Love and Order - a Old West Romantic Mystery by Jennifer Uhlarkik

Love and Order: A Three-Part Old West Romantic Mystery

What a Ride! 🐎

Calliope, Andromeda, and Orion Braddock and their respective love interests made for such an interesting novel. Being comprised of novellas, switching points of view were very enjoyable I found. However, Calliope's  & Joe's story was a bit rushed. 

Despite that, the book held my interest.  There is palpable evil and darkness, but a strong faith throughout. This tale is Western in every sense.

QUOTABLE:

“Hear ye! Hear ye! Court’s in session. All you mulligrubs in the back of the courtroom keep your traps shut and give these fellers up front a chance to talk.” 

I've never read Jennifer Uhlarik's work before, but based on this I'm interested in reading more.

I received an eVersion from the publisher and NetGalley.  All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.
448 pages
Expected to be published 4/1/2025by Barbour Fiction

Until next time, Hugs and Cup of Tea
Heather Elizabeth

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

 

***WONDERFUL***

First time reading this author and I loved every bit of it!  Highly recommend for those who enjoy historical fiction mixed with faith, mystery, a bit of humor and romance.  This story has vivid descriptions throughout and I love all the ways Grace relates real life to the books she has read and uses her knowledge to her advantage.  Although she is highly misunderstood, she is smart, entertaining and caring and exactly who Frederick needs.  Frederick sees the value in her and is beyond intrigued; exactly who Grace needs.

Quotable: “Clearly you’ve not been reading your Sherlock. Every mystery starts with a remote theory based on inconclusive findings.”

Faith Moment: If David in the Psalms had to remind himself of the truth when his heart trembled with fear, Grace could do no less. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

Tea Moment: “I see the tea’s been brought up for you, my lady. Would you like me to pour out?” “No thank you, Mary. I’ll see to it myself.” With a bow of her golden head, Mary excused herself, leaving Grace to the impending silence. The fire crackled in the white marble hearth, adding flickering light to the electric ones dotted throughout the room.

Mature Elements: I will mention that although tasteful in nature,  this book is probably more for mature audiences as it repeatedly shares the excitement a young couple feels after experiencing the marriage bed.

I was gifted an eBook via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

((5 Stars))

((MY STARS)) 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

From the author's Pinterest page - Havensbrook Manor

PUBLISHERS SYNOPSIS:  Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens’s Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future. 

Barbour Publishing, (c) 09-01-2021 

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

CHRISTIAN BOOK

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance novels with grace, humor, and culture clashes. She’s a Blue Ridge Mountain native and an anglophile who enjoys combining her two loves to create memorable stories of hope. You can connect with Pepper over at her website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.

LOVES PURE LIGHT - 4 XMAS NOVELLAS

Love's Pure Light - 4 Stories follow and Heirloom Nativity Set through 4 Generations

 Raney, McNear, Dietze, Rosche  Available Sept 1, 2020

***RECOMMENDED - CHRISTMAS EASY READING ***

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCH ARE KEEPING BY SUSAN DIETZE

Massachusetts, 1899

"...when one is facing hardship, it often helps to focus on helping somone else."

"Never had a friend, male or female, challenged or encouraged him in his relationship with God or his work the way she had.  He'd never met a woman who could make him feel this confused yet at the same time this peaceful- "

This was a decent story with plenty of moments of redemption. However, I never care for characters who profess their love after a mere 3 weeks. It takes away from the story.

((3 Stars=I like it.))

THE WISE GUY AND THE STAR BY SHANNON McNEAR

Charleston, SC to Kansas City, Mo, 1919

"Good noon, ladies! Might I start you off with a cup of coffee or tea?" "Tea please," Aunt Lila said.

"God feels very far away. Like I've seen too much, done too much, somehow. Ordinary church is fine for ordinary people but..." [Stella shifted from one to the other. "Lord, help me grasp just what it is he's trying to say - and give me words that might offer comfort and strength."]

I really enjoyed the writing style, rich with detail but not so much as to get in the way. Nat and Stella are very sweet in their interactions. Realizing that Seth and Jesse from the previous story are her parents was unexpected and nice.

