Review & Giveaway: Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund

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My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Tessa Taylor arrives in 1870s Upper Peninsula, Michigan, planning to serve as a new teacher to the town. Much to her dismay, however, she immediately learns that there was a mistake, that the town had requested a male teacher. Percival Updegraff, superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through winter since they won't be able to locate a new teacher before then, and Tessa can't help but say she is in his debt. Little does she know that Percival will indeed keep track of all that she owes him.

Determined to become indispensable, Tessa throws herself into teaching, and soon the children of the widowed lighthouse keeper have decided she's the right match for their grieving father. Their uncle and assistant light keeper, Alex Bjorklund, has his own feelings for Tessa. As the two brothers begin competing for her hand, Tessa increasingly feels that someone is tracking her every move, and she may not be able to escape the trap that has been laid for her.

My Review

I loved this rugged setting for Tessa's story. The landscape and harsh weather is a huge element in the book and I was able to picture it vividly. Tessa is a proud and opinionated young woman, but with a kind heart as she strives to help not only the children, but the men of the town as well, further their education to improve their life situation. Although the living conditions are not ideal, she quickly connects with several children and members of the community. One family in particular she is drawn to is the adult brothers Alex and Michael, along with Michael's children. I loved the chemistry between her and Alex and the fun banter they shared. A sense of humor is something I find very attractive in a hero ;) She feels conflicted throughout the story since she has a deep aversion to lighthouses and the sacrifices it takes to run them, but she can't help feeling like a part of the family and coming to their aid as often as they come to hers. I felt that the secrets she's hiding from her past didn't match the characteristics she portrays in this book; to fully understand the situation I think reading the previous book in the series, Hearts Made Whole, would be helpful. However her past does come into play during the climax of the plot so it needed to be included. And talk about an evil villain! The injustices and tragedies he is responsible for as he preys on the members of the community made me so mad. In the afterword of the book the author shared that Mr. Updegraff was based on a real person in history- that makes it even worse! (Although that guy's ending was different and more violent than in the book). I don't often find afterwords interesting but this one is filled with fascinating information about which characters and landmarks are inspired by real history. You won't want to miss it!

(Thank you to the author and Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

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Review & Giveaway: Double Play by Raneè S.Clark

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Sophie Pope is devastated when she hears the news: her former boyfriend, college football star Anthony "Rocket" Rogers, is engaged to be married. Determined to win him back before he says I do, Sophie hatches a foolproof plan to stop the wedding. But when Rocket's best man, aspiring baseball player David Savage, thwarts her plot, she realizes the game is up. For David, though, it's just beginning . . .

David knows that Sophie is just another pretty face, and he's more than happy to save his best friend from her shallow advances. She's not his type at all, so he's baffled by his response to an awkward encounter with Donovan, another of Sophie's former flames. Despite himself, David feels driven by an inexplicable need to protect her. Pretending to be Sophie's new fiancé leads to unexpected sparks between the pair, and soon they're searching for excuses to spend time together. But when a curveball threatens to send them in opposite directions, will Sophie and David step up to the plate for the possibility of true love?

My Review

I had a hard time relating to the main characters in this book. Sophie is initially portrayed as a shallow, manipulative, and selfish fashionista. Her agenda to steal the groom was a turn off, but her interactions with David started bringing out her more relaxed side. I enjoyed the book more as the focus shifted to the two of them, and the banter and chemistry they shared. A big theme of the book was modesty and Sophie's ideal that a woman should be able to dress however she feels represents her and not be responsible for any inappropriate thoughts that it inspires in men who view her. She finds herself changing and wearing longer shorts and skirts around David because he respects her for her personality instead of solely for her looks, then feels conflicted that she might be doing it for him instead of herself. I appreciated her roommate's personal account that when she dressed immodestly, it influenced how she felt and acted, in a more edgy and worldly way, making choices that she ultimately came to regret. It was interesting to read about a Mormon "mean girl" and her journey of growing up a bit, even though I felt like she is a person I would avoid in real life.

(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

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Review: The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the north Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It's where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she's beautiful.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother's neglected duties. Home on leave, he's sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter's daughter. He's startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him--one of Wesley's discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse.

Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love, or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she'll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family's estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows?

My Review

I enjoy marriage of convenience stories in particular, and this one had the added twist of Sophie being in love with her new husband's brother. While I felt compassion for Sophie and her difficult circumstances, I didn't admire her weakness for Wesley and the choices she initially made. She reveals herself as a strong character however as she makes the best of her situation and works to become loyal to Stephen. He was definitely my favorite character in the story, a Mr. Darcy type that has vulnerabilities and a gentle nature behind his gruff exterior, and a secret longing for his wife. In fact, there are a few Austenesque phrases that jumped out at me as I read, which was fun :) The plot really revolves around Sophie and her feelings for the brothers, so it was like waiting for the hammer to drop until Wesley returned and created more conflict. There are several family members and friends who are distinct in their personalities and create a wonderful cast for Sophie to interact with, some holding secrets of their own... A wonderful book with themes of accountability, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

(Thank you to the author and Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall

Check out the brand spankin' new cover for a book I've been looking forward to! I love The Everstone Chronicles series! The Cautious Maiden is the fourth book, and each can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend reading them in order for full enjoyment ;)

Synopsis

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother transforms her deceased parents’ respectable country inn into a brothel to accommodate the lumberjacks in the area. When her reputation is compromised, she finds herself forced to enter into an engagement with Vance Everstone. Can she trust this man she hardly knows who has a scandalous reputation in his own right?

Review Opportunity

If you are a Book Review Blogger and would like to review The Cautious Maiden, or would like to be a part of the blog tour celebrating it's release in the fall, please contact Dawn Crandall's Facebook Author Page with your name and the link for your blog.

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