Book Review: Becoming Mrs. Smith by Tanya E. Williams

Becoming Mrs. Smith (Volume 1) by Tanya E. Williams
ARC, e-Book, 110 pages
Rippling Effects Writing & Photography
October 10, 2017
★★★★ ½☆

Genre: Historical Fiction, Novella

Source: Received for review with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Not all of war’s destruction takes place on the battlefield.
Violet’s heart flutters from the scarlet fever she survived as a child, and it beats faster at the sight of John Smith, the man she plans to marry. America is entrenched in WWII, and when John enlists, Violet is certain she won’t ever forgive him for dashing their dreams. As the realities of war slowly overtake her life, Violet's days are filled with uncertainty and grief. She struggles to maintain her faith in John, as the world as she knows it, crumbles.

Becoming Mrs. Smith is the inspiring, and at times, heartbreaking story of a woman’s struggle to reclaim what she lost. War stole the man she loves, and childhood illness weakened her heart—perhaps beyond repair. While guns rage in Europe, the war Violet faces at home may be even more devastating.

For a short novella, Williams covers a lot of ground within those few pages and moves us quickly through the gamut of emotions to include anger, happiness, and sadness. You are rapidly sucked into the action and moved a lot with the events as they unfold. Violet ages from a young girl at home to a woman out in the world, working and falling in love. Each segment jumps oftentimes several months between events and sometimes even years. Whereas this would normally be a potential turnoff as I would feel compelled to ask “what happened in between”, I didn’t find myself having time to ask that as Williams moves us right into the next emotional beat. There was maybe a half a moment, before the last scene, where I felt if it was a novel it would have built up more, however, it was emotionally satisfying just the way it resulted.

This is most definitely a story of those left behind during war. Violet and her friends face the challenges of watching those they care about leave for the front and some not return. This affects them all in different ways and I appreciated seeing how they all reacted to traumatic events. It is not all stiff upper lip and carrying on for those abroad, which made it feel very real.

I was absolutely crying by the end of this novella. I’m not one who typically cries while reading; for that to happen within this short time span is a testament to how quickly Williams’ characters grew on me and how much I cared about their outcomes. If your heart isn’t just a little broken by the end of this I don’t know what will! I look forward to reading the next in this series.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Hopewell’s Public Library of Life
• Bookish Lifestyle

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by Tanya E. Williams:

Breathe

Find Tanya E. Williams: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog

Tour-Wide Giveaway

During the Blog Tour there is an opportunity to enter a giveaway for an eBook of Becoming Mrs. Smith! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 17th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
• Only one entry per household.
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• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Becoming Mrs. Smith

Follow the Tour!

HFVBT Website or on Twitter #BecomingMrsSmithBlogTour

Monday, October 30
Feature at View from the Birdhouse
Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

Tuesday, October 31
Review at Hopewell’s Public Library of Life

Wednesday, November 1
Feature at The Lit Bitch

Thursday, November 2
Review at Bookish

Friday, November 3
Feature at Passages to the Past

Monday, November 6
Review at Once Upon A Book

Tuesday, November 7
Feature at The Reading Queen

Wednesday, November 8
Guest Post at Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen

Thursday, November 9
Excerpt at Just One More Chapter

Friday, November 10
Feature at Jenn’s Book Vibes

Monday, November 13
Excerpt at What Cathy Read Next

Tuesday, November 14
Interview & Excerpt at Jorie Loves a Story

Wednesday, November 15
Feature at A Literary Vacation
Review at Singing Librarian Books

Thursday, November 16
Review at The Maiden’s Court

Friday, November 17
Review at Bookramblings
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books
Feature at Broken Teepee

Copyright © 2017 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Season of Love by Vivi Holt

I am participating in a blog tour for the Christmas novellas that are part of the Cutter’s Creek series and this week I will have a review of Season of Love by Vivi Holt, but I will also be sharing some other content and reviews with you throughout November and December.  Don’t worry about if you have never read a book in this series before, you can still dive right in and enjoy the season with these novellas without prior knowledge.  So, first just an intro to the series and then my review of Season of Love is below that.  Enjoy!

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It’s a Christmas sugarplum celebration! Christmas in Cutter’s Creek means a Christmas social; sugarplum contest, dancing, a dash of mayhem and a heaping helping of romance.

First off is Kit Morgan’s Recipe for Christmas. This novella is set in 1866 and is the very first Cutter’s Creek Christmas social, and so much mischief happens, it’s a wonder they had another!

Lucius Judrow from Love is Blind has a brother and he’s on his way to Cutter’s Creek. Come see who Eldon meets in this hilarious and sweet romance!

