The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron

A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington . . . until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match, having given her heart to another long ago. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop, with Amos nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane. As war with Hitler looms, Charlotte's daughter is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.

Dual timelines can be a bit hit-or-miss for me, since generally I'd prefer two full stories rather than two half-stories that have been pushed together, but when the timelines are about the same people, I'm generally confident that the story will mesh well. However, I struggled through this one. 

Normally I don't have a problem keeping track of details from one timeline to the other, but I spent most of the book thinking I missed something. Sometimes an explanation finally came later--and not just a chapter later, but sometimes over half the book later. In the WWII timeline, I would have thought the reason Jacob is suing Charlotte and Eden to be a fairly important detail, but it's chapters after the subject is introduced that we find out for what. And even then, I never understood why Eden was set to inherit (I have an assumption, but if it was actually spelled out, somehow I missed it). So many things introduced in the WWI timeline don't get real explanations--at best, they're briefly glossed over: the broken cello, Gretna Green, the book arrest, why Charlotte married Will after all. And why the rival bookshops?  Why the supposed animosity (that never actually played out on the page)?

The historical detail is well researched, for both timelines. Amos's role as a veterinary sergeant in WWI, the land girls, the bombing of Coventry--all that was excellent. But the story itself left me with more questions than answers. Maybe I'd have struggled less if it were more linear, or if it didn't have Eden's viewpoint; I didn't dislike her chapters, but they seemed superfluous when Amos and Charlotte were clearly the focus and able to carry the story on their own.

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

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M White - The Imposters, book 1

Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm marketed to the elite . . . to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society when they want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend's father as a potential traitor. Pneumonia lands Sir Merritt Livingstone behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they're creating a new secret intelligence branch. He suspects a man of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare. Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend's sake, and she's more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can't possibly be as noble as he seems.

It was enjoyable, just not my favorite by the author. The plot was twisty and intriguing, with an unexpected but thrilling conclusion. The main characters were all very likeable--Merritt, Marigold, Yates, Xavier. Maybe too likeable, in the case of Marigold? All together, Marigold's special skills strain credulity a bit--I mean, she's a trapeze artist, an actress, able to memorize whatever she reads or hears (at least short term), and is on the cutting edge of fashion, not to mention being titled gentry. Oh, and she cooks, sews, and has circus animals essentially as pets. All are explained in her backstory, but . . . it's a lot, without much balance in flaws. I guess I found her likeable, but too special and perfect to be relatable. However, I did really like that Merritt starts out sick and physically disadvantaged--a novel introduction for a hero!

I am terribly curious what went down between Gemma and Graham to cause such animosity; at least they're the leads in book 2! Side note about Graham Wharton: same name (essentially) as Graham, Lord Wharton, hero of Kristi Ann Hunter's novel A Defense of Honor. What are the chances?

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.

The Imposters
1. A Beautiful Disguise
2. A Noble Scheme

Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M White

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same--until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie's inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling's injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he's tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own. Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, but he doesn't count on falling in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper's daughter. When war breaks out in Europe, and their relationship is put in jeopardy, will their love survive? As Evie and Sterling work to track down an elusive German agent, they unravel mysteries that go back a generation. The ripples from the Great War are still rocking their lives, and it seems yesterday's tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

This is definitely one of the better dual timeline books out there; the two timelines are closely connected through location, characters, and wartime setting. So often my complaint with dual timelines is that they feel like two completely separate stories mashed together (and rarely with equally interesting storylines), but these two timelines resonate and feel cohesive. I'll be honest, I still wish it had been a two book series instead of a dual timeline; that way we'd get more story and each timeline could have been fleshed out more (for instance, I feel like we still never really know all that much about Sterling, even at the end). But wishing for more story is often how I feel after reading a dual timeline.

The WWI timeline is certainly the more active one, full of name-drops of characters from other series by the author (though I'm not sure how I feel about there being so incredibly many), and it feels like it has much higher stakes, both relationally between Louisa and Rem and physically as action heats up in Europe. The WWII timeline is slower paced, with more to say on grief and healing through it. 

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.

