Showing posts with label Stephanie Grace Whitson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephanie Grace Whitson. Show all posts

Monday, September 25, 2023

Review: Christmas Stitches by Judith McCoy Miller, Nancy Moser, Stephanie Grace Whitson



My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it



Synopsis

3 Talented Seamstresses, 3 Christmas Romances
Return to Christmases of yesteryear with three seamstresses who use their talents to succeed in the late 1800s. But can love also be stitched into their lives?
 
A SEAMLESS LOVE by Judith Miller
Hannah Cushman possesses a special talent for embroidered fancywork and design which secures her a position in the Dressmaking and Millinery Shop in the Pullman Arcade near Chicago where she encounters childhood friend Daniel Price. Daniel is disappointed to learn Hannah is being courted by a detective with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. With two men vying for her attention, will Hannah seek God’s direction or ignore the warning signs He sets before her?
 
PIN’S PROMISE by Nancy Moser
Penelope (Pin) Billings and Jonathan Evers have loved each other since they were children, promising to one day get officially engaged. Both have distinct talents: Pin for sewing dresses and teaching others to sew and Jonathan—a doctor right out of school—in helping the people of the village. As adulthood nears and the time to fulfill their promise seems right, a tragic event pulls them apart, making both question their future. Will they discover they are stronger together than apart?

 
MENDING HEARTS by Stephanie Grace Whitson
Rachel Ellsworth has always been encouraged to pursue her passion for art. She looks forward to taking the Grand Tour on her honeymoon and experiencing the great museums of Europe. But when tragedy strikes, Rachel's plans are put on hold and she is forced to stay with two maiden aunts in a small Nebraska town where the most exciting things that ever happen are quilting bees and the county fair. Rachel expects her stay in Lost Creek to be temporary--until a letter from home changes everything. How can a budding artist who loves the big city expect to find happiness in the middle of nowhere?  
 
My Review

A Seamless Love by Judith Miller - 3 stars
This story had a great setting and interesting historical details. Hannah is ambitious with her career as a seamstress with custom embroidery, and spends extra hours on special projects for the company owner's wife. Contrary to the book synopsis, she's not dating a Pinkerton agent, but a businessman from Chicago who spends a lot of time on the road (suspicious). I had hoped for more development of her relationship with Daniel, but the majority of the story focused on her trials with her beau and workload.

Pin’s Promise by Nancy Moser - 4 stars
I enjoyed the character growth as Pin learns to be patient and understanding, while Jonathan realizes the differences in treating patients in the town rather than a hospital. An endearing but abused set of children really steal the show, giving Pin and Jonathan the opportunity to look beyond themselves and draw closer together because of the shared trials. I loved the strong sense of community and service.

Mending Hearts by Stephanie Grace Whitson - 4 stars 
Rachel and Adam have both suffered great loss, and I loved Rachel's two aunts that are the heart of the community- caring for Adam's children and bringing Rachel into their fold as well. Rachel's talent as an artist are brought into the story in subtle ways, inspiring those around her. Although Rachel's exuberant friend Nel sets her cap for Adam, the interference gives both Rachel and Adam time to heal from their  broken hearts before discovering the love blossoming between them. A supporting cast full of personality!
 
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.


Friday, January 6, 2017

Favorites of 2016: Historical

I've been inspired by several blogs I follow to make a "Best of 2016" post. But I quickly ran into a problem. Of the 197 books I read last year, 74 of them were ones I rated 5 stars! How do you narrow that down?! I bit the bullet and got it down to 37, but that still seemed like too many for one blog post. So I've divided my favorites up by genre and I'll be sharing them in four separate posts: historical, contemporary, novellas, and series. 

Here are the amazing historical novels I read in 2016 in no particular order. I highly recommend all of them and they are all ones I plan to re-read again in the future!

A Captain for Laura Rose by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund

 Doing No Harm by Carla Kelly

Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd

The Express Rider's Lady by Stacy Henrie

 No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer

 The Moses Chronicles: Deliverance by H. B. Moore

 Willowkeep by Julie Daines

 So Rare a Gift by Amber Lynn Perry

 A Place for Miss Snow by Jennifer Moore

The Governess by Kristen McKendry

What were your favorite historical novels that you read in 2016?








Friday, December 2, 2016

Review: A Captain for Laura Rose by Stephanie Grace Whitson


Heidi Reads... A Captain for Laura Rose by Stephanie Grace Whitson

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Laura Rose White's late father taught her everything he knew about piloting a Missouri River steamboat. He even named their boat after her. Despite that, it seems that Laura will forever be a "cub pilot" to her brother Joe, because in 1867, a female riverboat captain is unheard of. That is, until tragedy strikes and Laura must make the two month journey from St. Louis to Fort Benton and back in order to save her family's legacy, her home, and the only life she's ever known.

The only way for her to overcome the nearly insurmountable odds is with the help of her brother's disreputable friend Finn MacKnight, a skilled pilot with a terrible reputation. Laura loathes having to accept MacKnight as her co-pilot, especially when she learns she must also provide passage for his two sisters. Straight-laced Fiona has a fear of water, and unpredictable Adele seems much too comfortable with the idea of life in the rough and tumble environment of the untamed river and the men who ply it. Though they are thrown together by necessity, this historic journey may lead Laura and the MacKnights to far more than they ever expected.


My Review

I so enjoyed reading this historical novel! I was fascinated with the journey of Laura and the obstacles she overcame along the way. All aspects of the book seemed historically accurate, rich with details and scenes pulled straight from captains' logs and journals. I especially appreciated the author's note at the end of the book which shared insights into her thorough research. She brought to life the difficulty of being a woman breaking into a male-dominated profession as Laura fought to be the first female steamboat captain. One of the main focuses of the book was the indomitable spirit of Laura, even as she felt alone and hesitant to turn to God. She and Finn bonded over the support they provided as they revealed their vulnerabilities and began to trust each other. Their characters were so well-developed and there wasn't a dull moment as they battled both internal and external trials. Finn's sisters Fiona and Adele were a wonderful contrast to each other, and Dr. Ross and Laura's mother provide spiritual guidance when Laura needs it the most. I loved the loyalty of the crew, Laura's dog Logjam, and the various colorful characters that rounded out the story. A thoroughly satisfying read!

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

E-book sale: Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson


Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Download Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson for only $1.99 through Oct 24th! I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars!

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community." Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledgling community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival!
Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.


Wednesday, June 4, 2014

E-book sale! $1.99 for Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B853Y54?tag=thevespro08-20

Download Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson for only $1.99! I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars!
(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community." Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledging community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival!

Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

99 cent e-book sale! A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson

 A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson
I read this one a few years ago, but I gave it four stars on Goodreads, so I thought I'd recommend it! The sale is two days- through May 8th.

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Synopsis from goodreads.com


https://www.goodreads.com/
An unlikely attraction occurs between two passengers on a steamboat journey up the Missouri River to Montana...
She is a self-centered young woman from a privileged family who fears the outdoors and avoids anything rustic. He is a preacher living under a sense of duty and obligation to love the unlovable people in the world. She isn't letting anything deter her from solving a family mystery that surfaced after her mother's death. He is on a mission to reach the rejects of society in the remote wilderness regions of Montana. Miss Fannie Rousseau and Reverend Samuel Beck are opposites in every way... except in how they both keep wondering if their paths will ever cross again