The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse (The Daughters of the Mayflower series, book 8)

The Daughters of the Mayflower series continues to release new books! The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse is the 8th book in the series and takes place during the California gold rush.

From the Back Cover:
Widowed and outnumbered in a town full of marriage proposals, Olivia Brighton is working in San Francisco at her brother's restaurant and determined to never, ever marry a gold miner. They're filthy, disgusting, and greedy. After losing her parents and then her husband of six weeks--who turned out to be a drifter and dreamer--all she wants is to live a simple life in a quiet little town. However, that can never happen in a place like this. But her brother is all the family she's got left, so San Francisco will have to be home.
Joseph Sawyer has succeeded in the hunt for gold but almost lost his life due to foolish decisions. His best friend has helped him turn his life around, and together they are doing what they can to clean up their city and share God's love. But when he uncovers evil simmering beneath the crime-riddled surface of the town, Joseph must rise everything to rescue hundreds of men, women and children from a life of slavery.
Will Olivia and Joseph unite to find the mastermind before it's too late? Is there hope for San Francisco? Or will it burn like Sodom and Gomorrah?

My Thoughts:
I have enjoyed reading through American history with this series. The books are written by several different authors which gives each story a different flare. This newest book by Kimberley Woodhouse was a very fun read. I loved the opening story. It was unusual and different from other books that I've read as Olivia is faced with a marriage of convenience that is less than ideal. I thought the author did a great job portraying the history of the San Francisco area and all the dangers that would of been present for a single lady in a gold mining town without law enforcement. I also loved how the author brought in the previous stories from the mayflower series through a journal that had been passed down in the family.  It was interesting to see how that journal impacted Olivia as she struggled with so much loss in her life. You never know how your words will impact future generations. I know that with my mom gone, her writings mean even more to me. This story was captivating and a fun addition to the series. If you're looking for a good series to start, I would encourage you to pick up the Daughter of the Mayflower series and read some fun fiction stories that will take you on a trip through American history.

My Rating: ★★★★★

The Mayflower Series

 

***I received this complimentary book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Joyful Surrender by Elisabeth Elliot

Elisabeth Elliot is one of those names that many around the world have come to know because of her husband's (Jim Elliot) death during their time as missionaries. Elisabeth has written many books over the years that have shared the wisdom she has learned throughout her time here on earth. This year, Revell has repackaged an older book written by Elisabeth Elliot and re-titled the book,  Joyful Surrender.  This title was originally published in 1982 and 2006 and called Discipline: The Glad Surrender.

In her book, Elisabeth gives 7 Disciplines for the Believer's Life. They are:
1. The Discipline of the Body
2. The Discipline of the Mind
3. The Discipline of Place
4. The Discipline of Time
5. The Discipline of Possessions
6. The Discipline of Work
7. The Discipline of Feelings

I enjoy reading Elisabeth Elliot's books since she has lived and experienced things most of us will never experience. Even though I have spent time on the mission field, it was still not in a primitive jungle setting. Her wisdom comes from years of seeking God and following the Spirit's leading. Many of the disciplines that she discusses are good food for thought and will give you a different perspective on familiar truths. I only have one issue with this book.  I was frustrated with the lack of footnotes within the chapters since I am not familiar with many of the Bible translations she quoted from. I didn't like having to flip to the end of the book to search for the notes.

Some of my favorite statements from this book are:
"If deep in our hearts we suspect that God does not love us and cannot manage our affairs as well as we can, we certainly will not submit to His discipline." (p. 39)

"Is my obedience, then, what opens heaven's door to me? No. Is it my will, after all, that determines my salvation? No. The children of God are born, 'not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.' It does not depend on man's will or effort, but on God's mercy." (p. 40)

"It is nothing short of a transformed vision of reality that is able to see Christ as more real than the storm, love more real than hatred, meekness more real than pride, long-suffering more real than annoyance, holiness more real than sin." (p. 60)

If you're looking for a book that will challenge you in your thinking, pick up this book by Elisabeth Elliot and learning what discipline means in a believer's life.