((4 Stars=I Really Liked It)

ON ANGEL WINGS BY JANICE ROSCHE

Kansas City, MO, 1945

"since Elodie Wise was a little girl, she'd been told she carried a light inside her soul that even the darkest night could not snuff out. The only problem? When she wanted - or rather needed - to hide, she never could. That didn't stop her from trying of course."

Decent story.  I liked Elodie and Benjamin's lifelong friendship.

((3 Stars=I liked it))

MAKING ROOM AT THE INN BY DEBORAH RANEY

Cape Girardeau, MO, Present Day

"An old hutch leaned agains the brick. Painted her favorite robin's-egg blue, the hutch held an exquisite mismatch of old dishes. No doubt the same cups and saucers she and Mimi had taken tea from that long ago Christmas. Oh how she wished they'd taken a photo..."

Very good story.  Although I generally do not enjoy modern tales, this one held my interest. The easy banter between Benjie and Trevor, yet moments of trepidations as they grew in affection for one another worked really well for me.

I love how the nativity found its way into the story and even grew with more pieces. It sure would be fun to see it!

((4 Stars=I Really Liked It))

I received a complimentary eBook from the NetGalley & the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

Barbour Publishing, 448 Pages, (c) Sept 1, 2020

((STARS)) 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

Until next time - hugs and a cup of tea!

THE CHISHOLM TRAIL BRIDE

Barbour Publishing 03/15/2020 

- 4 stars – recommended

•°o•:*:•.Very Enjoyable Book.•:*:• o°•

The synopsis of this book is very inaccurate. Despite that, I really enjoyed the story. Wyatt Creed is not a Pinkerton man.  He is 14 and on a  cattle drive with his friend, 12-year-old Eliza Jane Gentry and her father (the boss) and a brat of a boy named Benjamin Barnhart.  Things with Wyatt’s angry drunk of a father get out of hand, and the 2 boys end up in an altercation that changes their lives forever.  Eliza grows up thinking that Wyatt was killed that night on the cattle drive and years later thinks she is falling for Ben whose political ambitions have him doing whatever it takes to succeed. Eliza is stubborn, just like her dad and they butt heads often.  Eventually, she learns a whole lot of truth, but not before getting into a whole lot of trouble. Wyatt has made a new life for himself as a well-respected detective with his own agency, but he’s never forgotten the little girl who was his dear friend.

“Hurrying inside, she took a seat in the back pew and listened to a sermon based on 1 John 3 about living as God’s children. She left feeling not only uplifted, but also secure in the knowledge that her current troubles had not escaped the Lord’s notice.”

“Tea would be lovely. Earl Grey if you have it.”

I received an eCopy from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review with no further compensation or expectation.

So far in this series, twelve books have been written by varied authors so they loosely reference each other’s characters in the family tree, and therefore need not be read together or in order. You can read about them at DaughtersOfTheMayflowerDotCom.

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS – HOWEVER, WHOEVER WROTE IT CLEARLY DID NOT READ THE BOOK:

Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive
Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Furious at his daughter’s choices, her father sends her off with the cattle drive heading toward Fort Worth and the Barnhart ranch, but under the watchful eye of Wyatt Creed, a Pinkerton man he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn—not the least of which to his heart—can Wyatt Creed keep his focus with Eliza Gentry around? Is the Chisholm Trail a place for falling in love or a place to die at the hands of cattle thieves?

GIVEAWAY TEA and CHOCOLATE plus a review of The Blizzard Bride

I happened upon a lovely giveaway
on an IG account I follow & thought
some of you might be interested too.

Available 02/01/2020
CLICK HERE for Amazon Link

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS:
A Blizzard Changes Everything

Abigail Bracey arrives in Nebraska in January 1888 to teach school…and to execute a task for the government: to identify a student as the hidden son of a murderous counterfeiter—the man who killed her father.

