Review: "When the Day Comes" by Gabrielle Meyer

It had me at time travel. (Of course it did!) I will always pick up a time-related book. But this? This is so unique and delightful.

Review + Giveaway: "The Thorn Keeper" by Pepper Basham

 

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Thorn Keeper by Pepper D. Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Review: "The Thorn Bearer" by Pepper Basham

I've been a fan of Pepper Basham's writing for a while now, and I've heard so many good things about her Penned in Time series ... but I'd never picked the books up ... until now.

Review: "On Wings of Devotion" by Roseanna M. White

The first book in Roseanna M. White's Codebreakers series was so delightful (as are all of her books), so I was eager to get my hands on the next installment, On Wings of Devotion. Let's just say I wasn't disappointed ...

Review: "Far Side of the Sea" by Kate Breslin

Over the years, I've read a lot of fiction set during World War II, but I haven't read much set during World War I. It's a fascinating time in history that I know little about, so I was happy to dive into the period through Far Side of the Sea.

Review: "An Hour Unspent" by Roseanna M. White

After penning two really enjoyable entries in the Shadows Over England series, Roseanna M. White is back to conclude the series with Barclay's story ... and it's the story that I've been waiting for!

"A Song Unheard" by Roseanna M. White

A woman tasked with stealing from her idol, Willa Forsythe finds her life changing beyond her imagination when she takes a job from the mysterious Mr. V during World War I.

"High as the Heavens" by Kate Breslin

Danger. Romance. Second Chances. All are found in abundance in Kate Breslin's latest World War I-set novel, High as the Heavens.

"not by sight" by kate breslin

Anxiously awaiting the final Downton Abbey season's arrival on PBS? (Me, too.) Kate Breslin's Not by Sight can be a pleasant diversion during that wait. Set in England during World War I, it's a great mix of romance and suspense.

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In the spring of 1917, all of Britain's attention is on the WWI war front and the thousands of young men serving their country on the front lines. Jack Benningham, dashing heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, is young and able-bodied but refuses to enlist despite the contempt of his peers.

A wealthy young suffragette, Grace Mabry will do anything to assist her country's cause. Men like Jack infuriate her when she thinks of her own brother fighting in the trenches of France, so she has no reservations about handing him a white feather of cowardice at a posh masquerade ball.

But Grace could not anticipate the danger and betrayal set into motion by her actions, and soon she and Jack are forced to learn the true meaning of courage when the war raging overseas suddenly strikes much closer to home and their fervent beliefs become a matter of life and death.

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Not by Sight begins as Grace and her lady's maid Agnes begin handing out white feathers of cowardice at a party. From that moment until the book's end, I found myself completely enthralled with the story. It's a book that fits into many genres: there's mystery and suspense surrounding spies, comedy as Grace tries to work on a farm, wartime drama, and compelling romance between Jack and Grace.

The characters in Not by Sight—including some of the minor ones—are dynamic and realistic; I especially enjoyed the way Jack's stodgy butler, who could easily have been a one-note character, warmed up to Grace throughout the novel. And Jack? He's the kind of lovable rogue that women have long been swooning over. His physical ailment (which really, you'll just have to read about) made him that much more endearing, and it also added just the right amount of romantic tension.

The mystery in the novel is intriguing, and though I figured out the identity of the spy long before the reveal, I still enjoyed seeing everything unfold, and the way it played out was not how I anticipated.

If you like historical fiction, you'll love Not by Sight. And isn't that cover gorgeous? It's definitely one of my favorites so far this year! 5 stars.

Buy the book.

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A Florida girl and former bookseller, Kate Breslin migrated to the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her guitarist husband and a persnickety cat. Author of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate received Christian Retailing's 2015 Best Award for first time author, and her debut novel, For Such A Time, is a Christy award, RITA award, and Carol award finalist. Kate's second novel, Not By Sight, releases in August 2015. When she's not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington's beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, and much of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas. Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through its book reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

"when the clouds roll by" by myra johnson

About the book (from the publisher): Annemarie Kendall is overjoyed when the armistice is signed and the Great War comes to an end. Her fiancé, Lieutenant Gilbert Ballard, is coming home, and though he is wounded, she is excited to start their life together. But when he arrives, her dreams are dashed when she learns Gilbert is suffering from headaches, depression, and an addiction to pain killers. This is not the man she had planned to marry.

After serving in the trenches, Army Chaplain Samuel Vickary is barely holding onto his faith. Putting up a brave front as he ministers to the injured soldiers at the hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, he befriends Gilbert and eventually falls for Annemarie. While Annemarie tries to sort out her confused feelings about the two men in her life, she witnesses firsthand the bitterness and hurt they both hold within. Whom will she choose? Will she have the courage to follow her heart and become the woman God intended her to be?

As the world emerges from the shadow of war, Annemarie clings to her faith as she wonders if her future holds the hope, happiness, and love for which she so desperately longs.

My take: Set directly following World War I, When the Clouds Roll By deals with the scars—physical, emotional, and spiritual—the war left behind. I really appreciated how honestly the problems the soldiers faced upon returning home were portrayed. Gilbert especially had many demons to conquer, and I liked that while he recognized the need to make changes, he still had to deal with the consequences of his choices.

When the Clouds Roll By is a romance, but it's an unpredictable one. The "winner" of Annemarie's affections is not apparent from the first page (in contrast to most romance novels), and I wasn't sure how Johnson would resolve the love triangle until near the end of the book. I definitely enjoyed the unpredictability! I also appreciated that the romance didn't overshadow the rest of the book.

While the book does tend to drag a bit in the middle, overall this is a wonderful story that shows how the wounds of war don't go away when the guns stop firing. I will certainly be coming back for the next book in the series!

My rating: 4 stars

Buy the book.
Go here for a look into the background of the book. (I wish I'd read this post first—I would have loved to be picturing the actors Johnson "cast" as I read!)

About the author: Myra Johnson is the author of several books, including One Imperfect Christmas and the award-winning Autumn Rains, which received the 2005 RWA Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript and was a 2010 ACFW Carol Award finalist. Myra and her husband, Jack, live in Charlotte, North Carolina. Visit her at http://www.myrajohnson.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advance reading copy of this book for review from Abingdon Press through its early reader program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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.”