The Maiden's Court: Maureen Lang

Showing posts with label Maureen Lang. Show all posts

Thursday, January 28, 2016

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:

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]

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Book Review: The Gift-Wrapped Bride by Maureen Lang (12 Brides of Christmas)

The Gift Wrapped Bride by Maureen Lang
Book 4 of the 12 Brides of Christmas series
Kindle e-book, 47 pages
Shiloh Run Studios
October 27, 2014
★★★½☆☆

Genre: Historical fiction, Short story, Christmas

Source: Personal purchase

Sophie Stewart’s family has just moved to Chicago to join her brother and help start a church. Sophie is an artist with big dreams, but she feels her parents are pushing her to marry someone like Noah Jackson, a young man from their Ohio hometown. But forgiving the past and recognizing Noah’s maturity and changes may take a miracle.

I have noticed a trend in these little romance novellas – the boy always needs to prove himself to the girl who is dead set against him – and that is the case here too. Sophie has a real chip on her shoulder right from the word go. She reminds me of the typical young woman who does not want to leave the town she lived her whole life in for a big city. While she doesn’t want to be in Chicago, she certainly doesn’t want to have to interact with Noah, and boy who picked on her in the past. But Noah appears to be a changed man here and is eager to show that the Sophie. These two seemed so far apart in terms of personality that it was a little bit of a stretch to see them come together in the end – even if Noah is a changed man!

I loved that Sophie was an artist. She wanted to make her art her life, but her family saw it as more of a passing fancy. We frequently see strong women in westerns, but they still typically hold the traditional female professions, such as a teacher. So wanting to be an artist is a little outside the regular wheelhouse, but quite refreshing. Noah was determined and willing to go the distance to prove that he had changed from that young boy Sophie once knew.

Definitely an interesting story line, even if I didn’t entirely believe it.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

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 Yuletide Bride (Book 5)
By Michelle Ule

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

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Book Review: Look to the East by Maureen Lang

Look to the East by Maureen Lang

Book 1 in The Great War Series

Paperback, 368 pages

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc

September 2009

★★★★☆

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Source: Received from Holly at Bippity, Boppity, Book in a giveaway

“A village under siege. A love under fire.

France, 1914

At the dawn of the First World War, the small village of Briecourt is isolated from the early battles while a century-old feud between the Toussaints and the de Colvilles still rages in the streets. But when the German army sweeps in to occupy the town, families on both sides of the feud are forced to work together to hide stragglers caught behind enemy lines.

Juliette Toussaint may have been adopted from a faraway island, but she feels the scorn of the de Colvilles as much as anyone born a Toussaint. So when she falls in love with one of the men in hiding—a wealthy and handsome Belgian entrepreneur—she knows she’s flirting with danger.

Charles Lassone has been waiting in the church cellar, safe from the Germans for the moment. But if he’s discovered, it will threaten the entire village—including Julitte—and could cost Charles his life.”

This was a series that I have been dying to read for awhile because it is set during The Great War (WWI) and I have not read anything set during that era. I have had books 2 and 3 but was having a difficult time finding book 1. I can honestly say that this was worth the wait!

This book takes place in a small village in France where the villagers had a feud like the Hatfields and the McCoys. Throughout the book we meet characters from both sides of the feud and see them grow and come together during a time of great turmoil for their town. It shows how in the face of adversity things can be put aside for the time to deal with a greater issue.

This is a Christian fiction novel and the religiosity is upfront but not the absolute focus of the entire novel. The main character, Julitte, prays at many times throughout the novel but it is very fitting within the events they are going through. She questions God and how they could be put through such events. These are common occurrences during times of war and created a depth to her character and felt very fitting and believable to the setting.

The beginning of the novel was my only issue with the whole book. It was a little slow and awkward. I think it needed a little more in the exposition of introducing us to the characters. Once we get into the war period, the story comes together, it picks up and charges to the end. One of the strongest aspects of the novel is the emotions of the characters. You can vividly feel the fear, love, and internal struggles that they face and were the aspect that really helped suck you into the story.

The main character of book 2 is mentioned briefly in passing in this book and I can’t wait to find out more about her.

If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

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

Also by Maureen Lang:

The Oak Leaves (Oak Leaves #1)

On Sparrow Hill (Oak Leaves #2)

Whisper on the Wind (The Great War #2)

Springtime of the Spirit (The Great War #3)

Bees in the Butterfly Garden (The Gilded Legacy #1)

All in Good Time (The Gilded Legacy #2)

Find Maureen Lang: Website | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest

About Me

Heather, 30, USA. Hi everyone! I started my blog, The Maiden's Court, in May 2009 as a creative outlet for my reading and it has completely taken me to new places. I love sharing my reading and the things that I learn.

On my blog you will find my honest reviews of historical fiction books, historical movie reviews, and interesting historical content among other things. If you would like to know more about me, check out the About Me. Feel free to contact me at any time - best way is to use the contact form at the bottom of the Review Policy page or email me at dolleygurl[at]hotmail[dot]com.

Attention Authors, Publishers, Blog Tour Organizers! I would love to hear from you if you have a book that you would like for me to consider for review. Check out my review policy and then contact me with the pitch.