Bending Toward the Sun: A Review

 

 

Although everyone around her is falling in love and settling down, Emilie is focused on continuing her education and helping her father run their store. When a childhood friend returns from fighting in the Civil War, Emilie is forced to rethink her plans even if it means defying her father.

 

Novellas are sometimes hard for me because I'm a character-driven reader, and it's hard to get to know characters in such a short time. However, I liked Quaid and Emilie a lot. They were sweet.

 

I also enjoyed getting to know the various characters. Small towns are always full of colorful characters who have their own story to tell, and I enjoy the historical aspect as well as the community.

 

Fans of Christian Historical Fiction will enjoy this novella. It's the second in the series, but I read it without having read the first one and had no problem.

 

I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

 

 

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The Bride Wore Blue: A Review

Trying to forget the sins of her past, Vivian moves to Cripple Creek to join her three sisters. Determined to succeed as a fashion designer, Vivian will take any job to make her way...even a job that will hurt her reputation beyond repair. Will the past pull her back in, or will Vivian finally find relief from her guilt?

Vivian may be my favorite sister. I liked her determination and the storyline of her guilt over her past. When Vivian witnesses a crime that the local law enforcement is desperate to solve, she becomes involved in character descriptions, witness statements, and even a kidnapping. What she hadn't expected was the sparks she felt for Carter, the Sheriff who is afraid of having a family with his dangerous career. Their relationship is predictable but enjoyable.

The best part of the book was the question of how far will people go to survive. Many people say they won't do certain things, but when you have tried every other option, what will you do? Will you compromise your values to eat and to have a place to live? Although this was a minor part of the story, it is the part that left me wondering about the situations people have endured to lead them to the bad choices they make.

Fans of Christian fiction will enjoy this book. I recommend reading the series in order, but this book can be read as a stand alone.

I received this book in exchange for my review.

Two Brides Too Many: A Review

When their father is sent to Paris for work, Nell and Kat are forced to become mail-order brides and move to Cripple Creek, Colorado.  What awaits them at the train station is not what they expect when neither groom meets the young women. Unsure what to do until a fire threatens the town as soon as they arrive, they quickly become a part of the frontier community. Will that be enough to survive on their own?

I read the second book in this series first, but I still enjoyed Nell and Kat’s stories. I liked that their stories were told together since their personalities balanced each other. Nell was eager to marry and convinced herself she was in love after exchanging letters with her mail-order groom while Kat is relieved when her groom-to-be doesn’t show as he turns out to be a gambling womanizer.  I liked their independence and determination despite the hard circumstances.

Although the romance aspect of the book is clear from the beginning, the best part of the book was young women figuring out their way. The way Kat storms into the brothel/bar to confront the man who promised to marry her is a great scene.  Also good is the setting. The author creates a fantastic little town in this book, and readers will hope she’ll continue writing about the quirky characters who make it unique.

Too Rich for a Bride

In a time when women were expected to “stay in the kitchen,” Ida Sinclair defies tradition by moving to Cripple Creek, Colorado, to become a businesswoman. When she arrives, she is hired by Mollie O’Bryan, who is a successful woman in a man’s world. Ida soon thrives but finds herself balancing her ethics with her ambition. Enter Tucker Raines, a preacher who must give up his career to run his family’s business. Can two ambitious entrepreneurs find time for love?

This book is my first book by Mona Hodgson, but it won’t be my last. I am a character-driven reader, and this book is full of unique characters whose stories need to be shared. Ida is a strong, fierce woman who strives for something more than is expected of her. Even though women today are equal to men in the workforce, female readers will identify with the need Ida has to prove herself and her worth to those she loves. The minor characters are intriguing. Abraham, the young boy who always has a joke, adds a layer of humor to the story. (I’d love to see what happens with him when he’s grown.) Otis, an African-American, faces some discrimination as he serves as a faithful employee to Tucker. His story could stand alone in a book. Willow is a young woman who broke down mentally after her husband’s death. Her story adds to the development of Tucker’s character, but it’s also an interesting topic on its own: how mentally ill people were treated then in comparison to now.

I did not read the first book in the series, but I did not feel lost in this book. I do plan to check out the first book, and I hope Mona writes more about the characters in this small town.  Overall, I thought it was a fantastic story with wonderful characters and a strong plot that sparks discussion. Too Rich for a Bride would be a great book club read.

I was given this book free of charge by the publisher. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you have a second, please rate my review at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/10371

Too Rich for a Bride Giveaway!

This week I am giving away Too Rich for a Bride. To enter, just leave a comment. Be sure to include your email address. I'll select the winner next Tuesday. I can only ship to the US.

Congrats, Michelle, for winning a copy of Possession. I'll mail the book tomorrow.