All (well, most of) the related books, in chronological order:

The Culper Ring:
1. Ring of Secrets
1.5. Fairchild's Lady (novella)
2. Whispers from the Shadows
2.5. "A Hero's Promise" (short story)
3. Circle of Spies

Edwardian/WWI Era:

Ladies of the Manor
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

Shadows Over England
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

The Codebreakers
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

In Love's Time by Kate Breslin

In the summer of 1918, Captain Marcus Weatherford arrives in Russia on a secret mission, with a beautiful ballerina posing as his fiancée. Marcus searches for the Romanov Tsarina and her son--who both allegedly survived the murdering Bolsheviks--and the information behind an allied plot to assassinate Lenin. But Marcus's sense of duty battles his desire to return home to Clare--his actual love. Hospital orderly Clare Danner still suffers from Marcus's betrayal and now fears losing her daughter to the heartless family who took Daisy away from Clare once before, but only Marcus can provide the critical proof needed to save her daughter. Faced with danger and unexpected circumstances, can Clare trust Marcus, or will he shatter her world yet again?

This had a bit of a fairytale element to it--the old trope of the "true bride." Usually the hero promises his love to one woman, but then is ensorcelled (often with a memory-wipe) to trick him into marrying another, at which point the heroine must rescue him. 

Though I enjoyed all the author's other books, this one was a struggle for me. Clare has a big chip on her shoulder, which all the misunderstandings do nothing to diminish, and I just didn't like her all that well (she also tends to make poor decisions). It didn't help that thanks to amnesia, Marcus isn't really himself for most of the book; I was really looking forward to getting to know this super clever spy, but he's lost the last decade of his memories. Everyone is always deciding to not tell people things, which means misunderstandings grow out of proportion, and problems that could have been avoided entirely blow up instead.

I did like how Clare helps Marcus reconnect with his memories and family, and the way they essentially fall in love a second time is sweet. But I think I would have liked it better as a Jason Bourne-type story from Marcus's perspective, as he's figuring out and piecing back together his memories just in time for the end.

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
Far Side of the Sea
As Dawn Breaks

"The Master Craftsman" by Kelli Stuart

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in The House of Fabergé, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history--an unknown Fabergé Egg that Peter Karl Fabergé secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial Czar's family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family. Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance--and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined. This modern-day treasure hunt transports you into the opulent and treacherous world of the Russian Revolution to unearth mysteries long buried.

I love the subject matter--a treasure hunt related to the Russian Revolution? Super exciting! And the author has really done her research for this book. I kept pausing my reading to look up images of the Fabergé eggs described and fact-check about Alma Pihl and Fabergé's lives. It's stunning the research that went into the historical aspects of this novel (though the missing egg is presumably fictional). The past timeline is more about Fabergé himself and the eggs than Alma, but it was a unique aspect of the end of imperial Russia and the revolution that I hadn't heard about (and I took a class devoted solely to the Russian Revolution in college).

As much as I enjoyed learning new bits of history and the treasure hunt aspect, I struggled to like Ava. I just didn't relate to her personality or what drove her. Her mom is great, though, and I love that she got to take part in the treasure hunt too.

A few notes for those looking to get a better handle on the story:

• It's not a romance in either timeline
• It's not heavily suspenseful, but it increases in the latter part of the book
• There isn't actually any faith thread to the story, though I could see an argument for allegory (there's a fair amount of discussion on what makes art valuable, and the role of a master craftsman; I honestly expected it to be applied to God, as there was an easy comparison there, but it didn't go that far).

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

"As Dawn Breaks" by Kate Breslin

Amid the Great War in 1918 England, munitions worker Rosalind Graham is desperate to escape the arranged marriage being forced on her by her ruthless guardian. When the Chilwell factory explodes, killing hundreds of unidentified workers, Rose realizes the world believes she perished in the disaster. Seizing the chance to escape, she assumes a new identity, taking a supervisory position in Gretna, Scotland, as Miss Tilly Lockhart. RAF Captain Alex Baird is returning home to Gretna on a secret mission to uncover the saboteur suspected in the Chilwell explosion, as Gretna's factory is likely next. Alex is surprised to discover a young woman, Miss Lockhart, renting his boyhood room, but the two eventually bond over their mutual affection for his family--until Alex receives orders to surveil her. Rose squirms beneath Alex's scrutiny while she struggles to gain her workers' respect. But when her deception turns to danger, she and Alex must find a way to put their painful pasts behind them and together try to safeguard the future.

