by Crystal Caudill | Feb 20, 2018 | Book Reviews
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The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz
In high school, I was obsessed with the American Revolution. I lived, breathed, and dreamed every detail I could find about the American Revolution. Stories that (thankfully) will never see the light of day were written.
As terrible as those amateur stories were, I am happy to report that The Lacemaker is no amateur story. Laura Frantz crafted a wonderful story that draws you so completely into the complexities of those first days that it is a shock to your system when someone *ahem – children I’m referring to you* interrupt your reading for something as trivial as being fed.
Who can eat when the balance of a nation is hanging on a lacemaker’s thread?
Genre: Historical Romance, American Revolution
Plot Overview: Lady Elisabeth “Liberty” Lawson is days away from her arranged marriage taking place when she is abandoned by her fiancé and family. As daughter of a prominent British leader, she is suspected to be a spy and struggles to survive in her hometown of Independence Men. No one is willing to come to her aid, save the Welsh Independence man, Noble Rynallt. An enemy to the crown, he has his own struggles to contend with, but the former-lady-turned-lacemaker cannot be ignored. As tensions grow, Liberty must make a choice – join the Independence Men or turn her back on her father and country? Whatever the choice, the cost could be her life.
What I loved: I will say my absolute favorite part of any story that takes place during the American Revolution or Civil War is the complexities of how families were affected. The relationship between Elisabeth “Liberty” and her family is so complex that I just relish every detail. Her father so wonderfully reflected the Independence Men’s view of England while her mother was the independent spirit that refused to be broken. The broken family was such a wonderful symbol of Britain’s relationship with it’s colonies. I don’t know if she meant that symbolism or not, but I absolutely loved it.
Favorite Character: It is such a hard toss up between Liberty and Noble. Liberty is such an amazing young woman who really grows from the submissive daughter to a woman who learns to fend for herself without compromising her morals. She is brave, kind-hearted, and the woman I hope I would be under such circumstances.
Noble is the swoon worthy hero every romance needs. He is a man who watches out for the needs of others, has a strong sense of obligation and duty to bring this nation to independence, and Welsh heritage makes you want to cuddle up next to him in real life. I won’t give away the details, but he is a great leader and a man who will do anything for those he loves. Such a brave man.
Who would like this: Anyone who love historically accurate stories with love, romance, danger, and self-sacrifice (no one dies). Those who especially love the American Revolution and the complex relationships between the British and those seeking independence.
Rating and Why: I give this story 5 stars. I loved the complexities of the story, the romance that was exciting but clean, and all the historical characters. It was masterfully created and a pure joy to read.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this story on #netgalley through the publisher for review purposes. The opinions above are completely my own and not influenced in any way.
Join the Discussion: What is your favorite aspect of reading books set in the American Revolution? Do you like the battles? Espionage? Relationships? Love between opposite sides? Romance against all odds?
If you read the book: Which character did you identify with most?
Purchase Links:
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by Crystal Caudill | Apr 11, 2017 | Book Reviews
The Patriot and the Loyalist by Angela Couch
In a time when loyalties are questioned, rebellion to the Crown punished, and families divided, can love be true? Or is love just a deceptive weapon used by the enemy?
In this second installation of Hearts at War, we follow jilted and heartbroken Daniel Ried into the swamps of the Carolinas. Driven by his need to escape the pain of Rachel’s rejection and the need to prove himself to his family, he is drawn into the covert operations of the Contential Army’s Swap Fox.
Lydia Reynolds is a woman so pained by loss, she has drawn herself away from everyone and hopes to escape her pain aboard a boat bound for England. The only problem? He brother-in-law refuses to help her. When a possible rebel spy crosses her path, Lydia takes matters into her own hands.
In a dance of loyalties and spy versus spy, love enters and complicates the best-laid plans. Throw in a few unexpected plot twists and there is no clean escape from the web of deception.
The Patriot and the Loyalist is a masterful depiction of real people in the clutches of war, struggling with trust, pain, and loyalty.
