"Love Everlasting" by Tracie Peterson

Love Everlasting (Oct. 6, 2015) by Tracie Peterson.*

If someone ever wondered what it was like to grow up in a bridal school, one could ask Abrianna Cunningham. She was raised by her aunts at the Madison Bridal School. As it were, though, she doesn’t come upon her twenty-first birthday feeling like she has the skills expected of a wife. She is full of spunk and independence. This isn’t lost on Wade Ackerman, who accepts it, nor on Priam Welby, who does not, and tends to think of her as a horse to be broken in rather than a human being to be respected and treated as an equal. Abrianna knows of Wade’s love for her, but Priam is persistent in his pursuit of her. Not only persistent, but potentially very dangerous. Priam has a silver tongue, while Wade is of honorable character. Can Abrianna tell the difference, and can she do anything about it?

            This story was written by someone who’s obviously adept at writing and has been writing books for a long while. This was the first book I’d read from Peterson, and while I liked the book, I didn’t love it. Priam, as the villain, was very easy to dislike from the get-go. There was no secret that he was the antagonist of the story. Meanwhile, Wade was very easy to like. He is easily someone most women would have no problem introducing their parents to. As with any book of historical fiction, I do like that it appeared to stay in time (1889) as far as fashions of the day, mannerisms and the like (though I am not even a novice when it comes to knowledge of this period). Unfortunately, I am typing this review weeks after I finished the novel, and my remembrance of the book is definitely lacking. It’s a good book, but not memorable enough to suit my interests, in this case. This does not mean; however, that I would decline reading a different series from this author.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Lost Heiress" by Roseanna M. White

The Lost Heiress (Sept. 8, 2015) by Roseanna M. White.*

What would it be like to learn that you are not the offspring of an opera singer and Prince Louis Grimaldi, heir to the throne of Monaco, but a baroness, “whose title is by right and not courtesy,” and the daughter of an earl? Just ask Elizabeth Brook Eden. She’s grown up basking in the sun and warmth of the Mediterranean and suddenly finds herself in North Yorkshire, England. She’s still got a sea to look out at, but the temperature is not something she’ll grow accustomed to overnight. Nor will the staff at Whitby Park become accustomed to Brook overnight. In fact, they are prone to cynicism before trust, even though Ambrose Eden, the Earl of Whitby, has declared her to be his daughter and heir.

            Brook’s arrival at Whitby Park is thanks to her childhood best friend, Justin Wildon, who also happens to be the Duke of Stafford. He has long since realized that Brook is stunning, but he expects she doesn’t feel for him what he does for her. And, as heir to a dukedom, he’s got a plateful of responsibilities – and several side dishes – occupying his time. This creates physical distance between them and will be a barrier in their relationship that cannot be easily hurdled.

            Brook doesn’t know much about her past, but that will not stop the greed of unknown others to obtain what they think she possesses. Who can be trusted? What does the person(s) want and why? One thing is for sure: the person has no qualms about taking the lives of others to fulfill her/his desires. It’ll be a race to find out the whodunit before the heiress is lost for good.

            The setting is 1910 Edwardian England, and it is opulent, tragic and dangerous. The writing is top-notch, and you can tell that the author has done her research. Despite the length of the novel, it was a fairly quick read. The story is enchanting with its captivating characters – from the handsomely good if romantically bumbling (Justin) to the dashingly suave flirt (Brice, heir to the Duke of Nottingham) to the superciliously wicked (Pratt) – and its richness of royal locale. The romance is there, but isn’t steadily moving forward; therefore, it is intense in its stationary state. The only confusing part comes from my lack of familiarity with peerage terminology. It may also take some thought to remember who is who. All the nicknames and first name, last name, royal title – yikes! But all in all, a very delicious read. I look forward to continuing reading the Ladies of the Manor series.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Trondhjem's Pie & Ice Cream Social 2015

If you know me well, you know that I concoct an annual poem leading up to my home church’s Pie & Ice Cream Social. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of my Social poems! I wrote my first Social poem in 2006 on a whim. It was something new for me to try to do. And here we are, in 2015, and I’m still writing them!