I'd known of the women who worked in munitions factories for the war effort in WWII, but I hadn't realized how many women had in WWI as well, or what dangerous jobs they held--where the atmosphere was so physically explosive that one couldn't even have metal bra hooks or silk stockings, lest a spark from the static electricity blow the factory. And I can't imagine that so much exposure to TNT that one turned yellow was good for long term health. It was a fascinating bit of history!

As with any time one is lying about one's identity, there's the expectation that it will blow up worse than a munitions factory when one's secrets are revealed, and such is the case for Rose. I loved how she grew through the story, but I can see why Alex takes such great affront at her lies--she does look highly suspicious regarding the Chilwell explosion, and when there's a threat of sabotage where she's currently employed . . . it would be all too easy to come to the wrong conclusions. I greatly enjoyed some Mission Impossible-esque elements, though as is the case with any master of disguise plot, my head was left spinning trying to figure out who and what I has missed throughout the story. It was a pleasure to catch some cameos of characters from a previous book (High as the Heavens).

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

"Yours is the Night" by Amanda Dykes

Private Matthew Petticrew arrives in France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces, an arrival which a war-weary France desperately hopes will help to end the turmoil. Having faced unthinkable things on the front, he is captivated by the sound of a lullaby, sung by a voice so pure he knows he must have imagined it. But rumors sweep through the trenches like wildfire, dubbing the voice "The Angel of Argonne." Raised wild in the depths of the Forest of Argonne, France, Mireilles finds her world rocked when war comes crashing into the idyllic home she has always known, taking much from her. When Matthew discovers Mireilles, three things are clear: She is alone in the world, she cannot stay, and he and his two unlikely companions might be the only ones who can get her to safety.

This was a beautiful and poignant story of WWI, from an area with which I was unfamilar: the forests of Argonne in NE France, near the Belgian border. There's the expected: trench warfare, snipers, gases; and some unexpected: aristocracy in hiding, a chaplain with no concept of faith, an angel in the wood. It has an almost fairy tale quality to it--Mira is like a princess hidden deep in the wood, though Matthew resembles more a lucky woodcutter's son than prince (which is as much or more a common trope in fairy tales anyway).  They fall in love as swiftly as in any fairy tale, but it works in this story.

As usual, the author's prose is beautiful. As there are five different points of view and all share the author's lyrical style, I did have trouble keeping track of perspective (granted, all I had to do was read the name at the chapter heading and remember it--it really shouldn't have been that hard). Chaplain George's voice was most distinguishable by his ironic irreverence. He was pretty funny, but absolutely not anyone I would entrust with spiritual lives. They were all interesting perspectives, but I wouldn't have minded if it had been limited to Mira and Matthew. Nonetheless, it's a lovely, sometimes heart-wrenching story.

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.

"A Portrait of Loyalty" by Roseanna M White - The Codebreakers, book 3

Zivon Marin was one of Russia's top cryptographers, until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee, he arrives in England to offer his services to the Brits. Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera--and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and recreating photographs. She's recruited to British intelligence, even though her mother would disapprove. After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily. When her photographs reveal that someone has been following Zivon, his loyalties are called into question--and his enemies are discovered to be far closer than he'd feared.

I really liked Lily; her part in the war effort is fascinating, especially since it is able to utilize her artistic gift to such great effect And she's just supremely likeable--willing to stand up when she needs to, yet respectful authority. She dearly, dearly loves her family and hates to be a source of controversy. I understand her dilemma, torn between two things that both seem right yet her parents are diametrically opposed over. 

Zivon was a marvelous hero--self-sacrificing, so kind, always paying attention. Though Zivon struggles with hate and unforgiveness, Father Smirnov's wisdom in how to deal with it was spot-on. It was lovely to see cameos of other characters throughout White's three related series. 

Having taken a course purely on the Russian Revolution in college, I loved its prominence in this novel--even if was from the perspective of an exile in Britain. Since I specifically researched feminism in the Revolution for our sole graded work, I was delighted? dismayed? to see the new ideals so accurately portrayed by Nadya.

Highly recommended! Winner of the 2021 Christy Award for Historical Romance.