Agent Dashiell Lassiter doesn’t want his childhood sweetheart Abby on this dangerous job, especially when he learns the counterfeiter is now searching for his son, too, and he’ll destroy anyone in his way. Now Dash must follow Abby to Nebraska to protect her…if she’ll let him within two feet of her. She’s still angry he didn’t fight to marry her six years ago, and he never told her the real reason he left her.

All Dash wants is to protect Abby, but when a horrifying blizzard sweeps over them, can Abby and Dash set aside the pain from their pasts and work together to catch a counterfeiter and protect his son—if they survive the storm?

•°o•:*:•.Really Enjoyed Entire Book.•:*:• o°•

This was a pleasant read for me.  Late 1800s – Abigail and Dashiell (great name!) are forced to work together, undercover, to catch a counterfeiter. They haven’t seen each other in years; not since they were about to get engaged, but they harbor a variety of feelings for each other that only time and the good Lord can help them work through. I appreciated the mystery aspect of the story as well as the gentle working of the Lord to help them with forgiveness and trust, particularly Abby. Dash struggles with “word blindness” aka dyslexia, of which very little was known back then.  He’s really hard on himself and lacks confidence. But, he is a strong hero in so many ways and others are able to help him recognize that as the story progresses. Mr. Yates was a very special character.  His side story was exactly what I hoped it would be and knowing where he ended up was a tender moment for me.  I also quite liked the school children and their, er, um, friend Stripey (smile).

The historical notes about the actual blizzard (The Children’s Blizzard or The Schoolchildren’s Blizzard) were both tragic and interesting, particularly the way the storm hit; one moment a nice warm day, and suddenly snow and ice whipping at them and covering everything without warning as referenced in the story. Living in California, I have never experienced the likes of that!

Quotes I enjoyed: *“Say your prayers, men, and keep your wits about you.”

**Hildie poured some of the hot water into her floral teapot before dumping the remaining contents into a pitcher. ***Hildie had a teacup read for her. “Something to invigorate the body and warm our hands.” ****These women had no idea how much their friendship meant to her. God knew, though.

5 stars - recommended!

I received an eCopy from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review with no further compensation or expectation.

So far in this series, twelve books have been written by varied authors so they loosely reference each other’s characters in the family tree, and therefore need not be read together or in order. You can read about them at DaughtersOfTheMayflowerDotCom.

Barbour Publishing 02/01/2020

Connect with the author at: http://www.susannedietze.com/

Until Next Time,
Hugs and a Cup of Tea!

THE REBEL BRIDE

Amazon Link

Link to Pinhurst Pottery
During the Civil War, the confederate
soldiers had to melt down their tin
cups in order to make bullets. The
potters of North Carolina made them
pottery “cups” they could use-
a style that was large enough to
double as a bowl for stew as well as
a coffee mug. Signed with God Bless You.
All Nichols Pottery is hand made and signed.

Lydia ushered her to the kitchen and made her sit, then pressed a cup of something warm into her hands. “Drink this,” she whispered.

Hands shaking, Pearl could hardly lift the cup. She tasted mint and- was that whiskey?...

“I’ve never seen you so upset…” “I just shot a man,” she snapped. “Two, actually.”

After another gulp of her tea, she folded an arm on the tabletop, lay her head upon it, and let the tears come.