Trondhjem’s Pie & Ice Cream Social 2015

The Pie & Ice Cream Social’s around the bend.

All of Trondhjem invites you to attend.

September the twentieth is the date.

It begins at 5; we don’t have long to wait!

From the kitchen we’ll be serving sloppy joes,

And as for dessert, most anything goes.

It’s a potluck of pies, a spectacle of taste.

Should you want first choice of pie, then to the food make haste!

Will pumpkin, raspberry or cherry appear?

Would eggnog pie promote pre-holiday cheer?

There might be chocolate or banana cream.

So many pies, which for you reigns supreme?

Do not forget that there is more upstairs.

There’s a silent auction and baked goods to spare.

Those treats may be salty, spicy, sweet or tart.

Know that all has been made/created with heart.

Donated by WELCA is a quilt that’s great,

And the talents who made it are first rate!

A ticket won’t set you back much, just a buck,

So buy a lot or a few and try your luck!

We hope you can come for an evening of fun

On 9/20 at 5. Please walk. Don’t run.

Visiting with you will make our day a success.

We’ll see you real soon. Until then, God bless!

"Not by Sight" by Kate Breslin

Not by Sight (Aug. 4, 2015) by Kate Breslin.*

The color white stands for many things: purity, innocence, light, mourning. Grace Elizabeth Mabry, the daughter of Patrick Mabry, one of London’s wealthiest tradesmen thanks to his tea business (Swan’s Tea Room), hands a white feather of cowardice to Jack Benningham, Earl of Stonebrooke. Grace, a suffragette, is full of patriotism, especially since her brother, Colin, is fighting in the war (it’s 1917, so WWI), so by handing a white feather to Jack, she’s telling him that he’s a coward for not representing Britain in the war, as he is an able-bodied man.

            Things turn for them both when Grace and her lady’s maid/friend, Agnes Pierpont, volunteer for the Women’s Forage Corps. It’s more work than Grace has ever done in her life, but it’s better than the house arrest she’s been under. They’re assigned to Roxwood, where dwells a monster.

            Naturally, that “monster” is Jack Benningham. He knows the name Grace Mabry, but he doesn’t know her face, because he can’t see it. Great tests are in front of the both of them. Grace will need her faith more than ever, and Jack needs to regain his. There will be hurt, the likes of which happens only when you fall too hard for someone and care too deeply. Unfortunately, matters of the heart are only part of the problem, because in those times of war, the threat of enemy spies is constant. And if the truth isn’t discovered, the innocent will take the blame, and relationships will be forever ruined.

            Mystery. Espionage. Intrigue. Romance. Doubt. Faith. If you enjoy stories containing any of those things, this is a book which I would recommend to you. This Christian historical fiction novel is intelligently written with a focused plot, descriptive characters and a fast pace. The author has clearly done her research. I think it is clever that Jack’s stance as a conscientious objector is a ruse, for it still propels his character to help his country. I was captivated by this novel and know I’ve found another author whose books I’d like to keep reading. It has a good message for us as well: Walk by faith and not by sight. In the spiritual sense, yes, but also in the literal, seeing-with-your-eyes sense. We take for granted that which we have, not realizing what we’re missing until it’s too late. Keep the faith, give thanks for what you have, and try not to take anything for granted.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"In Good Company" by Jen Turano

In Good Company (July 7, 2015) by Jen Turano.*

Life cannot be avoided, and apparently those you would rather avoid cannot be avoided, either. This is the case for Miss Millie Longfellow and Mr. Everett Mulberry. She has been ousted from yet another nanny position, and he has lost yet another nanny due to the antics of his young charges: Elizabeth, Rose and Thaddeus Burkhart. The matron of the employment agency is at her wit’s end with the both of them and pairs them together as a last resort, much to their initial resentment. Millie loves children, and the reason she often (always) ends up fired is that her teaching tactics are somewhat, erm, progressive and unique. Surprisingly or not, the children end up loving her, but the parents or guardians, not so much.