The Codebreakers (third chronologically)
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

Relates series:

Ladies of the Manor (first chronologically)
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

Shadows Over England (second chronologically)
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

Codebreakers comes third chronologically.

"On Wings of Devotion" by Roseanna M White - The Codebreakers, book 2

All of England thinks Phillip Camden a monster--a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But as nurse Arabelle Denler watches the so-dubbed "Black Heart" every day, she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. When their paths twist together and he declares himself her new protector, she realizes she has her own role to play in his healing. Phillip Camden would have preferred to die that day with his squadron rather than be recruited to the Admiralty's codebreaking division. When an old acquaintance shows up and seems set on using him in a plot that has the codebreakers of Room 40 in a frenzy, he may just get his wish--now when he has finally found something worth living for.

I really liked both main characters. Ara surprised me in that she is willing to be so real with her emotions (that was a glorious punch to the nose!), yet the moment she reins in her hurt and temper, she has such grace and forgiveness for those who don't deserve it, and she's forever stepping out in faith with. And through every grouchy, bad-tempered action, Camden is just begging someone to believe in him, even when he doesn't believe in himself. A classic bad boy in need of saving, though he thinks there's no hope of it. And my favorite supporting character goes to Ara's father--he may have his faults, but he's a delightful eccentric that would fit in with any number of Disney single dads.

Then, of course, there's the thrilling setting--WWI London, when Germans were still sneaking across the Channel to bomb the city; spies abounding, cryptographers madly working in secret to spur on the allies and foil the Central Powers. I enjoyed the Mata Hari-esque spy, though with her own special talents and weakness.

Cameos from previous books abound, both from the Ladies of the Manor series and Shadows Over England series; nothing that would require one to have read them first, though--it stands well on its own (though they are all worth reading.).  Highly recommended!

The Codebreakers (third chronologically)
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

Relates series:

Ladies of the Manor (first chronologically)
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

Shadows Over England (second chronologically)
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

Codebreakers comes third chronologically

"The Number of Love" by Roseanna M White - The Codebreakers, book 1

Margot De Wilde thrives working in Room 40, deciphering encoded transmissions and intercepted messages, but an unexpected loss sends her reeling. Drake Elton, wounded in the course of duty, is sent home to recuperate, where he gets to know the highly intellectual yet emotionally-disconnected Margot. Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.

I loved learning about Room 40 and the WWI British codebreakers. Spying and cryptography are both fascinating, so it was exciting to discover both in the story--our hero being the spy, and heroine the cryptographer.

Margot wasn't the easiest heroine for me to connect with, but her vulnerabilities make her human and her wit likable. Having married into a family that loves taking things literally, I could appreciate her humor. Drake is all sweetness and charm, and he doesn't seem to take himself too seriously--he was easy to like. I think it would be very difficult for an ordinary man to love Margot in a way that speaks to her, so I was glad that Drake comes from a family with challenges; theirs aren't the same, but it's enough that he can figure out how to relate to someone as different as Margot.

I really liked Dot, her fears and all. Though fragile in big ways, she truly is a brave person in spite of it. I loved that her and Margot's friendship was such an important part of the story--it didn't feel secondary to the romance, as friendship so often ends up in books. It's just as important.

It was fun to have so many cameos from the author's previous two series, but I'm really excited to learn more about the belligerent Phillip Camden in the next book!

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.

The Codebreakers (third chronologically)
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

Relates series:

Ladies of the Manor (first chronologically)
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

Shadows Over England (second chronologically)
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

Codebreakers comes third chronologically

"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

"An Hour Unspent" by Roseanna M White

Eldest of the of the home-made family of thieves-turned-mostly straight, Barclay Pearce is tasked by the government to get the plans for a synchronized propeller from a local clockmaker. While he finds surprising friendship with the Manning, it's the man's independent daughter Evelina that really throws him. When Manning disappears after a row with his family, Evelina believes that he has abandoned them, but Barclay, knowing the man's secret project, has different suspicions. Can the thief find a man who can't be found, and steal a woman's heart in the process?

Barclay is such a dear, living up to every hope I had for him. I loved that he's trying to do things in such a way that he won't be ashamed to stand before God, even when it's his skills at theft that the government so desires. I especially loved that he is honest about his motives and intent when he meets with Evelina's father to discuss the propeller plans. It's refreshing to see an example of honesty as the best policy from the outset, even when it is his nature to con his way in rather than tell the straightforward truth.