I loved the continuing saga of Daniel Reid from the first book, The Scarlet Coat. It was a pleasure to better get to know him and watch his journey. Angela, once again, put my beloved characters through the wringer – and thus me as a reader. I loved the action, the emotional struggle of the characters, and personal connection I made to their lives. I may not have endured the American Revolution, but I can understand betrayal, the risk of trusting someone with my broken heart, and the struggle between what I think I want and what is actually best.
I highly recommend this book to others who love real characters struggling with a backdrop of war. It was a great mixture of action and emotional angst. Â Purchase your own copy in the links below or go to your library and request they purchase it. Then everyone can enjoy this book.
*I received this e-book as an advanced reader’s copy and have given my honest opinion above.
Purchasing Links:
Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
Kobo.com
“Completing his three years in the Continental Army, Daniel Reid still has no desire to return home—not after losing the woman he loves to a British Captain—so he volunteers to ride south through enemy lines and deliver a message to Colonel Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox. With his temper needing a release and a dark haired beauty finding her way into his broken heart, Daniel decides to join the Swamp Fox’s efforts against the British. Little does he know the British still have the upper hand.
Lydia Reynolds has learned that love comes at a price, and she refuses to pay. Better to close her heart to everything and everyone. When her brother-in-law won’t grant her passage to England, where she hopes to hide from her pain, New Englander, Daniel Reid, becomes her only hope—if she can induce him to give her information about the notorious Swamp Fox and his troops. When the British grow impatient and Daniel evades her questions, Lydia must decide how far to take her charade. The poor man, already gutted by love, hasn’t grown as wise as she. Or so she supposes.
Until the truth is known, the muskets are loaded, and it is time to decide where true loyalties lie.”
– Amazon Blurb
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 29, 2016 | Book Reviews
For the next bit, you will find a number of Mary Connealy books reviewed. One of my assignments to grow as a writer is to study the writing of a writer I admire, and she is one whose books have been lining my shelves long before God called me out of my four walls.
So here we go, Book # 1 in the Lassoed in Texas series.
Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy 
“Sophie Edwards is doing just fine, until a strange-yet oddly familiar-man rides into her life, insisting on rescuing her and her four daughters. Can she find a way to love a headstrong mountain man? When Clay McClellan discovers his brother has been murdered, he’s bent on finding the killers and seeing them properly hung. But first his Christian duty demands that he marry his sister-in-law. After all, Sophie needs someone to protect her – right? Faith and love help unruly wed newlyweds find common ground and a chance at love on the Texas frontier.”
– Amazon.com Blurb
The book starts right off the bat with action and suspense, making it a difficult task to lay down the book when your children start asking, “When’s dinner?”
There were lots of twists and turns in the book that I didn’t expect and although there were instances of what seemed to be coincidence, they were put together in a very believable way. Even a miracle of God appeared throughout the story, one I particularly loved and believe is plausible even in today’s world.
I loved how strong and independent Sophie and her girls were, and especially in how sweet she was in letting Clay think that he was teaching her and the girls new skills when, in fact, they had already mastered them years ago. As a reader, I wanted to be Sophie and think that I could defend my family the way she did.
Clay was a hoot, too! Mr. Macho had no idea how to deal with women, but he was all too willing to step in and fulfill his Biblical brotherly duties to marry his brother’s widow. His take charge attitude was met with some hilarious results. Some parts of the romance seemed to happen too quick for me, but it didn’t keep me from enjoying the story.
The plot was not straight-forward either. Mrs. Connealy did a marvelous job of bringing in all sorts of ties from unexpected places. Every single detail had its place and even when things seemed part of a different plot they all came together to make one cohesive story. I really marvel at how she did that and am specifically breaking down each chapter to discover just exactly how she did that.
I would recommend anything she writes, but I would definitely recommend reading this series first. So many of the people in this first series appear in later series. Mrs. Connealy does a magnificent job of creating a cohesive story world across series. So meet the characters first in this series.
It seems as if this book is no longer in print, but you can find it through third-party sellers at Amazon.com. You can visit her website at http://maryconnealy.com/.