            Everett is a successful businessman with high societal aspirations. He wants to be part of the cream-of-the-crop amongst the upper echelons of NYC – and his summer home in Newport, Rhode Island – in 1882. His lovely, though imperious, spoiled, dramatic, soon-to-be fiancée, Caroline Dixon, fits to perfection his idea of the perfect woman for his standing in society. The children he was willed guardianship over? Not even close. He’d rather they’d been willed to someone else or that their parents hadn’t died in a freak accident. But when Elizabeth is certain she sees her late father’s yacht, something niggles at Millie. Something potentially very dangerous. And that danger isn’t just the attraction that Everett and Millie discover growing for one another. Life is funny that way.

            While we met Millie in “After a Fashion,” we as readers really got to know and understand her in this story. It was a riveting tale. Millie is a woman of good spirit, and even when life hands her lemons (which it has, a lot), she makes lemonade. She isn’t immune to disappointment and frustration, but her faith and amazing ability to love others when she didn’t receive much herself growing up drives her to be the spunky, kind-hearted, sometimes misunderstood woman she is. “In Good Company” encourages us to improve our strength of character no matter what we do – whether we are CEOs of corporations or we’re working retail or we’re homemakers or we’re balancing a full-time job and three kids or we’re looking for work. This is a novel of faith, finding understanding and bridging that gap between high society and pretty much everyone else. Throw in a whodunit plot and a spark of romance, and you’ve got another shining novel from Turano. Highly recommend!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Midwife's Tale" by Delia Parr

The Midwife’s Tale (June 2, 2015) by Delia Parr.*

There is something mesmerizing about greeting a newborn, a tiny miracle. That is how midwife Martha Cade (a.k.a. Widow Cade) feels every time she helps deliver a newborn safely and healthily into Western Pennsylvania in 1830. Martha lives in the town of Trinity and has two grown children. She was hopeful her daughter would follow in her footsteps, but that all came to a halt when her daughter ran away with a theater troupe. Three months of searching doesn’t bring Victoria home. Martha is hurting deeply. She “can only feel and react, completely defenseless as anger, resentment, and fear fought bitterly against hope, trust, and faith on the battleground of her soul.” And being away from Trinity for three months has brought some major changes.

            Without Victoria in tow, Martha must deal with the scandal of her daughter’s running off. It is of the utmost embarrassment – “The shame was nearly unbearable” – to Martha that her daughter would do such a thing. But scandal isn’t Martha’s alone. There is also Rosalind Andrews, who, instead of confiding in others, has instead pushed away those she once called friends, even those who would lend a listening ear and not accusing words. On top of scandal, a new doctor has arrived in the town of Trinity. He’s not just any doctor, but a university doctor, and one who seems to think everything about midwifery is primitive and dated. And let’s not forget Mayor Thomas Dillon. She’s carried affection for him in the past (and vice versa), but her calling to midwifery led her down a different path and marriage to a different man. Likewise, Thomas married another. Martha’s been a widow for a decade, and Thomas has been a widower for a year. Could there be …? But no, that wouldn’t … Would it?

            I always enjoy reading a book from an author previously unknown to me and discovering how much I enjoy her/his writing. Once I started reading this story, I flew right through it. I appreciate that Parr writes Martha as a faithful but flawed individual, as we all are, whether or not we want to admit our flaws. Martha is a very vivid character, and when she’s feeling something – whether joy at a new birth, shame at her daughter’s absconding or flutter-feelings at the sight of the mayor – we the readers feel her emotions, too. I especially like that she writes scenes where Martha is struggling. Like us, she also has foolish moments. And, as Aunt Hilda states, “That makes you human. Faith and conviction can’t cure that. They only help you to recognize your failings so you can try to overcome them.” This story is excellently written and appears to be well-researched. I look forward to continuing to hang out in Trinity!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Amish Promises" by Leslie Gould

Amish Promises (May 5, 2015) by Leslie Gould.*

When one thinks of Lancaster County, it seems natural to attribute it to a place of serenity. That is what Shani Beck is hoping for. Give it a year. She’ll begin a job as a nurse at Lancaster General, and she’ll live in her late grandfather’s house with her recuperating military husband, Joel, and their son, Zane. Shani’s got her work cut out for her, mostly due to Joel’s physical and emotional issues. His tibia was shattered in an attack while he was on active duty. Because of his injuries, he’s out of the Army for good, but he carries with him survivor’s guilt, self-pity for currently being wheelchair-bound and, most likely, PTSD.

