Nantucket to news that his grandmother has passed, bequeathing her vast fortune to him and his sister, Hitty. And it was truly vast. But Lillian Coffin was no fool. The inheritance comes with a steep cost, including when they should marry and whom--a Quaker in good standing, of course. But if they relinquish the inheritance, it all goes to Tristram Macy, their father's thieving business partner.

As Hitty and Henry seek a way to satisfy the will's conditions, they'll be faced with obstacles on every side--and it may be that Lillian Coffin will have the last word after all.

The Light Before Day by Suzanne Woods Fisher was a great read for a cozy afternoon. It is a good blend of historical tidbits and romance that is sure too have you engrossed until the very end. I enjoyed Hitty and Henry's close sibling relationship throughout the book as they both dealt with their respective little love triangles. The Light Before Day is the final installment in Suzanne Woods Fisher's Nantucket Legacy series and I think that everyone would agree that it was a wonderful ending.

5 out of 5. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.

A Sparkle of Silver Review

Ninety years ago, Millie Sullivan's great-grandmother was a guest at oil tycoon Howard Dawkins' palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Now, Millie plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of the same manor. But when her grandmother suggests that there is a lost diary containing the location of a hidden treasure on the estate, along with the true identity of Millie's great-grandfather, Millie sets out to find the truth of her heritage--and the fortune that might be hers. When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate's private library, he threatens to have her fired. But her story seems almost too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up.

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson is a sweet story and was perfect for a quiet afternoon of reading. Millie and Ben's treasure hunt was full of intrigue, mystery and the perfect touch of romance. Each characters struggles throughout the story made them very easy to connect with as the reader. A Sparkle of Silver is the perfect start for Liz Johnson's newest series and is a must read for fans of the Prince Edward Island Dreams series. 

5 out of 5. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review.

Freedom's Light Review

A young lighthouse keeper must navigate the dangerous waters of revolution and one man’s obsession with her to find safe harbor with the sea captain she loves.

Hannah Thomas believes she’s escaped Galen Wright’s evil intentions by marrying an older lighthouse keeper. Seemingly safe in faraway Massachusetts, her world is upended when John is killed in one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Hannah is allowed to continue the difficult task of tending the twin lighthouses in John’s place, though she faces daily disapproval from John’s family. She thinks her loneliness will subside when her younger sister arrives, but she finds Lydia’s obsession with Galen only escalates the dangerous tides swirling around her.

A stormy night brings a shipwrecked sea captain to Hannah’s door, and though he is a Tory, her heart is as traitorous as the dark-eyed captain. Even though she discovers Birch Meredith isn’t the enemy he seemed at first, Hannah isn’t sure their love will ever see the light of freedom.

Freedoms's Light by Colleen Coble was an engaging blend of romance, faith, history and suspense. I felt drawn into to the narrative very quickly and grew attached to Hannah and her story through-out this novel. I also found the relationship between Birch and Hannah to be charming and engaging as I got to see them come to trust and love each other.  I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical romances with a suspenseful twist. I would also recommend many of Colleen's other books as well!  

5 out of 5. 

I received a copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review.

A Rumored Fortune Review

Tressa Harlowe's father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn't take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they're really up to. She'll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father's fortune--before someone else finds it first. 

A Rumored Fortune was an amazing second novel by Joanna Davidson Politano. Tressa's story throughout this novel captivating, it was so easy to get pulled into her treasure hunt. A Rumored Fortune is an engaging story that I think is the perfect blend of mystery and romance set in the Victorian era. It's filled with several interesting characters that are sure to peak your interests. Joanna Politano is sure to quickly become one of your favorite authors as she has become mine!

5 out of 5.  

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review 

Called to Protect Review

For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She's over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

Called to Protect by Lynette Eason is an action packed suspense story that is sure to keep you turning pages well into the night. Chloe is the next St. John sibling to be featured in Lynette's Blue Justice series and her story is just as entertaining as Izzy's was. I have a feeling that by the end of this series the St. John's family will have their own place in my heart as favorite fictional families. Please do yourself a favor and pick up Called to Protect, you won't be disappointed! 

5 out of 5.  

I received a copy of this book from Revell for my honest review 

More Than Meets the Eye Review

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. 

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

More Than Meets the Eye is yet another wonderful novel by Karen Witemeyer. As always Karen Witemeyer delivers a beautifully written historical romance that won't disappoint. With the amazing cast of characters in this story everyone is sure to find a favorite. I'm always a sucker for stories involving found families so that concept pulled me in from the beginning. More Than Meets the Eye is the perfect book for any lover of historical fiction and romance!

5 out of 5. 

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.