The Rebel Bride – Book #10 Daughters of the Mayflower Series by Shannon McNear

•°o•:*:•.Rich, Close-up View of Civil War Era Characters.•:*:• o°•

I found this 1863 historical, faith-filled romance interesting, but for me the topic is a bit heavy.  War is hard. These people did their best to get through it and deal with the matters at hand.  The Civil War was especially hard on our country as family members choose sides or multiple sons did not return.  The lack of medical training and supplies that left men broken – so much to think about here. But, Pearl does her best to do as she is told and house wounded Yankee soldiers in her Rebel home.  With the help of her father, she learns to see the men as humans and not just the enemy.  Likewise, I appreciated how Josh was able to learn the same lesson as Pearl showed him and the others hospitality in nursing, feeding, and caring for them even though they were prisoners forced on her by the military (as were many in the surrounding farm homes). I think my view of the cause of the war has changed.  I thought it was primarily about slavery, but this book gave me a better understanding that it was about the Northern States wanting to be united (Unionists), believing that’s what the forefathers intended and what was best for our country, while the Southern States wanted Secession (Secessionists) – governing themselves freely and that slavery was only a small part of the issue. I learned several tidbits from the beginning and the back of the book.  For example, I always assumed Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was black, not white. The Fifteenth Wisconsin was mostly comprised of Norwegian immigrants, plus some Swedish, Danish and Dutch who were full of pride to fight for their new homeland. The character Berndt Thorsson is a tribute to those men. Both sides used flags and torches to signal each other across battle lines, which was a system created by Albert J. Myer – an assistant surgeon who later became the first Chief Signal Officer.

Quote I enjoyed: “If we have not the comfort of knowing our Savior, Pearl, and doing our best each day to serve and follow Him, what do we have? Are not all equally lost, whether North or South, white or black, without knowledge of Him? We must seek to know God, and Him only. ‘I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.’”

I believe the author has treated the topic with respect and passion.  I would recommend this book as a solid read for those enjoying historical, Christian fiction with a touch of romance.  The Civil War details are not the forefront of the story, but rather the backdrop as we get to know the characters and the challenges they are dealing with.

I received an eCopy from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review with no further compensation or expectation.

So far in this series, twelve books have been written by varied authors so they loosely reference each other’s characters in the family tree, and therefore need not be read together or in order. You can read about them at DaughtersOfTheMayflowerDotCom.

Barbour Publishing 12/2019

4 stars

Until next time, hugs and a "cups" of tea!

Link to Product

THIMBLES AND THREADS - 4 LOVE STORIES QUILTED INTO BROKEN LIVES

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

These are sweet little stories to pass the time. 
Barbour Publishing © July, 2019
The quilt graphics at the beginning of the chapters are charming. 3 stars overall / Netgalley and the publisher kindly sent me a review eBook in the hopes of a favorable review, with no further expectation or compensation. All opinions are my own. 

(1) Bygone by Mary Davis (4 stars)•*• Heartwarming •*•1884 Texas – Matilda (aka Tilly) Rockford has returned home from Baltimore, all grown up. She never expected Orion Dunbar to be the person meeting her at the station. “Would he squeeze her hand until she cried like when she was a child? No, he held it gently, helping her into the buggy. He laid a quilt across her lap to keep her warm on the ride.” Orion had arrived on the orphan train, a broken and angry little boy. He acted out and hurt people, especially little Tilly who was always kind to him. Now grown, he only wants to make up for his past mistakes. “His heart sped up at having her so close. She smelled of lavender and vanilla.” However, there is another man who also wishes to pay Matilda special attentions.
I enjoyed this sweet story, yet there are several incomplete sentences: e.g. 1. “Show her she could trust him.” 2. “The same place that had always hungered for her attention.” 3. “And smiled.” 

(2) The Bridal Shop, a Novella by Grace Hitchcok (5 stars) •*• Sweet Story of learning to trust in others•*•
1886 Charleston, South Carolina – Alice has been so hurt by men that she has resigned herself to a life without them and she now runs an up-and-coming bridal shop. “Giles lifted his faced heavenward and groaned. A bridal shop, Lord? Not to sound ungrateful, but You couldn’t have made it a tailor shop? And not some place full of women?” I enjoyed Giles very much. Clearly a good and Godly man with a sense of humor. Eustace is a total cad! And he deserves the brat of a wife he married. 
TEA MOMENT: “Alice couldn’t bring herself to go to bed quite yet. She decided to treat herself to a pot of herbal tea and the last of the oatmeal cookies from the bakery over a Harper’s Bazaar.”
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Psalm 147:3?”
I like Grace Hitchcock’s writing style. This is the second of her books that I have read.

