Category: Wild Heart Books

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Sparks of Hope by Avrie Swan Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Sparks of Hope

Author: Avrie Swan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2026

A woman rebuilding after tragedy and a grieving father searching for hope discover that the past isn’t finished with them.

After the Peshtigo Fire reduces her teaching dreams to ash, Willow Deeran refuses to let the flames win. She pours her last hope into an audacious plan: opening an orphanage for the children left homeless by Wisconsin’s deadliest wildfire. All she needs is funding—and a partner she’s never met.

Violin maker Valentine Ashardt has spent the year since the fire hiding behind his grief, haunted by the daughter he lost in the blaze. Helping Willow build the orphanage offers more than purpose. As silent co-owner, he’ll have access to every child who comes through its doors. Surely, one of them will be his Mary.

As anonymous threats mount, old accusations resurface, and a mysterious little girl with no memory arrives on their doorstep, Willow and Valentine must decide if their dreams might not look different than they’d once hoped. Because sometimes God’s plan looks nothing like what we imagined. And sometimes the family we’ve been desperately searching for has been standing beside us all along.

For fans of Joanna Davidson Politano and Jody Hedlund—a tender story of faith renewed, purpose rediscovered, and love rising from the most unexpected ruins.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Avrie Swan is a Christian author and avid reader with a love for all things historical. Having grown up exploring antique stores and museums, she eventually decided to combine her interest in history with her love for writing and began working on her first full-length novel at the age of fourteen. She especially enjoys writing stories that focus on themes of family, faith, and growth through difficult times.

When Avrie is not writing, she is watching old movies, collecting antique books, and hunting for agates. A native Wisconsinite, she enjoys spending the cold winters indoors with her cat on her lap and a good book in her hand.

More from Avrie

Hello, folks!

It’s hard to believe Sparks of Hope is the third and final entry in The Peshtigo Fire Chroniclesseries. Writing this book was bittersweet… but also undeniably exciting. Willow and Valentine’s story took me some time to develop, and the result is a book with a lot of heart. Their tale explores themes of found family and growth while also rounding out Carina and Charlotte’s journeys. I hope you enjoy the conclusion to their stories!

One of my favorite elements in Sparks of Hope is Valentine’s occupation as a luthier. My family has always enjoyed music, and since I took violin lessons for several years when I was younger, I thought it only fitting to include a violin maker in one of my stories. I didn’t know much about the process of building violins when I started my research for the book, but I soon discovered it’s a fascinating and detailed craft. I have the utmost respect for the skilled people who shape the instruments enjoyed by so many.

While music plays a small role in Sparks of Hope, the story’s central theme is purpose. Have you ever wondered what God’s plan was for your life? That question weighs heavily on Willow’s mind after a disaster ruins all her carefully laid plans. She finds herself needing to choose a new path and pursue a different dream…although achieving it may not be quite as simple as she hopes.

In honor of the upcoming release of Sparks of Hope, I thought it would be fun to do a “this or that” game featuring some elements from the book. Which options do you prefer? Pick your favorites and then head over to my Instagram (@avrieswanwrites) or website (avrieswan.com) to share your choices!

  • Scarf or shawl
  • Griddlecakes or fresh bread
  • Cottage or townhouse
  • Sleigh ride or autumn walk
  • Frozen harbor or snowy forest

Blessings,

Avrie Swan

My Impressions

“purpose is a strange thing. It doesn’t always align with what we expect, nor does it follow our rules. And things don’t always turn out exactly the way we think they will.”

When the raging inferno of the October 8, 1871, Peshtigo, WI, devours the town and destroys more lives than the great, well-known Chicago fire of the same day, how can any hope of recovery rise from the ashes of utter devastation? Avrie Swan’s main characters, Willow Deeran and Valentine (Val) Ashardt  of her third book in The Peshtigo Fire series, will have to dig deep within themselves, their relationships and their faith to find Sparks of Hope. 

Willow’s life-long dream is to start a school for the children of Peshtigo. A big dream for a young woman whose family’s poverty precludes even enough education for her to be able to read and write. Then the fire. Her body survives, but partial amnesia and a loss of everything they own destroys that dream. What would change if she could just recall events surrounding the fire? Could it help with the new purpose that God has seemingly placed in her lap, as soon as she prays? (Isn’t this just like God to answer a prayer before the words are hardly out of our mouths?) 

But this new purpose creates great problems. Financial. Safety. Familial discord. ( Can I say I was so disappointed that Ma isn’t very supportive of this new dream, while Da is just the opposite personality, warm, loving, and affirming at every possible turn? ) 

And the financial help for her new orphanage idea comes from the most unexpected source. Val’s best friend Quincy, a newspaper reporter, is actually who  Willow approaches for help. Val who is a talented stringed instrument carver and a social recluse is visiting his friend at the office. Overhearing the need, Val offers to be a silent partner. Quincy objects! “You don’t even know this woman.” “No, I don’t. But I respect a good deed when I see one.”

And so an unlikely, socially inappropriate relationship between two single, different classes (yes, America had them and still manages to have them!) begins! And so does the tongue wagging! Some of it is busybody stuff, some is reactionary and funny(!), and some is conniving and terribly damaging.  

The antagonists in this novel are beautifully drawn. Not beautiful, mind you, just well fleshed out, needy, selfish, and can’t see beyond their own needs to understand the hurt in others’ lives. 

Fave characters? I have several. Mary. So sweet, so adorable, so cracks open more than one hard heart! Da, for his genuine love and unconditional love and support of his daughter. ( Unfortunately, perhaps some of that is missing in his relationship with his son, though it would be much more difficult?) And a “bad guy.” I actually loved Hattie. Not what she does, but she is rather hilarious in her overbearing, obtuse ways and is the pefect catalyst. Well done! 

Trigger warnings for those who want them: fire scenes, grave mental health issues. 

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through CelebrateLit via BookFunnel. I also bought my own copy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“God has a plan for us all, Willow. He has known what we will do in life since the very beginning. But that plan isn’t always what you expect.”

“There was no saving what had been lost. Not then, and not now.”

“The best way to handle rumors is to let them run their course. People will eventually find something else to focus on.”

“Nothing in life is predictable, Willow. There are risks at every turn.“ … “What’s important is facing the risks and continuing.To give up now, when you’ve come this far, would defeat everything you’re trying to accomplish.”

“…if he remained trapped in the past for much longer, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to truly live in the present.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! You will travel the gamut of your emotions with this novel. Highly recommended!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 12

Books Less Travelled, September 13

lakesidelivingsite, September 14

She Lives to Read, September 15

Simple Harvest Reads, September 15 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

For Him and My Family, September 16

Texas Book-aholic, September 17

Betti Mace, September 18

Holly’s Book Corner, September 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 20

Cover Lover Book Review, September 21

Pause for Tales, September 21

Devoted To Hope, September 22

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 23

Connie’s History Classroom , September 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 24

Blossoms and Blessings, September 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Avrie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/qaNE5/sparks-of-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Favorite Truth Nuggets, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

The Ballerina’s Bargain by Lorri Dudley Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Ballerina’s Bargain by Lorri Dudley, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Book Details

Title: The Ballerina’s Bargain
Series: Danforth Theatre #1
Author: Lorri Dudley
Publisher: Wild Heart Books
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Historical Regency Romance

A burdened earl. A determined ballerina. Saving the theatre was part of their bargain. Losing their hearts wasn’t.

London, 1815

Emmeline Laurent has survived by grace and grit. After her parents’ execution in France, she has learned to live unseen as a humble ballerina instructing young pupils in a small London theatre. When whispers spread that the Danforth Theatre may be sold to an unscrupulous buyer, Emmeline fears not only for her livelihood but for the safety of her impressionable students. With no time and no options, she does the only thing she knows to do: leap into a moving carriage and bargain with the new lord who holds their fate.

Grant Atherton, the Earl of Quincy, has inherited the crushing weight of duty along with a failing theatre, an arranged engagement, two younger sisters to usher into society, and a mountain of his father’s secrets. Selling the Danforth is the only way to save his family from ruin. The last thing he needs is a beautiful, infuriatingly determined ballerina turning his careful plans upside down.

But when Emmeline’s hidden past begins surfacing and the danger circling the theatre proves far deadlier than either of them realized, Grant must choose between the life he planned and the one God may have been preparing all along.