Evelina was a little harder to understand, especially when she goes off the rails from Basil's unexpected gift. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't completely get her. In her dysfunctional household, I can see how independence would be so highly desired--and thus her involvement in the suffrage movement, though I appreciate that she has a heart for more than just for other suffragettes. On a historical note, I hadn't known about the disparity in the movement before, that many of the wealthier suffragettes only wanted the vote for the wealthy women--that they didn't want the lower classes included.

While I have really enjoyed this series on a family of thieves (and would love to read about more of the younger ones), now what I'd really like to read is a book on V--just those few, brief lines of his history were enough to win me over to what must be an incredible tale. May it someday be told in full!

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

Shadows Over England (second chronologically)
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

Related series:
Ladies of the Manor (first chronologically)
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

The Codebreakers (third chronologically)
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

"A Song Unheard" by Roseanna M White - a beautiful, redemptive story

When thief and prodigal violinist Willa Forsythe is offered a job in stealing a cipher from Lukas de Wilde, a Belgian violinist and son of a brilliant cryptologist, she doesn't hesitate to take the job. Lukas, however, is firm on protecting his father's cipher machine from either side of the war, and he's desperate to rescue his mother and sister, who vanished during the the German invasion of Belgium. Willa proves a surprising distraction, intriguing him as no other woman has between her hidden depths and brilliant abilities. But Willa cannot fall for her mark--not when the lives of her family hang in the balance. And Lukas is equally unwilling to give up his.

I've been loving this series about thieves who are slowly working their way into becoming spies for the British Home Office. It's the perfect blend of history, adventure, romance, and spiritual growth. It's fun learning more about WWI, in this case focusing on Belgium and the refugees who fled to Britain.

Lukas is obnoxious--but in a thoroughly charming way. I agree with Willa 100% as she ignores his flirtations at the beginning. But, as with Willa, it was easy to fall under his spell, especially since we're privy to his true thoughts, not just his actions--and he really is a lot sweeter and more genuine a person than he initially appears. Willa is pricklier yet than her sister Rosemary was, but it's easy to see the Lord working in her throughout the story, softening her until she's ready to accept him.

I loved the first book a smidgen more (there just was something incredibly special about Rosemary and Peter), but I thoroughly enjoyed this one as well, especially the music theme. I am greatly looking forward to Barclay's story, especially since we got to know him a little better in this book. I hope that the author has the opportunity to write further about the family!

Thank you Bethany House for a free book., I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Shadows Over England (second chronologically)
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

Related series:
Ladies of the Manor (first chronologically)
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

The Codebreakers (third chronologically)
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

"A Name Unknown" by Roseanna M. White - spectacular story on the eve of WWI

Rosemary Gresham, a thief with no family but a ragtag group of former street urchins, is hired to steal proof that a certain gentleman is loyal to Germany instead of Britain. Reclusive, stuttering Peter Holstein knows that war is coming, and anyone of German descent--especially him, with access to the king's ear--is suspect. Proof of his family's loyalty would go far to clearing his name, but his home is filled with three generations' worth of papers and books, and no one is willing to take on his chaotic, overflowing library. When Rosemary shows up at his door willing to take on the job, he's thankful to leave her to it and get back to his most closely-guarded secret--writing his next novel under the pseudonym Branok Hollow. But as anti-German sentiment rises and Rosemary digs into his past, will what she finds exonerate him--or condemn him?

There is a lot to love about this book, not the least of which is the unpredictability. With a professional thief for a heroine, it's really a toss-up what might happen. Rosemary ended up a lot more bold than I was expecting--not in a I-don't-need-anyone's-help kind of way (though she is remarkably self-sufficient, except for remembering to eat), but in a speak-her-mind-to-anyone and feel-perfectly-comfortable-plopping-down-in-the-local-pub-and-boldly-making-friends kind of way.

It had what I consider the best kind of romance--where two people overcome barriers first to become friends, and from there advance to a romance. Peter really is a sweetheart; Rosemary pegs him perfectly when she loses her temper defending him. I could understand being peeved at his one-track mind and habit of shutting out the entire world, though. He's a great sweetheart of a hero.