            “I will never leave a fallen comrade,” is Charlie McCall’s mantra. Joel, struggling as he is, is still a fallen comrade in Charlie’s eyes, and the Becks need him in their lives probably more than they realize, especially Joel. He helps with everything from unloading the moving van to building a ramp to taking Zane under his wing. And his eyes are captured by the single, 20-something Amishwoman who takes care of her brother’s home and his five children.

            Likewise, Charlie has caught Eve Lehman’s eyes. But she treads lightly. Caring for her strict brother’s (Tim’s) household and her nieces and nephews is her atonement for, in her church’s eyes, the sins of her running-around years. And she doesn’t want to do anything which Tim disapproves of, for she loves her nephews and nieces – twins Daniel & Lila, Simon, Rose and baby Trudy – more than anything, plus she promised Abra on her deathbed. But naturally, as with any good story, complications arise that keep them all intertwined for better or for worse, for risk of shunning or not.

            This contemporary Amish Christian fiction story is the first in the Neighbors of Lancaster County series, and it’s off to a strong start. I thoroughly enjoy Amish fiction, and this story did not disappoint. Just as I appreciate stories that involve a variety of ethnicities, so do I also enjoy reading Amish fiction that blends cultures – in this case, Englischers. There has been tragedy and hardship on all sides – whether emotional or physical or both – and all individuals must find a way to come to terms with it. Here is a story about faith, family and unexpected friendship, but also a story about mistrust born on stereotypes, the past, and the close-mindedness that can come from sheer stubbornness. It is a wonderfully written story that blends Amish and English, heartache and healing, willingness and inflexibility, mistrust and trust. From heartache and sorrow to love and happiness, friendship and healing will thread their way through, as they so often do.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Finding Me" by Kathryn Cushman

Finding Me (Apr. 7, 2015) by Kathryn Cushman.*

What would you do if you discovered that your past wasn’t what you’d been brought up to believe? If you’re Kelli Huddleston, you drive across the country to find answers. She’d always been told that her mother and two older siblings died in a house fire when she was an infant and that they’d come to central California (just outside of Santa Barbara) from Louisiana. But names aren’t matching up, and there are news clippings about a boat accident in South Carolina killing a young father and his infant daughter …

            Armed with Miscellaneous and Odds and Ends, she takes off for Shoal Creek, Tennessee. Kelli intends to stay for a week, but that week turns into a temporary summer job at Moore’s More Store and a rental unit to reside in. She has a boss (Ken Moore a.k.a. Kenmore) who values honesty, the boss’ son (Shane) who’s more than a little suspicious of her intentions in tiny Shoal Creek, new friends in Beth & Rand and Miss Birdyshaw, and a very mom-like figure in Alison Waters. Her life is going to do a 180, and Kelli’s not sure she can handle it, especially when the spark of romance lights within her and she becomes closer to a few of Shoal Creek’s residents. Should Kelli throw the doors open wide and discover what she may? Or are some doors better left shut?

            On top of the tragedy of losing loved ones, Kelli also deals with the horrific realization that her life could’ve been completely different with a birthmother and siblings and that her father was a lout for what he did. It’s a story of contemporary Christian fiction, yet it’s written so realistically. Sadness, despair, anger, denial, acceptance – it’s all there, and I felt it as a reader, but I also felt Kelli’s joys and doubts in connecting with those she never knew. I rooted for her the entire time. Cushman’s story is one of rising above grief and adversity. But perseverance, too, to find the missing pieces Kelli never knew she was missing. It is a winsome, well-written tale.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"After a Fashion" by Jen Turano