For fans of Roseanna M. White and Jen Turano — a sweeping Regency romance about the grace found in surrender, the courage it takes to trust, and the God who makes a way when every door seems closed.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Wild Heart Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Other Books by Dudley Available:

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Author’s Corner

Lorri Dudley is the bestselling author of The Leeward Island Series and The Agents of Espionage Series. She has a master’s degree in psychology and lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

Connect with Lorri by visiting lorridudley.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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My Impressions

“The happiest people in life aren’t those without problems. It’s those with something bigger than their problems.”

I give The Ballerina’s Bargain (The Danforth Theatre, bk#1) by Lorri Dudley a rousing standing ovation. Taking place in 1815 England, forbidden love, familial duty, revenge, fear, protection of innocents, and society double-standards are all topics explored. 

Having narrowly escaped the guillotine in France as a child, Emmeline and her ballet mentor, Charlene, hide under assumed names working at the Danforth Theatre. Finding out that the present owner, Lord Quincy, Grant Atherton, plans to sell the theatre to a man who intends to promote “back room rendezvous,” Emmeline challenges Grant not to sell. She loves the little ballerines, ages 6-14, that she teaches and realizes their pending fate under the new owner. Then she promises Grant that she will make sure the Danforth turns a profit. Grant doesn’t want to acquiesce… but prayer is an important part of his life, and he hears God speaking, “Protect my lambs.” But what about his younger siblings’ futures? Must he risk them?

Ooh, la, la!! As Grant reneges on his spoken agreement to sell the theatre, he begins to find he is making enemies left and right. Mr. Harrowby threatens to ruin him, an old Eton bully reappears in his life, the dancers are ready to mutiny, and he has a fiancée he doesn’t want to marry. While Charlene insists troubles come because of the father’s sins visiting the children, Emmeline draws on her faith to reach a different conclusion. “‘We learn from pain.’ Emmeline issued Flora a gentle smile. ‘It keeps us humble and reminds us who’s ultimately in control.’”

I loved how gentle and kind with her young charges Emmeline is. She works very hard to repay her mentor for the years of caretaking Charlene has provided and is loyal to a fault. She is strong as she leans into God for help to get overcome her fears. But is God big enough to help her overcome her biggest fear? As she begins to trust Grant, what will happen when he appears to not be who he presents himself to be?

Grant, bless his heart, is a tortured soul. “Firstborn sons inherited lands, wealth, and titles, but they sacrificed their freedom.” Grant’s every life move has been dictated by his father.  How he resents those choices. Grant is constantly praying for wisdom. Can he begin to trust his heavenly Father to guide him aright, where his earthly father did not?

I loved seeing the inner workings of a theatre.  The competition with other theatres, all the frantic practices, the theatre preparations, the discord between actors or dancers, and the individual parts of putting together a ballet-opera performance. And it made me sad, of course, to see such a double standard society set up. It is fine and wonderful to attend the opera and be a patron, but it is wrong to befriend or love an actor or ballerina. 

This book gets the superior rating from me as it ventures into the final acts before whipping out some really great twists! Memorable!!

I received a copy of the book from CelebrateLit and the publisher through BookFunnel. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“The bang of the door reverberated through her heart like the slam of the guillotine.”

“Fear is like being shackled,”

“We’re all broken people. The Bible says all of us have sinned and fall short, but Jesus’s life and death prove that broken people are worth saving.”

“Perfection is working overly hard for man, but excellence is doing your best for God. Go and give God glory, showing everyone how magnifique He made you.”

“Lord, I want to trust. No. I choose to trust.”

“Our limitations are an invitation to trust God.”

“I’ve found that bravery and fear feel the same. It’s up to us to choose how to respond.”

“Lord, I’m trusting You to make a way where there seems to be no way.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! For the storyline, the Truth nuggets, the twists!

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Your Chance to Win!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and a prize bundle with reading blanket, socks, and candle!

Fine print😊:

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 8, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 15, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, PB, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

A Contrary Betrothal by Denise Farnsworth Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Contrary Betrothal

Author: Denise Farnsworth writing as Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 18, 2026

A Cherokee lieutenant, a colonel’s daughter, and a desperate fight to protect both land and love.

Sam Hicks may be the educated son of a Cherokee chief, but his command of multiple languages and diplomatic skills can’t erase the prejudice he faces as a mixed-blood warrior. When he’s tasked with guarding Colonel Moore’s spirited daughter, Susanna, at a wilderness fort, he never expects to lose his heart to a woman he can never have.

Susanna Moore dreams of making her own way on the frontier like her Cherokee stepmother. The last thing she wants is an arranged marriage to the fort’s stuffy doctor—especially after she meets the noble and intelligent Sam Hicks. When she’s captured by a turncoat warrior during a Creek uprising, Sam risks everything to save her.

Their shared values and growing love give them hope—but with the Creek War raging and cultural pressures mounting, can a Cherokee lieutenant and a colonel’s daughter overcome the loyalties and prejudices set against them?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

The seed idea for A Contrary Betrothal came from another author a number of years ago. She proposed a collection of stories in which the heroes were all Native Americans who served their country in different wars. I still love the idea even though it never came to pass! In fact, I loved it so much, I went ahead and wrote my story. And that story became Bent Tree Bride, first published with Smitten Romance. Now, it’s joining my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier series as book six.

Many people are unaware that the Cherokees fought alongside American troops under Andrew Jackson during the Creek War or Red Stick War, a portion of the War of 1812 that occurred in present-day Alabama. The Creek people were allied to the British, as the Cherokees themselves had been during the American Revolution. The motivation for this was, of course, to keep their land. Their warriors were so valuable to Jackson that they broke the ineffective cannonade on the town of Tohopeka, swimming across the river from behind and making the victory possible that ended the war at Horseshoe Bend.

Sam Hicks, the hero of A Contrary Betrothal, is a mixed-blood Cherokee lieutenant with the head of a scholar and the heart of a warrior. His struggle to intermingle the old ways and the new ways proves reflective of the metamorphosis of his people. Even though he’s been educated as the wealthy son of a chief, he knows his white colonel’s daughter, Susanna Moore, is out of his reach. But when he’s assigned to guard her and her little brother at a wilderness fort, he can no longer deny his attraction to the feisty young woman who’s determined to convince her father she can survive on the frontier as well as her Cherokee stepmother.

A Contrary Betrothal will resonate with readers who enjoy stories by authors like Laura Frantz, Shannon McNear, Michelle Griep, and Lori Benton. The forbidden love and fish out of water tropes create plenty of angst, and the battlefield scenes echo Last of the Mohicans. When people have asked me which of my books would translate well onto the big screen, in fact, this is one I think of. I invite you, dear reader, to be swept away by the action and romance of my final book of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier.

My Impressions

“‘Not yet.’ ‘Soon.’ ‘Almost.’” George picked up a pine frond and examined it carefully. “Seems like a lot of things not happening.” “That is the way of it for our people, George.” 

An obscure quote? Perhaps. But I find it very accurately describes the frustration of the Cherokee people in the time of this book, A Contrary Betrothal, by Denise Farnsworth. ( Which, though book #6 in this series, Scouts of the Revolution, this was originally published as Bent Tree Bride. Fair warning to those who don’t like to buy a new book only to discover they have already read it!)

I think I could wax eloquent and write a whole book about my thoughts on this novel. At the very least, I would love to discuss the political intrigue and double standards presented between the Caucasians, the  Cherokee, and the Red Stick people (who I was motivated to research on my own). If I were still teaching upper elementary, this book’s facts (delineated with historical figures mentioned and separating fact from artistic license) along with the very real political climate would help provide background into my lessons.  Farnsworth makes me feel deeply the angst of the Cherokee people and the Red Sticks, both who realize the precariousness of their possession of the Tennessee-North Carolina mountain forest land. Each tribe must choose a side of the War of 1812 to side with- the British or the Americans- and pray that their side wins, and that said government will keep the promises they make to their Native American partners.

It is into this massive backdrop of confusion that Farnsworth places her two star-crossed lovers. One, Sam Hicks, is a mixed-blood Cherokee and Caucasian. Which means, he fights for his place in either world. Trained in both, he has the skills of a Cherokee warrior, but is ridiculed because he doesn’t follow all their tortuous customs, having learned about Jesus from missionaries. His ultimate questions: can he fight like a Cherokee and restore his lost honor? Will his mixed blood mean he must relinquish his love for Susanna which grows as he is assigned by her double-standard enforcing father to be her body guard? 

