The Artful Match by Jennifer Delamere

The Artful Match by Jennifer Delamere ISBN-13: 9780764219221 Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: April 2, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Cara Bernay has never fit in. At loose ends in 1881 London after a near tragedy costs her a job, she befriends a carefree artist. With his help, she begins planning a new life and developing her own artistic talent. But soon Cara finds herself interested in the artist's brother--a handsome but overly serious earl bent on forcing his brother back to a "respectable" life.

Henry Burke, the Earl of Morestowe, feels the weight of growing financial burdens. His younger brother is only adding to the burden with his spendthrift ways, and Henry needs him back home. Despite misgivings about Cara's mysterious background, Henry sees she's a positive influence on his brother and on Henry's young ward, and he strikes a deal with her to return with them to their estate. But the family has their own secrets which threatened to break the family apart.


My Review:
The Artful Match is a Christian romance set in 1881 in England. This novel is the 3rd in the series, and it wrapped up the ongoing story of the three sisters, though the focus was mainly on Cara. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one.

The main characters were likable. Cara was very kind and patient with children, but due to a mistake that endangered a child, she swore to never be solely responsible for one again. She decided to learn painting as a profession but ended up also working with a difficult child. Henry wanted to do what's right for his family and difficult ward but resented his brother's irresponsible actions adding to his burden. While initially cautious about his brother's friend, Cara, he's soon drawn in by her kindness and joy. They make a good match and bring out the best in each other.

Historical details were woven into the story to give it a distinct sense of time and place. During her years in an orphanage run by Mueller, Cara learned to pray to God for help and trust that he would provide. She prayed to God with faith during this story, and she also was grateful to God for his provision. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Death of a New American by Mariah Fredericks

Death of a New American by Mariah Fredericks ISBN-13: 9781250152992 Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Minotaur Books Released: April 9, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In 1912, as New York reels from the news of the Titanic disaster, ladies’ maid Jane Prescott travels to Long Island with the Benchley family. Their daughter Louise is to marry William Tyler, at their uncle and aunt’s mansion and Charles Tyler is known for putting down New York’s notorious Italian mafia, the Black Hand.

As the family plans Louise’s upcoming wedding, Jane quickly befriends the Tyler children’s nanny, Sofia—a young Italian-American woman. However, one night, Jane is woken and investigates crying from the nursery. She finds Sofia murdered, and the carefully locked window flung open.

The Tylers believe that this is an attempted kidnapping of their baby gone wrong—a warning from the criminal underworld to Charles Tyler. But Jane is asked to help with the investigation by her friend journalist Michael Behan, who knows that she is uniquely placed to see what other tensions may simmer just below the surface in this wealthy, secretive household.


My Review:
Death of a New American is a mystery set in 1912 in New York. The story was rather sad as the person who was murdered was a likable character and the murder destroyed more than one life without benefiting anyone. There was a lot of historical detail about what was in the news at the time, from the sinking of the Titanic to a major women's suffrage march. While interesting, most of it was not directly related to the mystery. The characters were engaging, interesting, and acted realistically.

Jane was asked to discreetly investigate a murder, but this time her unique knowledge as a servant was not used to solve the mystery. She just asked questions. When Jane discovered pertinent clues, she followed up on them but we're not even told what the clue was until later. The mystery was not very complicated, so it would have been fairly easily to solve if we knew the hidden clues as Jane learned them. Though this was not a puzzle mystery, I still had two main suspects, and I was correct that one of them was a murderer.

There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Romanov Empress by C.W. Gortner

The Romanov Empress by C.W. Gortner ISBN-13: 9780425286166 Hardcover: 431 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books Released: July 10, 2018

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Narrated by the mother of Russia's last tsar, this vivid, historically authentic novel brings to life the courageous story of Maria Feodorovna, one of Imperial Russia's most compelling women who witnessed the splendor and tragic downfall of the Romanovs as she fought to save her dynasty in the final years of its long reign.

Barely nineteen, Minnie knows that her station in life as a Danish princess is to leave her family and enter into a royal marriage--as her older sister Alix has done, moving to England to wed Queen Victoria's eldest son. The winds of fortune bring Minnie to Russia, where she marries the Romanov heir and becomes empress once he ascends the throne. When resistance to his reign strikes at the heart of her family and the tsar sets out to crush all who oppose him.

