Book Nook Club: 1800s

Showing posts with label 1800s. Show all posts

March 9, 2012

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

It's 1887 and Lucy's just been let go from her job and gotten news that she is being evicted from the home she's known for ten years. And she's being followed by a strange man she's never seen.

All she's ever wanted to do was take care of her 3-year sister Eileen and 12-year old brother Jeb, especially since their father died a few months ago. But now it looks like she's running out of options until Henry knocks on her door and says that he's a friend of her father's and feels like he was sent by God to find her to be a wife to his son. In any other circumstances Lucy would have sent him away without a second though but with the danger and no way to take care of her siblings, she takes his offer and moves to Texas where she meets her new husband, Nate, who is very surprised and annoyed to hear that his father married him off without his consent.

What follows is the story of Lucy and Nate learning how to adjust to their new "family," how to trust one another, and how to protect their little family in the face of both physical and moral danger. I read this book in one night and I really enjoyed it. I loved all of the main characters and especially the connection and relationship between Lucy and Nate as they learned that marriage isn't about changing to earn someone's love but rather about learning to love someone for who they are.

I've never read a book by Colleen Coble but after this heartfelt and well written one, I will definitely be picking up another one. My only complaint about the book has nothing to do with the content, but that the copy I got had a number of pages that were bound out of order, which was really annoying since it was at an important point in the book and kept breaking my concentration as I tried to find the correct page. Other than that, great read and highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

Want a copy of Blue Moon Promise for yourself? Buy it here. How about a new Kindle Fire? See below for details on how to win great prizes as part of a Blue Moon Promise chat party.

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble is the first book in her new series, Under Texas Stars! To CELEBRATE, Colleen is hosting a fabulous "Blue Moon Promise" Author Chat Party and giving away a Kindle Fire and a fun Texas sized gift basket! Click for details and don’t miss the fun. Prizes, chat with Colleen, sneak peek at the next book in the series, and so much more! Don't miss a moment of the fun. Come chat w/ @colleencoble at a Blue Moon Promise FB Party – u could win a Kindle Fire and more! RSVP here!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for my honest opinion. This is it.
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March 8, 2012

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

Margaret Macy is a lady in London, in the early 1800's. She lives in her manor with her mother, step father and step father's nephew, Marcus. Her younger brother and sister are away at school until break.

Margaret is accustomed to living a fine life. Although her late father was only a minister, they had always had money and lived well. Until recently. On Margaret's 25th birthday, she would come into a great amount of money that had been set aside for her by her aunt. And her step-father knew this.

In his attempt to keep the money within the family and reap the benefits of the fortune, he insisted on his nephew, Marcus marrying her. Although Mararet had had many suitors in the past and even came close to marrying one, a Nathaniel Upchurch, she decided she would not marry anyone and support herself fully. Marrying Marcus was not in the plans. But her step-father was insistant and one day Margaret overheard a plot to make them have to marry each other. And so, she fled.

She decided to try her luck as a maid... but where would she end up? At Fairbourne Hall... the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, her former suitor and the man she rudely rejected in favor of his older and more dashing brother, Lewis. Luckily, she had disguised herself. She hid her blonde hair under a ratty brown wig, her white eyebrows with some black soot and put a pair of spectacles on her nose. And with her maid clothes, fake accent and new name, Nora, no one suspected... for a while at least. But how can a lady of privilage learn to be a maid? How could she stand the hours of hard labor? How could she lower herself to such standards? Read and see how Margaret's appearance isn't the only thing that changes.

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. It was so clever and well written. The whole time I was holding my breath just waiting for her to be discovered. And watching her change was really beautiful. The book is also filled with insight of what life was like behind the scenes... as a maid. And it wasn't always pretty! The only thing I didn't love about the book was that I felt that at times it moved a little too slowly... there was a lot of day-to-day. But when the action arrose, it was brilliant!

4 Stars!

I received a complementary copy of this book for the purpose of this review.

Now for some GIVEAWAYS!!!

Enter Today and Save the Date-3/15!

Don't miss the perfect blend of Regency-era romance and mystery in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall! Grab a copy and then be sure to enter Julie's Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVP for her Author Chat party on Facebook! Swoon.