“The man who’d captured her imagination from a single day’s meeting was a Cherokee. White women did not marry Cherokee men.” Poor Susanna! Her  powerful Caucasian father, himself married a second time to a wonderful Cherokee woman, insists Susanna can only marry a Caucasian man, esp. his choice, Dr. Hawkins.  The whole book, I was rather violently seething with Susanna at her father’s total inability to see his double standards. Unfortunately, it is one I see exhibited by people today, some very close to me. How can you honestly love a spouse and denounce or hold prejudice against their people? What about ourselves? Do we say we don’t have prejudices, but they linger in big and small ways? Our faith speaks to that!!

I think what makes this book one of true sadness for me, is that we have the perspective of history behind us. We know how the greed for land and gain in this area affects the Native Americans. But I would be a liar not to be grateful that this land is part of our country now where we can travel, visit,or live freely. Farnsworth shows both the underbelly of all three cultures, and those who are honestly trying to, through faith in God, and following human kindness, make the best of trying times. Keep your eyes open for important historical figures (one I didn’t recognize!) that are included in this emotional, faith-filled, romantic book!

At the risk of running on too long, when I saw the list of comparable Christian historical authors, I understood immediately why I loved this book. Here they are: Michelle Griep, Shannon McNear, Laura Frantz, and Lori Benton. *Le Sigh*

I received a copy of the book from CelebrateLit, the author and Wild Heart Books via BookFunnel. I bought my own ecopy and I’m off to buy a pb copy for trophy shelf. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“She was most definitely not in control. But she believed in Someone who was. And if she believed His goodness, she also must believe He had a good future for her.”

“To be without a clan is to be without an identity.”

“Then you cannot fight this war to prove yourself to the colonel. That is fighting from a position of weakness. You are sure to lose. Instead, you must forgive the colonel. If you fight, it must be what you believe is right before God, asking Him to come alongside you to help our people. That is fighting from a position of strength.”

“Is it ever a just cause to turn brothers against each other? Do we deceive ourselves that the English won’t take the land of the Creeks if they win this war, then turn on us for ours?”

“Save your anger. To show restraint is wiser than to engage a fool.”

“I want the two wolves to lie together inside. In peace.”

“He’d fallen to quoting scriptures in his head after that. By the time they crossed Chockelocko Creek, he’d restored some semblance of inner peace.”

“Sam saw the way forward in words, not wars.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! I believe this is one of Farnsworth’s best! Whether I remember the names of the characters a year from now, I will never forget the accurate depiction of the swirling vortex of cultural clash, greed, and those who strove to leave a mark of love for their fellow man, regardless of skin color!

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 25

lakesidelivingsite, August 26

Books, Books, & More Books, August 27 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 27

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 30

Cover Lover Book Review, August 31

Jeanette’s Thoughts , September 1

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 2

Connie’s History Classroom, September 3

Simple Harvest Reads, September 4 (Guest Review from Donna)

Blossoms and Blessings, September 5

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 6

Holly’s Book Corner, September 7

Pause for Tales, September 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/7zfBE/a-contrary-betrothal-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, New Author, PB, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

The Darling’s Daughter by Sydney Schmied Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Darling’s Daughter

Author: Sydney Schmied

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 4, 2026

A woman chasing the truth. A man running from his past. And a secret that threatens the fragile trust between them.

Searching for answers about her mother’s suspicious death, artist Angelica Woods takes a job painting backdrops at the Majestic Theater—the very place her famous actress mother warned her to avoid. When she discovers cryptic notes and bloody evidence of an old murder, Angie realizes her mother’s warning may have been meant to protect her from a deadly secret.

Architect Trace Ackerman has worked hard to build a quiet, respectable life far removed from his former mistakes. Renovating the Majestic is meant to be a fresh start—until Angie awakens feelings he never planned to risk again. Drawn to her courage and vulnerability, Trace offers his protection as rumors swirl and danger edges closer. But the past he’s worked so hard to outrun threatens to surface, and Trace fears the truth could cost him Angie’s trust—and the future he longs to build.

With a killer determined to silence them both, Angie and Trace must decide if uncovering the truth about her mother’s death is worth risking their own lives—and hearts. Set against the backdrop of a historic theater in 1912 Ohio, this romantic suspense weaves together murder, betrayal, and the redeeming power of faith and forgiveness.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sydney Schmiedwrites sweet and intriguing historical romantic suspense stories with a whole lot of faith. She is a 2023 ACFW First Impressions Contest finalist and a 2024 Genesis Contest Semi-finalist, as well as a two-time Scrivenings Press Get Pubbed Finalist. When she is not writing, she enjoys reading, painting, and sipping on a classic London Fog.

More from Sydney

Theaters tell so many stories, and in The Darling’s Daughter, The Majestic Theater itself has been shaped by the people who have passed through its doors. While it was known as The Masonic Opera House from 1853 to 1915, The Majestic has stood through nearly 173 years of history. I can’t help but wonder about all the individuals who walked its halls, performers, musicians, and attendees alike, and what stories they might tell about how their lives once intertwined with the Majestic.

In my research, I came across so many real accounts of people who visited theaters like this one, and I was able to glimpse bits and pieces of that connection. For Angie, the heroine in The Darling’s Daughter, The Majestic becomes a place of reckoning and reconciliation. Her mother was her only family, and even that relationship was strained. Angie carries a deep loneliness as she peels back the complicated layers of her late mother’s life, wrestling with questions of worth, belonging, and whether she is truly loved.

For Trace, The Majestic offers both a meaningful project and a chance to rebuild. Unfortunately, his identity has been constructed atop the fragile foundation of guilt, and that foundation begins to crack as his past resurfaces.

Just as The Majestic has stood strong through seasons of change and still stands today, Angie and Trace are refined through their struggles as everything around them begins to shift. Neither of them are defined by the broken parts of their story, but by their hope in Christ, even when that hope feels uncertain and their faith is shaky. If this resonates with you, I hope you’ll join Angie and Trace in The Darling’s Daughter and find encouragement in their journey.

My Impressions

“Dear Daughter, now that I am gone, I cannot protect you from the ghosts of my past. Trust no one, and stay away from the Majestic.”

Have you been introduced to debut author Sydney Schmied? If not, I’d love to tell you why I picked up her inspirational historical romance novel, The Darling’s Daughter. This novel was like a big, warm hug to my reading soul! Two individuals who feel like they are either unworthy or longing for a love that they never received . They will either help each other towards healing, faith, and redemption, or their hopes and dreams will be forever buried with the secrets of the old Majestic Theater. 

My interest was first piqued when I saw the setting is Chillicothe, OH. That got my attention as I have traveled through Chillicothe in years past and noted the heavy paper smell clogging the air. Little surprise to discover that newspapers are an important, albeit negative, part of this story. 

I enjoyed learning about the Majestic Theater. I love books that impart history of little-known sites that were once well-known. The theater life and atmosphere spring to life between Angie’s backdrop paintings for performances, her search for her mother’s forbidden secrets, and Trace’s refurbishing of the old theater. 

I loved the eeriness that stayed with me as I searched with (or at least, I felt like I was there with !)Angie, looking about in the old mansion, trying to remember why feelings were connected with some places. Then, there is the suspense of not knowing who is after Angie. Is it her mother’s enemy? An enemy of Trace’s? The tension is nearly unbearable, and I was so grateful that kind, thoughtful Trace is there for Angie. “Yes, he needed to protect her from outside threats, but the threat to his heart was growing by the minute.”

Unfortunately, Trace has his own skeletons hidden in the closet. Will they emerge just in time to spell death for Trace’s and Angie’s budding relationship?

I loved Mrs. Ackerman and her loving ways. She is so physically worn-down by the cares of life, but still exudes the kind of love that reaches out and envelops those around her- just like her bakery smells- whether they are worthy or not. 

What made me stand up and outright applaud this book, though, was the twists! Wow, did they ever catch me off guard! I loved it!! Please, Miss Schmied, can I have your next book NOW?!!

