A Regency I Won't Soon Forget - The Aristocrat's Lady by Mary Moore/5 Stars

Let me preface this review by saying that I do not normally read small, mass market paperbacks. I've often found them either to all be the same, or to have so little plot and character development that I'm bored by book's end.

Today I ate those words.

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a Regency novel more than I enjoyed this one.  The prose was exceptional, the characters and their flaws believable, and the romance was heart-stopping.  I loved the witty banter between the two major characters, as well as the secret that propelled much of the storyline.  And if all that wasn't enough to blow me away, the fact that The Aristocrat's Lady was Mary Moore's debut novel....well, you could've easily blown me over with a feather.

Quite possibly, this book will make my Top Ten list at year's end, and we've got a long way to go before we get there!  Ms. Moore is an author that I will be reading more from in the future...of that, I have no doubt.

5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  Without question.  :o)

Summary of The Aristocrat's Lady:

An Unexpected Encounter


For a few moments on a moonlit balcony, Nicole Beaumont was just a beautiful woman catching the eye of the handsome Lord Devlin--but she knew the illusion couldn't last. If the enigmatic aristocrat knew her secret, he'd realize that her disability left her unfit for love. So who could blame her for hiding the truth a little longer?

Devlin had never met a woman like Nicole. Her unique combination of innocence and wisdom left him utterly intrigued. Yet what was she hiding? For a man who did not trust easily, discovering her secret was devastating. Overcoming their pasts and forging a future would take faith, forgiveness and trust. And second chances could lead to new beginnings...

Book Review: Love Finds You in Lancaster County, PA by Annalisa Daughety/4 Stars

From the very first page, it became clear to me that I was definitely going to enjoy this story.  I had a wonderful time with some of these characters in Annalisa's previous LFY book that was set in Charm, Ohio, and I was so happy that their story was continued here.

One thing that completely surprised me was how much this was more a contemporary tale than an Amish one.  It's no secret that I love almost every single Amish book I pick up, and while this one was minimally Amish, it made it no less a great read.  I found myself caught up in the public turmoil that Caroline's husband had put her through, and craved the peace that she ultimately found in Lancaster.  I was equally caught up in Lydia Ann's story as she struggled with the major decision of relocating to Lancaster from Charm.  And if those things weren't enough to keep me glued to the pages, there was a little twist that showed up about halfway through, and by that time, I had no intentions of setting this book down!

Another thing that I was impressed was the setting itself.  Because so many Amish stories are set in this area, there's not a whole lot left to feature in yet another book set in Lancaster....but don't let that stop you from giving it a try (it didn't stop me).  :o)  I could easily visualize the covered bridges that Michael and Caroline visited, as well as the restaurants and taverns that they visited with Simon and Lydia Ann, and there was just enough to have me itching to go there and see all of it for myself.

And lest I get too carried away with any more details, I'll leave this review with one final note.  This was the third book that I've read by Annalisa, and while I was impressed with all the details that are mentioned above, what impressed me the most was that I could tell that she has grown as an author.  I won't lie...the first book I read by her wasn't a favorite of mine, but I'm a big proponent of giving authors a second chance to make a first impression.  And now having read two more books of hers since then, I can say without a doubt that I will be purposefully going out of my way to read more of her books down the road.  (That might have a little something to do with all these *Southern* books she's got coming up here shortly...)  :o)

4 Stars

Southern?  Yep.  Caroline was from Georgia, and occasionally, she'd say something that oozed Southern charm.  Just the right amount all the way around.  :o)
Sass?  No

Summary of Love Finds You in Lancaster County, PA:

Two women with nothing in common except the need for a friend and a fresh start.

When Amish-born Lydia Ann Raber and Southern belle Caroline DeMarco discover a shared history of loss, the unlikely duo decides to open a gift shop in beautiful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Lydia Ann is surprised to find herself drawn to handsome woodworker Simon Zook. When God offers her a second chance at love and family, will she take it? Or will the secret Simon harbors cause her even more heartbreak? For Caroline, love comes in the way of newspaper reporter Michael Landis. Their low-key romance is a dream come true for Caroline, a fugitive from an infamous past. Is Michael to blame when the paparazzi start hovering once again, or can Caroline trust him with her heart?

Visit Annalisa on the web, or click here to read an interview that she did with me a few months ago.

CFBA Blog Tour: Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingSixty Acres and a BrideBethany House (February 1, 2012)byRegina Jennings



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from Regina:

See me laughing. That’s what I do when someone calls me an author. Yes, it’s always been my dream, but I still can’t keep from giggling over it.

Other things I am – a Christ-follower, a wife, a homeschooling mother of four, a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, and a voracious reader.

Getting reading time isn’t easy. Seems like my family does more than our share of traveling. My husband is an insurance adjuster (I know, save the hate mail) and travels with the catastrophe team often. That’s allowed us to see a lot of the United States. True many times it’s in the middle of a hurricane or blizzard, but after spending three weeks in a hotel room with six people, you’ll brave anything to get out and see the sights – no matter how damaged they might be.

We also serve on the Missions Team at an amazing church, so we break out the passports frequently. Highlights include singing at a leper colony in India, holding church inside a Mexican prison and showing the Jesus film to a tribe in Senegal who’d never heard the gospel.

But I don’t have to go far away for unusual. My family provides plenty of colorful material with their love for practical jokes, pithy observations and strong agricultural roots. Because of the family business, a significant chunk of my life has been spent at sale barns and auctions – often behind the scales where I weigh pigs. I like to think of myself as a “redneck bluestocking” but I brought an entire marketing team’s discussion to a screeching halt when I said those words, so you didn’t hear it from me.

When I have spare time I love to talk books and quirky characters (real and fictional).

ABOUT THE BOOK:

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to Texas and the family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have only three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa can't keep herself from falling in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. Learning the American customs is not easy, however, and this beautiful young widow can't help but catch wandering eyes. Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, to what lengths will Rosa go to save her future?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Sixty Acres and a Bride, go HERE.

CFBA Blog Tour and Brief Review: Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Song of My Heart Bethany House (February 1, 2012) by Kim Vogel Sawyer



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and numerous grandchildren.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can't work, she decides to leave home and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent--though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job.

Thad McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit. After he earns enough money doing sheriff work, he wants to use it to pay for his training to become a minister.

Thad is immediately attracted to the beautiful singer who performs in Asa Baxter's unusual opera house, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he begins to wonder if she's far less innocent than she seems. And when Sadie appears to be part of the very crimes he's come to investigate, is there any hope the love blossoming between them will survive?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Song of My Heart, go HERE.

Brief thoughts:

Normally, I can't get enough of Kim's books, but this one was not one of my favorites.  The story was very sweet, but there wasn't enough momentum throughout the story to keep me interested and engaged.  The characters were fully-fleshed, but again, not interesting.  For fans that enjoy sweet historical romances, I would recommend that they read some of Kim's other novels, particularly Courting Miss Amsel...one of her best.

3 Stars

Southern?  No
Sassy?  No

**Many thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy for review.