Bookish Thoughts: A Pursuit of Home

"Daphne might not have all the typical feminine graces of an aristocratic wife, but if trouble came knocking, she'd tuck herself behind her husband's coattails.  Jess would climb out the window in order to circle around and stab it in the back.  No man wanted that in a wife, not really." 

Description:
In early 1800s England, Jess Beauchene has spent most of her life in hiding and always on the move in an effort to leave her past far behind her. But when she learns the family she thought had died just might be alive and in danger, she knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long.

Derek Thornbury loves the past, which has led him to become an expert in history and artifacts. He knows Jess has never liked him, but when she requests his help deciphering the clues laid out in an old family diary, he can't resist the urge to solve the puzzle.

As Jess and Derek race to find the hidden artifact before her family's enemies, they learn as much about each other as they do about the past. But can their search to uncover the truth and set history right lead to a future together?

About the Author:
Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in computer science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is a RITA Award and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for Excellence winner. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.






My Thoughts:
Kristi Ann Hunter is one of my very favorite historical fiction authors so, of course, I was super excited for this book!  Add in the fact that this is Jess’ story and you would find me stalking the mailbox for days, awaiting its arrival.  I’ve been looking forward to her book since discovering she would be more than simply a quirky character in “A Noble Masquerade” and was most definitely not disappointed with what I found between the beautiful covers. 

Along with being a favorite author, Ms. Hunter is also one of the only authors of Regency novels whose works I will excitedly read again and again.  I have nothing against stories set in that time period, they just aren’t typically to my liking.  But apparently, if you add in some especially quirky characters (one of them being a valet with a couple missing fingers), sarcasm, intrigue, a treasure hunt, and some knife throwing, I’ll stay up quite late trying to read “just one more chapter.”  I found all of those things and much more in this story.  

I absolutely loved the new characters I got to meet, but also I had to grin at being reunited with some old friends.  While you don’t have to read the books in order (though I would highly recommend all of Ms. Hunter’s books!), as the author does an excellent job of allowing each story to stand alone, I do think keeping up with the number of characters/titles/names may be slightly confusing if you haven’t read the others.  If you have read the previous books in the series, then you’ll already be acquainted with Derek Thornbury and Jess Beauchene.  Jess with her sharp tongue and equally sharp knives; Derek with his quirkiness, affinity for all things art and history related, and penchant for spouting random facts.  Though I knew them a bit from the other books, I couldn’t resist falling in love with them in this one.  Who can resist a hero that maybe isn’t the most dashing man in the room, but who is loyal, stubborn, somewhat socially awkward, kind, and determined to do the right thing, regardless of the cost?  And Jess was something of a surprise for me.  I already knew her as this very blunt, somewhat hardened spy-turned-cook, but learning her history and background brought her to vivid life.  She is loyal, determined to protect those she loves, and is searching for a light in the shadows that she’s lived in for so long.   

Two more things I greatly enjoyed:  The dialogue, sarcasm, and just the interesting way the characters viewed things had me cracking up more than once (and my husband looking at me, awaiting an explanation) !  And the way the author chose to define more so what real love looks and acts like.  Faith isn’t a deep, long, theological discussion here, but rather is woven throughout the story and shown in a myriad of ways.  
Overall, I can’t think of a single page of this book that I didn’t enjoy.  I would indubitably recommend it!

Random question:
Are there any genres or time periods that you don't typically read, but make will an exception for certain authors? 

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!  If you'd like to learn more about this book, or any of the others in the series, links are below!  

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Bookish Thoughts: A Gift Like No Other

"Guilt is like a cancer that eats away at our soul, robbing us of joy, hope, and all too often, the very forgiveness that will set us free."  - Patrick O'Conner 

Description:

WARNING: Due to a subject matter that deals with marital problems, please be advised that this sweet inspirational novella contains a higher level of romantic passion.

Her dream is writing.
His is the perfect wife and mother.
Until God fulfills them both
with a dream like no other.

Twelve years ago, Faith O’Connor happily gave up her dream as a copywriter to become a wife and mother, clinging to her husband’s promise she could return someday. But when the opportunity arises to write for the Boston Herald again two days a week, her dream hits a snag … along with her marriage.

To Collin McGuire, family is everything because he never really had one of his own. Raised by a father who died early and a mother who didn’t care, Collin is determined to give his children the very best with a full-time mother. But when he denies Faith her dream, he soon discovers he’s denied his own as well … until Christmas day brings a healing through a gift like no other.

About the Author:

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” not only underscores her intense passion for God and romance, but her staunch advocacy for sexual purity before marriage as well. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys reading what she writes -- close-knit Irish family sagas as well as both historical and contemporary religious and inspirational romance for the sweet and Christian markets.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series with Revell Publishing, Julie was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered 17 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also named on Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction list. Her latest novel, Surprised by Love, appeared on Family Fiction magazine’s list of Top Ten Novels of 2014, and her independent novel A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets.

You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at www.julielessman.com, or through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or Pinterest, as well as sign up for her newsletter. Check out Julie’s group blog, The Seekers, Writers Digest 2013, 2014, and 2015 “Best 101 Websites for Writers,” and Julie’s own personal blog, Journal Jots, voted blog of the month in the Readers’ Choice poll of Book Fun Magazine.