(3) Mending Sarah’s Heart, a Novella by Suzanne Norquist (3 stars) •*•Learning to Trust God Again •*•
1884 Rockledge, CO – Sarah Anderson is a widow. She and her sons live in a CO mining town near family. She believes God has let her down and now she is forced to earn a living in her dress shop. Jack Taylor has a mission to accomplish. Turn over funds to his deceased partner’s widow and skedaddle. He does not expect to find a woman in desperate need of help with sons in need of guidance. 
This was a sweet story of learning to trust God again and feeling unworthy of God’s love, or anyone else’s. Not a lot of depth, but an easy afternoon read. I liked how Jack stepped in to guide the boys, even though he didn’t know them. However, the immediate desire for him to protect the widow did not click for me.

(4) Binding Up Wounds, a Novella by Liz Tolsma (3 stars) •*•A Decent Story of Acceptance•*•
1865 Regent, WI, - Lance Witherspoon fought for “the other side”. He carries a multihued patchwork quilt that saved his life. With nowhere left to go, he sets out from VA to find the woman who created it and thank her. Melissa Bainbridge is quiet, shy, private. She lives with her grandparents and creates dolls. Her town does not understand her. The young women either torment or shun her. “The three girls burst into a fresh round of laughter. Now would be the perfect time for the Second Coming. Anything to deliver Melissa from this misery. But no trumpets sounded from heaven.” Her grandparents adore her and strive to love all, including strangers considered by most to be “the enemy”. The two main characters spend weeks together, getting to know each other in the process. I appreciated that the author did not have them tripping into each other’s arms after a few days. Overall, I liked the idea of this story and what pulls Lance to Melissa. It is such a harsh thing he has to go through, being an outsider in his own country. Melissa was rather immature and for far longer than necessary, i.e. multiple times during the same day, which was nerve-wracking. Lance had such a pure heart. A decent enough story.

Until Next Time,
Hugs and a Cup of Tea ~ Heather Elizabeth

The Express Bride-5 Stars-Daughters-of-the-Mayflower-Series

•°o•:*:•. VERY HAPPY .•:*:• o°•

After not enjoying the last book in the series, I was so very pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy book no.9 in the “Daughters of the Mayflower”: series.  Once I found out it centered around the Pony Express, I decided to accept the invitation to read it.

Some fun facts from the book: Now called the Pony Express, it was the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company (COC&PP). It operated from 04/03/1860 until 10/24/1861 when the telegraph took over.  It went from St. Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA in 10 days.

The story involves one mystery surrounding forged treasury notes and another involving a missing heiress. There are quite a bit of godly men sharing their faith, and our heroine seeking God as well that I enjoyed.

**Kansas City, MO**

Elijah Johnson is entrusted by his friend and business partner, Charles Vines, to find his long lost daughter before he departs from this world.  But, she’s been gone for 26 years!  It will take a lot of fortitude and brains to ferret out any clues that old; plus some guidance from the good Lord.

**Utah Territory, forty miles from Virginia City**

Meanwhile, in Carson Sink, Jacqueline Rivers has taken over her father’s station following his recent passing.  She is manager, hostess, cook, boss, big sister and surrogate mom to “her boys” who ride for and deliver the mail for the COC&PP. 

“Every time she watched a rider head out, she prayed until he was out of sight.  The number of riders and horses it took to cross the two-thousand-mile trail was extravagant.  But to get the news in a week rather than a month or more was huge.  It never ceased to amaze her, so every day she found herself praying for these young men who sacrificed so much.”

“Jack” is coming to grips with her loss and new duties when two men show up on the stagecoach seeking her help with two entirely different problems.

Michael, her adopted brother, was a fun character.  I appreciated his youth and humor.

Tea References:

“As she looked down at her cup of tea, the image of her mother, so dreamlike and beautiful, still hovered at the edges of her mind. If only she could keep it there and remember more.”

“But being the doting father he was, he usually gave in and ordered her something pretty.  She’d never forget the first time she asked him to buy a china tea set. His face had been almost comical.”

Cautionary Note: This book does contain some violence, including wife beating (not in grave detail) and also cold-blooded killing/shooting.

Extra tidbits about the P.E. are listed after the story, including the fact that it was a “huge financial flop”!  I also like the Express riders oath shared within the story.