The next is Vivi Holt’s Seasons of Love. It takes place in 1872. The social has changed just a bit. You’d think they’d learned with all the trouble, but no, the social is more fun than trouble. Margaret is a lonely school teacher from the East looking for a little love and adventure. She finds just that and a whole lot more in this sweet Christmas romance!

Third Christmas novella is just a few years later and the social has changed yet again, to a cider competition! The contestants get a little rowdy and words are said that might ruin Christmas! Felicity will need special help to solve this mess. Find out more in Annie Boone’s Christmas Spirit.

The fourth and final Christmas novella takes place in 1892 and rumors of Christmas social’s past dominate the festivities. Carol needs to find a husband and the new doctor in town provides a great opportunity. A snowball fight leads to romance in Kari Trumbo’s A Carol Plays.

Recipe for Christmas ǀ Season of Love ǀ Christmas Spirit ǀ A Carol Plays

Find the Cutter’s Creek authors on Facebook!

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Season of Love by Vivi Holt
Book 11 in the Cutter’s Creek series
ARC, e-Book, 82 pages
Black Lab Press
October 27, 2016
★★★★☆

Heat Level:

Genre: Historical Romance, Western, Christmas

Source: Received from Author for Beta and Review

Margaret Hutchins has been alone since her parents died of influenza in Chicago a decade earlier. When she moves to Cutter’s Creek in Montana Territory for a fresh start, as the new teacher for the little school, she discovers a cozy community where she’s welcomed and appreciated.

Heath Moore had his heart broken by Charlotte Beaufort years ago, and he’s hesitant to court again. Until, that is, he runs into Margaret just before Christmas – she’s beautiful, intelligent and compassionate. But when she makes a decision that changes her life forever, it drives a wedge between them.

Enjoy spending a white Christmas in Cutter’s Creek, as a season of love unfolds in the most unlikely way.

There is nothing better than sitting down to enjoy the Christmas and winter season than with a good book, and the authors of the Cutter’s Creek series have each written a novella to treat you to just that! Vivi Holt contributes Season of Love which brings the heart back into the season.

When six children arrive in Cutter’s Creek after a long trek on the pioneering trail alone and with no parents in sight, the residents of the town do their best to house them, but it quickly becomes a difficult challenge. Margaret (Meg), a single school-teacher, steps up to the plate to take in all six of the children and realizes that she might have bit off more than she can chew – especially considering the hesitant nature of the children to trust her. Heath Moore, a neighbor, helps Meg in many ways with the children and is clearly interested in Meg, however she cannot see beyond the children and uses them as a barrier to possibly finding love with Heath. Will the two be able to find their way to each other and what will happen to the children as Christmas draws near?

Heath has made a previous appearance in an earlier Holt/Cutter’s Creek novel, Betrothed, and that novel provides a small amount of backstory for him – but it is entirely unnecessary to have read any of the Cutter’s Creek novels to fully enjoy this one as it’s relatively self-contained. He is so kind and goes out of his way to help Meg and the children. Meg is very giving and takes on a huge responsibility with these children and she wants to make them feel loved and at home as the holiday season approaches. I felt her hurt and struggles as she tries to figure out how to connect with the children. This novella is so full of heart – not only with the establishing of this new family, but also with the relationship between Heath and Meg. This gave the story a different feel than many westerns or romances that I have read and helped build the feelings of the season. Building on those seasonal elements, there are outings in sleighs, and skating, etc!

A couple little quibbles. The beginning of the novella starts out with the children experiences on the trail west and what happens to their family so that they arrive in Cutter’s Creek alone. After that initial prologue, the story turns to focus on Meg, Heath, and their perspective with handling the situation that the children bring. I would have really liked to have had more chapters from the perspective of the children to help provide more understanding behind what they were going through or why they reacted the ways that they did. This could certainly have been easily resolved with a lengthier piece. Additionally, I hesitated to really get behind Meg for a little while, not that I didn’t like her, I just didn’t like how she would essentially use the fact that she was now caring for six children as an excuse for why a relationship with Heath would never work.

Overall an enjoyable stand-alone piece that could be utilized as an entryway into the Cutter’s Creek series.

Buy the Book: Amazon

Also by Vivi Holt:

Mail Order Bride: Christy
[My Review]


Mail Order Bride: Ramona


Mail Order Bride: Katie
[My Review]


Of Peaks and Prairies (Book 1 of Paradise Valley)
[My Review]

Other Books in the Cutter’s Creek Series:
The Cutter’s Creek series is a loosely interconnected series of novellas that all take place in Cutter’s Creek, Montana, each written by a different author.