I received a copy of the book from the author and Celebrate Lit. I also took a chance and bought a paperback for the keeper shelf! I am so glad!! No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“What you have to say will not shock me. Or God. Jesus’s death paid for our sins. To hold onto a burden of sin is denying that Jesus’s blood is enough. Don’t hold onto what he has freed you from long ago.” -Mutti

“Love forgives.” – Mutti

“People do terrible things for those they love, especially when fear is involved,” -Trace

“‘What if the answers you seek are not the answers you want?’ ‘I want the truth.’ No matter what it turns out to be.”- Trace, Angie

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! This is a debut?! Where is book 2? And I just saw there is a book 3 coming. Anticipation, Sweet agony!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 19

Devoted Steps, August 19

Books Less Travelled, August 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 21

Texas Book-aholic, August 22

Connie’s History Classroom, August 23

For Him and My Family, August 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 24

Lyssa Loves Books, August 25

Holly’s Book Corner, August 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 27

Pause for Tales, August 28

Devoted to Hope, August 29

Book Looks by Lisa, August 30

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, August 30

Cover Lover Book Review, August 31

Lily’s Corner, September 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sydney is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/TyDfI/the-darlings-daughter-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

When the South Wind Blows by Barbara A. Curtis Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: When the South Wind Blows

Author: Barbara A. Curtis

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 14, 2026

He’s spent his life chasing headlines—until the woman behind the story captures his heart.

Elizabeth Canton never planned to abandon her budding theater career, but after witnessing a crime, she has no choice but to disappear. When a family invitation offers refuge at the Double E Ranch, she seizes the chance to hide and finds unexpected purpose helping her young cousin rehearse for the stage, never expecting to be drawn to the local reporter who sees past her carefully kept secrets.

Ranch hand Logan Palmer has always dreamed of writing stories that matter, not livestock columns for the town paper. Elizabeth’s grace catches his eye. But it’s her patience and tenderness with her cousin that captures his heart, even as her mystery stirs his reporter’s instincts. The closer he grows to her, the more he questions whether some stories are better left untold.

As Elizabeth and Logan grow closer, danger follows her to Idaho. When her past catches up with her, she’ll have to choose between protecting her heart and trusting in love. And Logan must decide what matters more—the story that could launch his career, or the woman who’s stolen his heart.

Set against the rugged beauty of the American West, this touching historical romance explores the healing power of family, second chances, and learning that sometimes the greatest role we can play is simply being ourselves.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Barbara A. Curtis lives in Connecticut with her husband, and they have one grown son, a blessing to their hearts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Novel Academy.

More from Barbara

Chocolate, Chocolate

What part does chocolate play in When the South Wind Blows? To little Susannah, it plays a big part, as Logan is going to help her frost her salvaged cake.

“Miss Lizzie?” Logan hadn’t moved from his spot next to the stove. “If it’s all right with you, may Susannah and I make the frosting for the cake?”

He knew how to make frosting? And again, he included the little girl.

“Thank you. Susannah, why don’t you pull out the cookbook for chocolate that your grandma and I like, and you and Logan will be in charge?”

“Oh yay! The Hershey’s Cookbook? They have the best frosting recipe.”

Yes, in 1934 Hershey’s had published a cookbook, so it would have been well loved and used in the Double E Ranch kitchen in 1950.

And Nestlé’s Toll House cookies weren’t far behind, as Nestlé acquired the rights to the original recipe in 1939. By World War II, the cookies were a staple included in packages sent to US servicemen overseas. Do you think they’d mind that Elizabeth called her version Victory cookies? Though they had nothing to do with the war but a little victory right at home.

Have you ever renamed a favorite recipe just for your family for fun?

I hope you enjoy When the South Wind Blows, the final book in the Blooms of the Bitterbrush series. Maybe with a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie to go along with it.

Blessings.

Barbara

My Impressions

“Always remember, little one, what you’ve been rescued from. Go to your new family and live with joy.”

The above words are a part of the play in which Susannah and Elizabeth perform, in When the South Wind Blows by Barbara A. Curtis. I chose these words as my teaser because, after reading the novel, I can picture God saying this to us, His children. What freedom can be found as we realize the depth of His love and the forgiveness He offers, as He places us in His family. Found family, freedom, forgiveness, second chances, and being oneself are all tag words for this historical romance, #4 in Blooms of the Bitterbrush. 

An aspiring 1950 NYC Broadway actress, Liesel Rosette Roberts, née Elizabeth Canton, abruptly leaves the Broadway scene, fleeing for her life to distant family on the Double E Ranch. Hiding her occupation and her true purpose for being on the ranch leaves hopeful newspaper man Logan Palmer suspicious.

Everyone wants to belong and be accepted. Elizabeth watches the Calloway family interact with genuine, warm love and care for each other. She wishes her own family of origin could be like them. Truly, I liked all the Calloways and Morgans are special, but Lizzie, Miss Eliza, and little Susannah are my faves. We see many characters from past novels, so this series is best read in order. 

Struggling to make his mark on the world, Logan has designs beyond the ranch. Logan’s main job is being a ranch hand, living at the ranch, doing chores, and training horses. He wants desperately to fit in at the ranch, to feel like he is part of the family. Indeed, the family treats him like part of their circle, but Logan can’t feel the love because of his past and lack of ties. Will his obsession of discovering the story of Elizabeth’s past cement his place in the family? Is he really helping,  or “were some stories better left untold?”

A beautiful story of love, trust, danger and a romance that requires putting aside personal gain for others’ good. 

 

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through CelebrateLit via Bookfunnel. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables: 

“How about we let God do whatever fretting needs to be done?” “Silly, God doesn’t fret.” “No, He doesn’t. So we don’t need to either.” – Elizabeth, Susannah

“We’ve tried to reach out to him, to offer forgiveness, but he wants none of it. But we’ll keep trying.” -Lizzie

“Wasn’t that the story of his life? Always too late or in the wrong place or… Just not good enough.” – (Logan)

“So even though he wasn’t a real member of this family, he loved them and would do whatever he could for them. Including—no, especially—exposing Elizabeth Rose Canton if she was an imposter.” -( Logan)

“…God promises that when the south wind blows through, when its destruction is past, that behind it He sends the quiet by a south wind also.” -Pastor

“‘I spend my days bringing joy to people. With words.’ He’d relate to that, as he dealt with words in his writing. ‘To strangers I’ve never met. To those who feel unseen.’”- Elizabeth

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! Some fave Truth Nuggets in this story of found family, love, and danger.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 5

Simple Harvest Reads, August 6 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 7

Texas Book-aholic, August 8

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 9

lakesidelivingsite, August 10

Books Less Travelled, August 11 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 11

DevotedToHope, August 12

Connie’s History Classroom , August 13

Cover Lover Book Review, August 14

Sydney Schmied Books, August 15

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, August 16 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 17

Pause for Tales, August 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Barbara is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/oVpBV/when-the-south-wind-blows-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

Freed by the Frontier by Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Freed by the Frontier

Authors: Sherry Shindelar, Denise Farnsworth, Susan F. Craft

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: June 30, 2026

Three remarkable women find themselves caught between two worlds on the American frontier. A captive of the Comanche must choose between escaping to white society or her growing feelings for a rising war chief in 1850s Texas. A Georgia judge’s daughter flees an unwanted betrothal during the War of 1812, only to be captured by Creek warriors but protected by a mysterious brave. And in 1754, an English lady traveling the Great Wagon Road to become a music teacher discovers her carefully planned future may not survive her attraction to a protective frontiersman.

From quaint civilized towns to treacherous mountain passes and wilderness villages, three couples navigate cultural divisions, overcome past wounds, and face deadly dangers to discover that love knows no boundaries. But as war clouds gather and ancient tribal alliances shift, will their newfound relationships survive the coming storm? Or will the clash of worlds tear them apart?

Three unforgettable romances prove that God’s greatest blessings often come disguised as our greatest challenges, and that true love can bridge any divide.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Authors

Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. A romantic at heart, she is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she is not busy writing, she is an English professor working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is an award-winning writer: 2025 Maggie winner, 2023 Genesis finalist, Maggie finalist, and Crown finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of forty-one years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren. Connect with Sherry at sherryshindelar.com.

North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

Nationally acclaimed writer of inspirational historical romance, Susan F. Craft retired after a 45-year career in communications. A widow who was married 48 years to her high school sweetheart, she has two adult children, one granddaughter, and a granddog. A history nerd, she enjoys painting, singing, and sitting on her porch watching chipmunks dine from her bird feeder. She recently learned how to play the ukulele. Soli Deo Gloria

More from the Authors

Imagine a time when the U.S. not far from the coast was unsettled wilderness. Where brave settlers faced the challenges of isolation and nature as they established a toehold of civilization. Where multiple nations clashed in battle as they vied for control of land and waterways.

