A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

A Tapestry of Light
by Kimberly Duffy

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: March 16th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Calcutta, 1886. Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie's English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.

But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn't forget his heritage, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.


My Review:
A Tapestry of Light is a romance set in 1886 in India and England. The first half of the book occurred in India showing what it was like for those of mixed British and Indian heritage. The second half showed the prejudice they faced in England. The historical details about daily life, beetle-wing embroidery, cultural differences, etc., were woven into the story and brought it vividly alive in my imagination.

The characters were well-developed and complex, and I cared about what happened to them. Which is why this was a sad story: Ottilie faced one tragedy and hardship after another all the way up until the end. I didn't see how she could end up with a happy ending, yet one abruptly happened as everyone repented of the wrongs they'd done toward her. Some of it was believable, like a ten-year-old boy not staying quiet about his life in India. But the abrupt change of heart of the love interest and English family members just didn't seem believable to me. While the love interest was kind and thoughtful, I kept wondering why Ottilie kept giving her heart to him when he made it clear that he was determined to marry into high society. It's realistic, yes, but frustrating to see her open herself up to further hurt like that.

Ottilie wondered why God allowed his faithful followers to suffer so much and had a crisis of faith. She clung to God and grew into a kind woman of faith through the events. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical 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.

My Dear Miss Dupré by Grace Hitchcock

My Dear Miss Dupré
by Grace Hitchcock

ISBN-13: 9780764237973
Paperback: 364 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: March 2nd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father's unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, plans changed. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan--find Willow a king in order for her to become queen of the empire.

Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society's elite. She has six months to court the group and is expected to regularly eliminate men to narrow her beaus until she chooses one to marry, ending the competition with a wedding. Willow reluctantly agrees, knowing she must do what is best for the business. She doesn't expect to find love until she meets Cullen Dempsey, and she must discover for herself if his motives are pure.


My Review:
My Dear Miss Dupré is a romance set in 1882 in New York. Willow just kept making one bad decision after another, and so did her parents and her suitors. The historical details were unrealistic even if the Dupré family was meant to come across as arrogant and high-handed. They seemed determined to humiliate the suitors due to the way the whole contest was set up. They also seemed oblivious to the fact that this could create powerful enemies among those that were disrespected and dismissed.

Willow's willingness to be kissed (even in public!) by her different suitors threatened to ruin her reputation, yet she didn't stop the kisses. She was smart, but she was also thoughtless and lacked effective follow-through on good intentions. When several suitors pointed out that only the pushy suitors were getting any time with her, she agreed it wasn't fair but ended up dealing with it by cutting anyone who wasn't pushy from the competition. Once, Willow resolved to stop mooning over their good looks and charming manners and ask questions about their faith in God and ability to run a business, but then she never did. She never asked if the men would allow her to continue to run the business, support her endeavors, or even what they wanted out of the relationship.

Bafflingly, her father told her last three suitors to write down every detail about how the Dupré business was run as they're shown around the factory. He's oblivious to how this information could be used against them in the future. The parents also made no effort to further investigate her favorites or they would've noticed that Cullen had no social standing and had been seen in public dealing with the Dupre's business enemy. And I'm supposed to take this family seriously?

Willow and Cullen were the only characters that were developed to any degree, and that wasn't very much. Willow was a horrible judge of character. Cullen betrayed her, giving critical information to Willow's enemy, but Willow swooned at his green eyes and so defended him against anyone hinting that Cullen might not be trustworthy. I just didn't like these characters. The Christian element seemed to be forgiving those who have changed their ways (and proved it). There was no sex or bad language.


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.

The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch

The Indebted Earl
by Erica Vetsch

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Released: March 23rd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Captain Charles Malvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Malvern to escort the man's grieving fiancee and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.


My Review:
The Indebted Earl is a romance set in 1814 in England. This is the 3rd book in the series. Though you can read it as a standalone novel, you'll probably understand this book better if you read the books in order. Charles loves being a captain of a Navy ship and doesn't know what to do with himself in peacetime. He agrees to take his dead friend's belongings back to the man's fiancée, Sophie, and make sure that she is taken care of. She doesn't want help since she's the one who always helps others. But she does want things that he can provide her, like a way to avoid her mother's matchmaking.

Sophie was kind and caring, but also rather naive and idealistic. Charles was very methodical and determined, though he used these traits in a good way. Charles and Sophie had misunderstandings and guilt to work through, but they supported each other. Still, the guilt felt forced. Rich was the one to make the mistake. Everyone but Charles quickly understood that he was not directly at fault but he seemed determined to argue for his unforgivable guilt.

Historical details were woven into the story, with some parts feeling highly researched. However, there were a lot of little things that didn't seem right for the time period. For example, everything started with an admittedly rude family not sending a letter to Sophie's house to announce their arrival and intentions upon arrival. That was such basic manners that it felt forced to create a crisis. And when Charles suddenly became the new Earl, everyone should have assumed that his duties were now that of an Earl. Since he had no close relatives or son to inherit if he died, why would he be given a ship when there were plenty of competent men that could do that job? But everyone just accepted that he'd quickly get a ship. He also didn't know what a solicitor and a barrister did, which would be like an American adult not knowing what a lawyer does. And so on.

There were no graphic sex scenes. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel to those who aren't picky about historical details being accurate.


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.

Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot

Dreams Rekindled
by Amanda Cabot

ISBN-13: 9780800735364
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: March 2nd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Though she hopes for a quiet, uncomplicated life for herself, Dorothy Clark wants nothing more than to stir others up. Specifically, she dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers--until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is.

Brandon Holloway has seen the disastrous effects of challenging others and has no intention of repeating that mistake. He's committed to making a new--and completely uncontroversial--start in the Hill Country. As Dorothy's involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon's heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who's determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon's livelihood.