The Healing Touch by Kit Morgan (Book 1)


The Strong One by Vivi Holt (Book 2)
[My Review]


New Beginnings by Annie Boone (Book 3)


A Lily Blooms by Kari Trumbo (Book 4)


A Penny Shines by Kari Trumbo (Book 5)


Becoming a Family by Annie Boone (Book 6)

 
Betrothed by Vivi Holt (Book 7)
[My Review]


Love is Blind by Kit Morgan (Book 8)


Cherished by Vivi Holt (Book 9)
[My Review]

The Other Cutter’s Creek Christmas Novellas:


Recipe for Christmas by Kit Morgan (Book 10)


Christmas Spirit by Annie Book (Book 12)


A Carol Plays by Kari Trumbo (Book 13)

Find Vivi Holt: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest



Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Debutante's Guide to Rebellion by Kathleen Kimmel

A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion by Kathleen Kimmel

Book 1.5 in the Birch Hall series

ARC, e-book, 80 pages

InterMix

April 19, 2016

★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Novella

Source: Received from Publisher for Review at Romantic Historical Reviews

A bashful botanist and a reluctant debutante are about to discover that there may be a science to seduction after all...

London, 1815: Lady Mildred Weller (Eddie to her friends) has few prospects for marriage. If she can’t attract the available—though considerably older—Lord Averdale, she may be doomed to spinsterhood. She’s even willing to enter into that loveless union, if only to escape her mother’s stifling and increasingly desperate dominance. And she may have found the perfect person to help her achieve that goal.

Ezekiel Blackwood is a botanist as well as Lord Averdale’s nephew and heir. He is also a social disaster. Cross-pollination he understands; the fairer sex not at all. But in Lady Eddie, he discovers a kindred spirit. When she asks for his assistance in assessing Lord Averdale’s interest in her, Ezekiel is crushed. But naturally, he thinks, she could never fall in love with someone like him. Ezekiel’s matchmaking cousin is only too happy to arrange a discreet rendezvous for their conspiracy—a greenhouse. Of course in such a setting, it’s only natural that feelings might begin to bloom...

**This Review was Previously Posted at Romantic Historical Reviews**

A lot happened in this brief 80 pages so that it felt much longer than it actually was; if I didn’t know better I would have thought this was just a slightly shorter-than-normal length novel. Novellas can sometimes fall into a trap where the pacing feels too fast or characters are left underdeveloped, but not here! Kathleen Kimmel carefully utilizes each word to move the plot forward or flesh out her characters.

Within just a few short pages I felt very sure of my feelings for Lady Eddie and Co. Lady Eddie and Ezekiel are not your beautiful, elegant, stars of the ball, but rather studious and even strange to the ton. Their fish-out-of-water nature at these grand Season events made for some comical scenes. Thinking back on it, these would be two people I would probably fit right in with if I was back in that time! Lady Eddie’s mother is certainly not someone to mess with, and that makes it all the more exciting when Lady Eddie does exactly that; even the best laid and devious plans often go awry! Although she might seem a little over-the-top, I’m sure people like her mother certainly existed then as they do now.

The romance element here was sweet and very unexpected for the couple involved; by that I mean that as the reader you see it coming, but the characters not so much. Ezekiel is not interested in looking for love, but eventually decides that a wife could be useful in some ways, while Lady Eddie’s marriage prospects has been laid out by her mother and she is given no say in the matter. It was refreshing to see these two novices in the world of the Season that seems filled with those who are playing the game and that naiveté played into some funny moments that endeared the characters to me.

This was a novella where I felt my time was well-spent. It was an enjoyable, light-hearted romp and I was impressed with how much I cared for these characters over just the short amount of time I had to spend with them. I would love to see them appear in another piece of this series. Regarding the fact that this is a series, I did not notice any time where I felt I was missing something by not having read any of the other books previously. I haven’t yet pieced together how the books in the series actually connect with each other as it doesn’t appear to be an obvious continuation or interconnected characters or setting. However, based on my enjoyment of Kimmel’s writing style, I will definitely be exploring her other titles.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Fresh Fiction
• Ramblings from this Chick

 
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 
Also by Kathleen Kimmel:

A Lady’s Guide to Ruin (Birch Hall Book 1)

A Gentleman’s Guide to Scandal (Birch Hall Book 2)

 
Find Kathleen Kimmel: Website | Facebook | Twitter

 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Mail Order Bride Katie by Vivi Holt

Mail Order Brides: Katie by Vivi Holt
Book 3 in the Orphan Brides Go West series
ARC, e-Book, 123 pages
Black Lab Press
April 8, 2016
★★★★ ½☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Western, Novella

Source: Received from the Author for Review

Newly pregnant, Katie’s husband is killed in a construction accident in downtown Boston. Having lost her parents as a girl, she has to rely on her own skills to make her way. When she loses her job as well, she doesn’t know where to turn for help.