After a Fashion (Mar. 3, 2015) by Jen Turano.*

In an era (it’s NYC in 1882) when it’s difficult to be an independent woman of self-supporting means, Miss Harriet Peabody works hard. Having no father and a deceased mother, a year has passed since she left the clutches of her confidence-scheming aunt (she’s a con artist) and secured employment from a local milliner. It’s a respectable job, and she adores the fashion industry, plus she’s adept at sewing garments and hats. She’s innovative as well, trying to perfect a collapsible bustle, and kind-hearted, wanting to someday open a shop selling refashioned gowns to other working women like herself who can’t afford gowns from the likes of Arnold Constable & Co. in the elite Ladies’ Mile district.

            Harriet’s employment comes to an abrupt halt when she has the great misfortune of delivering hats to Mr. Oliver Addleshaw’s not-fiancée. Knowing that she is now unemployed and assuming (wrongly) that she’s desperate for any new employment, Oliver eventually enlists her help by presenting her as his fiancée for appearance’s sake when meeting with a business partner, the Duke of Westmoore. It is a business partnership only. Which is fine by Harriet, as she’ll never really fit into Oliver’s world of wealth, prestige, fancy dinners and elegant balls. She’s a fraud wearing expensive garments, but that’s a trifle compared to the fake relationship the two are in. After all, the relationship is just for business purposes, right?

            As a reader who’s enjoyed all four books in Turano’s ‘Ladies of Distinction’ series, and a fan of the author’s because of them, I looked tremendously toward this new novel. I was not disappointed. I liked the “business partnership” that Turano incorporated into the story to keep Harriet and Oliver involved in each other’s lives. I always love that her female characters aren’t damsels-in-distress, but ladies who seem to value independence and independent thinking. Of course, we expect a romance to develop, but this story isn’t just about two people falling in love. It’s also a tale wrapped in business, mayhem, charm, wit’s end and trickery. It’s posh lifestyle versus life just scraping by. It’s trusting in God and finding that trust again. And at the center of it all are two imperfect people from two very different walks of life and a strong cast of supporting characters, also diverse in their current predicaments and upbringings. Highly recommend!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Unblogged: A Letter

Dear Rutabaga Readers,

For those of you who are regulars to my blog, you’ll notice that I don’t post very often. This is going to change, and I will be posting even less often than I already do. I have some projects that need to take priority, and since there never seems to be enough time in a day, a week or a year, my reviews are going on the backburner. That isn’t to say that I will stop completely. I won’t. I’ll still try to post once or twice a month, but I can’t promise that it’ll be a regular thing.

            So for those of you who have checked into my blog on a regular basis, THANK YOU so much. And thank you to everyone who’s paused at my site and taken the time to read just one post. And/or post a comment or two.

            In closing, I want to list some books which I have read over the course of these past months, but which I never got write-ups completed for (and won’t rule out going back to them). They are all books which I enjoyed immensely, and most from authors whom I’m already a fan of, so you can find posts related to them elsewhere in this blog. (I’ll denote authors whose works I’ve never reviewed on my blog to this date with an asterisk: *.)

Blue Lily, Lily Blue (Oct. 21, 2014) by Maggie Stiefvater.

Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends (Oct. 8, 2013) by Shannon Hale.¹

Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All (Mar. 25, 2014) by Shannon Hale.

Ever After High: A Wonderlandiful World (Aug. 26, 2014) by Shannon Hale.

Illusions of Fate (Sept. 9, 2014) by Kiersten White.

Mortal Gods (Oct. 14, 2014) by Kendare Blake.

The 5^th Wave (May 7, 2013) by Rick Yancey.*

The Bone Season (Aug. 20, 2013) by Samantha Shannon.*

The Screaming Staircase (Sept. 17, 2013) by Jonathan Stroud.*

The Young Elites (Oct. 7, 2014) by Marie Lu.

Happy reading, you wonderful people!

--Lisa Rutabaga

¹ I did get my write-up complete for this one, but I still have hopes of doing that three-book post someday. If that “someday” doesn’t happen, then you may see the lone-book post on a further, future someday date.