My Review:
Dreams Rekindled is a Christian romance set in 1856 in Texas. This book is the second in a series, but it can be read as a standalone and didn't spoil events from the first book. Someone's buying property around town and spreading discontent to force the preacher and the newspaperman to leave. Dorothy and Brandon tried to discover who's doing this and to unite the townspeople through the stories they printed in the newspaper. Even though it's painful to endure untrue rumors, Brandon's reluctant to take a stand in his newspaper due to painful events in his past when he took a stand.

Brandon and Dorothy built each other up and worked well as a team, even when their opinions differed. As their friendship grew, Dorothy appreciated how he respected her and supported her writing. But she's afraid to marry because of the deep mourning she witnessed her mother go through when her husband died. The characters acted realistically, had depth, and I cared about what happened to them. Suspense built as someone tried to destroy the reputations and livelihood of good people and escalated in violence as time passed. The Christian themes were about trusting God and forgiveness. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

Furbidden Fatality by Deborah Blake

Furbidden Fatality
by Deborah Blake

ISBN-13: 9780593201503
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Berkley
February 23rd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Kari Stuart's life has no driving purpose--until she unexpectedly wins the lottery. The twenty-nine-year-old instant multimillionaire is still mulling plans for her winnings when trying to rescue a bossy black kitten leads her to a semiabandoned animal shelter. They need the cash--Kari needs a purpose.

But the dilapidated rescue is literally going to the dogs with a pending lawsuit, hard to adopt animals, vandalism, and too much attention from the town's dog warden. When the warden turns up dead outside the shelter's dog kennels, Kari becomes the main suspect. With the help of some dedicated volunteers, a cute vet, and a kitten who mysteriously shows up just when she needs it, Kari must prove her innocence all while trying to save a dog on death row.


My Review:
Furbidden Fatality is a cozy mystery. Looking for a heroine with more money than sense? At least Kari adopted a cute kitten that also happened to be a good detective. Kari wasn't a bad detective, but she started out just wanting to shift the blame onto someone else. She needed the help of quite a few people to even begin to ask the right questions about what was going on. I had most of the criminal scenario figured out from the beginning, so it seemed like she took a very long time to come to the same conclusions. My main problem with Kari, though, was that she seemed to go out of her way to be rude to the very people who could make the most trouble for her. All because she couldn't stand men who were bullies, and she seemed to think men were bullies if they had an opinion different than hers. I just kept groaning at how her attitude kept making things unnecessarily worse for her. There was no sex. There was occasional use of bad language.


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.

Destined for You by Tracie Peterson

Destined for You
by Tracie Peterson

ISBN-13: 9780764232350
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: March 2nd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
In 1869, Gloriana Womack's family is much smaller since smallpox killed her mother and two of her siblings. She lives in a modest cottage in Duluth, Minnesota, with her father and young brother, and she has dedicated her life to holding her tiny, fractured family together--especially as her father is frequently gone on long fishing trips. Their livelihood may come from the waters of Lake Superior, but storms on the lake can be dangerous, even to those who know it well.

Luke Carson has come to Duluth to help shepherd the arrival of the railroad to the city's port, and he's eager to be reunited with his brother, Scott, who recently moved there with his pregnant wife. Competition for the railroad is fierce, with the neighboring city of Superior, Wisconsin, fighting for the tracks to come through their town instead. But the real danger lies in a resident of Duluth who is determined to have his revenge upon Luke.

When tragedy brings Gloriana and Luke together, they help each other through their grief and soon find their lives inextricably linked. If they survive the trials ahead, could it be possible they've been destined for each other all along?


My Review:
Destined for You is set in the Fall of 1869 in Minnesota. Gloriana has lost many members of her family to disease or accident, leaving her wondering how she'll take care of her young brother by herself. She's also angry at God, asking "what good is it to be a Christian and serve Him if we cannot trust Him to protect us from evil and bad things?" She struggled with her faith, but Luke showed up in time to help her. He lost a brother and sister-in-law at the same time as Gloriana lost another loved one.

The main characters were complex, grew throughout the story, and reacted realistically to events. The focus of the book was on the struggles of everyday life along the lake and how the area was being built up. The author included a lot of historical detail about everyday life. The romance built slowly as Luke helped Gloriana through her grief and with the everyday struggles that she faced. They also worked together to care for Luke's orphan niece. Some suspense was added by the threat of someone trying to ruin Luke's reputation by interfering with the building of the railroad, but only a few pages referred to it. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden

The Prince of Spies
by Elizabeth Camden

ISBN-13: 9780764232138
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: February 16th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington DC. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world.

But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.

But will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?


My Review:
The Prince of Spies is a Christian romance set in 1902, mainly in Washington DC. This is the 3rd in a series, but it works as a standalone novel. Historical details about the events and politics of the time were woven into the story and affected everyone's lives. The main conflict was about how some food companies were adding fillers and chemical preservatives to the food to make a greater profit, but other people were concerned about the health effects of doing so. Luke was willing to do anything to prove the dangers of these additives, including joining a study testing their effects on humans and using his journalistic skills to remove politicians that stood in the way of a law protecting the consumer. Unfortunately, not only did he fall in love with a gal whose family was feuding with his but she firmly believed her father's assurances that the preservatives their company used would only save lives.

Though I loved the historical detail, I don't care for doomed love themes, which dominated the first half of the story. They were attracted to each other, but they kept resolving to avoid each other because of the trouble a friendship would cause them with their families. But they just couldn't stay apart. They also had to avoid talking about some things they deeply believed in. Something needed to change if they were going to have a healthy relationship. And it did.

The characters reacted realistically, were complex, and I cared about what happened to them. They genuinely admired each other's character, built each other up, and became better people from having known each other. There was no sex. There was one use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.