Tag: art historian

Mini Reviews/Spotlights on These Books

I purposely left much of December open because of our schedule. Much to my delight, I found time to read these three books, all paperbacks (a rarity for me.) I met two of the authors, Crystal Caudill ( We Three Kings) and Carrie Turansky (The Legacy of Longdale Manor) at ACFW StoryFest in St. Louis in August.

I loved Crystal’s servant heart. She is so sweet! She writes sweet, Christian historical fiction. I have yet to meet Angela Ruth Strong, but hoping that will be soon. She is a hoot, and one should never miss her rom-coms!! Carrie Putman is a history professor who brings WWII times to life. The good, the bad, the redemptive!

I talked to Carrie Turansky for several minutes about the American Orphan Train and the British equivalent. ( Did you know there was such a thing?) Carrie is a historical wealth of knowledge on that subject!! I could have talked to her all day!!

Maddie Day ( who has a few aliases ) has written a clean cozy series that struck a chord in my heart A County Story Mystery series. I like to say they are about the “near South,” as a Northerner. Series takes place in the hills of Southern Indiana, not far from Bloomington.

The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky

Two women–a century apart–embark on a journey to healing, faith, forgiveness, and romance.

In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford–the owner’s handsome grandson–who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd’s staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she’s left searching for answers.

In 1912, after her father’s death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte’s grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.

Praise for The Legacy of Longdale Manor

“This novel will stir your faith–and your desire to visit England’s Lake District!”–JULIE KLASSEN, bestselling author

“Turansky opens the door of Longdale Manor and invites readers to explore the secrets hidden inside.”–MELANIE DOBSON, award-winning author

“A beautiful book to warm and lift the heart.”–CATHY GOHLKE, Christy Hall of Fame author

CARRIE TURANSKY is the award-winning author of more than twenty inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. She loved traveling to England to research her latest Edwardian novels including No Journey Too Far, No Ocean Too Wide, Across the Blue, and The Highland Hall series. Her novels have received stared reviews from Christianbooks.com and Library Journal. They have been translated into several languages and enjoyed by readers around the world. Connect with Carrie on her website: http://carrieturansky.com/, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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I loved this book detailing a painful failure, distant relationships with those one needs affection and love from, add in one reluctant romance, plus a generous, no questions asked acceptance from a non-family member. How God works in our lives through both good and bad to bind up our deep-seated wounds!

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We Three Kings by Crystal Caudill, Cara Putman, and Angela Ruth Strong

In this Christmas collection, Weise men still seek Jesus–and love

Best-selling romance authors Caudill, Putman, and Strong follow three generations of the Weise family in this third collection of Christmas novellas from Kregel that will prove just as popular as the previous award-winning volumes.

1. “Star of Wonder” by Crystal Caudill

The Christmas-themed maiden voyage of his family’s grand steamer ship was supposed to be Aldrich Weise’s chance both to instill investor confidence and to romance Celestia Isaacs. Instead, he must foil a criminal and leave his lady love behind forever.

Crystal Caudill is a tea-drinking, book-hoarding, history nerd. Her award-winning stories are ripe with history, danger, love, and hope. When not writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her husband and boys, caregiving for loved ones, hiding in a book, drinking copious amounts of hot tea, or connecting with readers. You can connect with her at http://www.crystalcaudill.com or by joining her newsletter crew at bitly.com/CaudillNews.

2. “Beauty Bright” by Cara Putman

Lieutenant Charles Weise served as a Monuments Man after World War II and now works to restore stolen art to rightful owners. Captain Lillian Thorsen pairs up with him not only to return treasures but also to fix the war-torn lives around them.

Since the time I could read Nancy Drew, I have wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 I attended a book signing at my local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, is history. There I met Colleen Coble. With prompting from my husband, I shared my dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, I’ve been writing award-winning books with the count currently climbing to 40 published and more in the works.

In addition to writing, I am a mom of four, attorney, Clinical Assistant Professor at a Big Ten university who also runs a center, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, my husband, and my kids. I graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University’s MBA program. You can learn more about my books at http://www.caraputman.com. And if you’d like a copy of my legal suspense novella, Dying for Love, simply connect with me here (http://www.caraputman.com/contact/) , and I’ll send you the link.

3. “Perfect Light” by Angela Ruth Strong

Essential oils mogul Brendon Wise is drawn to Lacey Foster, the event planner for his huge Christmas lights festival. But when he inadvertently makes a spectacle of her on television, Lacey wants nothing to do with him. Will a chance to give gifts to those in need at Christmas be the key to discovering common ground–and maybe love?

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first romance novel in 2009, and her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been a finalist for the Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky released as a movie in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she blogs for Inspy Romance and My Book Therapy. Get to know her even better at http://www.angelaruthstrong.com.

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I loved the way each author contributed to the Christmas anthology, We Three Kings, by drawing on their strengths. Crystal Caudill writes intriguing historical fiction, easy to follow and always with a good romantic thread, including faith. We see the foundations of the Weise empire of at least family being built.

Cara Putman picks up just after WWII, with two very different individuals attempting to catalogue snd restore stolen art treasures to surviving Jewish families. One of their biggest hurts is, the people they are bending over backwards to help, would rather spit in their face. It takes much prayer, determination, and ingenuity to find solutions.

Angela Ruth Strong excels in contemporary romance. I love to read her work, because no matter the seriousness of the situation, Angela will include humor and a positive spin because of her faith in Jesus. Of course, her characters just might find romance, because, well, she loves to take the impossible and make it possible through Christ.

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Grilled for Murder by Maddie Day

The author of Flipped for Murder serves up a culinary cozy with all “the right combos for an entertaining read”—includes recipes! (Nightstand Book Reviews).

Robbie Jordan may have had reservations about the murder victim, but she still needs to turn up the heat on a killer if she wants to keep her new restaurant open for business . . .

In the charming small town of South Lick, Indiana, Robbie has transformed a rundown country store into the runaway hit Pans ’N Pancakes. But the most popular destination for miles around can also invite trouble. Erica Shermer may be the widow of handsome local lawyer Jim Shermer’s brother, but she doesn’t appear to be in mourning. At a homecoming party held in Robbie’s store, Erica is alternately obnoxious and flirtatious—even batting her eyelashes at Jim. When Erica turns up dead in the store the next morning, apparently clobbered with cookware, the police suspect Robbie’s friend Phil, who closed up after the party. To clear Phil and calm her customers, Robbie needs to step out from behind the counter and find the real killer in short order . . .“Grilled for Murder was another good mystery from the Country Store . . . Recommended for all cozy lovers!”—Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!

Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-winning author, Maddie writes the Country Store, Cozy Capers Book Group, and Cece Barton Mysteries, all from Kensington Publishing.

As Edith Maxwell, she write the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page), as well as award-winning short crime fiction.

You can find all Maddie’s/Edith’s identities and work at http://www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every week day with the other Wicked Authors at wickedauthors.com and every second and fourth Fridays at mysteryloverskitchen.com. Look for her as Maddie Day/ Edith Maxwell on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter and Instagram.

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Something about the down-home, never-in-a-hurry atmosphere of the rolling hills of this area of our country attracts me and draws me in. Probably reminds me of the time I spent in Southern Ohio. So many similarities.

And a little country store/restaurant. A town where everybody knows your name… and unfortunately, your business.

Yummy food with recipes. A murder off page with almost everyone a suspect. Just good, clean fun.

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My Ratings

I gave all three books five stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Each was deserving in its genre!