I loved the final sentence which made me laugh out loud.

I was approached by Barbour Publishing and asked to review an eVersion of this book without fee, expectation or compensation.  My opinion is my own and offered freely.  Please read other reviews for a well-rounded purchasing decision.

© July 1, 2019, Barbour Publishing 5 stars

THE NOBLE GUARDIAN - MICHELLE GRIEP

Book 3 - The Bow Street Runners

•°o•:*:•. Highwaymen, Coaching Inns, 

Peril & Romance .•:*:• o°•

Southampton, England, 1815

Author's Choice
for heroine

Abigail Gilbert is an outsider in her own home.  Her family has managed to marry her off to a prestigious baronet she met once at a dance, which will boost their own names in society, practically shoving her out the door into a carriage headed for Penrith with only a ladies maid to aid her on the difficult journey. They make plans to go abroad before she is actually even wed.  But not without one final slap from her always angry stepmother.

Author's choice for hero

But, she looks to the future with Sir Jonathan Aberley and her chance for love and belonging at long last, despite the arduous journey ahead of her.

31-year-old Captain Samuel Thatcher patrols the highways of the rugged heath. “Shankhart Robbins was out there, all right. Somewhere. And worse –he’d be back. Evil always had a way of returning bigger and blacker than before, singeing any soul it touched.”

May I just say, Shankhart- what a villainous name!

Samuel is forced to help Abagail when her carriage is accosted and see her safely to Sir Jonathan, who is not at all what was expected.  The dangers and surprises abound which make for a most enjoyable read for lovers of mystery and historical romance.

Spiritual Moment: “She pushed the last hairpin into place then bowed her head. She’d learned long ago while enduring the hurts of her stepmother that only through prayer would she find peace.”

Tea Moment(s): “The servant appeared with a thick slice of pastry and a steaming pot of bohea.”

That was a new one for me, so in looking it up I found “a black China tea that comes from the last crop of the season and is typically regarded as of low quality. Early 18^th century named after the Bu-yi (Wuyi) hills in China, from where black tea first came to Britain”.

“The woman wasn’t old, but neither was she young. Rather, she was timeless, her apron holding in an eternity of love and life and laughter. She was the kind of woman with whom you could share a pot of tea and your deepest secrets.”

I downloaded a copy of this book through Net Galley via the publisher with no fee and no compensation in the hopes of an honest review. My opinion is entirely my own.

Michelle Griep

Connect with the author at Michelle Griep dot com.

© June 1, 2019, Shiloh Run Press/Barbour Publishing 

The Bow Street Runners Series

Until next time,

Hugs & Cuppa

The Golden Bride Daughters of The Mayflower 8

•°o•:*:•. COULD NOT FINISH .•:*:• o°•

When a book becomes too monotonous and no longer enjoyable, I have to admit defeat and lay it aside over forcing myself to plod through it.  I normally finish a novel in 1-2 days, but with this, I keep looking for excuses to lay it aside and do something else.

The story feels forced and the subject matter is depressing. 1849 Gold rush period of California territory set in San Francisco when it is still primarily a tent city and debauchery reigns supreme.  A yet unnamed villain (I have completed 41% of the book at this point) wants to appear good and decent, but is secretly vying for power and money and now kidnapping legal, Chinese immigrants for slave labor. "The fortune to be made was in gambling, liquor, and women."

Our heroes are a sister and brother (Olivia and Daniel) and rich, recently come-to-Jesus gold mine owner (friend of the brother), Joseph Sawyer, who all want to see the town grow and succeed and direct the people towards God.  The young sister has made some bad choices and chapter after chapter laments those choices and cannot forgive herself.  While I appreciate the continued Christian theme, it seems forced rather than natural.  Also, I noted that while reading her relative's journal from the 1700s the entries were quoted in today's modern English.  I found that frustrating.

Of practical note, I highlighted: "the woman studied God's Word on her own and wrote down her thoughts and life applications in the journal."  Good advice for any of us.

