Once again books I loved reading. Here are my reviews from my March picks.

My review of By the Sweet Gum Tree

By the Sweet Gum Tree is Book # 3 in the Georgia Magnolia series. Like the other two, it is excellent. I loved reading about the depression era. It’s not so far removed from me as my parents were children during that era. Adding the southern setting of textile workers and child labor laws had my attention from page one. Gen and Tommy are complex characters that take the reader into the world of depression era in Georgia. The sacrifice the two make to follow dreams and keep families together tugged at my heart. So many unexpected turns in the plot kept me reading late into the night. I loved Gen’s sisters. They added so much to the story. Mulligan captured the essence of the era and sprinkled it in my heart as I cheered for Gen and Tommy to find happiness. Always love this author’s stories and deep point of view characters. I hope there are more Georgia Magnolia books.

Book Blurb:

She’s bound by duty. He’s tethered to a dream.

In the beleaguered mill town of Sweetgum, Georgia, Genessee Taylor dreams of a life beyond running the mill-owned hotel with her family. Though the work is honest, the owner of the mill is not. Genessee and her father long to see stronger labor laws passed to protect the innocent children who are injured and dying in the mill. When the owner learns of their activity, he will stop at nothing to silence them.

Tommy Mack works at the mill and dreams of playing professional ball and marrying Genessee. When he’s contracted by a big-league team, his dreams are within grasp. Just as Tommy and Genessee’s wedding is on the horizon, tragedy strikes Sweetgum. Tommy can’t stay and Genessee can’t leave.

Is there any way for them to battle through loss, deception, and sacrifice to find their way back to each other?

My review of Where the Wild Roses Bloom: Heart of a Mountie by Angela Couch

I don’t know a lot about Canada, a definitely not its history. I found this book fascinating. Couch has taken me on an interesting ride into the heart of Constable Edmond Bruce and his desire to be the best Mountie he can while fighting his feeling for the mysterious American woman Lenora Perry whom her sister has invited to stay with them. Lenora and Edmond’s struggle to finding their happily-ever-after while battling cattle thieves, forest fires and many of the duties that make Edmond question whether he wants to stay a Mountie kept me turning pages. Lots of unexpected plot twists too. I loved learning about Historical Canada and the connection between Wyoming and Albert, Canada. The ranching world often blurred the lines between the countries. Such well-developed characters and the storyline had me reading past midnight because I couldn’t abandon Lenora in her hour of need. Yes, I make friends with book characters. Look forward to more books about the Canadian West from Angela Couch.

Book Blurb:

When Lenora Perry’s dream of becoming an acclaimed singer dies a painful death, she attempts to escape her mistakes by fleeing north—directly into the path of an all-too-dashing Mountie. Though the man in scarlet appears eager to be rid of her, his home provides security, and his sister offers friendship—two things Lenora is desperate for after discovering her pregnancy. With the past dogging her footsteps and her future uncertain, dare she consider new dreams?

Upholding the law makes up the fabric of Constable Edmond Bryce’s existence. As his five years of service draw to an end, he must decide whether or not to continue in his father’s footsteps—an increasingly difficult decision now that Miss Perry has infiltrated his life. Though she’s the daughter of a parson and a close friend to his sister, Edmond can’t push aside the feeling that Lenora hides more than she tells. But duty calls, leaving little time for matters of the heart.

My Review of Love Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik

An interesting dual timeline novel that brought to life a part of history I’d never heard of before. This one switches between 1870s St. Augustine, Florida and its modern counterpart. Uhlarik has done an excellent job of bringing the two stories not only to satisfying endings but threading them together to give the readers an Ahh moment. Uhlarik’s research and storytelling skills shine through in this delightful novel.

Book Blurb:

A Love Story from the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family

Walk through Doors to the Past via a series of historical stories of romance and adventure.
 
When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. Among his effects is a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek the help of museum curator Brad Osgood to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it just another forgery?
 
Brad Osgood’s four-year-old niece, Brynn, needs a safe home, and Brad longs to provide it. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, Castillo de San Marcos, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.
 
Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving God on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians arrive in St. Augustine, God changes their plans. Then when friendship develops between Sally Jo and Broken Bow and false accusations fly, it could cost them their lives.
 
Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?

My review of Abigail’s Peace by Pegg Thomas

Another fascinating story from the Forts of Refugee series by Pegg Thomas. Her research and attention to detail regarding the Seneca Indians, Fort Niagara’s British Occupation and the Pontiac War really made the story feel real. Koyen’s village life was so interesting as was the day-to-day at the Fort. I hadn’t heard of some of the historical characters mention in the book and that added to its entertainment value. Abigail’s struggle with being treated as an equal because of her stammer was an interesting character twist. Stammers have been and sometimes still are stereotyped as someone who is also stupid. But Abigail proved her worth and her ability to learn new things, including Indian hand language.

Thomas has a wealth of knowledge focused on Colonial times and it shows in her story telling. This is the final book in the Fort of Refuge series. The three are stand-alone stories and can be read in any order. If you love Colonial historical romance, forbidden love, and accurate scenarios, you’ll love this book.

Book blurb:

Abigail Aldridge’s life in Boston was difficult. Her inability to converse with the fluid grace of her societal peers made her an outcast, a spinster sister living with her step-brother and his wife. When she concocts a way to join her uncle at the British outpost of Fort Niagara, she has no idea what dangers lurk at the edge of civilization.

Working at the fort, Koyengquahtah, a Seneca scout for the British army known as Koyen, watches the white women carried ashore from the boat. Soldiers are one thing, but women mean families. Families that plan to stay on Seneca land. It sparks in him a rebellion against the changes threatening to overwhelm his people and their way of life.

