Showing posts with label Historical Christian Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historical Christian Romance. Show all posts

Friday, August 25, 2023

Book Review of A Forgiving Heart (Seasons of Change Book 2)

forgiving heart book cover
Seasons of Change is a historical Christian romance book series that is written by multiple authors.  The books do not share the same characters.  They simply share the same theme.

A Forgiving Heart by Kasey Stockton could easily be read as a stand alone book and is one I would recommend even if you do not wish to commit to the entire series.  The main character is quite believable.  She does, indeed, possess a forgiving heart, but not in a way that seems beyond reason.  While she has forgiven childhood mistreatment by other children, it is clear she still struggles with the memories of the selfish adult who was filled with anger and took it out on her.

This is a book that has stayed with me for days.  I realize it is fiction, but the injustices are all too real.  Children can be cruel, and people who should be looking out for you, often take advantage of their power.  Even if our own lives have been easy, comparatively speaking, I think we all need the opportunity to consider how others may well have very painful pasts.  Just telling someone they need to forgive someone seems trite and unsympathetic.  Giving them time and room to work through something step by step is a more thoughtfully considered response.  That is the reminder this book offered me, while also entertaining me with a romantic story.

I will warn you in advance.  This is not a light reading romance.  There is a pervasive evil throughout the story, starting with the uncle and continuing with someone viewed as a friend.  Perhaps, that is another life lesson we should all be reminded of.  People are not always who or what they seem.

 

A Forgiving Heart Synopsis

 A Forgiving Heart
(Seasons of Change Series)
Check Price
Kate Kingston is now an adult, content with her life as a teacher.  When an attorney arrives one day at the school to inform her of her uncle's death and her inheritance, she is thrown back into her past.  A past she would prefer to leave behind. 

When she was 4, her parents were killed.  Her uncle moved into the ancestral home in Larkfield and sent her to live with strangers.  When she returned to Split Tree Manor at the age of 9, he treated her as a house servant and would not let her go outside.  When she was not working in the house, she had to remain in a room with a hired woman.  The one day she did manage to slip out, she was assaulted by two male neighbors while trying to defend a smaller boy.  When she returned home, she was switched by her uncle for disobedience.  Finally, at 12, she was sent off to school, which turned out to be a much needed reprieve.

Kate returns to Split Tree Manor, where her only real memories are dominated by her cruel uncle.  She was simply too young when her parents died to remember Split Tree Manor as anything other than an unhappy place.  But, this was her father's home.  As the older brother, her father had inherited Split Tree Manor.  Unbeknownst to her, Uncle Bartholomew was only managing her inheritance until she reached the age of 20.  She had been 20 for six months, yet her uncle did not contact her or inform her of her inheritance.  Had he not died, she would not have known that she was the rightful heir of Split Tree Manor in Larkfield.

Kate doesn't return alone.  She takes an ally with her.  Alice James, the cook from the school, is thrilled with the opportunity to become Larkfield's cook.  She is also joined by another married friend, Emily Nielsen, whose husband is away at war.  Her hope is that these two friends can help her establish a home and re-enter society, a place where she belonged by birth, but was previously denied.

Shortly after her arrival, she meets Martin Evans who reveals that he is the younger boy from that day long ago and how he has always remembered her as his valiant defender.  He wishes to repay her kindness, but he also expresses his interest in courting her.

One afternoon, when Emily doesn't return home from horseback riding, Kate and the house staff set out to find her.  Kate is not the only person who finds Emily unconscious.  Sir Peter Evans is there and he is carrying Emily to his own horse.  Kate does not recognize Peter as one of the boys from years ago, nor does she realize he is the owner of Evanslea, but she had seen him several times recently.  She acquiesces to his plans and allows him to carry Emily away while she tends to Emily's horse.   

As the days pass, Kate finds unexpected friendship with one of the brothers and isn't quite sure why she is hesitant to get too close to the other one.  There is something there that she doesn't quite understand or trust.

 


 

Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. I stayed up late into the night reading. After a few hours sleep, I awoke ready to start reading again, forgetting any work I was supposed to do that day. It is an excellent book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a combination of romance and mystery.



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Friday, November 13, 2020

The Lady and the Mountain Man (The Mountain Series Book 1) Reviewed

The Lady and the Mountain Man
This book took me by surprise! 

Because of the title, I was concerned that "The Lady and the Mountain Man" would be too juvenile to hold my attention.  However, since Misty M. Beller is a best selling author, and I liked the Montana setting, I thought I would at least start reading it.  After all, I could set the book aside if it didn't appeal to me.  As it turns out, the opening first few paragraphs caught my attention quickly and the story line kept me interested.

This book reminded me not to judge a book by it's title.  There have been times when a title grabbed my attention, only for the book to be a disappointment.  Even though I love the cover, this book's title didn't appeal to me, but I really enjoyed the story and would highly recommend it as a clean and wholesome romance for anyone.


The Lady and the Mountain Man
(The Mountain Series Book 1- 1874)

 The Lady and the Mountain Man
(The Mountain Series Book 1)
Before his death, Leah's father had entered into an arranged marriage contract with Simon Talbert on behalf of his only daughter.  The wedding was to take place in only 6 days.  As an only heir, Leah would become a very wealthy woman when she obtained the age of 23, in less than a year. 

When Leah Townsend overhears her fiance admit to killing his first wife and prepared to do the same to her to gain her inheritance, she knows she must flee Richmond, Virginia.  Unfortunately, she had no idea where she could go and be safe. 

Leah's friend, companion and former governess, Emily, hatched what seemed like the perfect plan for Leah.  She would go to St. Louis, Missouri, and stay with a family that Emily knew there.  It seemed like an ideal plan until Leah happened to discover that she was followed to St. Louis by Simon's brother.  She had to come up with a new plan, and fast!

Leah decided to answer a newspaper ad from a gentleman in Montana who was seeking a wife.  It was a long way away, and something no one in Richmond would expect.  Plus, she would not be easy to follow.  She immediately sent a telegram to the wife-seeking man in Montana, secured passage on a boat, and left St. Louis.  

Leah was not prepared for the wilds of Montana or the subsequent events that placed her in some very difficult circumstances causing her to depend solely on God's provision.  


My Conclusion

"The Lady and the Mountain Man" was an easy read and one that I really enjoyed.  I read it rather quickly and hated for it to end.  Fortunately for me, when I checked the following morning, I found the Mountain series has 12 books.  I immediately downloaded the 2nd book to my Kindle.

If you enjoy romantic historical Christian fiction too, I know you will enjoy this wonderful book.


 The Mountain Series: Books 1 - 3: The Mountain Series Box SetCheck Price The Lady and the Mountain Promise (The Mountain series Book 4)Check Price The Lady and the Mountain Call (The Mountain series) (Volume 5)Check Price This Treacherous Journey (The Mountain series Book 6)Check Price This Wilderness Journey (The Mountain series Book 7)Check Price




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Susan DeppnerSusan Deppner

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