Review \\ Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren

The Grand Tour Series details the life of Cora Diehl Kensington, a woman of the Montana plains, swept up into a life of riches and privilege. Belatedly finding out a terrible secret about her parentage, Cora struggles to find out who she really is–as a child of God–in the midst of an enlightening, as well as dangerous, trip across Europe. (http://lisatawnbergren.com/books/)

Why I have I waited so long to read a book by Lisa T. Bergren? I have no idea. I would say that her books are a step above Tracie Peterson's and on par with Julie Klassen's (no offence to either author).

Set in the early 1900s, Glamorous Illusions is a beautiful book from cover to cover. I loved every bit of it, which isn't something I say too often about the books I read. From the first pages I fell in love with Cora. She's a spirited, often stubborn, young woman, but she truly wants to trust God in all parts of her life. It's just not that easy. I can relate.

When Cora is told a secret about her parentage, she's whisked off to a new family and a new life, starting with a grand tour to Europe. It's the perfect setting for discovery: of Europe, of her family, of herself. And of course, we have to throw in a couple of love interests to make it all the more interesting. Bergren crafts the most interesting characters like William, Pierre, and, most fascinating to me, Mr. Kensington. I just can't figure him out. At the beginning I did not like him, but when he writes that letter to Cora... I'm having a hard time making up my mind! Hopefully I'll get a chance to figure him out in book two, Grave Consequences, which doesn't come out until (sigh) March 2013. The best part about the characters is that they seem so real. I'm tired of books that idealize people, or make them so one-sided; Glamorous Illusions does not disappoint.

Glamorous Illusions is written in first person but switches from the point of view of Cora to a narrator (third -person) view of Will. That's interesting but at times a bit odd to me. I think it would have been better if both were in first person, but maybe Bergren felt that would be too confusing to the reader (which it definitely could be). Still, I liked seeing Will's perspective. And of course, since this is the start of a series, the ending was unfortunately abrupt and left me dangling off the cliff by a small thread.

Shockingly, I got this book free on my Kindle several months ago. Soon after I finished Glamorous Illusions I looked up when the second book is coming out. So far away! (Ha, not really.) Thankfully, I found Bergren's first book in the River of Time Series, Waterfall, on sale for $1.99. :) A good way to cope, I thought, but it only took me a day to read. Review of that coming soon, because it was good.





2012 Goal: Book 38 of 50

Review \\ To Love and Cherish by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

