Jen Turano's "Flights of Fancy"

Isadora Delafield, heiress to one of the greatest fortunes in America, finds herself the object of affection of a British duke. Given that he's an uncouth cad and suspected of murdering his three previous wives, Izzie decamps to safety in the country, where she becomes an unlikely candidate for housekeeping position. Ian McKenzie is knows hiring Izzie is a terrible decision, given her complete incompetence, but he can't help but be charmed by her unconventional manner. Granted, he's also desperate, and she makes him an offer he can't financially refuse. While Izzie is pretty sure she's dodged the trouble following her, the country turns out to have its own share of mysterious and dangerous doings . . .

Jen Turano consistently lives up to my expectations. If ever I want a romantic comedy to brighten my day, her books are always at the top of my list.

Though it may seem far-fetched to have an heiress who's never done a day's work in her life manage a household, this is largely negated by the utter chaos--and unusualness--of the household she is theoretically running. Izzie might be incompetent at basic household tasks like washing clothes and boiling water, but they're desperate, she's there, and she's willing to learn, which is theoretically better than no help at all. Jen Turano is the master of quirky characters and quirkier pets (not one, but TWO this time!).

The setting was very different from Turano's other books, mainly due to taking place on a farm (not even an estate). I enjoyed the relaxed country atmosphere and all the ensuing hijinks one can expect for a city girl out of her natural environment. The labor disputes were a surprise, given how serious an issue they were historically versus how the humorous I expect Jen Turano's books to be. However, she manages the issue with sympathy and aplomb while never losing the sense of fun.

Delightful as always.

American Heiresses
1. Flights of Fancy
2. Diamond in the Rough
3. Trouble in Store

"Far Side of the Sea" by Kate Breslin

When Lt. Colin Mabry, an officer working with MI8 decoding messages from France, discovers a message written to him from a woman he once loved and thought dead, he immediately rushes to France to help her, only to discover the message wasn't from the woman he knew--it was from a half-sister he had never heard of. Johanna Reyer works in a dovecote run by French Intelligence, and with the help of a diary she stumbled across, believes her sister to be alive and in the custody of a German spy, but she needs Colin's help to find her. With spies abounding and situations rarely what they seem, will Colin and Johanna trust each other enough to pull off the mission?

Spy, spy, counterspy . . . I enjoy a thrilling spy novel where one doesn't know whom to trust and things are rarely what they seem, and this one proved most satisfactory. I love the WWI setting, with all the touches that make it authentic--carrier pigeons, influenza, neutral Spain, the horses (or slaughter there-of, being as WWI was the war in which the most horses were killed). Breslin's stories are always captivating, and this was no exception.

I loved how Colin works around--and learns to work with--his prosthetic, and that Johanna is so affirming, expressing her belief that it doesn't make him undesirable or less of a man. They make a really good pair, with his love of order and attention to detail and her flexibility. Overall, it was a most enjoyable tale.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Related novels:
Not by Sight
High as the Heavens

Joanne Bischof's "Daughters of Northern Shores"--Blackbird Mountain, book 2

Haaken Norgaard, after four years on the high seas running from his past, finally takes the first step toward making things right with his family--by going home. Thor, his brother, and Aven, his brother's wife and the woman he wronged, are understandably wary at his return, but have bigger things to worry about, namely a painful disease that seems intent on taking Thor's life, and potentially spreading to the remainder of the household. In addition, the Sorrel men, who were run off the mountain with Haaken's initial departure, are back and looking for revenge against the Norgaards. Will Haaken find his redemption and make things right with his family before it is too late?

I will admit, the story wasn't what I was expecting based on the cover and title; the two comprise something more of a dream being kept alive in Haaken's heart than any practical impact on the main story, the vast majority of which takes place back on Blackbird Mountain. And on the whole, the sons of Blackbird Mountain have a much larger role in the story (and more viewpoints) than any daughters of northern shores. It just seems like an odd choice by the publisher to base a title and cover on an epilogue. It's beautiful, and care was clearly taken to depict a very specific image, but don't (like me) expect to get to know the woman on the cover.

That's not to say it isn't good. It's just different than I anticipated--very much a continuation of the Norgaard family's story, with viewpoints of Thor, Aven, and Haaken, as they fight to protect what is theirs. To be honest, I didn't feel that the threat from the Sorrel men until late in the book--as scare tactics go, graffiti is obnoxious, but not very terrifying. Now, when a certain devious tactic was finally revealed, their worry proved much more legitimate (and I impressed). And between the final confrontation and Haaken's redemption, that ending was spectacular--Hollywood only dreams of an ending as perfect as this. Read this book for the ending if nothing else (though it is what comes earlier that makes it so impactful, especially the beautiful wisdom regarding forgiveness and trust).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Blackbird Mountain
1. Sons of Blackbird Mountain
2. Daughters of Northern Shores

"A Desperate Hope" by Elizabeth Camden---Empire State, book 3

Eloise Drake, a brilliant accountant, is tasked with overseeing the appraisal of the buildings and land of a town that is about to be demolished for the construction of a reservoir that will be able to keep New York City in clean water. Unfortunately, it means spending two months with mayor Alex Duval--the man who broke her heart. Alex is stunned to finally see Eloise again, but even more shocked to discover that she's part of the hated team preparing to destroy his home. When Alex comes up with a wild idea that could mean saving his town, he need Eloise's help to succeed. But will their combined ingenuity be enough to overcome the hurdles stacked against them?

I think I say this for every Elizabeth Camden novel, but I love that her heroines have such unique, impressive jobs. And while they may suffer some sexism for being in positions that typically belong to men, the stories are never about that--they're about strong women making a difference (and that makes such a difference in my enjoyment as a reader, seeing them being their best and excelling at their jobs rather than constantly fighting against men). Eloise is no exception, being one of very few female CPAs in New York. While I have no great love for budgeting, I really connected with her practical outlook on life--her love of concrete plans, order, and security.

I also liked Alex and his wild dreams and grandiose ideas--he makes a great balance to Eloise's love of security and order. He's one of those men that is larger than life, and even though he has been beaten down again and again while trying to save his town, he jumps back up swinging. But frankly, there were times he could be an insensitive clod. When it comes to certain sins, men just aren't held to the same standards as women, and it's the women who are more likely to be hurt. I wish he would have been better about acknowledging that.

The history behind this story is also fascinating. Living in an place with a massive abundance of clean freshwater, I've never thought about reservoirs--why one would build them, what would happen to the land beneath them, what was there before the water. But to read about the towns that were moved or lost to build the reservoir to keep New York City in clean, healthy water, I can better appreciate my home!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Empire State
1. A Dangerous Legacy
2. A Daring Venture
3. A Desperate Hope
3.5 "Christmas at Whitefriars"