This setting seeded with inherent danger and wild beauty calls to those of us who write frontier historical romances from the 1700s and 1800s. Three of us from Wild Heart Books—Sherry Shindelar, Denise Farnsworth, and Susan Craft—came together to pen a trio of novellas, Freed by the Frontier. Each of our stories connects to one of our previous series, but each novella can be read independently. We invite you to journey with us back to rugged mountains, wagon roads, and frontier settlements.

Wichita Path Sacrifice by Sherry Shindelar

The frontier has always captured my imagination. It is a place of hope and hardship, new beginnings and trials, dreams and risk, and in my stories, a place where love is forged. My novella is the prequel to Texas Forsaken, Book One in my Lone Star Redemption series. Wichita Path Sacrifice tells the love story of captive Maggie Logan (Eyes-Like-Sky) and Dancing Eagle, a renowned Comanche warrior. The story is set in Comancheria in the 1850’s when the Comanches ruled the southern Plains and settlers entered the Texas frontier at their own risk. Years ago, the real-life story of Cynthia Ann Parker broke my heart. Cynthia was captured by Comanches at age nine, and lived with them for twenty-four years, married, and had children. When she was eventually recaptured by cavalry and Texas Rangers, she wanted nothing to do with the settlers’ world. Her heart belonged to the Comanche and her husband and children who were lost to her. Cynthia’s story had a sad ending that haunted me. I wanted to write a captive story with a happier ending, and that desire led to Texas Forsaken. The prequel, Wichita Path Sacrifice, inspired by the real-life stories of Cynthia Ann Parker and her cousin Rachel Plummer, is an enemy-to-lovers story of love blossoming in the midst of trials, when it seems all hope is gone. It’s a story of choices between paths. Love requires sacrifice. Eyes-Like-Sky and Dancing Eagle must decide how much they’re willing to let go of and risk if they are to claim the dreams of their heart.

Ofuskee Trail Surrender by Denise Farnsworth

Keturah Caldwell disappeared from A Counterfeit Betrothal, the first book of my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier series. Pledged to wed the hero of that novel, the daughter of a Georgia judge  was abducted by thieves and sold to a war party of Creek braves. One of them, known as Wildcat, quietly protects her on the journey to his village in present-day Alabama. Keturah soon learns she has more in common with the adopted son of the micco than she would ever have guessed. When his cruel stepbrother turns his sights on Keturah and her younger sister, Keturah is forced to trust Wildcat in a marriage of convenience, though she vows to convince him to help them escape. They grow from enemies to lovers amid the War of 1812, as she learns that sometimes, greater blessings can come from abiding than from escaping.

Keturah also meets another captive, Susannah Moore, heroine of A Contrary Betrothal(formerly released as Bent Tree Bride), coming August 18 of this year.

Wagon Road Serenade by Susan F. Craft

An enemies-to-lovers historical romance, this novella is set in1754 on the Great Wagon Road spanning from Philadelphia, PA, to Augusta, GA. I wrote this novella as a complement to my three-novel Great Wagon Road series.

Elizabeth Stanton, her reputation marred from an injustice in London, seeks a second chance as a music teacher for a women’s academy in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She joins a wagon train, but scarred from her past, she vows never to rely on a man again. James Morgan, a widowed trapper, hears a vile rumor about Elizabeth and regrets agreeing to drive one of the academy’s wagons. To Elizabeth, James is another charming scoundrel. To James, Elizabeth is a tainted woman to be avoided. Both resist a growing attraction. James admires her willingness to help others. Her soft soprano voice fills the nights with a melancholy sweetness. Had he received false information and misjudged? Elizabeth tries to remain indifferent, but when he saves her and an orphan girl after Indians kidnap them, her heart softens.

Will his gentle treatment erase her misgivings? Can she trust him? Will their hearts reject discord and blend into a serenade of love?

My Impressions

Freed by the Frontier, by familiar authors feels like I’m coming to a visit with three friends, as I recognize author names whose historical fiction I love to read in this compilation. Sherry Shindelar, Denise Weimer, and Susan F. Craft have collaborated to show us that culture can be appreciated without dividing, and seeing the heart is more important than any outer appearance or speech. As I finish the set, I am comfortably sated, full of historical stories of the frontier and times of two people of widely different backgrounds finding common ground and love as they grow in faith. 

I loved Sherry Shindelar’s Wichita Path Sacrifice as I recognized a character from another book she has authored, Texas Forsaken. In this prequel to the latter, Shindelar gives us the background of Eyes-Like-Sky and how she becomes a part of the Comanche tribe. I love how brave Eyes-Like-Sky is, in standing up for herself when no one else would. Oddly, it is that moment that becomes a turning point for Eyes-Like-Sky. I must admit, when this book ended, I was sad, having read its sequel. I wanted the story world that had finally found peace, to stay that way. 

Notable Quotables:

“Sometimes courage takes a charging bull to give it fire.” – Dancing Eagle

“Is that why he’d survived? Did the Creator of the wind, moon, and sky notice him?” – Dancing Eagle

“You are my spring, Eyes-Like-Sky, and it has been winter too long.”- Dancing Eagle

Denise Farnsworth pens another story titled, ”Ofuskee Trail Surrender.” As we meet spoiled, rich Keturah Caldwell, her family has been abducted by Creek Indians. While two young warriors of the tribe desire Keturah or her sister, the safety of the girls relies of a marriage of convenience. How long will Keturah look only for escape back to her former way of life? Can she accept her unwanted marriage and learn to trust her new husband and God Himself? Will Keturah understand she doesn’t have the resources in herself to make her iwn way in life?

“Where had her beauty, her education, and her spirit gotten her? Defenseless and alone in enemy territory.”

I especially love how Wildcat recignizes a kindred spirit in Keturah and gives her the name he himself bears. Plus, he realizes, as he considers his past and her situation, they are not so different. “Tears he could never show burned behind his eyes. They had more in common than she would ever guess.” Of course, he eon me over with his gifts!

Notable Quotables:

“‘You set your course in life by how you rise to hardship.”- Mrs. Foote

“Had God sent the Caldwell women to remind him of who he had been? Of an identity he had given up? To find out who he might have become?”

Lastly, but just as historically and romantically enticing is Susan F. Craft’s novella, Wagon Road Serenade. Craft explains the history briefly of the great wagon train road, which is helpful.  A young woman, Elizabeth Stanton, has suffered shame in England, and now travels on the wagon train to South Carolina to teach in a girls’ school. The wagon driver is a single trapper, James Morgan, who is returning to the town, Graniteville, where the school is located. Elizabeth proves herself kind, puts others first, and is very courageous (as well as musical and beautiful. How can James reconcile this personality with the rumors he hears of her in Pennsylvania? Many tense adventures await these two as they slowly discover the other’s real person and their lives become enmeshed with others surrounding them. Loved it! 

Notable Quotables:

“Divorce. Adultery. Betrayal. He knew the bitterness of betrayal…Honesty and loyalty meant everything to him.” – (James)

“Have courage, little one. God is with us no matter what happens. Keep hope and pray without ceasing.” – Elizabeth

“How many times have I fallen to my knees and asked You for forgiveness, and how many times have You answered me with grace?”-James

I received a copy of the book from CelebrateLit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Each story was everything I’d hoped for from that author, tying in with other books of theirs that I have previously read.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 11

Artistic Nobody, July 12 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 13

Texas Book-aholic, July 14

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 15

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 16

Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 16

Lyssa Loves Books, July 17

lakesidelivingsite, July 17

Guild Master, July 18 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, July 19

Cover Lover Book Review, July 20

Simple Harvest Reads, July 21 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, July 22

Fiction Book Lover, July 23 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, July 24

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, the Wild Heart Authors aare giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/7zZDM/freed-by-the-frontier-celebration-tour-giveaway
ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

The Schoolmarm and the Miner by Denise Weimer Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Schoolmarm and the Miner

Author: Denise Farnsworth writing as Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: May 5, 2026

A teacher seeking independence. A widower guarding his heart. In Georgia’s gold country, the richest prize may be the love they’re afraid to claim.

Adelaide Duncan’s dream of teaching is within reach until her father’s drinking and gambling force her to start over. Taking a position in the rough-and-tumble gold rush town of Dahlonega[DF1] , she’s determined to prove herself. But unruly students, strict rules against [DF2] teachers courting, and her growing feelings for a certain widowed father threaten the independence she’s fought so hard to claim.