Having studied modern wars some, I enjoyed being able to keep up with the politics of this story as the powder keg that was Europe grows ever closer to exploding into war. It was fascinating to get a more personal view of the relational politics--how all the close familial relations between the major powers factored into it--and how the author makes the British royal family into real people, not just aloof state figureheads. I wouldn't call it particularly suspenseful, but it was a fascinating and spectacular book. I can't wait for the next one! Highly recommended!

Thank you Bethany House for providing a free book; I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Shadows Over England (second chronologically)
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

Related series:
Ladies of the Manor (first chronologically)
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

The Codebreakers (third chronologically)
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

Kate Breslin's "High as the Heavens" - WWI Espionage

British nurse Eve Marche, trapped in occupied Belgium, works in the hospital by day and for the Belgian resistance by night. En route to a clandestine meeting, she watches an Ally plane go down right in front of her and is shocked to discover she recognizes the downed pilot. Simon Forrester is taken to the hospital as a prisoner of war, where he could be shot as a spy at any time. Eve knows she has to get him out of Belgium, but time is running short, and there may be a double agent in their midst . . .

While there are many novels that take place during WWII, there are a lot fewer about WWI, so it was a pleasure to read about the Great War for a change, and in occupied Belgium, no less. There are definitely similarities between the wars, so it was nice that the author included hints of period detail, such as corsets (which went out of fashion not long after the war) to keep the reader grounded.

I love it when the author includes a historical note to let the reader know what was real, and it was gratifying to learn that both Eve and Simon's experiences were based off those of several historical figures. I can't imagine the terror of crossing borders, with the fences and trenches strung up all over, checkpoints on all the roads, and people always watching and spying. I appreciated that the author didn't paint all Allies as good and all Central Powers figures as bad, but that they were all human--with the choice to do good or bad, regardless of their side of the war. Eve may have been staunchly on the side of the Allies, but her desire to save every soldier that comes into her hospital is a fine example for others around her, painting all soldiers as people and not enemies.

I really liked the romance and thoroughly enjoyed the surprise of the first meeting. I can't imagine the pain that either Eve or Simon went through thinking the other one dead, not to mention the fear of not knowing what happened to family.

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

Related novels:
Not By Sight
Far Side of the Sea

"A Passion Most Pure" by Julie Lessman - passion, purity, jealousy, and redemption

Faith O'Connor has been in love with Collin McGuire since they were children, even though he is a cocky lady's man from the wrong side of the tracks--completely wrong for her. And then there's the fact he's secretly dating her sister Charity. Collin likes Charity--she's a woman he knows how to handle. But Faith just gets under his skin, between her temper and God-talk. As sister rivalry and Collin's place in the middle threatens to tear the family apart, another war looms on the horizon--the war with Germany that America can no longer keep out of. And once their men go to war, nothing will ever be the same.

The book is aptly titled; everything in it is full of passion: passionate kissing, passionate anger; passion within marriage, and undoubtedly passion for God. I get the impression the author really doesn't do things by halves . . . And within all that passion, there is also a striving for purity. For some characters, it takes longer to learn that lesson than others, and some have yet to learn it, but there is no doubt that purity is held to a very high degree of importance.

I read the story in light of the fact that it is a six-book family saga, and perhaps it influenced my impressions--knowing that the stories of the characters will be continued, and that even those we might initially despise are potentially redeemable, I didn't mind the more-than-usual number of points of view, or the fairly large cast of important characters. And it helped that--what with the grand length of the book--they had time to be properly developed, as I know they will continue to be as the series progress.

I did want to throw the book at some of the idiot choices people make (yeah, yeah, let he who is without sin cast the first stone . . . ), and sometimes I was incredibly glad that I don't have a sister (because after this, I'm thinking there is little worse than sister jealousy/rivalry--it's as bad as Leah and Rachel), but over all it was a riveting book, full of redemption. And I'm hoping that there is more redemption yet to come!

