May’s Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge: Unlock an Adventure is over! With the chaos of this month, I read a novella, from a collection but didn’t read the whole collection. If you have a review you’d like to submit for upcoming months, feel free to sign up for a month here and use the Google form to submit your review. As my time has become too limited to do a suggestions post each month, I encourage you to jump over to the Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge page and ask for suggestions from there or from any of a number of amazing reader groups like Avid Readers of Christian Fiction or even visit https://inspirationalhistoricalfiction.com/ for options.
*The list of prizes available from my prize shelf can be found here.*
May’s Theme: Exploration or Pioneering
June’s Theme: Treasure Hunt
Christmas Traps and Trimmings
by Kelly Eileen Hake
Review by: Crystal Caudill
Kelly Eileen Hake has long been a treasured author for me. I don’t think I’ve read anything by her that I haven’t liked. This novella was no exception, although for a few minutes, I was concerned she got her history timeline wrong. I should have known better. It was I who had the wrong century for the earthquake along the New Madrid fault line. Set in the early days of America’s birth and the days when Kentucky was the wild wild west (1811), this is the story of and English lady determined to escape the grasp of her plotting cousin–even across an ocean and into the untamed Kentucky frontier–by running to her appointed guardian who had no doubt not heard of her father’s passing. Her unwilling guardian is an Englishman making his living through trapping and selling animal pelts. He doesn’t have space in his life for an English lady and her elderly maid. However, he can’t turn them away, and forced proximity requires that they get to know each other. Throw in the world-shaking earthquakes along the New Madrid fault line and a half-legible letter from her deceased father into the mix, and these two have no choice but to learn to rely on each other.
I enjoyed the story, and especially the historical perspective of an event I’d heard of all my life but hadn’t realized was so early in our country’s birth. The romance was a bit quick for me, but novellas tend to be rushed, and honestly, what else are two people going to do in the wilds of Kentucky but get married pretty quickly? While Christmas was touched on, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a traditionally Christmasy-feeling novella.
For Fans of: I recommend this story to those who love learning new bits of history, quick-read romances, and frontier settings.
Genre: Historical Romance, Kentucky 1811 – Novella Collection
Plot Overview:
Purchase Links:
Giveaway
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I read Rocky Mountain Rendezvous. I like the way Misty Beller describes things; she paints beautiful pictures with her words, and you can pictures with perfect clarity places you’ve never actually seen before.
Awesome. That one is on my TBR pile! She’s such wonderful author and person!
I read The Wedding Dress by Marian Wells. It followed some of the early Mormon settlers in Utah. I highly recommend this book as it gives a great look into the early days of Mormanisn and what they believe, how it can change, and clear explanations of why it isn’t a Christian religion.
Oh, that is good to know. I like it when fiction can teach us something.
I read “This Road We Traveled” by Jane Kirkpatrick. Definitely recommend it. Also, it’s based on true events and people.
I love those types of books, and I’ve heard great things about Jane Kirkpatrick.
I read “Freedom in the Mountain Wind” by Misty M. Beller. It was the second book I’ve read by her, and it won’t be the last!
I love Misty! and her books are WONDERFUL!
I read Karyn’s Memory Box by Stephanie Grace Whitson. It was about German settlers in Nebraska.
Oh that is neat! A different culture and how they settled in an area. Love the concept!
I read The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green. To be honest I don’t usually read this subgenre, and I wasn’t entirely sure that I’d enjoy it. But I really loved it! Its about the French colony of Louisiana around the year 1720. In a few words its: history, politics, midwifery, criminals, colonisation, faith, and its really good! 10/10 recommend!
Awesome!! I’ve picked it up several times but haven’t read it yet. I guess I’ll have to change that!
I read In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse. It was my second book by both authors, and I can’t wait to read more of their books. I have the second book in this Alaska series out from the library.
Awesome! They have a lot of Alaskan set books. I love how the pioneering in the Alaskan books are more modern yet still feel primitive.
I read The Mayflower Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse, The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep, and The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear…all from Daughters of the Mayflower series… enjoyed reading them all.
Those are awesome! Michelle Griep is my favorite! I just might have to go back and reread that one.
I read The Laws of Attraction by Mary Connealy which was set in Wyoming. Enjoying this series about a strong trio of women.
That one is on my TBR list. I’m looking forward to diving into it at some point.
I read Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, a non-fiction book my granddaughter likes.
Fun! Nothing like learning some of the real-life hardships of a famous author who lived through those days.