Monday, July 19, 2021

Book Review with Featured Author: When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake

When a Duke Loves a Governess 

by Olivia Drake

 

 


Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, July 27, 2021


Setting:  Regency England


Genre: Historical Romance


Length: 318 Pages


Heat Level: 1 Flame


Rating:  Gold Crowns


Book Description: 


A stunning new Regency from beloved author Olivia Drake, When a Duke Loves a Governess...!

Tessa James has worked and planned tirelessly to open her own millinery shop. All she needs now is a loan from the lord who sired and abandoned her. The only problem is, she doesn’t even know his name. What’s a woman to do to find him but enter the aristocratic world by becoming a governess?

Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin, has returned to London after years abroad to discover that his young daughter Sophy has become a wild-child known for scaring away every governess who's crossed his doorstep. When Tessa James applies for the job, he hires her in desperation despite his misgivings that she’s too bold and beautiful–and that she might be fibbing about her qualifications.

Their blooming attraction leads them on a completely unexpected path to love that neither wants to deny. But when an old enemy threatens Guy's family, their forbidden romance goes up in flames. Can they still learn to love and trust each other as forces try to tear them apart?

 

Buy Links:


Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/When-Duke-Loves-Governess-Duchesses-ebook/dp/B08HKXFK8B

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-a-duke-loves-a-governess-olivia-drake/1136846551

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/when-a-duke-loves-a-governess

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Olivia_Drake_When_a_Duke_Loves_a_Governess?id=xHb7DwAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=when+a+duke+loves+a+governess&ref=a_pd_The-Co_t1_header_search

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55528862-when-a-duke-loves-a-governess

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-a-duke-loves-a-governess-by-olivia-drake

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this delightful Regency romance. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

When a Duke Loves a Governess is a well-written novel with a touch of mystery as the heroine sets out to discover who was her biological father. When her mother died, she gave Tessa a locket with a coat of arms on it. That’s her only clue, along with the last words her mother uttered, she has. The pacing pulled me in from the beginning and kept me engaged until the end. 

 

Tessa James is our endearing heroine. While life has not been easy for her since she lost her mother at the age of six, she’s determined to succeed in her endeavor to open her own hat shop. All she needs a loan from whoever fathered her. It’s the least he could do. I admired Tessa’s independent spirit a great deal, and her kindness with the hero’s troubled four year old daughter.

 

Guy Whitby, the Duke of Carlin is the male lead, and he has all the traits I most admire in a Regency hero. His love for his mischievous daughter touched my heart. When he realizes he’s attracted to Tessa, he fights it, since his honor would not allow him to act on it. Of course, when Tessa takes matters in hand, his will didn’t stand a chance against his powerful attraction.

 

The romance is charming, and Ms. Drake is excellent at building sexual tension, an aspect of historical romance I love. Her love scenes are beautifully written focusing on the emotions instead of the physical action, which is my preference. It was easy for me to believe and accept that Tessa and Guy are a perfect match, and I wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

As I mentioned, there is a touch of mystery in this tale, and it added a great deal to my enjoyment, keeping my attention throughout their love story. There is also some suspense to add to my pleasure as well.

 

If you enjoy historical romance with engaging characters and a plot with more substance than the average Regency novel, then you will love When a Duke Loves a Governess as much as I did. It’s been a while since I read a book by Ms. Drake, but I quickly remembered why I have always enjoyed her novels. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:



Shortly after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism, Olivia Drake sold her first novel two weeks after sending it to a publisher. She now lives in Texas in a cozy cottage with a feisty cat, a loving husband, and two wonderful daughters who still come back whenever they want a home-cooked meal.

Many of you already know Olivia as Barbara Dawson Smith, author of 24 historical romance novels. She is a New York Times bestseller and winner of numerous honors, including the Golden Heart Award and the coveted Rita Award for excellence in the historical romance genre.


Social Media:

Website: https://oliviadrake.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviadrake1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/olivia-drake

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3052165.Olivia_Drake

 

Monday, July 12, 2021

Book Review with Featured Author: The Mothers of Victory Street by Pam Howes

The Mothers of Victory Street 

by Pam Howes

 


Publisher & Release: Bookouture, July 23, 2021


Setting:  Aftermath of WWII, England


Genre: Historical Fiction


Length: 203 Pages


Rating: 5 Gold Crowns


Book Description: 


1946, LiverpoolBella Harrison cannot believe the devastating war that stole the lives of her father and sister is truly over at last. She wonders how they will ever rebuild Victory Street with the city in ruins, and half their neighbours gone. But for now, she and her childhood sweetheart Bobby are happy newlyweds, doting on Bella’s little son, her child with black American pilot, Earl Franklin Junior.