Her husband's death leaves their son Nicholas as the inexperienced ruler of a deeply divided and crumbling empire. Determined to guide him to reforms that will bring Russia into the modern age, Maria faces implacable opposition from Nicholas's strong-willed wife, Alexandra, whose fervor has lead her into a disturbing relationship with a mystic named Rasputin. As the unstoppable wave of revolution rises anew to engulf Russia, Maria will face her most dangerous challenge and her greatest heartache.

From the opulent palaces of St. Petersburg and the intrigue-laced salons of the aristocracy to the World War I battlefields and the bloodied countryside occupied by the Bolsheviks, C. W. Gortner sweeps us into the anarchic fall of an empire.


My Review:
The Romanov Empress is about Empress Maria's life. It begins when she was a teenager and her father was chosen to be heir to the Denmark throne (1862) and ends after she flees Russia (1918). The story is consistent with non-fiction sources about what happened and uses things like diaries and personal letters for information. This information was woven together to make an interesting, enjoyable story. The author managed to show Maria's view of things while still allowing the readers to see where she's hypocritical or in the wrong. Still, she was a remarkable woman who endured the loss of many loved ones. It's also an interesting way to learn about the times and the Russian court.

There were only a few uses of bad language. There were brief references to her husband's "manhood" right before an off-screen sex scene. Overall, I'd highly recommend this fascinating story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Verity by Lisa T. Bergren

Verity by Lisa T. Bergren ISBN-13: 9780764230257 Paperback: 373 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: April 2, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
After leaving England behind for a new life in the West Indies with her sisters, Verity Banning wants something to call her own. Her affinity for animals inspires her to set up a business importing horses, as well as other goods in demand by the island residents. But when she arrives in the Colonies to purchase her goods, unexpected news of Captain Duncan McKintrick awaits her--as does the captain's handsome brother, Ian--whose sympathies lie with the fledgling Patriot cause.

As the great-granddaughter of a British general and friend to many Loyalists, Verity believed all she wanted was a peaceful resolution. But both the Patriots and the impassioned Ian McKintrick are steadily laying claim to her heart. When faced with the decision of what--and for whom--she will fight, can she set her feet on a new path despite the danger that awaits?


My Review:
Verity is a Christian romance set in Spring 1775 in Nevis, West Indies. This is the second book in a series, and it continues the story of the three sisters. However, it focused on Verity's romance and can be read as a standalone.

Verity was intelligent, resourceful, and brave. Ian was impulsive, quick-tempered, and quick to beat people up--not really ideal traits for a spy. I could see why Ian admired Verity, but I never quite understood why she fell in love with him. Yes, he supported and protected her. And they did have mutual interests and worked well together. It just seemed to me that they fell in love pretty quickly considering what she had to give up and what a future with him actually offered.

The characters were interesting, and I cared about what happened to them. The suspense came from the threat of harm from an ongoing evil character and from their spying activities. The historical details were mainly focused on the beginnings of the American Revolution and how that affected the trade to the West Indies. Ian struggled to trust God to bring justice rather than take vengeance himself. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this exciting novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Justice Mission by Lynette Eason

Justice Mission by Lynette Eason ISBN-13: 9781335232014 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: April 2, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
After K-9 unit administrative assistant Sophie Walters spots a suspicious stranger lurking at the K-9 graduation, the man kidnaps her—and she barely escapes. With Sophie’s boss missing and someone determined to silence her, NYPD officer Luke Hathaway vows he and his K-9 partner will guard her.


My Review:
Justice Mission is a romantic suspense novel. It appears that this series will have a ongoing murder that they're trying to solve since the murder case was still open at the end of this novel. Sophie witnesses a stranger putting something on the podium right before the NYPD K-9 graduation. When she asks what he's doing, he grabs her as a hostage. She manages to get free, but the man is intent on killing her from that point forward. Luke is a police officer with a cadaver detection dog, so obviously he finds a body. He's also determined to be Sophie's bodyguard until they stop the man who is after her.