Wade Coulter walked away from the law after he lost his wife and unborn son. Raising his daughter alone is safer than letting anyone else in. But Lotty’s beautiful new teacher makes him question everything. Just as he begins to trust again, a dangerous man from Wade’s past threatens both the women he loves.

A gold strike on Wade’s property promises security…but also revives old dangers. Scarred by her father’s choices, Addie fears any man who might put [DF3] selfish desires before love. As deadly threats close in and the past refuses to stay buried, Wade must prove he’s changed or risk losing his chance at happiness forever.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

At the end of book one of my Twenty-Niners of the Georgia Gold Rush series, The Songbird and the Surveyor, the bad guy walked free! Saloon and mine owner Charles Martin’s manipulative plotting and family money spared him from facing justice. Well, we can’t have that…

Wade Coulter, the sheriff whose sister died in a confrontation with Charles, turned in his badge after the man avoided standing trial for kidnapping the wife of Jesse Holden (the hero of book one) and his theft of a local mine owner’s gold. Jesse and Genny left North Georgia for a fresh start, but Wade gets stuck with the burden of failure and—following the deaths of his wife and unborn son—heartache. He’s retreated to his mountain farm with his plucky overall-wearing daughter, Charlotte, determined to keep her safe from the criminals who frequent gold rush boomtowns like the county seat of Dahlonega.

But then a new teacher arrives…one who is also fleeing heartache in hopes of a fresh start. Forced by the mistakes of her drunken father to seek employment in the gold fields rather than at the prestigious girls’ academy from which she just graduated, Adelaide Duncan has no other choice than to make her way in Dahlonega. If that means doing battle with thieves on the square, a pompous school board president, and bullies as big as she is, fine.

The one battle she doesn’t count on is keeping her heart safe from a moody widower who needs convincing by Addie and his aunt, the owner of the boardinghouse where Addie lodges, that his mannerless daughter desperately needs to attend school. It soon enough becomes clear that, despite her guardedness, Lottie longs for a mother’s love. Just when the discovery of gold on Wade’s land allows him to picture a family in his future, an old nemesis shows up with a new scheme…one that once again endangers the women Wade loves.

The Schoolmarm and the Miner packs humor, romance, action, and all your favorite tropes into a real-life town setting so charming, it’s a Hallmark movie-filming destination. After you read the story, you’ll want to plan a road trip to tour the gold museum in the historic courthouse and the drippy tunnels of the Consolidated Gold Mine, one of many that operated in Lumpkin County from the 1830s through the early 1900s. As you wander the North Georgia mountains, you’ll see why I’ve long felt there’s still plenty of treasure there. And fodder for great stories!

My Impressions

“Education holds the key to everything, especially for women.”

Denise Farnsworth, formerly Weimer, has penned a great conclusion to the Twenty-niners of the Gold Rush series. The Schoolmarm and the Miner is a historical fiction novel packed with historical vignettes woven together with faith and a bit of imagination to bring this little-known time to life. I feel I have a much clearer picture of life just before the Trail of Tears due to this series and what precipitated that tragic event, as well as the wildness and greed of many of the new settlers. 

Addie Duncan, a brand new teacher, has to settle for a job in 1839 in the rough gold mining town of Dahlonega, GA. Her father’s actions remove any better choices. The headmistress of the school where she had hoped to be employed tells her, “…I’ve always found that when God closes a door, He always opens a window.” Addie reluctantly moves to the outlying town, thankful that a hopeful suitor, Micah Garrison, is also moving there to work in the mine’s offices. 

Surprises galore await Addie. She does not expect to have to campaign with the school board for the job. She does not expect a bully for a school board president, nor students who will challenge her sanity and safety, let alone her ability to teach. And she certainly does not expect to fall for a struggling widowed farmer with a young daughter who needs to be in school, but has never been apart from daddy. 

Can you sense a perfect storm brewing? I admired Addie for her courage, her tenacity to continue as a teacher despite the difficulties thrust upon her, her creativity, and her love for the students. As the book progressed, there are even more reasons to love her that I can’t give away because spoilers! 

Just like intended, I was not Team Micah. I was Team Wade. But Wade is like the gold many are searching for. He needs some refining before he can be his best. His past has made him bitter, seeking revenge. Wade is also overprotective of his daughter and possibly not seeing her in all of her needs. Yikes! Problems are coming!

“Let’s just say things are not always as they seem.” Micah, discussing his new job with Addie. To muddy the waters, Micah shows up to confuse Addie’s loyalties and to make it appear he has a claim on Addie. 

My fave character? Aunt Grace. She lives up to her name, taking Addie under her wing as soon as she meets her. She provides company, wisdom, and help with dealing with a determined six-year-old. Plus, she is self-sacrificing. 

I was holding my breath as this story rose to its climax. I suggest getting your hands on this series and reading all three in order, because of the timeline involved. Recommended for historical fiction fans, fans of American history, and those who want to understand events surrounding the Trail of Tears. 

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“At least a real education lets women know they should have choices. And it opens up a few options to those who don’t wish to marry. Or who do marry but find themselves on their own later in life.”

“He needed lasting change, though. He needed lasting change, though. He needed to deal with the root cause—unforgiveness. He’d started praying about that, but it was a work in progress.”

“You ask the impossible.” “No. With God, all things are possible. But not all things are permissible.” She tightened her fingers around his neck as if to emphasize her point. “I won’t live with a man eaten up with bitterness.”– Wade, Addie

“I think we should appeal to that good quality in her nature and flip the narrative. Instead of her needing us, show how we need her.” – Addie

“I’m saying the hurt may not have healed yet, and in her mind, anything that makes her feel it must be avoided.” – Addie

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! I am a follower of Denise Weimer (now Denise Farnsworth)’s stories about historic settings in our country. This novel needed to be told to wrap up events of the previous books.

Blog Stops

Fiction Book Lover, May 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 12

Texas Book-aholic, May 13

For Him and My Family, May 14

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 15

Lakesidelivingsite , May 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 16

Devoted To Hope, May 17

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 18

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 19

Connie’s History Classroom, May 20

Simple Harvest Reads, May 21 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, May 22

Cover Lover Book Review, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 24

Lyssa Loves Books, May 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/DSQoC/the-schoolmarm-and-the-miner-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

The Maiden and the Mountie by Denise Farnsworth Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Maiden and the Mountie

Author: Denise Farnsworth writing as Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

A marriage of necessity. A secret buried deep. In Georgia’s gold country, love may be the most dangerous treasure of all.

Gage Edmonds plans to use his engineering degree to blaze new roads in the Southern frontier—but first, he must follow in the footsteps of his war hero father and prove he’s worthy of their family name. His assignment to the Georgia Mounted Militia puts him between gold-hungry settlers and Cherokees soon to be forced from their homes. The local miller’s captivating daughter, Anna Walker, makes him question everything he thought he wanted. Grieved at the treatment of the peaceful Cherokees, Gage chooses not to re-enlist but agrees to work as a translator, even if it might cost him his chance at redemption.

Daughter of a European mother and Cherokee father, Anna has seen the way new settlers have pushed her father’s people out of their homes. She vowed never to fall for a white man. Least of all, a soldier. Yet when Sergeant Edwards endangers himself to keep the peace during a clash at her father’s gristmill, she admits there’s something honorable about him. Over Anna’s protests, her father seeks to secure her future in Gage’s hands.

On the eve of eviction, members of a local village hide their gold, trusting Anna with its safekeeping until they can return. When dangerous men discover the secret, she’s forced to rely on Gage for protection. But just as she begins to trust him, a secret her father has kept threatens to tear them apart. Can Anna trust this soldier with the truth—and her heart?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and a number of novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two young adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

The vanished pieces of our history have always intrigued me as an author. Houses, towns, lives that were once so vital but now of which there is no trace left except in books and oral accounts. For The Maiden and the Mountie, tales about two vanished things caught my attention when I lived near Cumming, Georgia—a Cherokee removal fort and Cherokee gold. Local historians have long debated the location of Fort Buffington and legends of Cherokee gold hidden in tunnels with secret vaults and deadfalls…or buried in clay pots, some of which were reported to have been found.

The second book of my Twenty-Niners of the Georgia Gold Rush series is set during the fall and winter of 1837. Gold had been found in the late 1820s on Cherokee land, land which was then divvied up in a state lottery. Lottery winners prepared to move onto farming lots of a hundred and sixty acres or mining lots of forty acres. Much of that property already had “improvements”—homes, outbuildings, and businesses. The majority of the Cherokee people had “Americanized,” adopting the clothing, religion, language, and farming and business methods of their white neighbors. That did not stop property- and gold-hungry settlers from taking Native American land.