With the other members of Bella’s wartime singing trio, The Bryant Sisters, busy starting families of their own, Bella focuses on recording and writing songs with her husband. Everything seems to be falling into place until they get a surprising letter: Earl is moving to England and wants to see them.

Earl arrives and is delighted to see that his son is well and happy. He joins them as a singer and together, they start recording songs. But one night as Earl leaves the recording studio, a racist gang brutally attacks him and sets the place alight, leaving Bobby trapped inside. Meanwhile, Bella is at home, waiting to tell Bobby a devastating secret…

With peace in Liverpool at last, Bella had hoped for a brighter future. But as she faces her life being ripped apart once again, can she rediscover the strength that carried her through the war?

A totally unputdownable, heart-wrenching historical novel, packed with family secrets, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.

 

 

Buy Link:


Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Mothers-Victory-Street-absolutely-heartbreaking-ebook/dp/B093HJ9J95

 

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

 

Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57975845-the-mothers-of-victory-street?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=6DBRIihvi1&rank=1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-mothers-of-victory-street-an-absolutely-heartbreaking-historical-family-saga-the-bryant-sisters-book-3-by-pam-howes

 

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thank go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Mothers of Victory Street by Pam Howes. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Mothers of Victory Street is a well written novel with amazing characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing pulled me in from the beginning and kept me riveted until the end. Ms. Howes kept me on the edge of my seat worried about what might happen next.

 

Bella Harrison has married her childhood sweetheart, Bobby, and together, they’re raising her little son, Levi. She is still close to Fran and Edie as the Bryant Sisters move beyond the war now that it’s ended. Fran’s dreams of a happy life with Frankie had not gone as she expected, and she leaves him and files for divorce. Edie and Stevie are happy awaiting the birth of their first child.

 

Bobby’s mum even finds love with Basil. Then divorced Earl Franklin Jr., his daughter and his sister Ruby move to England. This created anxiety for Bella and Bobby, but it goes much better than they had feared, and Earl joins them in their musical endeavors.

 

Just when they believe life is going well, things take a terrible turn. There is such a foreshadowing of what might happen, I held my breath, praying everyone would survive. It takes great talent for an author to keep the tension going without it becoming frustrating!

 

If you enjoy historical fiction with wonderful characters, and a plot that will pull at your heartstrings, then you will love The Mothers of the Victory Street as much as I did. Ms. Howes is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 


Pam Howes was born in Cheshire. She is an ex-Interior Designer who began writing seriously in the mid-nineties. The idea for her first novel, set in the sixties, was inspired by her time as a teenager, working in a local record store and hanging around with musicians who frequented the business. 

 

That first novel evolved into a series set in the fictional town of Pickford, based on her hometown of Stockport. Three Steps to Heaven; 'Til I Kissed You; Always On My Mind; Not Fade Away, and That'll Be The Day, follow the lives and loves through the decades of fictional Rock'n'Roll band The Raiders. Pam is a big fan of sixties music and it's this love that compelled her to write the series. 

 

A stand-alone true-life romance, Fast Movin' Train, set in the nineties, was published in early 2012. Pam is mum to three adult daughters, grandma to seven assorted grandchildren, and roadie to one musician partner.

 

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pam.howes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamHowes1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pam-howes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4097443.Pam_Howes

 

 

Friday, July 9, 2021

Book Review with Featured Author: The Truth of the Matter by Leigh Fleming

The Truth of the Matter by Leigh Fleming

 

 


Publisher & Release: Envisage Press, LLC, June 5, 2021


Setting:  1877, Philadelphia


Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction


Length: 372 Pages


Heat Level: 1 Flame


Rating: 5 Gold Crowns


Book Description: 


On a cold night in 1877, Laurel Whitman’s father flies into a rage and throws her into the street. His behavior isn’t unusual; he has ridiculed her for years, and Laurel doesn’t understand why. All she knows is that his vitriol has something to do with her grandmother, a woman shrouded in mystery. 

 

Laurel goes on a harrowing journey from her home in Philadelphia to Maryland only to discover that her grandmother is on death’s door. She is welcomed with open arms by her extended family but receives a chilly reception from her grandmother who seems suspicious of Laurel’s arrival.

 

Over the next few weeks, her grandmother recovers and her distrust begins to thaw as she tells Laurel stories of her abusive first husband, the young immigrant whom she came to love, and the birth of her two illegitimate children. Laurel learns the secrets of her family’s fractured past, a story of resilience, deception, and forbidden passion that forces Laurel to confront the truths in her own heart. But will unearthing long-buried secrets heal the rift between Laurel and her father, or will the past haunt the present and the future forever?