Swedish immigrant, Kristoff, owns a thriving business in California after the boom of the gold mines brought so many new settlers to the area. Even with all of his success, he longs for a companion to share his life with. After revealing his desires in a correspondence with his cousin back east, she tells him about Katie’s predicament.

Before long Katie heads west to marry him, convinced it is the only way to take care of the baby growing inside of her.

Afraid to tell Kristoff about the baby, Katie tries desperately to keep her condition a secret. What will Kristoff do when he discovers she has been hiding the truth? Can their fledgling love overcome an omission this big?

This novella was an exciting reading experience that I dove into on a whim. I knew nothing about this author or series and had not read anything mail order bride related before; so I essentially started this with no expectations. I haven’t historically read a lot of romances, but that is quickly starting to change. This is a sweet romance, so there are a couple chaste kissing scenes (with their desire for more…), but there is no dancing between the sheets here. You could feel the passion and interest in both of the characters, but everything is kept in check because of various plot points that I’m not going to spoil here.

Although this is novella length, it had the feel of a full length novel. The plotting did not feel rushed, as some romances (even full length romances) can tend toward. There were complete character arcs and real time spent with relationship development. I actually cared for everyone involved in this story, even the periphery characters, they were all fully fleshed out. The story moved right along and I did not want to put it down – I just wanted to reach the end of the story and ultimately want to pick up the previous two (and the upcoming too). This is the third book in the series, but they do not need to be read in any particular order and I don’t know that they are really interrelated, besides being based on brides that are orphans and head west. This was not what I consider a typical mail order bride novel, based on what that term brings to mind. It was more of an arrangement through a third party friend, rather than through a service of some kind.

Another element that I really liked was the choice of settings – Boston and Sacramento, California. These are not common locations and they were fleshed out enough to be unique locations, not just stamped. It made the story feel fresh.


Buy the Book: Amazon

 
Also by Vivi Holt:

Mail Order Bride: Christy

Mail Order Bride: Ramona

The Strong One (Cutter's Creek #2)
[My Review]

Of Peaks and Prairies (Paradise Valley #1)
[My Review]


Find Vivi Holt: Amazon Page | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter

 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: 12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection 2 by Mary Connealy, Amanda Cabot, and Maureen Lang

A Bride Rides Herd by Mary Connealy
The Fourth of July Bride by Amanda Cabot
The Summer Harvest Bride by Maureen Lang
In Novella Collection 2 of the 12 Brides of Summer series

ARC, E-Book, 149 pages
Shiloh Run Studios
July 1, 2015
★★★★ ½☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Western, Short Stories

Source: Received for review via Netgalley request

Love Is Buzzing in the Good Old Summertime!  Spend the sunny days of summer relaxing with an ice cold glass of lemonade and revel in the dreams of twelve brides who are a bit surprised by how the men of their dreams come into their lives.  Journey to the Old West, stay on the prairie, and visit quaint small towns. . .without leaving the comfort of your own front porch! 

Fireworks start to fly as love finds its way into open hearts in Novella Collection #2:

A Bride Rides Herd by Mary Connealy
Matt Reeves arrives at his brother’s ranch to find Betsy Harden alone with the little girls during a cattle drive. Will the ladies be too much to handle when Matt steps in for the missing ranch hand? 

The Fourth of July Bride by Amanda Cabot
Cattle baron Gideon Carlisle offers to pay for surgery that Naomi Towson’s mother needs, if Naomi will enter a faux courtship with him while his mother is visiting over the fourth of July. It’s a business arrangement, nothing more. 

The Summer Harvest Bride by Maureen Lang
Sally Hobson is practically engaged to the mayor’s son when Lukas Daughton and his family come to town to build a gristmill. She can’t deny an unusual feeling growing for Lukas, but is he trustworthy?

These novella/short story collections are prefect for me when I’m not ready for a long-term commitment with a new book. We all have those days, for me, it especially after finishing a lengthy book. Here you get three complete little romances, about a 3 hour commitment of your time for the whole book, and they are complete with great characters, simple love, and some fun plot twists.

A Bride Rides Herd by Mary Connealy was the perfect way to kick off this collection. From the first lines there is non-stop action until the very end. It grabs you and sucks you in. The male lead, Matt, stumbles upon Betsey who is caring for his brother’s children. Neither of them know too much about taking care of kids and quite the adventure unfolds. The way it is written it would be the perfect western rom-com movie! Mary Connealy is known for her incorporation of humor in her works and that is on display here to great effect. I loved all the characters and it was well paced – I didn’t want this one to end!

