Book Review-Verity

Verity is the second book in The Sugar Baron’s Daughters series written by Lisa T. Bergren. While you could read book two without reading book one, I wouldn’t recommend it because there is so much backstory in the first one. Plus, the first one was so good, it is worth the read!
Summary: This book centers around Verity-the second eldest of the Banning sisters. Verity is ready for independence. She wants to set up her own shop in town-selling many of the things that are difficult to obtain on the island.
In order to stock her new store, she decides to take a trip to the American colonies to purchase goods, and to find out what has happened to her beau Captain Duncan McKintrick-whom she has now not heard from in months.
Upon arrival in the colonies however, unexpected news awaits, and Verity finds herself drawn towards the plight of the colonists.
Will she be able to begin and maintain a successful business, even though many are angry with the thought of a woman business owner?
And will she be drawn into the colonists’ struggles and decide to side with them over her loyalist family?
My Thoughts: I have been anxiously awaiting this second installment to the series, and it definitely didn’t disappoint! I really enjoy the author’s writing style, the incorporation of so much history and drama set during the American revolution, and how it was viewed from both the colonists’ perspective, the British perspective, and all those caught in between.
The writing was well-done, the storyline was very engaging, and I enjoyed the romance as well. A wonderful book, and I look forward to the next in the series!
If you enjoy historical fiction/romance, especially set during the American Revolution, I highly recommend this series-it is definitely a buy in my book, and that is the highest praise I can give!
As always, I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Book Review-On A Summer Tide

On a Summer Tide is a fiction novel written by Suzanne Woods Fisher. It is book one in the Three Sisters Island series.
Summary: The three Grayson sisters have problems. Cam buries herself in work, Maddie dispenses neurotic advice like candy (except candy is bad for you), and Blaine changes her college major every fifteen seconds. Each is completely absorbed in her own world.
That is, until their father sells the family home, and buys an island off the coast of Maine.
The sisters go into overdrive insisting he has either lost his mind, or is going through a mid-life crisis. At the very least, he is ruining his life.
The sisters are determined to intervene on their father’s behalf, but as they settle into island life, they might just be forced to examine the problems in their own lives too.
My Thoughts: I liked the premise of this book, but I think the author went a little too far in developing the sisters’ quirky personalities. I found them to be so annoying in the beginning, I almost didn’t want to keep reading.
I was literally thinking just how terrible a job the parents did in raising kids that turned out so horribly self-absorbed.
However, I stuck it out in hopes that they would mellow and change throughout the story, and they did.
The book ended up being a decent read-it is well-written, has an interesting plot, and has some good messages throughout, but I really had to get past the rough beginning.
I don’t know that I would buy this one. Maybe one to just check out from the library?
I would like to thank Revell for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Thank you!

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Book Review-The Golden Bride

The Golden Bride is book eight in The Daughters of the Mayflower series, and was written by Kimberley Woodhouse.
Summary: Olivia Brighton has had a rough year. First, her parents pass away. Then, her husband. If only she had been a better daughter. A better wife.
But now, she must press on to San Francisco. Her brother owns a successful restaurant there, and she hopes to reconnect with him and start a new life. That is, if she can survive all of the guilt she feels.
Will Olivia be able to come to terms with her past and open her heart again to someone new? Or will everything she and her brother have worked for be destroyed by a disastrous fire?
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written, covers a lot of interesting history from the time of the gold rush in California, and how unruly and disorganized San Francisco was at that time. It also has some really good messages about redemption and God’s grace.
I have not read any of the previous books in this series, but can say this book stands on its own, and it is not necessary to have read any of the others in order to enjoy this story.
This is a wonderful historical romance, and I encourage you to pick it up!
As always, I thank Barbour Publishing, Inc. for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Book Review-The Erie Canal Brides Collection

Summary: The Erie Canal Brides Collection contains seven short story romances. Each story is set in the early 1800s with an underlying theme of the construction of the Erie Canal.
My Thoughts: A few of the stories seemed very short to me. So short, there wasn’t even much room for a plot/problem/romance.
My favorites were definitely Digging for Love, and Journey of the Heart. Journey of the Heart-I would have loved for that one to have been a full novel-such a fascinating storyline, and lots of great suspense.
Overall, I felt some stories were good, some OK, and there were a few really great ones. So, kind of a mixed bag on this one.
Mainly, if the stories had been a bit longer, there might have been room for more development of the plot lines, and I might have enjoyed them more.
I realize there isn’t much room in a collection for longer stories, but perhaps had there been less stories, they could have been longer?
Anyway, just my thoughts-nothing against anyone’s writing styles-more of just a length issue I think.
As always, I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, Inc. for providing me with a free digital copy of this collection in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!