I haven't disappeared completely! With my school schedule I've had a tough time finishing books, so I've had nothing to review for ages. This one took me at least a month to read. It's a good one, though!

~~~~~~~~~~

Melinda Colson has a rather tragic past, but her future is promising. She works as a lady's maid and her employers spend their winters on Bridal Veil Island, where Evan Tarlow works year-round as gamekeeper. Melinda anxiously awaits a proposal from Evan before she must leave with her employers, but her hopes are dashed when no proposal comes. To Love and Cherish is a story of love and doubt, reconciliation and faith. It's spattered with a few edge-of-your-seat moments and a few aggravations, making it a well-rounded historical fiction tale.

Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller have teamed up once again to deliver a new series based on the fictional (but based on true) island of Bridal Veil. It's a beautiful setting, and, as always, Peterson and Miller craft interesting characters and a heart-warming story.

To Love and Cherish is the second book in the Bridal Veil Island. I haven't read the first one, but through a few internet searches I was assured that each book is on its own. Now I'm curious to find out if that's really true or not, but I'm leaning towards believing it because I didn't feel lost when I started reading this one. I haven't read many of these Christian fiction/historical/romance novels where the characters actually start out in love. I admit it takes away a bit of the suspense, but, like others, you still know how its going to end.

My favorite part of the book is the setting. I can see why the characters fell in love with Bridal Veil, and I wish I could go there myself.






I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Review \\ Touching the Sky by Tracie Peterson

\\ About the Book \\ When Laura Marquardt first meets Brandon Reid, their encounter is anything but pleasant. But when the two are seated together at a dinner party, they soon find that they share similar interests--Laura desires to educate blacks, and Brandon, as a white officer over colored troops, eagerly supports her cause.
When Laura's sister, Carissa, marries her Confederate beau, Laura finds herself in a difficult situation when she overhears plots to kill Union soldiers. Though in her heart she feels she should share this information with Brandon, Laura fears she will betray her sister's trust and possibly endanger her sister's life. And when Brandon's motives for pursuing her come into question, her heart is even more conflicted. Where is God leading her?

After feeling a bit of disappointment over the first installment of Tracie Peterson's Land of the Lone Star series, I had my concerns when I received Touching the Sky in the mail. Turns out I liked it much better than Chasing the Sun, and that is a very good thing.

Touching the Sky at first doesn't seem to be linked to Chasing the Sun at all. It could very well be a stand alone novel except for a small part at the end that reminds us of the previous book. This book focuses on Laura Marquardt, a wise young woman who is keenly aware of the changes the end of the Civil War has brought to her hometown of Corpus Christi. I love her character because she is smart and honest about everything. 

When Captain Brandon Reid asks to court her, Laura is pretty much ecstatic, though (of course) she doesn't let such emotion show. Soon, however, she realizes that Captain Reid might be leading her on in order to gather information to harm her sister Carissa's Confederate beau. Wise Laura is suddenly torn between two loves, and her decision will not be easy. 

As always, Tracie Peterson creates intriguing characters that keep us loving her stories. I'm a little annoyed at Peterson's tendency to throw together some dramatic, rushed ending. (I can count several of her books in which this happens.) However, her writing remains steady and her stories interesting, so I guess I'll be all right with her endings. My only other pet peeve, as I've been trying to diversify my fiction selections lately, is that her dialogue is so stiff and so proper. Do we really believe that people back then didn't use contractions? I wonder.

Though you could easily read this book without reading the first in the series, I think it would be best to start with Chasing the Sun. Touching the Sky only begins Laura's sister Carissa's story, and the next book is devoted to her and a character from the first book. I'm hoping that one will be really good, because I think it has the best potential of the three.

\\ About the Author \\ Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.

\\ Info \\

Title: Touching the Sky

Author: Tracie Peterson

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Publication Date: June 1, 2012

Number of Pages: 336

ISBN: 0764206168

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review \\ Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

I took a journey through my past blog posts and was a little shocked that I have never reviewed a Tracie Peterson novel. I've read a lot. When I first stepped out of the children's section of the library (and bookstores, but more often the library) I entered the world of Christian fiction. My mom and older sister were fans of authors like Beverly Lewis, Karen Kingsbury, Janette Oke, and Tracie Peterson. We had a couple of series by Tracie Peterson, which I really enjoyed as a 13/14 year old. Since then I've read Peterson's

Alaskan Quest Series
Brides of Gallatin County Series
The Broadmoor Legacy Series (On second thought I don't think I have read the third book yet.)
Ladies of Liberty Series
Song of Alaska Series
Heirs of Montana Series
And now . . . Land of the Lone Star Series.

From this list you can assume I like Tracie Peterson's books. You're probably just wondering why. I like that Peterson's books are historical, that they are set in interesting places (like Alaska, Montana, and Texas), and that they always include a little bit of adventure. I like that her books are simple, and I don't mean that in a negative way. There are times when I don't feel like sitting down to read a book that makes me pay such close attention or I'll miss something important, or a book that is so extremely thrilling that I can't get to sleep because of it, or a book that is just hard.