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Truth-Matter-Leigh-Fleming-ebook/dp/B08YRYFHRP

 

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57434188-the-truth-of-the-matter

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-truth-of-the-matter-by-leigh-fleming

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks goes to Leigh Fleming for bringing her book, The Truth of the Matter, to my attention. I borrowed it through the Kindle Unlimited program. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Truth of the Matter is a well written novel with engaging characters and an intriguing plot. There are several suspenseful scenes that had me flipping the pages on my Kindle as quickly as possible, breathlessly wanting to know what would happen next. It’s clear Ms. Fleming did a lot of research on this period of the world, which added greatly to my enjoyment. 

 

Laurel Whitman is the heroine, and she’s a strong independent woman who hasn’t let her abusive father break her spirit. I quickly became vested in her character, and I admired the steel in her backbone. Now her stubborn side leads her into a horrifying situation that could have left her a broken woman, but fortunately, she manages to escape with the help of her friend.

 

Cillian O’Brien is the hero, and I loved his character, He refuses to give up on Laurel, even though she is so determined to find her grandmother on her own and thank goodness he does, or Laurel would have been hurt badly. I admired his steadfastness and devotion to her.

 

This is a family saga with complex relationships and some of them caused a great deal of pain. The grandmother’s choices had a huge impact on her son, Laurel’s father, which explains why he was so hard on Laurel. 

 

I was glad Laurel learned her grandmother’s secret because she would have always been baffled by her father. This book shows that there are always two sides to every story, and that’s it’s important to dig beneath the surface.

 

While there is a love story, it isn’t the central theme of the plot, but I did want to see Cillian get the girl. I loved his style and loyalty to Laurel, and even though, her father is terrifying, he did not back down. That earned him a special place in my heart.

 

If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong female protagonist and compelling secondary characters, then you will love The Truth of the Matter as much as I did. While this is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Fleming, it will not be the last. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 


Leigh Fleming is an award-winning author of romantic suspense and has published contemporary romance. The Truth of the Matter is her first work of historical women's fiction. 

Leigh lives in West Virginia with her husband and her deaf French bulldog. When not writing, she enjoys reading, travelling, scrapbooking, and spending time with friends.

 



Social Media:

Website: https://leighfleming.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighhflemingauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leighhfleming1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lhfauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cottagelady/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/leigh-fleming

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7696506.Leigh_Fleming

 

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Book Review with Featured Author: The Girls from the Beach by Andie Newton

The Girls from the Beach by Andie Newton

 

 


Publisher & Release: Aria, July 8, 2021


Setting:  WWII, Germany & France


Genre: Historical Fiction


Length: 261 Pages


Rating: 5 Gold Crowns


Book Description: 


In 1944, four American nurses disappeared for five days. No one knew what happened to them. Until now. 

 

When Kit and Red set foot on French soil during the Normandy landings, they know they have to rely on each other. As they head for the battlefield, their aim is simple: save lives. But when they're called away on a top-secret mission to patch up a few men behind enemy lines, everything changes.

Alongside fellow nurses, Roxy, and Gail, they're told to prepare for the worst, trading in their nurses' fatigues for civilian clothes and hiding medical supplies under their skirts. But it's a lie. Their real mission tasks them with the impossible – to infiltrate the Reich and steal something the Nazis desperately need to win their losing war.

In an ultimate test of courage and comradeship, each woman must decide what she is prepared to risk and what she has to live for.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Girls-Beach-emotional-historical-bestselling-ebook/dp/B08QBYD575

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girls-from-the-beach-andie-newton/1139345967

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-girls-from-the-beach

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Andie_Newton_The_Girls_from_the_Beach?id=oTAOEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56797882-the-girls-from-the-beach

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-girls-from-the-beach-by-andie-newton

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Girls from the Beach by Andie Newton. I voluntarily agreed to read and review by release day. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Girls from the Beach is a riveting historical fiction novel set during WWII and follows four American nurses who are given a top-secret mission. Ms. Newton’s vivid descriptive writing had me glued to my Kindle, breathlessly waiting to see if they would survive. There’s no doubt that Ms. Newton is a true historian because she manages to make the history in this novel exciting!

 

Kit and Red are a team, and both show immense courage and determination. They literally put their lives on the line on numerous occasions as they make their way into enemy territory. It’s easy to understand the close bound they share.

 

Roxie and Gail are the other duo, and they too show amazing courage and will do what they must to not only survive but complete their mission. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship that develops between them. What a horrifying ordeal they go through! I adored the amazing ending.