One fortunate winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire
A Julie Klassen Library (The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/14/12. Winner will be announced at Julie's Fairbourne Hall Book Chat Party on 3/15. Julie will be hosting an evening of chat, trivia and a sneak peek of her next book - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a Downton Abbey Prize Pack (Seasons 1 and 2)!

So grab your copy of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and join Julie and friends on the evening of March 15th for a book chat party.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 15th!

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February 27, 2012

Sweeter Than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

Sweeter Than Birdsong takes place in a small Ohio town in 1855. Slavery was still widely acceptable, the Civil War had not yet broken out and abolition efforts were kept very quiet.

Kate Winter, although one of the only young ladies allowed into Otterbein College, has a major stumbling block. She can not speak in public. Her shyness is so extreem that it hinders her social appearance as well as her collegiate studies. But even still, her beauty, soft demeanor and kindness has brought forth two suitors, Frederick Jones and Ben Hanby.

Frederick Jones seems the likely choice. He's well established with plans on becoming a lawyer. His family is prominent within the town and he is extremely charming.

On the other hand, Ben Hanby is kind, convicted and passion for music. His plans are less for prosperity, as he intends to become a minister, just like his father. He is convicted in the cause for freedom for slaves and he uses his love for music to help change the hearts of many.

When Ben and his mother, working for the underground railroad, go on a mission to free a few Kentucky slaves, Kate somehow gets involved as well. And her heart is moved... for the abolition movement and for Ben. But with Kate's overbearing mother, a true courtship with Ben seems impossible.

Will Ben and Kate ever find favor together? Will Kate find her true voice and overcome her gripping fears? Will all of their efforts be in vain?

This book is amazing... The kind of book you can't wait to get back to. It is beautifully written and the content is deep, thrilling and moving. You go on a roller coaster ride along with the characters... adventure, dispair, hopelessness, exhaustion, fear, love, forgiveness. It is a beautiful story. I felt tense coming up to the end, thinking there was NO way it would be able to tie up... there weren't enough pages left! But Elliott did a brilliant job of pulling it all together nicely. There was only one loose end that I was left curious about... but really, it makes no difference. I can not express to you how much I loved this book. Definitely the best book I've read so far in 2012!

And it's partially true! In this historical fiction, it seems there is more history than fiction!

5 Stars!!!

I received a complementary copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. This is it.

But wait... There's MORE!

Win an iPod Nano and Downtown Abbey from Rosslyn Elliott! Enter 2/9-2/28!

In this second in the award-winning Saddler's Legacy series, Rosslyn Elliott has written a stirring novel of hope and faith inspired by real historical people and events. With Ben Hanby, a genius composer, Kate Winter, one of the first female college graduates in America, and John Parker, an ex-slave who risked his life time and again to help fugitive slaves, Sweeter than Birdsong is full of real heroes to inspire us. "I hope readers will find a renewed sense of strength in their own lives," says Elliott, "knowing that change is possible, and our efforts matter. I want them to remember these unique, brave people in history who left us a shining example of what it means to live out one's beliefs with passion and commitment."

So to celebrate the music in all of us, Rosslyn and Thomas Nelson are hosting this "sweet giveaway".

One fortunate winner will receive:

A Brand new iPod Nano (Winner's choice of color!)
Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 28th. Winner will be announced at Sweeter than Birdsong Author Chat Facebook Party on 2/28. Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, sharing a sneak peek of the next book in the series, hosting a trivia contest, and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, season 1 of DowntownAbbey, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Rosslyn.)

So grab your copy of Sweeter than Birdsong and join Rosslyn and friends on the evening of the 28th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

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July 29, 2011

Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman

Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman tells the story of a small town just outside of Chicago that is beginning to see a rise in crime as the coal mine industry swells with new employees and orphaned kids begin to rule the streets.

Livy is a young and beautiful girl, helping out at the local orphanage on a mission to find and bring the street kids in to safety. She has a real soft spot for the street kids, being that she used to be one herself. She knew how to pick pocket like a pro, could open any locked door and had a reputation... until Mrs. Brooks took her in and introduced her to Jesus. Her life had been changed and she became devoted to helping other street kids, like herself, find hope and a future.