My Rating: ★★★★

***I received this complimentary book from Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Caught By Surprise by Jen Turano (Apart from the Crowd series bk. 3)

Jen's latest release, Caught By Surprise, is a fun story about Miss Temperance Flowerdew and is the final book in the Apart from the Crowd series. Temperance has had no choice in her current circumstances which haven proven quite a trial in her life.  When she is mysteriously kidnapped, it begins a chain of events that help unravel the mystery surrounding why she was left in the care of relatives who don't really want her around, and also brings her friend, Gilbert Cavendish into her life again. Gilbert and Temperance have been friends since childhood, but could there be any hope of their relationship becoming more?

This is a series that would be best to read in order. It's a great way to be introduced to all the characters that are throughout the books. I thought this story was a fun addition to the series. Jen Turano is great at crafting a story. Her wit and humor bring a smile to my face as I read. I never spend more than a few days reading Jen's books because the story moves at a great pace, and I keep wanting to read one more chapter! I liked that this story had some mystery to it with trying to figure out what really happened with Temperance's family and why she was left penniless.

If you're looking for a fun, romantic story filled with humor and mystery, pick up Jen's series, Apart from the Crowd!

My Rating: ★★★★

*I received this free e-book from Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh by Carolyn Miller

Are you looking for a fun, new christian romance novel to read? Then take a look at Carolyn Miller's Regency Brides collection which has a new set of books called The Daughters of Aynsley series. The first book in this new series is  A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh.

From the Back Cover:
As the daughter of Viscount Aynsley, Caroline Hatherleigh knows every rule of society and has always followed them perfectly. But when she visits south Devonshire and encounters a fossil-hunting scientist and his sister, her assumptions about what is right are shaken.  Questions she has never considered about the importance of friendship and faith suddenly confront her--and her comfortable understanding about how the world works is thrown off balance. What if God wants to be the center of her life, rather than merely a social obligation?
Gideon Kirby loves science, and hunting down proof of long-extinct creatures is a joy he won't willingly give up, But his scientific leanings are being challenged both by his personal beliefs and by local smugglers in the Devonshire countryside. And every day his sister's illness becomes more desperate, her care more demanding. Adding a viscount's daughter to the mix is a complication Gideon never expected--especially since he must stay far away from this young woman he's falling for in order to protect his beloved sister's secret.
When a mysterious stranger visits the village, all Gideon's efforts to keep her secret may be in vain. And the threat of scandal may lead to broken hearts and passionless propriety. If the shaky bond he and Miss Hatherleigh have nurtured isn't strong enough to overcome their differences, three lives may be torn apart.

My Thoughts:
I've been reading Carolyn Miller's Regency Brides collection and have enjoyed reading her stories. This newest series, The Daughters of Aynsley, includes many of the familiar characters from the author's other two series, The Legacy of Grace and The Promise of Hope. The reader is first introduced to the main character, Caroline Aynsley, in The Making of Mrs. Hale, as a friend of Selena Hale. And this very scene is how the new book, A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh opens. I love that the author goes back to this moment in The Making of Mrs. Hale and gives the perspective of Caroline and Edward in that same scene. And because of this, it is important that you read at least The Making of Mrs. Hale before beginning this book. I would advise that you actually read all of the Regency Brides collections in order to get the most benefit of knowing the characters. The interweaving nature of all the books is what I love about these series. This story was a fun one full of societal rules that we cannot relate to, misunderstandings, mystery and danger. I liked how the author included archeological finds from that day. And I also liked how the author used Caroline's character to question current societal norms about a relationship with God.
If you're looking for a fun read with a little added romance, pick up Carolyn Miller's Regency Brides series and read about a group of young ladies from England during the 1800's.

My Rating: ★★★★

***I received this complimentary book from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.