 

If you enjoy tale with strong female protagonist and a nail-biting plot, then you will love The Girls from the Beach as much as I did. While this is the first book, I’ve read by Ms. Newton, it will not be the last. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 


Andie Newton is the USA Today bestselling author of The Girl from Vichy.

All her books are fast-paced female-driven spy stories set in WWII. The Girl I Left Behind was her debut, and her forthcoming release, The Girls from the Beach, will be released in July 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s in teaching. Andie lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, her two boys, and one very lazy cat.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://andienewton.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newtonauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndieNewton

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andienewtonauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/andie-newton

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19387576.Andie_Newton

 

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Book Review with Featured Author: The Girl from Venice by Siobhan Daiko

The Girl from Venice by Siobhan Daiko

 


Publisher & Release: BooksGoSocial, June 29, 2021


Setting:  WWII, Italy


Genre: Historical Fiction


Length: 223 Pages


Rating: 5 Gold Crowns


Book Description: 


From Siobhan Daiko, international bestselling author of The Orchid Tree, comes an epic new novel of love, betrayal, and finding where you truly belong. Set in Italy during World War II and the present day.

Perfect for readers of Dinah Jefferies, Kate Furnivall and Rhys Bowen.

Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini's laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice in 1943, she must flee the city to save her life.

Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh German reprisals and Lidia’s own ardent patriotic activities threaten to tear them apart.

Decades later in London, while sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.

Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her life in Italy before and during the war, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots, There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also some surprising truths about herself.

 

Buy Link:


Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Girl-Venice-heart-breaking-page-turner-actual-ebook/dp/B093SRRM5D

 

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58013905-the-girl-from-venice

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-girl-from-venice-a-heart-breaking-page-turner-based-on-actual-events-in-italy-during-word-war-ii-by-siobhan-daiko

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the author and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Girl from Venice by Siobhan Daiko. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this outstanding novel prior to publication. Sorry I missed that date, but life happens. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Girl from Venice is a well written novel set during WWII and Germany’s occupation of Venice and in current times in 2010. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept me enthralled to the last. I enjoyed reading about this period of Italy’s history, and it’s clear Ms. Daiko did a tremendous amount of research.

 

Lidia De Angelis is the central character, and I enjoyed the steel in her backbone that helps her survive against all odds. Her determination to fight with the resistance is admirable, and her softer side comes through when she saves two young boys. What she suffered at the hands of the brown shirts is horrific, but she does not let it destroy her.

 

Charlotte is another primary character. She is Lidia’s granddaughter and is fascinated when she finds a Jewish prayer book and unopened letters, along with a photo of her grandmother and her friends, while going through Lidia’s belongings after her death. She’s as fiercely determined as her grandmother and sets out on a journey of discovery when she travels to Venice to learn why Lidia never talked of her experiences during WWII and her life in Venice.

 

While this is not a romance, it does have two emotional love stories interwoven through the plot, and I enjoyed both. Ms. Daiko’s writing is vivid and detailed. I could feel Lidia’s pain and anguish throughout her part of the story. I also enjoyed Charlotte’s character growth.

 

It you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII and like learning of another part of the devastation caused by Natzi Germany and Mussolini’s Fascist regime, then you will love The Girl from Venice as much as I did. I highly recommend this amazing novel. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 


Born in Hong Kong, Siobhan Daiko is a British author and lover of all things Italian, She lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese puppy and two rescue cats. When not writing or researching historical fiction, Siobhan spends her time travelling around Europe whenever possible and enjoying the local food and wine. 

 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://siobhandaiko.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsolandoBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/siobhandaiko

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siobhandaiko_asolandobooks/?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.it/SiobhanDaiko/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/siobhan-daiko

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091256.Siobhan_Daiko

 

Monday, July 5, 2021

Book Review with Featured Author: Love's Dwelling by Kelly Irvin

Loves Dwelling by Kelly Irwin



 

Publisher & Release: Zondervan, July 6, 2021


Setting:  Amish Country, Kansas


Genre: Amish Fiction


Length: 292 Pages


Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart


Rating: 5 Gold Crowns


Book Description: 


God always had a plan. But how could falling in love with an Englischer be God’s plan for one young Amish woman? 

Young Cassie Weaver only wants what is expected of an Amish woman: a good Amish husband and a large family. But she’s happy as Job and Dinah Keim’s housekeeper, helping Dinah, who is losing her sight due to diabetes. For two decades the Keims have prayed for the salvation of their two children who left the community in a cloud of shame and mystery. 