Some Cherokees moved to Oklahoma Territory before the May 1838 deadline set by the national government. Others lingered until the last, fed by rumors and hopes that the legal efforts of their leaders in Washington would succeed. Many of them endured harassment by Pony Club members. Eventually, the remaining Cherokees were rounded up by mounted militia, forced into hastily constructed removal forts, and escorted on the tragic winter march that became known as the Trail of Tears.

No doubt about it—this is grave subject matter. But wouldn’t writing a trilogy about the Georgia Gold Rush without including an account of the Cherokee Removal be an even graver disservice to the actual history and the proud people who endured it?

The Maiden and the Mountie focuses on the mixed-blood Cherokee family of the heroine, Anna Walker, whose father operates a gristmill—another setting unique to fiction but so vital to nineteenth-century communities. For this angle of the story, I was able to draw on my brief stint as a county employee when I spent some time as a docent at Freeman’s Mill in Gwinnett County. The hero, Gage Edmonds, yearns to live up to his father’s military record and at the same time defend the heritage of his Cherokee grandmother-by-marriage. The conflict he rides into as a member of the Georgia Mounted Militia constructing Fort Buffington in Cherokee County convinces him he can better serve the native people as a translator than a soldier. Defending Anna and her family from members of the Pony Club makes his quest even more personal. Little does he know the woman he’s falling in love with has been called on by her father’s people to help hide Cherokee gold.

Themes of The Maiden and the Mountie include finding one’s identity in God, friendship that spans social boundaries, the power of adopted family, and love that blooms amid the harsh winter of conflict. I hope you’ll join Anna and Gage in the tumultuous days of the Georgia Gold Rush and look for The Schoolmarm and the Miner coming later this year.

My Impressions

“The one person who had always ensured she had a place to belong…didn’t want her? Would leave her behind?”

The immense hurt in these words penned by Denise Farnsworth in The Maiden and the Mountie represent so many hurts in this novel. This story, the second in The Twenty-Niners of Georgia Gold Rush, recounts excruciating anguish, both personal and national. Between Gage Edmonds and Anna Walker, I felt especially bad for Gage. He wants to help the Cherokee people and also prove himself in the army. While he is very sympathetic and helpful to the Cherokee, Anna rebuffs his attempts so much, letting him know she feels him untrustworthy many times. I felt like Gage: “Why was she so bent on finding a reason not to trust him?”

I did sympathize with Anna, who as part Cherokee and part White was not well accepted by either culture. She ends up with some very difficult choices to make. Will love help her choose?

Mostly, I had a difficult time reading about the greed of our government and people of European descent who literally stole the Cherokee’s land, mistreating them immensely in the process. I was thankful for people like Jacob Scudder, “a white man considered a blood brother to the Cherokees.”

Farnsworth has done her research well, and incorporated much into her story while still producing an exciting, romantic, smoothly flowing story. I was thankful for the author notes at the end to separate fact from fiction. 

Mrs. Campbell ( Peggy) is my fave secondary character. She, too, is committed to the Cherokee people. She is a strong believer, and a great friend and encourager for Anna. As she reminds Anna, “Scripture tells us that God’s thoughts and plans are higher than our own. He sees far more than we can—facts and even more important truths we cannot readily see. His will for us is always the best. Would you wish for anything less?”

I recommend this novel for those who love history, social justice, intercultural issues, and inspirational romance. I’ll be first in line for book three! 

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables: 

“She loved this land. It was the only place she belonged.”

“The army was worse than the miners. The only thing worse than the army was the Pony Club, which terrorized Cherokees who had the gumption to hold onto their land this long after the lottery.”

“I sense He wants me to ask Him about my future. But I’m afraid to. I should weigh the facts and be able to decide the best course.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent! I was glad to learn more about the Cherokee removal and the greed of the settlers and government that caused it.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 21

Blossoms and Blessings, February 22

Books Less Travelled, February 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 23

Texas Book-aholic, February 24

Devoted To Hope, February 25

Holly’s Book Corner, February 26

For Him and My Family, February 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 27

Betti Mace, February 28

Jeanette’s Thoughts , March 1

lakesidelivingsite, March 2

Cover Lover Book Review, March 3

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 4

Pause for Tales, March 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 5

Lyssa Loves Books, March 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/UE2FM/the-maiden-and-the-mountie-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

The Doctor’s Convenient Marriage by Lauralyn Keller Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Doctor’s Convenient Marriage

Author: Lauralyn Keller

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: January 20, 2026

She wants the freedom to practice medicine, and he needs a wife. But their bold escape from Boston’s high society rests on a marriage vow neither intended to make real.

Victoria Mountbatten has fought hard to earn her medical degree, but her powerful father uses his influence to block any doctor from hiring her. Faced with an ultimatum—marry a society gentleman or face disinheritance, Tori sees only one path to freedom. She makes a bold proposition to Dr. Harrison Blake, a colleague she’s worked alongside for years: a plan that will take them far from Boston’s stifling society.

Harrison Blake has always dreamed of building a hospital in the untamed West where he can truly help people. But his inheritance comes with a catch—he must marry before his thirtieth birthday. So even though Tori’s proposal is shocking, a marriage of convenience may be the perfect solution for both of them.

In the quiet moments of Harmony Springs, feelings grow and lines blur. Can their partnership blossom into true love, or will the walls around their hearts destroy the fragile trust they’ve built?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lauralyn Kellerloves to combine history and romance in stories that touch the heart. She lives in beautiful Colorado and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading.

More from Lauralyn

You might have noticed all three books in the Second Chances in Harmony Springs series feature a marriage of convenience. While that was partly for continuity, it also spoke to my own heart.

I love this trope. There’s something beautiful about the type of romance where two people agree to something practical and unemotional, only to slowly discover all the messy, tender, unexpected feelings they absolutely did notplan for. It’s a popular trope because beneath the external circumstances—inheritance rules, social expectations, survival needs—lies a universal truth: sometimes love grows in the unlikeliest places.

For me, the appeal isn’t just the forced proximity or the slow-burn tension, though I love both. It’s the way a practical arrangement forces two people to reveal their truest selves. A marriage of convenience strips away the excitement of courtship and goes straight to the heart of compatibility. The characters must ask: Can we build a life together? Can we rely on each other? Can we trust each other with our hopes, fears, and futures?

Those are deeply romantic questions, even when the relationship begins with a contract instead of a kiss.

In The Doctor’s Convenient Marriage, Tori and Harrison enter their agreement not out of despair, but from determination. Tori refuses to sacrifice her dream of practicing medicine, even as Boston society tries to conform her to their expectations. Harrison is more heart-driven, longing to build a hospital in the untamed West where he can serve those who need it most. Their marriage isn’t about survival. It’s about carving out the freedom to become who they were meant to be.

That mutual ambition changes the dynamic. Instead of one rescuing the other, they rescue each other, and in doing so, they learn to see beyond professional camaraderie into something far deeper and more vulnerable.

What I love most about their journey is the way real affection steals up on them quietly. They start as friends and coworkers, but then things begin to change. Little glances. Quiet confessions. Moments of care neither expected to give or receive.

A marriage forged for convenience becomes a partnership rooted in respect. And that becomes the foundation for love. That’s the irresistible beauty of this trope: the idea that love can flourish not in spite of practicality, but right alongside it.

I hope you love this story as much as I do. It’s a heartfelt conclusion to a series that’s been in the works for years. I’m deeply grateful to all who’ve come along on this journey, and I look forward to seeing where the road takes us from here.

My Impressions

“If we join our lives, it’s to get something we both want. Love—or the idea of love—just complicates things.”

Victoria Mountbatten has a rather jaded view of marriage, but she knows what she wants out of life. Lauralyn Keller’s The Doctor’s Convenient Marriage, bk 3 of Second Chances in Harmony Springs, takes us on a delightful trip. I loved knowing where the story was headed (the marriage of convenience is sure to turn to love), but I had no idea of the harrowing route Tori and Harrison would travel to get there. And what a fun time I had, following this couple’s very bumpy journey! 