O'Connor Family Saga:

Prequel: A Light in the Window

Daughters of Boston
1. A Passion Most Pure
2. A Passion Redeemed
3. A Passion Denied

Winds of Change
1. A Hope Undaunted
2. A Heart Revealed
3. A Love Surrendered

"A Refuge at Highland Hall" by Carrie Turansky

In the final Edwardian Brides novel, Penny Ramsey has been helping her sister and her husband corral eight adopted orphans, but when the Great War reaches London, she, her sister, and the children take refuge at their old home, Highland Hall. Responsibility for the rambunctious orphans falls on Penny while her sister struggles with her pregnancy, but Penny has one consolation: letters from the dashing pilot Alex Goodwin. But fatalities are high among the pilots--will Alex return unscathed so their friendship has a chance to turn into something deeper?

Turansky does an excellent job putting history at the forefront of this novel. WWI generally receives significantly less attention than WWII, so it's interesting to learn about the differences between the two wars. I especially enjoyed learning about beginnings of air warfare.

I really liked the inclusion of the German internment camp. One often hears of the internment camps in Germany during the World Wars, but the reality is that other nations had them too--including the US and Great Britain. And it wasn't for just POWs; immigrants and citizens of German descent were rounded up and imprisoned unfairly, and they were often not treated well. I appreciate Turansky's diligence to bring this less noble side of the war to the light, juxtaposed against the bravery and heroism of the troops.

The chaos caused by all the children made for some fun and realistic conflict, and it was nice to follow up on Julia and Kate, heroines of the previous novels. However, I didn't think that Alex's issues with his family were completely resolved; I didn't notice an explanation as to the missing letters between him and them, and there didn't seem to be a definitive reconciliation between him and his mother. Was the stepfather to blame for the continued rift? Was it all just his mother's way of getting away from the past? I would have liked more of an explanation there.

Thank you Blogging for Books for providing a free book to review. I was not required to make the review positive, and all opinions are my own.

Edwardian Brides
1. The Governess of Highland Hall
2. The Daughter of Highland Hall
3. A Refuge at Highland Hall

Extras:

• More Info
• Author Bio

Kate Breslin's "Not by Sight" - an intriguing novel of intrigue

In the midst of WWI, Grace Mabry, a patriotic British suffragette, infiltrates a society ball to distribute white feathers of cowardice to high ranking able-bodied men who had thus far avoided battle, little realizing how handing out one feather will change her life--and the life of an MI5 agent--forever . . .

While I've read a lot of books about WWII, I've read very few about WWI, thus this novel proved illuminating for me. With a focus on spies--with Mata Hari as a prime example--and British agriculture programs, there was a lot to discover! And a couple things struck me as odd, as though brought forward from the past: I had thought invisible inks had gone to the wayside by 1800 (turns out they made a comeback in WWI), and the Splatter Mask mentioned in the story looks like something out of medieval times.

I ended up really liking the band of women comprising the Women's Forage Corps. Each woman has her faults, but each one also proves more than what she initially seems. And while they certainly have their conflicts among themselves, they become a solid support group for each other, standing together when it counts, like true friends should.

The book is aptly named; not only in reference to physical blindness, but also to faith. Symbolism plays a large role in the story--the masks, the costume choices, sight--making for a mature read. It's not just a bit of romantic fluff; it's a story that makes you think.

I really enjoyed this Beauty and the Beast-like tale. Not only are there parallels with the fairy tale, but also allusions to Greek mythology and Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, making it a literary delight, as well as a satisfying romance and historical read. 5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you Bethany House for providing a free book in exchange for a review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.

Related novels:
Far Side of the Sea
High as the Heavens

"Wings of a Dream" by Anne Mateer - tugs the heartstrings

"Is that what God wanted of me? Just to trust that He'd hold me up, take me where He wanted me to go?"

In Anne Mateer's debut novel, Wings of a Dream, Rebekah Hendricks is sure of what she wants: to marry airman Arthur Samson and live a life of adventure. When word comes that her aunt in Texas is ill, she takes it as a sign that God has blessed the union, bringing her within reach of the air force base. However, God's plans are different from Bekah's: it turns out her aunt has been the guardian of four children whose mother recently passed and whose father is fighting in France. And her aunt isn't just sick - she is one of the victims of the Spanish Flu pandemic. Suddenly Bekah is thrust into a position of responsibility she never expected, forced to care for the children until their father comes home - if he survives the War to End All Wars.