When Abigail befriends the sisters of Koyen, their paths cross and their initial distrust of each other grows into a grudging admiration. But violence erupts as two cultures clash, fueled by the Ottawa leader to the west, Pontiac.

My Review of Wilderness Wife by Delores Topliff

At first I struggled with the first-person viewpoint in this Historical Romance. But it didn’t take long to be captured by Margarite’s story. As a half-breed, life for her in the early 1800s wasn’t easy. Set in the midst of the Hudson Bay and Northwest Fur tadong Companies battle over trapping areas made the story more  intriguing. This well-researched story gave me a peek into a time in history I’d never read about in any detail. Her struggle believing her second husband loved her more than his job and fame because of her heritage was a constant emotional struggle as her first white  husband had abandoned his half- breed family  to seek fame. But John’s loyalty to her made him swoon-worthy. Their faith is portrayal is true to life in this historical setting. So many interesting plot twists kept me not only turning pages but ignoring my hubby while I finished this wonderful book. I think I’ve found a new favorite author.

Book Blurb:

How do you continue living when life collapses around you in a single day?

Marguerite Wadin MacKay believes her 17-year marriage to explorer Alex MacKay is strong—until his sudden fame destroys it. When he returns from a cross-Canada expedition, he announces their frontier marriage is void in Montréal where he plans to find a society wife—not one with native blood. Taking their son, MacKay sends Marguerite and their three daughters to a trading post where she lived as a child. Deeply shamed, she arrives in time to assist young Doctor John McLoughlin with a medical emergency.

Marguerite now lives only for her girls. When Fort William on Lake Superior opens a school, Marguerite moves there for her daughters’ sake and rekindles her friendship with Doctor McLoughlin. When he declares his love, she dissuades him from a match harmful to his career. She’s mixed blood and nine years older. But he will have no one else.

After abandonment, can a woman love again and fulfill a key role in North American History?

My review of Along the Rio Grande (Love on the Santa Fe) By Tracie Peterson

This story is set in 1900 New Mexico Territory. Tracie Peterson weaves a fascinating story with some interesting, if not at times irritating characters. Susanna, a sweet young widow, agrees to help her parents who have lost their wealth run and Inn in San Marsels, New Mexico. Her parents and brother are so self-centered that their action make me want to slap them. I loved Susanna and Owen Turner, the Godly man who becomes more than her friend. She’d promised her late husband she would remarry, but her heart says she can’t keep that promise and her promise to her  uncle she would help her parents is becoming a bane to her existence. Both promises seem overwhelming as she reunites with her very dysfunctional family in a strange new place. While Susanna adapts to her new surroundings and makes friends, her family resists at every turn. But Peterson takes these characters I was losing my patients with and brings about an unexpected transformation that was believable and satisfying. As always, Peterson’s story craft  brings out many emotions as she takes her readers to the happily-ever-after.

Book Blurb:

Is her compassion doing more harm than good?

Recently widowed Susanna Jenkins has decided to follow her family to the booming town of San Marcial, New Mexico, for a fresh start and to aid in her family’s sudden change in fortune. They are tasked with managing her uncle’s new Grand Hotel, and it takes all her patience to try to help her parents see the good of their circumstances and relinquish their sense of entitlement.

She’s hopeful when her brother becomes determined to get a job and make his own way, and she feels drawn to his kind boss, Owen Turner, who works as a boilermaker for the Santa Fe’s train shops in town. But the hard work only seems to fuel her brother’s anger, and his rough new friends give her pause.

When misguided choices put Susanna’s family in an even more precarious situation, she worries her help has only made things worse. Leaving her family to fend for themselves seems like the best option, but how can she walk away from the true friendships–and love–that she’s found?

My review of  When You Are Near (Brookstone Brides Book 1) By Tracie Peterson

I found this gem on sale. The Brookstone’s have a ranch in Wyoming and run a Wild West Show in the early 1900s. Lizzy Brookstone is a trick rider and when her father dies of a heart attack part way through their tour, he insists the show must go on. Things are changing around her and she’s closed off her heart to love and grief and is doing what she can to help everyone around her. Once back at the ranch Wesley DeShazer must help Lizzy solve a murder, protect her friend and confess his love before a city slicker successes in winning her heart. So much intrigue is woven thought this faith-filled plot. Every mystery strand is addressed, and of course good triumphs over evil. This is book one in the Brookstone Brides series. IF you like Wild West Show settings, and honorable cowboys, you’ll enjoy When You Are Near.

Book Blurb:

After her father’s death, Lizzy Brookstone, the star trick rider of the all-female Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, loses interest in performing. What she longs for is a life with the Brookstone ranch foreman, Wesley DeShazer, the man who once broke her heart. Meanwhile, Jason Adler, son of the show’s new financial partner, comes to help with the show, and Lizzy soon finds him vying for her affection.

Ella Fleming is fleeing a forced engagement when she stows away on the Brookstone train. Lizzy finds her and gives her a job in the costume department, but Ella has a dangerous secret that could affect all of their lives, as well as the future of the Brookstone Extravaganza.

When Mary Reichert, a former sharpshooter for the show, learns that her brother, August, has been killed at the Fleming farm, she refuses to believe it was an accident. She returns to the show to find the truth but is she seeking justice or vengeance?

As the three women work together to discover how August died, Lizzy strives to hold the show together. Can she keep the Brookstone Extravaganza alive without losing the desire of her heart?

Have you read any of these Historical Romances? What era in history is your favorite?