While the story was suspenseful due to the urgent search for a missing man and the danger to Sophie and Luke, some parts didn't seem realistic to me. For example, they had access to ballistic vests yet no one gave one to Sophie. Luke simply used his body as a shield. (Bullets can go through people, and we're not told that he's wearing a ballistic vest, so I wondered just how useful and how safe he was each time he did this maneuver.)

Sophie and Luke are kind, caring people and competent at their jobs. I understood why they were attracted to each other, though the romance was rushed. They barely knew each other at the beginning of the story and fell in love over a matter of days, ending with a marriage proposal. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspense novel to fans of K-9 stories.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Who Slays the Wicked by C. S. Harris

Who Slays the Wicked by C. S. Harris ISBN-13: 9780399585654 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: April 2, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When the handsome but dissolute young gentleman Lord Ashworth is found brutally murdered, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is called in by Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy to help catch the killer. Just seven months before, Sebastian had suspected Ashworth of aiding one of his longtime friends and companions in the kidnapping and murder of a string of vulnerable street children. But Sebastian was never able to prove Ashworth's complicity. Nor was he able to prevent his troubled, headstrong young niece Stephanie from entering into a disastrous marriage with the dangerous nobleman.

Stephanie has survived the difficult birth of twin sons, but Ashworth has abandoned his bride at his father's Park Street mansion and has continued living an essentially bachelor existence. And mounting evidence--ranging from a small bloody handprint to a woman's silk stocking--suggests that Ashworth's killer was a woman. Sebastian is tasked with unraveling the shocking nest of secrets surrounding Ashworth's life to keep Stephanie from being punished for his death.


My Review:
Who Slays the Wicked is a mystery set in April 1814 in London. This book is the 14th in a series, but you can understand it without having read the previous novels.

Historical information was woven into the story and provided a distinct feel of that specific time and place. The characters were interesting, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Both Hero and Sebastian were involved in the investigation, though Sebastian was the main investigator. He tracked down leads and asked pointed questions. There were several suspects who had a motive. I began to suspect whodunit after the fortuneteller provided some hints, but I wasn't certain until the end.

There were no graphically-described sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Miss Adeline's Match by Joanna Barker

Miss Adeline's Match by Joanna Barker ISBN-13: 9781524408800 Paperback: 263 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: April 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Miss Adeline Hayes is the perfect lady's companion: pleasant, conversational, and unceasingly proper. But when her closest friend, Charity Edgeworth, breaks off her arranged marriage without explanation, even Adeline's superior skills are put to the test. Charity's father banishes the two young women to the country, sending Adeline with a charge to find Charity a husband or suffer dire consequences.

As Adeline takes on the role of reluctant matchmaker, she discovers more than one obstacle in her path. Not only does Charity prefer escaping in books to socializing, but Adeline soon finds her own attentions distracted by the standoffish—and irritatingly handsome—Mr. Evan Whitfield. Amidst an eventful foxhunt and the unexpected arrival of Charity's former betrothed, Adeline simply doesn't have time for a battle of wits with Evan. But the two are continually drawn together until Adeline begins to question her tightly guarded convictions about love and marriage.

However, when secrets are revealed and truths made known, Adeline must face her most fearsome obstacle yet: herself.


My Review:
Miss Adeline's Match is a Regency romance. Charity breaks off her engagement to the man she loves because of something she overheard him say about her. Her father wants her married off, though, so he threatens Adeline, her companion and best friend. If she doesn't get Charity married off to someone soon, her family will lose their house and income. Charity and Adeline go to a house party in the country, and, luckily, a kind, eligible man is available for Adeline's matchmaking schemes. There's also a handsome but frustrating man who tended to quickly (and wrongly) judge Adeline's motives. But he soon showed interest in her as he realized she may not be the shallow socialite he expected.

I cared about what happened to the main characters. We learned very little about the minor characters, but the main characters had some back story and character development. Adeline meant well, but her role was to help Charity take the right actions to secure a match, and no one really appreciates someone constantly directing and correcting them. Adeline made some poor choices that nearly ended in disaster. While we're given several reasons for her major poor choice, I felt she needed a stronger reason to also break her word since it seemed somewhat out of character. Anyway, Adeline and Evan both matured into better people as they helped each other see their flaws and find a desire to improve.

There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.