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 13, 2016 | Book Reviews
The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson 
I have finally reached Melanie’s The Merchant’s Daughter in my TBR pile and all I can say is, why did I wait so long? I will readily admit that Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale of all time, and Melanie did an amazing job with the story.
For those hardcore fairy tale fans – the ones who read the original versions by Anderson and the Grimm brothers – you will not be disappointed. Melanie did a fantastic job of sticking to the core elements but fleshing them out into a real life scenario that is just as magical as the fantasy presented to us through the historical renditions.
Even though I was very familiar with all the different variations of Beauty and the Beast, I was still wonderfully surprised and held in suspense throughout the story. It is easy to fall in love with kind, sweet Annabell who has her own wounds and broken past.Lord Ranulf le Wyse is an amazing beast who is all at once ferocious and yet gentle. My heart went out to him almost immediately.
Spiritual truth was woven masterfully and naturally throughout the story. I found myself transported and looking at the Holy Writ, as Annabell calls it, in a whole new light and with an excitement that I sometimes forget.
I highly recommend this book and would sum up this review with The Merchant’s Daughter is a fairy tale that reaches down to the soul and brings joy just by reading it. You simply must read this, and heart be still, Melanie has written a whole Fairy Tale Romance series.
The newest book Silent Songbird comes out in November.
Check out the links to purchase and connect with Melanie Dickerson below:
Amazon.com    Barnes and Noble  Melanie’s Website
“An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf’s bailiff—a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.”
– Blurb by from Amazon
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 30, 2016 | Book Reviews
The Canadian West Series by Janette Oke
Okay after having to leave a two-star rating for my favorite author last week, I had to revisit my favorite series from her and give her a glowing review to make up for the disappointment.
The Canadian West Series:
#1 When Calls the Heart
#2 When Comes the Spring
#3 When Breaks the Dawn
#4 When Hope Springs New
# 5 Beyond The Gathering Storm
# 6 When Tomorrow Comes
The first four books are my absolute favorite. In the first book, Elizabeth Thatcher goes to the Canadian West to teach in a school near her brother. Only she finds out turning down the wrong man puts her in a school much farther west where she has to learn to live alone and teach in a little one room school house. The fun ensues with her mistakes and the challenges of teaching in a small community.
In When Calls the Heart, Elizabeth Thatcher goes to the Canadian West to teach in a school near her brother. Only she finds out turning down the wrong man puts her in a school much farther west where she has to learn to live alone and teach in a little one room school house. The fun ensues with her mistakes and the challenges of teaching in a small community. Of course, there is the dashing mountie, Wynn. The miscommunications and the romance that follows is wonderful to read.
When Comes the Spring begins with the wedding, honeymoon, and then the first year of marriage. It is such a wonderful book showing how a God-centered marriage works, even in the most challenging of situations. Not only do they have to leave the small community they had come to know and love, but Elizabeth follows Wynn to the far north to live in an Indian village where she is an outsider.
In When Breaks the Dawn, they must move yet again and Elizabeth works with the Indian community to survive a wildfire and then flood. It is an exciting read and I just love following their marriage.
When Hope Springs New is the last one to focus on their lives as husband and wife, mountie and teacher. This book touches on the difficult topic of not being able to have children and God’s grace. It is a wonderful read that leaves you with hope for the future.
Finally, Beyond the Gathering Storm and When Tomorrow Comes follow the lives of Wynn and Elizabeth’s two children. One is an adopted son and the other is their miracle daughter. Each struggle to find their way in the world and to be patient for love. I enjoy reading both of their stories and love that you get to see Wynn and Elizabeth in a different light.
This is one of those rare series that I would make everyone read if I could. Janette Oke reveals the true life trials of married life and how it can be done in a Godly manner. Even if you have no Godly couples to look to, you can really see a great example in this series.
I love Wynn and Elizabeth as if they were real people. Okay, so maybe that is a little creepy. But in the books that really impact you and you love, it feels that way.
So what are you doing? Go buy and read this series. I promise you won’t regret it AND it is way better than her newest series and even the When Calls the Heart television show (which I do like, but it is nothing like the books.)