Forced to marry to save their individual dreams, Tori and Harrison move to Harmony Springs to build a hospital and provide health care to the small late nineteenth century community. I could feel the freedom of the breeze, smell the clean air, see the wide stretches of rangeland that surround the town. And I could feel the deep disappointment Tori feels when many of the townsfolk do not consider her as capable a doctor as her husband. But this is where Harrison shines! He is so calming and reasonable as he talks Tori down from her quick temper. He complements Tori so well, but Tori is afraid to love. “How could she trust a husband to love her when her own father had failed to do so?” Harrison is so tender with Tori, yet Tori keeps pushing back against admitting that their relationship can be anything more than just a business arrangement. 

My least fave characters are Ella and Tori’s parents. Which then makes my fave secondary characters be Harrison’s parents. They are so opposite the Mountbattens , and the Blakes genuinely love their adult children. But I wanted to cry for all the emotional abuse Ella and Tori had grown up enduring. 

I enjoyed seeing the love of sisters played out between Ella and Tori. A sister is a treasure, for sure! 

This tale flows smoothly, balancing Truth, lots of action, relationships, and meaningful conversations. I’d love to visit the town again. 

 I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit through BookFunnel. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“Justice is important… But there is something more important than justice… Love.” – Harrison

“Whatever you do, make sure any decisions made with a person are made with that person.” – Samuel

“If she let herself love him, he’d have the power to break her. Was love worth that risk?” 

“Relationships are about honesty. There’s always some give and take. Nothing is going to be perfect. You have to decide what’s worth fighting for and what can be given up. “ – Travis

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! A great book to revisit on a rainy (or snowy) day!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 3

Texas Book-aholic, February 4

Pause for Tales, February 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 6

Simple Harvest Reads, February 7 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Jodie Wolfe, February 7

Bizwings Blog, February 8

For Him and My Family, February 9

Devoted To Hope, February 10

lakesidelivingsite, February 11

Lyssa Loves Books, February 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 12

Devoted Steps, February 13

Cover Lover Book Review, February 14

Vicky Sluiter, February 15

Holly’s Book Corner, February 15

Connie’s History Classroom, February 16

Mary Hake, February 16

Giveaway

The Doctor's Convenient Marriage Celebration Tour Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lauralyn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/pX7ww/the-doctors-convenient-marriage-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

Scars of the Revolution by Megan Soja Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Scars of the Revolution

Author: Megan Soja

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Some scars are born from duty, others from rebellion—theirs were carved by both.

Libby Caldwell has been in love with Isaac Harrison for years, ever since her late father befriended him. While her head knows there is no hope of sharing her life with a British soldier, her heart is much more difficult to convince, especially now that he is quartering in her home. With Boston under siege and battle looming, each day together forces her to recognize how deep her feelings truly are…and how forbidden.

Bound by duty to both his family and country, Isaac is determined to serve honorably in the King’s army, despite never wishing to be a soldier. But quartering with the widow and daughter of his old friend places another obligation on his shoulders—that of their well-being. The more time he spends with Miss Caldwell, the more that duty begins to feel like something personal, something he cannot allow.

As the siege of Boston tightens, Libby finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of espionage that could save the Patriot cause—and destroy any chance of a future with the man she’s growing to love.

Will betrayal and war keep their two worlds forever apart? Or will they look to the One whose love knows no bounds to bring them healing and a future?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Megan Sojais a multi-award-winning author who writes stories with strong faith, rich history, and sweet romance. She lives in western NY with her husband and two daughters and loves having adventures, both big and small, with her family. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and playing French Horn.

More from Megan

One of the things I love about reading and writing Christian fiction, is being able to see God’s truth woven into the story. Even though the characters and their experiences are fictional, the truth of who God is and how He loves us is very real.

In Scars of the Revolution, my heroine, Libby Caldwell, wrestles with understanding God’s goodness in the face of loss and hardship. Libby is grieving the death of her beloved father, while also facing the siege of her hometown and the worsening fight between the Patriot colonists and the British Army stationed in Boston. Her growing love for one of the British officers further complicates matters, and makes it hard for her to discern what God is doing in her life.

Her questions and struggles reflect much of my own faith journey. When my husband and I lost our first baby just after birth, I spent months trying to reconcile what I thought I knew of God with the tragic loss we had experienced. I wasn’t angry at God, but I was utterly confused as to how to understand His goodness in the midst of something that felt anything but good.

It wasn’t easy, but when I look back now, I see how God led me through my grief into a deeper understand of His character and a stronger reliance upon Him. I can truthfully say, as Libby’s mother does in Scars of the Revolution, that it was “in the hardest times, when God has seemed utterly incomprehensible, that my faith has grown the most.”

If you have ever walked through a painful experience that made you struggle to understand God’s purpose or even doubt His love, I hope that Libby’s journey will inspire your own faith. Or maybe your experience is more like that of my hero, Isaac Harrison, whose life has revolved around duty for so long, that it is hard for him to comprehend a God who freely gives His love and forgiveness, even when we don’t deserve or cannot earn it. I won’t give any spoilers as to how Isaac’s understanding grows and changes, but I hope you’ll be encouraged when you read it.

Libby and Isaac’s story is one of love against all odds, set against the backdrop of the Battle of Bunker Hill and a complex web of espionage. But it is also a story of faith in the God who is able to turn our scars into something beautiful. I pray you will find that truth in the pages of Scars of the Revolution.

My Impressions

“We all bear scars of some sort, whether visible or hidden far beneath the surface. But instead of seeing the loss and sorrow in them, what if there is good that comes as a result? What if your scars have brought you exactly where God wants you to be?”

Have you ever finished a book, and wished you had the time to go back and reread it immediately? This was my reaction to reading an ARC of Megan Soja’s latest Revolutionary War era novel, Scars of the Revolution, Book three of her series, Harbor of Spies. It is so delicious to my reading palate. I must admit I have read book two, but missed book one. But with that background and enough small references in this novel, I had no trouble following the action. 

My heart yearned for Libby Caldwell. Always close to her now-deceased doctor father, she becomes infatuated with the British soldier, Lt. Isaac Harrison, who had developed a close friendship with her father. When Harrison returns a few years after her father’s death, he finds himself billeting at the Caldwells to protect the doctor’s widow and his now-grown daughter. 

The novel provides plenty of tension as we see the conflict between the colonists and the British heat up from disagreement to actual conflict. Libby and Harrison, aided by proximity, fight their growing attraction for each other as their loyalties are firmly opposed. Sometimes, they are able to see past their differences. Picking up his uniform coat, Libby tells Isaac, “Because this alone is not who you are.”  “How he wanted her words to be true, that he would be defined not by his position in the army but by who he was as a man.” Obvious evidences of love (obvious to everyone but theirselves) are overshadowed by duty, alliances, and secrets. My heart felt like it was being torn in two so many times. And putting myself in each of their shoes- could I have made different decisions?

But God enters the story often and so well. Libby’s father was a firm believer who knew how to share his faith. His words, posthumously, greatly affect both Libby and Isaac. Can I have a fave unalive character?! And Libby’s mom is another fave character. She quietly supports her daughter, but isn’t afraid to gently challenge or confront her, when the need arises. “…pray first. Do not act on emotions alone, for they are not to be trusted. Seek God’s guidance and listen to Him, above all else.” Faith is a very present element of this book. The setting may be centuries old, but the Truths are so applicable today! 

Soja writes knowledgeably of the siege of Boston and proves she did her homework well. The reader is sure to learn more history than what they knew before starting the book! ( I love books that do that well!) And Soja throws in twists, and enough glimpses of other characters that I am begging for book four ASAP! This family/friend saga is not over!

I received a copy of the book from the author and Celebrate Lit. I also preordered my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“Tis a sacrifice of some sort with either decision. Be it duty or rebellion, in both there is something to gain, and something to lose.” – Isaac

“…church is not the only place to meet with God. God is just as present with you in your everyday life as He is within those walls.” – Mrs. Abbott

“I have found ’tis in the hardest times, when God has seemed utterly incomprehensible, that my faith has grown the most. For in those struggles, He has shown me that it is not my grasp of Him that matters, but rather His hold on me.” – Libby’s mother 

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! This had to be the best of the three books in this series! And there is more yet to come!! Yay!!

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, January 17

Bizwings Blog, January 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 18

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 18

Books Less Travelled, January 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Betti Mace, January 22

Holly’s Book Corner, January 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23

Connie’s History Classroom , January 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, January 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 27

The Bookish Pilgrim, January 27

Simple Harvest Reads, January 28 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 29

Pause for Tales, January 30

Blossoms and Blessings, January 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Megan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/nSWnS/scars-of-the-revolution-celebration-tour-giveaway