Tracie Peterson's books are nice and romantic. Reading them is like sitting down to watch a Hallmark movie (one of the ones that is written well and doesn't have bad acting). Nothing terribly deep or confusing, just a good story. You know how it is going to end from the second chapter (though you don't know how things are going to happen to get there). Besides that, her romance isn't too romantic and she always includes Christian values. I like that.

Chasing the Sun, the first book in the Lone Star Series, is about Hannah Dandridge, a young woman who is charged with the care of her young step-siblings after her father disappears. (This series is set against the backdrop of the Civil War.) When Union soldier William Barnett shows up at his ranch to find Hannah and her family living in his house, he's more than a little angry that the government took his family's property and gave it to "true Confederates." There are so many interesting angles to this plot line.

My favorite characters in Chasing the Sun are Marty and Andy, Hannah's siblings. They have by far the best lines of the book. The only thing I didn't like as much about this novel is that Hannah and William think too much. They're always thinking and worrying about what the other is thinking and worrying about that it gets a tad annoying in places. And I actually didn't think that there were quite enough scenes with them together. There are maybe two really good scenes, but not enough for me to really believe that they would fall so quickly for each other. At the same time, there is a lot of other plot points to cover in this book, so I thank Peterson for choosing not to make Chasing the Sun 500+ pages.

Tracie Peterson is truly a leader among Christian and historical fiction authors. And with so many of her titles to choose from, you can find at least one to really enjoy.

\\ About the Author \\Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana. Learn more about her books at traciepeterson.com. 

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\Title: Chasing the Sun (Land of the Lone Star #1)Author: Tracie PetersonPublisher: Bethany House PublishersPublication Date: March 1, 2012Pages: 347 (Paperback)ISBN: 076420615XMany thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review \\ The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

\\ About the Book \\ To escape a scheme to marry her off to a dishonorable man, Margaret Macy flees London disguised as a housemaid. If she can remain unwed until her next birthday, she will receive an inheritance, and with it, sweet independence. But she never planned on actually working as a servant. And certainly not in the home of Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch--both former suitors. As she fumbles through the first real work of her life, Margaret struggles to keep her identity secret when suspicions arise and prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall. Can she avoid a trap meant to force her from hiding? Brimming with romance and danger, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall takes readers inside the fascinating belowstairs world of a 19th-century English manor, where appearances can be deceiving.

Julie Klassen does it again. Combining historical charm, romance, and mystery, Klassen crafts a beautiful story in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. Each Regency-era book Klassen writes tends to focus on a different class of people. The Apothecary's Daughter focused on the working class, The Silent Governess  revealed the odd situation of a governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse looked at those shunned by scandal, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall gives readers a closer look at servanthood. (I believe Klassen has another book as well; I have yet to read it.)

Klassen never fails to script an engaging story and create intriguing characters. Margaret Macy at first seems haughty and uppity, but as her role in life changes she becomes graced with a good dose of humility. Her transformation is my favorite part of the story. Nathaniel Upchurch seems very strange at first, but he becomes a more likable character at well. I love it when authors use their crafty ways to make us hate-then-love or love-then-hate a character.

There are only two negatives for me. One doesn't really have any weight to it. The romance is over the top for me, but I guess if I didn't want romance I shouldn't have picked up a Julie Klassen book. I suppose I'm just not a fan of too many scenes where characters are near each other continually having "longings" that they want to express but can't because it would be too scandalous. Scandal seems to be the only thing holding these people back. (And oh dear for the people who don't care about gossip or scandal.) But I realize that I stepped into historical romance and got exactly that. My other negative is that I felt like the first two-thirds of the book lolled along and the ending came whap! I've read numerous novels like this, so I think this particularly negative would also be classified based on my personal likes and dislikes when it comes to reading books.

Otherwise, I enjoyed yet again a Julie Klassen novel. My favorite things about her books is the way she deals with different classes and how she includes quotes from historical documents and non-fiction at the heading of each chapter. I loved learning about what a maid in Regency era would have to go through, and I'm rather glad I'm not one. If you're looking for Jane Austen flare, historical intrigue, and romance, Julie Klassen is definitely the author to go to.

\\ About the Author \\ Julie Klassen loves all things Jane — Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
Author: Julie Klassen
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: January 1, 2012
Pages: 416 (paperback)
ISBN: 0764207091
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Historical Fiction | His Steadfast Love

"In one of the most heartbreaking times in American history, a Southern preacher's daughter makes a tragic error that pits her against the very people she loves most."

I normally include a description of the book in question, usually a snippet from the back cover. I didn't much care for the description on this book, however. The line above was the only one I found intriguing.