A quote I liked written by her mother about the women in her ancestry: "My sweet Olivia, it's important to remember the hardships of those who have gone before us and to see how they persevered and survived."

I was approached by Barbour Publishing and asked to review an eVersion of this book without fee, expectation or compensation.  My opinion is my own and offered freely.  Please read other reviews for a well-rounded purchasing decision.

© April 1, 2019, Barbour Publishing, 3 stars – writing is not horrible, simply not my cup of tea.

F. Earl Christy, 1909

 I saw this on FB and thought it was funny :)

Dandelion Chai plus The White City

My chest cold has turned into a head cold thanks to ALL the daycare Littles being sick.  Well, that's caused more tea drinking and more book reading... so, not all bad, eh?

My local Sprout's was having a two-fer sale on Traditional Medicinals brand tea, so I decided to give this Dandelion Chai a whirl.

Ingredients: Organic: dandelion
leaf & root, ginger, rhizome,
cardamon seed, cinnamon bark
Bacillus coagulans

It's warm and comforting, plus caffeine free, which is great when you are sick and just want rest! I am generally not a fan of chai, but this has no added milk products so it's very pleasant.

For added fun, the tea tags contain quotes!

And now an exciting book!

Image borrowed from Author's Instagram Page - check her out and consider following this up-and-comer!

The White City –  by Grace Hitchcock

•°o•:*:•. Danger and Murder, Faith, Intrigue and Romance.•:*:• o°•

This is completely outside my preferred reading genre, but somebody on Instagram had great things to say about it and so I requested an eVersion.  I could not put this book down and stayed up well past bedtime to finish it! I had no idea it was based on an actual serial killer! Yikes!  There are details on that at the end of the book.

The story is well-written and told through the eyes of fictional characters who happen to be Christian.  I really enjoyed that aspect.  There are also fun quotes from authors of days-gone-by at the beginning of the chapters.

“If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.” Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey.

Art and Handicraft in the Woman's Building
of the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago,
1893 edited by Maud Howe Elliott.
Paris, New York: Boussod, Valadon & Co.,
1893

Chicago, July 1893 during the World’s Fair

Winnifred Wylde is and inspector’s daughter and has an eye for detail, thanks in part to her dad’s training and her love of dime novels, particularly those of Percival Valentine. Her wealthy aunt would see her married off to a proper gentleman before she becomes an old maid (ahem, she’s 19), but she has other ideas. “I cannot believe Aunt Lillian made me set aside my novel for this. She promised me a day at the world’s fair, not a never-ending monologue.”

When she tells her father of yet another crime she has observed he dismisses her, but just in case assigns newly transferred Detective Jude Thorpe to follow her and make sure she is kept safe.

Jude has requested a transfer from New York to secretly investigate his brother-in-law’s death, but now he has become tied up babysitting.  Perhaps it will simply be a good way to impress his new boss.  That is until he discovers the lovely Miss Wylde’s hunches tend to be correct and danger seems impossible to avoid.

Tea Quote: “Clutching the gold-rimmed china teacup, she averted her gaze to the front entrance of the Ceylon Teahouse…”

Spiritual Moment: “Oh, well then, I’m all ears after we pray, he said, taking his seat and reaching for his dinner napkin before bowing his head.”  I appreciated how these moments were natural and easily woven into the story as a way of life.  Not forced.

There is no gore in this story, but the danger does set the heart to beating faster at times.  The romance is a nice balance so you are not always focusing on the danger.  This book is part of 6 in a new series by 3 authors.  Go to True Colors Crime dot com to read more.  And seriously, with a last name like Hitchcock, it really is the perfect story!

I downloaded a copy of this book through Net Galley via the publisher with no fee and no compensation in the hopes of an honest review.

Connect with the author at Grace Hitchcock Books dot com.

Image borrowed from author to aid in promoting her book.© March 1, 2019, Barbour Publishing - 5 stars

Upcoming True Colors Books:

June 2019 The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma

August 2019 The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken

January 2020 The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock

And two more tbd

Until next time, hugs and a cup of tea!