My Thoughts:

Disclaimer: I’m not typically someone who enjoys novellas or intentionally seeks out Christmas stories.  They just aren’t usually my cup of tea . . . but I do make exceptions for certain authors, and Julie Lessman is indubitably one of them.  My usual arguments for avoiding them just don’t hold water with hers.  So, if you’re like me, a long-held skeptic of anything that is less than 200 pages in length, give this one a try - I highly doubt you’ll be disappointed.  

I’ve long been a fan of Ms. Lessman’s books and I adore the O’Conner family and all the additions they’ve collected over the course of the series.  Even saying that, when I saw this would be a novella about Faith and Collin McGuire, I admit to slight skepticism.  Theirs was the very first book in the series and they’ve played parts in several of the other ones as well, so what more could there be to tell?  Quite a bit, as it turns out.  If you haven’t read the rest of the series, you may find yourself playing catch up a bit, regarding names, who everyone is, and with some of the stories they tell.  Though I do think the author did an excellent job of explaining a bit, without slowing the story down.  So if this your first foray into the group, I would still say, “go for it!” just anticipate wanting to find the rest of the books ASAP when you’re done.

I would like to note something, though it’s already stated in the description: this story is about a married couple and deals with some marital issues.  So with that in mind, there are some “steamier” scenes than one tends to find in most Christian fiction.  The author’s tag line, “ Passion with a Purpose” definitely fits.  Even saying that, as a married lady myself, I truly appreciated how Ms. Lessman handles even the sensitive topics in marriage.  Her writing continues to point back to the Designer and Creator of all things, including marriage.  Though this book is fiction, many of the discussions within it had me stepping back and double-checking my own marriage and attitudes.  Would I still recommend this book to an unmarried woman?  Yes, I would.  But I would include the understanding that this novella carries with it some heavier topics regarding marriage and enduring through the struggles.  As well as some scenes that may encourage a blush - even Faith blushes at some of the conversations and she’s an “old married lady.”

Now, before I make it sound entirely boring, trust me, it certainly isn’t.  I can’t help but love the eclectic O’Conner clan, with their banter, random advice, love, and shenanigans.  I love how regardless of what’s going on, the family is always there for one another.  Even fathers-in-law to their sons-in-law and best friends to their hard-headed co-owners.  And some of the conversations are definitely laugh-out-loud-while-reading-in-a-crowded-place worthy.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book - especially to married or soon-to-be-married ladies.

Thanks again for stopping by and perusing my blog!  As always, if you'd like to learn more about this book, links are below!

Have a lovely day! 

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Bookish Thoughts: Aiming for Love

Description:
Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world--a world she's been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls' secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David's parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David's father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain? 

About the Author:
Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, The Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Learn more at www.maryconnealy.com.






My Thoughts:
I’m not even sure where to start with this book.  It was both somewhat what I had expected, but also almost nothing like expected.  I’ve read quite a few of Mary Connealy’s tales over the years, though I’ve not kept up with her most recent writing, and this story was . . . different.  Not in a bad way, at all.  Just different. 

Expected things:  I liked the characters.  They were quirky and definitely unique.  The details and descriptions are very well done.  There’s suspense and a hint of mystery.  I couldn’t resist laughing more than a few times.
Unexpected things:  The story was deeper than I remember from her older books.  God was mentioned much more than just in passing.  This is something of a heavier story, with more difficult topics broached and in the beginnings of being tackled.  The ending was kind of left unfinished. 

Overall, I did enjoy the story and as already mentioned, I liked the characters.  I enjoyed meeting Jo, Ilsa, and Ursula, along with Dave, Mitch, Ma, and Quill.  The sisters are different, as expected.  They haven’t spoken to people other than one another in years and are a little awkward at times, as a result.  I loved Jo’s curiosity and willingness to reach out to help others.  She’s outspoken and determined to do the right thing, as she sees it.  I appreciated the kindness she shows even those who oppose her.  And she and her sisters have such a loyalty to one another, which was interesting to see play out amidst conflict.  I had to laugh at the misunderstanding of “two Bibles” and the stories that ensued.  This book closed with a lot more questions than answers, which in most cases leaves a cliff-hanger and an “I can’t wait to find out what happens next!” attitude.  In this case, though, to me the story just felt unfinished.  Like someone ripped out the last couple chapters and I was missing something.  I am curious to read the next book, but more so just kind of perturbed at how this one ended.     

Overall, I did enjoy this book, but would maybe suggest waiting to read it until the next one is available.  So you don’t have the wait time I get to endure between this ending and the next beginning.


I'm fairly confident that I didn't actually share a single review or anything else during October - though I didn't actually check my post list to verify that.  My husband and I have been seeking to learn to intentionally find time for rest in this busy season of our lives.  In that, though, I totally ran out of time and energy to get much of anything done on here.  So I'm going to try to do better, but I'm not going to let a screen (as much as I love my book people!) interrupt the time my husband and I have together.  :)

As always, I hope your day is well! Until the next time, read a good book for me!

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