There are many fictionalized accounts of the Civil War around, if you haven't noticed. His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons is a just-released book that can be added to the list. I've always enjoyed reading about the Civil War, and, because I've previously read and enjoyed novels on the time period, I was pretty sure I would like this one.

The spring of 1861 finds Amanda Belle at her home on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Her budding romance (the "tragic error") with Captain Kent Littlefield is halted abruptly when Texas secedes from the Union and war begins. As the captain returns to the North to join the Union army, Amanda's brother Daniel joins the Confederates. His Steadfast Love is the tale of fighting of all kinds as Kent fights for the North and the abolition of slavery, Daniel fights for the South, and Amanda and Kent fight for each other.

I really enjoyed this book. Having not read any of Golden Keyes Parsons books, I was a bit skeptical, of course. But she is an engaging author and I had no trouble believing anything she said. If you scour some of the reviews of this book, you might find some readers disappointed because of the apparently less-than-accurate historical details. I, however, am not well versed in the Civil War or that time period and cannot claim either side of that debate. I suppose if you are a real history buff than you would have a problem with any fictionalized story.

The interesting thing about this book, I think, is the way Parsons interweaves the real issues of the war in the lives of the characters. Slavery obviously comes up, as the Belle family lives in the South and owns several slaves. It's intriguing the way the Belles are so sure that, because they aren't treating their slaves poorly, they aren't doing any harm by owning human beings. It is likewise intriguing to see Kent's attitude change from one of adamant opposition to slavery to one of laid-back indecision. (I also thought that Parsons wonderfully planned scenes where Amanda's interactions with the Belle slaves were so similar to Kent's with his family's servants, just so the reader can see the similarity.) The whole issue irked me a bit, but the realization that the attitudes of the characters are so realistic caused me to pause. Not every Northerner was a die-hard abolitionist. (And Kent's real mission is to return to Amanda, not to free the slaves.) It's also endlessly fascinating to hear a preacher and his family repeat Scripture and talk about God's will yet not realize the injustice of slavery. Realistic? I think so.

I suppose I should mention the romance part of it, since that is something I often nitpick about. I didn't think it was overly done in the book. Obviously the storyline revolves around the fact that Amanda and Kent love each other, but the book isn't filled with scenes added just so women everywhere can dream about their own Kent Littlefields. It's tasteful, and I liked it.

Now, the big question: is this a stand alone novel or the first in a series? I'm hoping for the latter.

Read an Excerpt

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Fiction | Her Mother's Hope and Her Daughter's Dream



I have a lot of things to say about these books. Therefore, I'm not even going to go into a description of them, aside from saying that they combine to form a saga that spans four generations of women, and that they mostly focus on the relationships between mothers and daughters.

I decided to read this two-part saga for several reasons. First, I recently attempted to read Rivers's Redeeming Love; about a third in I decided the book wasn't that great. (More on that later.) But, because I enjoyed Rivers's writing style, I wanted to find something else of hers that I felt was more appropriate. Her Mother's Hope and Her Daughter's Dream have been the objects of a few blog posts I've read in recent months, and the two books are also on Tyndale's Summer Reading Program list. Those were reasons enough for me, and I powered through the first 500-page book in a matter of days, and then the second.

I love Francine Rivers's writing style, and I love the way she interweaves the stories of the four main characters. There is just so much ... I'm not sure how to word it ... so much life told in these books. From war to death to child abuse to independence to love to ... the list could go on and on. Rivers is a wonderful storyteller, and I truly enjoyed reading this saga.

(Get ready, because this part is going to be long.) Unfortunately, I felt that Rivers ruined the cleanness, if you will, of her stories by adding a few "scenes" that were unnecessarily described. These mainly had to do with the characters and the men they loved. This goes back to why I didn't finish Redeeming Love. In Her Mother's Hope, nothing seemed above what any other "Christian" fiction title carried. But in Her Daughter's Dream, Rivers for some reason decided that it was important to specifically outline a sex scene, and I cannot figure out why except perhaps, and most probably, to quicken the hearts of her female readers. I will say that the fact that this scene took place was important in the character's lives, and that the way Rivers wove the details afterward were, in one word, good. But I still cannot understand why it was important to actually write out the scene and not simply imply it.

I saw what was coming and skipped over it. Just as I did when I was reading Redeeming Love. (Also note that in Redeeming Love the questionable scene lasted several pages, whereas in Her Daughter's Dream the scene was half of a page.) And that is also the exact reason why I stopped reading Redeeming Love.  I didn't give up on Her Daughter's Dream—after contemplating whether or not I needed to—because I wanted to end the story, to see what happened to the characters, and mainly in the hopes that another similar scene would not occur. 

Needless to say, I have a very strong opinion on this, and I just cannot abide by a Christian author putting such a scene in a Christian book for Christians to read. And it doesn't matter if the reader is Christian, non-Christian, married, or single. A supposedly Christian author is writing the book and a supposedly Christian publisher is publishing the book. Does not the Bible say, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8)? I don't think sex is bad by any means, but is it okay to dwell on and imagine a sexual relationship that is not one's own or, most appropriately, in the context of one's own marriage? I think not.