Every great once in a while, I read a book that speaks so clearly into my life, it was like it was written for me for just this time. This is one of those books. While I am not dealing with death or suitors or taking care of someone else's kids, I can relate to Bekah's uncertainty with the future - having plans and dreams and wondering why some things happen, yet others, no matter how strongly desired and prayed for, do not. I can certainly relate to Bekah's "What, Lord? What do you want me to do? Silence, as usual." If God would just tell me what to do, I'd do it; but instead it feels like I'm fumbling around without clear direction.

One thing that really spoke to me was Bekah's struggle with the why: why the bad things happen, why none of her plans work. She knows in her head that God will work it for good, yet she feels lost anyway. Though a simple statement, she reaches the profound conclusion that, "Perhaps understanding didn't matter as much as I imagined. Perhaps that was the true definition of faith." Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see; faith is not needing to know why or how things will happen.

As to the story itself, Bekah, though a trifle immature to start with, is no Scarlet O'Hara; she matures with responsibility, and even when she makes foolish decisions, she is a sympathetic character, easy to relate to, and never obnoxious. While yes, there is some romance, it isn't really the main focus of the story - Bekah's journey with God is. I especially liked, since it is told entirely in first person, that Bekah's choice of her suitors is not obvious at the beginning. Rather than a "how will these two end up together" kind of story, it is a "who will she end up with" story. It took until well over halfway before I could be sure.

Between the realities of death of loved ones and life with children, this is an emotional story that could tug at the hardest of heartstrings - though not without heartache, it is an uplifting tale. It begs us to question what are our plans versus our dreams, and to trust God when things go wrong or the way is not clear. Highly recommended! 5 out of 5 stars!

Anne Mateer's "Playing by Heart" - an inspiring tale of the American Homefront in WWI

Set on the Homefront of World War One, Anne Mateer's novel captures the changing times in a fascinating story.  Putting her old reputation of flightiness behind her, Lula Bowman is on track for a PhD in mathematics, with the help of a prestigious scholarship and a job teaching college math.  However, a tragedy calls her back to her hometown to help her sister, and she is trapped into staying the rest of the school year with no other recourse but to accept jobs as a music teacher, girls' basketball coach, and church pianist - a far fall for an academic scholar.  The boys' basketball coach, Chet Vaughn, finds himself for the first time not running away from a single, young female, but the proud woman is hard to reach, in spite of her desperate need for his help in coaching basketball.  One of the few single young men remaining in the town, Chet's obligations have kept him from enlisting and fighting in the Great War, and he wonders if God doesn't have a bigger plan for him here than he expected.  The question is, is Lula part of that plan, or will she return to college like she wants when the school year is up?

Written in an uncommon style, the story is told entirely in first person, but the viewpoint trades back and forth between Lula and Chet.  I was surprised when the viewpoint switched over in the second chapter, though not confused since the change is denoted in the chapter headings.  I like how the style makes the characters' feelings more personal, and it offers a pleasant change from the more traditional points of view. 

Family dynamics and family dysfunction, grief and loss, healing, chasing dreams - all play a role in this deep novel, molding together in a rich story without overwhelming the reader.  Neither Lula nor Chet is perfect, and like in real life, their lives are hardly ideal.  An afterthought in a large family, Lula feels she will never grow up in the eyes of her older siblings, and by their standards she can never do anything right.  Chet's father died in scandal years ago, and his mother has long favored his brother over him.  Both Lula and Chet have chosen an unconventional path, and in that similarity they form a connection. 

Lula has fallen into the trap of seeking the approval of man - her only remaining parent - over God, inadvertently building a house on sand instead of the solid rock.  New dreams, designed to capture her father's heart and approval, shoved aside the old dreams that her mother had encouraged.  Now back in her hometown, Lula is forced to confront what she left behind years ago and, more importantly, to face that the foundation she built is crumbling. 

With such a wealth of inspiration in this story, it was hard to choose just a few topics to write about.  It was fun to discover that this story has a basis in the author's family history - that a grandmother really did get stuck coaching basketball with almost no knowledge of the game.  This is the first book that I have read by Anne Mateer, and I am impressed by her solid work.  5 out of 5 stars!

The subject of my work wasn't as important as the act of doing it well. Giving it my all. Seeing it through to the end. (Playing by Heart, pg. 252)

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free e-copy for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.