Mason knew there was more to his mother’s past than she let on, but nothing could have prepared him for learning about his Amish roots upon his mother’s sudden death. Even more surprising, his mother named her Amish parents, Job and Dinah, as guardians to her five children. Now Mason has to trust that this couple, and their pretty housekeeper, can take care of his younger siblings, even when all he wants is to take care of them himself. 

As the children adjust to this new lifestyle, Mason finds himself pulled back to the Keims’ home. Yes, he wants to see his siblings, but it’s the conversations with Cassie that keep him coming back for more. Is there more to this Amish faith and how does it play into his own past? Cassie guards against her growing feelings for Mason, because there can be no happy ending for a Plain girl in love with an Englisch man . . . right? 

Bestselling and award-winning Amish romance novelist Kelly Irvin is back with a heartwarming tale of the power of love to heal all wounds. 

 

Buy Links:


Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Loves-Dwelling-Amish-Blessings-Book-ebook/dp/B08NHXWT53

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loves-dwelling-kelly-irvin/1138270147

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-s-dwelling

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kelly_Irvin_Love_s_Dwelling?id=4_YIEAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Loves-Dwelling-Audiobook/0310364515?qid=1625531590&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=1MYXSNXZRW5Z7Z4S5873

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55918379-love-s-dwelling?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=6xZj3pXVt6&rank=1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/love-s-dwelling-by-kelly-irvin

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Love’s Dwelling by Kelly Irwin. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Love’s Dwelling is a well written Amish novel with endearing characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept me enmeshed until the very last page.

 

Cassie Weaver is the heroine, and her character has all the traits I look for in an Amish female protagonist. While she wants a family and a husband, she’s happy helping Dinah and Job as their housekeeper since Dinah is losing her sight. When they become the guardians to their five grandchildren, she’s more than happy to help her employers. Her immediate acceptance and love for the children in her care touched my heart.

 

Mason is the hero, and he is shocked when he learns his mother wants her parents to raise his half brothers and sisters. He didn’t even know his mother’s parents, or that his late mother was raised Amish. His reaction is what one would expect when facing such unusual circumstances. This has him questioning everything about his life. 

 

Because he wants to be in his sibling’s life, he finds employment and moves to be near them. As he gets to know his grandparents and the young woman helping them, his feelings for Cassie grow. 

 

I enjoyed the sweet romance between Mason and Cassie. It grows from their friendship and their mutual love for his adorable siblings. I truly wanted this couple to find their happy ending, but there are many things that must fall into place for it to happen.

 

If you enjoy Amish fiction with plenty of heart that has a lovely message of faith, and a plot that will bring tears to your eyes on more than one occasion, then you will love Love’s Dwelling as much as I did. This is the first book in Ms. Irwin’s newest series, and I can’t wait to read the next one. Happy reading!

 


Author Bio:



Kelly Irvin is the author of more than twenty-five Amish romance novels. She is currently working on her latest series, Amish Blessings, set in the Kansas Amish communities of Yoder and Haven.

She is the author of the Amish of Big Sky Country series, which focused on three Amish communities in northwestern Montana affected by devastating wildfires. These included Mountains of Grace, The Long Bridge Home, and Peace in the Valley.

She has also penned six critically acclaimed romantic suspense novels. Publishers Weekly said of Tell Her No Lies: “the action builds to a stunning conclusion. No one is above suspicion in a tale sure to appeal to readers beyond its main Christian audience.”

The first book in the Every Amish Season series, Upon a Spring Breeze, won the 2018 Readers Choice Award from the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of Romance Writers of America in the long contemporary romance category.

She is also the author of the Amish of Bee County series that includes The Saddle Maker’s Son, The Bishop’s Son and The Beekeeper’s Son. This last novel received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, calling it “a delicately woven masterpiece.” The Beekeeper’s Son was a finalist in the national 2016 ACFW Carol Awards Contest in the romance category. Kelly is also the author of the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Hope Amish series, both from Harvest House.

Among her other works are novellas in seven anthologies with other best-selling Amish romance authors.

Kelly’s novel, Love Redeemed, was a 2015 finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Carol Awards contest.

The Kansas native is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She has been writing nonfiction professionally for more than thirty years, including ten years as a newspaper reporter. She retired in 2016 after working 22 years in public relations for the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. She is a member of ACFW and Alamo City Christian Fiction Writers. In her spare time, she blogs, reads fiction, and loves her family.

 

 

Social Media:

Website: http://www.kellyirvin.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kelly.Irvin.Author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kelly_S_Irvin

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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/irvin0739/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kelly-irvin

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3331118.Kelly_Irvin