Perhaps you think I'm being harsh. I've read other "Christian" novels that included similar content, and I'm extremely disappointed about the whole issue. I don't care if the author is teaching a lesson about the negative effects of premarital sex or whatnot. There is absolutely no reason why that scene should be written out to include every passionate thought and heart-pounding moment. It comes down to this: If I can't walk into a Christian bookstore and pick up any novel without first reading review after review to make sure it is clean, where can I go?

As a young woman who strives to follow Christ in every way, I've made difficult choices to ignore current culture's ideas of sexuality and to remain pure in body and mind. And that means realizing that I'm easily swept away by romantic notions, innocent or otherwise, and that I'm prone to dwell on emotions and feelings that aren't appropriate for this time in my life. Therefore I strive to take every thought captive and surrender my own desires to God so that I can honor Him and serve Him well. I get enough temptation from pop culture's music, movies, and books. Supposedly the Christian market is a safe place that encourages the pursuit of Christ, yet again and again it has disappointed me. I may be coming across as bitter, but I assure you I am not. I've just remained silent about this for too long, and its time to use a megaphone.

It is possible to write, sell, and read books that are clean, wholesome, and thoroughly enjoyable. I just wish authors and publishers would wake up and realize that. Until then, I'll continue to be careful in my selections, and when unforeseen complications arise, as in Her Daughter's Dream, I'll ask God for guidance. One of my favorite verses says this: "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). What a challenge! It's one I attempt to live by every day.

I know I went on and on about that, but I feel it is a subject that is often overlooked. I could say more about how the scene worked for the good in the rest of the book, but that would give away too much of the story. Francine Rivers is a great author and a great storyteller. Her Mother's Hope and Her Daughter's Dream show this in so many ways. I just wish Rivers would have used more discretion in writing that scene.

Both books are each roughly 500 pages and are published by Tyndale House Publishers.

Francine Rivers's Website | Read an Excerpt of Her Mother's Hope

Read an Excerpt of Her Daugher's Dream

Fiction | The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen's latest novel, The Girl in the Gatehouse, is filled with mystery and intrigue. When she is sent to live in an abandoned gatehouse on her ailing aunt's property, Mariah Aubrey realizes her dream of becoming a published author, albeit an anonymous one. Soon Captain Matthew Bryant leases the estate and, as he becomes more aware of Miss Aubrey's presence, learns that there is a secret looming in her past. A story of regret, love, and forgiveness, The Girl in the Gatehouse is sure to draw in Regency-era lovers and hopeless romantics.

After recently devouring Julie Klassen's previous novel, The Silent Governess, I was sure I would like this book. I do enjoy novels set in the Regency period, and I love the way Julie Klassen weaves words together in a most inspired way. The plot of The Girl in the Gatehouse sounded most intriguing, because it is always interesting to me to see how different time periods handled scandal and gossip. For the most part, I really did enjoy The Girl in the Gatehouse, but there were a few things I found lacking.

Though I enjoyed the plot of The Girl in the Gatehouse, one segment of it did not thrill me. Part of Mariah Aubrey's character is the fact that she is a secret author, which is most intriguing. Unfortunately, in the few chapters where excerpts of Mariah's writing is displayed, I found it hard to believe because the writing was so Julie Klassen, not Regency era. It was too modern, and I had to constantly remind myself to let it go.

Also, The Girl in the Gatehouse is clearly historical romance. As such, I find it like most romance novels (even ones from so-called Christian publishers) to move from one seductive, sensual scene to the next, from a touch of fingertips to kissing someone's tears away. It is so . . . overdone. Not just in The Girl in the Gatehouse, but in all Christian fiction/romance/historical. The idea that love cannot be without physical affection saddens me to no end. But, as I mentioned, this is stereotypical in this kind of book, and nothing unique to put a damper on solely Klassen's novel.

I have only read two of Julie Klassen's novels now, but I notice in both a pattern where God is rarely brought up (and then only in doubtful tones by a spiritually indecisive character) until the end, where suddenly the main character(s) discovers God's love, receives forgiveness, and ends in perfect happiness. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this, but I would really like to see from Klassen (and perhaps one of her earlier novels demonstrates) a character who really relies and trusts on God yet still finds herself in a difficult scenario. The tendency to think that coming to Christ means every relationship will resolve and every hardship disappear is too prevalent, I think. Certainly there are still struggles to be faced after becoming a Christian, and I wish Christian fiction would show this more. At the same time, I wonder if Klassen simply thought that God would be difficult to "add in" to her stories. I simply cannot know and will not judge on that matter. However, I am strongly positioned to believe that God should either be part of a story or not; halfway is just stale.

The Girl in the Gatehouse was still a lovely book to read, and anyone who is intrigued by the Regency period, the dos and don'ts of that society, and romantic tales will thoroughly enjoy it. I look forward to reading more from Julie Klassen.

Number of pages: 391 (excludes author's note and discussion questions)
Extra links: About Julie Klassen, read an excerpt on Amazon
Publisher: Bethany House
Source: From publisher