The Fourth of July Bride by Amanda Cabot is your classic tale of two people who need each other to solve a problem that they have; their relationship is a business deal and nothing more. Until they start to fall for each other. It felt something like an old school She’s All That, which I loved (minus the bet). Something always gets in the way and in this novel that is religion. It is a tried and true trope but I found the religious angle to be believable for the time period. It was fun to read that a few of the secondary characters in this story were featured in their own works, The Christmas Star Bride (from the 12 Brides of Christmas novella series) and Waiting for Spring.

The Summer Harvest Bride by Maureen Lang is a tale of unexpected love. Sally is comfortable with her life and there is an expectation from everyone in town that she will be marrying the mayor’s son, it’s just a matter of when. When these new visitors show up with a startling plan to build a mill in the town, which throws a wall up between Sally and her intended as they end up on opposite sides of this debate. And that leave some room for Lukas to try to wiggle his way into Sally’s heart. But what does she want, the life that is expected or something that she can’t see yet what the future will bring? I thought all of the characters were very full for a short story and I appreciated that they received the same treatment as those in a novel. The choices the characters made felt true to their core. I also enjoyed the details included about the building and operations of a grist mill. I have had some experience with these during my MANY trips to Old Sturbridge Village so I can attest to it simulating the real experience. This novella included the least of the inspirational/Christian elements.

Overall, this was another wonderful collection; none of the stories were a letdown at all. I have one collection left in this series and I can’t wait to have the chance to read it!


Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• D.L. Kamstra
• Bookworm Mama

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 
Also Part of the 12 Brides of Summer Series:

12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #1
[My Review]

12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #3

12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #4
[My Review]

 









Find the 12 Brides Series (Including the Christmas Series): Website | Facebook

Find Mary Connealy: Website | Blog

Find Amanda Cabot: Website | Facebook | Blog | Twitter

Find Maureen Lang: Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Blog

 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: The Yuletide Bride by Michelle Ule

The Yuletide Bride by Michelle Ule
Book 5 of the 12 Brides of Christmas series
Kindle e-Book, 51 pages
Shiloh Run Studios
November 3, 2014
★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Fiction, Short Story, Christmas

Source: Personal purchase

Ewan Murray and Kate McDougall hold a mutual appreciation for music—and each other. But as she comes of age, Ewan realizes he must do something to prove his worth to her banker father. Will a refurbished heirloom and a sudden snowstorm be the key to earning permission to marry?

The Yuletide Bride has been one of my favorite short stories in this collection of Christmas stories so far of the 5 I have read. While with many of these in the collection there is a clear indication from the outset as to just who the heroine would end up with, in this story there was some clear doubt. This was something I appreciated as it gave the story have a little more weight to it and there was a clear sense of there being consequences for actions or lack of action. Additionally, I liked that this story wasn’t at its core about two people falling in love in a ridiculously short time frame. There is a relationship already there from the start that is built upon over time and the characters interest in each other actually makes sense. At play against the interest of love is the responsibility of Kate’s father to only agree to a match for his daughter with someone who has shown that he can take care of his daughter. It was very well done.

I did notice a sense of good guy vs. bad guy in this story. Not that one was a criminal or a terrible choice, but there was the guy who wants to help everyone and the guy that is just looking out for himself. It made it easier for the reader to decide who they supported for Kate’s hand.

There are elements of Christian faith throughout this story – it is used to show where the characters get their strength from and was believable to their nature. It was not heavy-handed or preachy here.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Zac Weikal
• Sunnie Reviews

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 
Also in the 12 Brides of Christmas Series:

The Advent Bride (Book 1)

By Mary Connealy

[My Review]

The Nutcracker Bride (Book 2)

By Margaret Brownley

[My Review]

The Evergreen Bride (Book 3)

By Pam Hillman

[My Review]

The Gift-Wrapped Bride (Book 4)

By Maureen Lang

[My Review]

The Gingerbread Bride (Book 6)

By Amy Lillard

The Nativity Bride (Book 7)

By Miralee Ferrell

The Christmas Tree Bride (Book 8)

By Susan Paige Davis

The Festive Bride (Book 9)

By Diana Brandmeyer

The Christmas Star Bride (Book 10)

By Amanda Cabot

The Snowbound Bride (Book 11)

By Davalynn Spencer

The Fruitcake Bride (Book 12)

By Vickie McDonough

Find the 12 Brides: Website | Facebook

 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court