Jake is the new deputy in town. He didn't always have a desire to go into law enforcement, but after he lost his father in a mining accident, he just couldn't go back underground. Jake is determined to see the streets of Chestnut cleaned up and orderly. He wants the riff raff street kids out of the way and back in Chicago, where they belong. It wasn't until he met and fell in love with Livy that his heart became turned towards the true realities of the lives of the children. Then he would do anything and risk everything to save them.

Gibbons just wants to be respected by his father. His family had a reputation to uphold as some of the best crooks in all of Chicago. But Chestnut was the perfect place for Gibbons to venture on his own and show them once and for all that he was capable of being just as ruthless as the rest of them. And since no one cared for the street kids anyway, why not use them to their fullest potential?

Luke, a street kid from Chicago, is trying his best just to survive. When a ring of roberies occurs in town, everyone suspects him... but all he wants to do is eat, stay warm, and find his kid brother who's been taken and is being held captive.

Ok, I know that was long... sorry. I can not contain myself. I LOVED this book. It was such a good, fast, inspiring, romantic, sentimental, adventurous read. This is a book you DO NOT want to judge by it's cover or title (both are kinda ehhh). The book is written from the perspective of those 4 above characters, which really gives you the chance to know every angle of the story.

Yes, it's a Christian book... but I did not find it to be pushy or preachy at all. I thought that it portrayed the message well without over doing it. And, being that it's the mid-west in the late 1800's, it's appropriate. I feel like sometimes Christian books feel the need to rosy up the message or add 100 "God's" into it just because it's "Christian". And I AM a Christian... I still don't like it. Not the case with this book... it was perfect.

Seriously, go get it... now. Unfortunately, it's currently only available in e-book format, BUT for now it's FREE on Amazon. Woohoo!

5 stars

This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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May 8, 2011

"Horton Halfpott" by Tom Angleberger

(Disclosure: I did not receive anything for reviewing this book. I bought it, and the only discount I got was because I have a Barnes and Noble membership card. I do consider Tom Angleberger to be an online friend, and did receive an ARC from him for Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run a couple of years ago.)

On Friday, I found myself in the bookstore and spotted the display for Horton Halfpott, and cursed myself for forgetting that the release date had come for that. Naturally, I grabbed a copy.

The full title of the book is Horton Halfpott, or The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor, or The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset. The cover glows in the dark. This, by the way, is only the fun that you get to have before opening the book.

This story is a whole lot of fun. As the titles suggest, the story starts as M'Lady Luggertuck wears her corset a little less tight one day, setting off a strange feel in the air, which sets off all kinds of peculiar events. These culminate in the theft of the Luggertuck family treasure, and all manner of chaos and mayhem as the crime is investigated.

Make no mistake, this is definitely kidlit. It's written at a great level for children. Were I to choose a primer for the later reading of Dickens, though, this would be it. If Charles Dickens himself wrote a piece of modern children's literature, I think it might look a lot like Horton Halfpott. Being a huge Dickens fan, by the way, I do not say this casually.

Horton Halfpott himself could well be a Dickensian protagonist. He's a hard-working, loyal-to-a-fault kitchen boy in Smugwick Manor who gets caught up in the mystery and a plot to kidnap the young lady Celia, a young lady from nearby with whom he falls in love. The boy is every bit as lovable as Oliver Twist, which is saying quite a lot.

The villains and various scoundrels around the story (the head of the kitchen, the Shipless Pirates, etc.) are a true joy to read. The story is a delight. Tom's Acknowledgments credit Charles Dickens with inspiring the story, and it really shows. The sympathy for the poor and downtrodden, contempt for the rich and stuck-up, and celebration of the wealthy and compassionate are so very enjoyable.

The book doesn't take itself too seriously, though. Whenever the story turns to romantic thoughts, the narrator assures us that he won't dwell on such things too much. We are assured once that while Horton was dwelling, the narrator won't do so.

When my wife and I are reading in the living room, we will frequently read a sentence or passage out loud because it's so well-written, so expressive, or otherwise worth sharing. I must have read a quarter of the book to my wife, and I felt like I was being too selective. In a way, I think I should have just read the book out loud to her.

Having read all four of Tom Angleberger's novels (two of which are written under the pseudonym Sam Riddleburger) -- The Qwikpick Adventure Society by Sam Riddleburger, Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run by Sam R. and Michael Hemphill, and The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom A. -- I feel like I need to comment on his writing style. In all cases, the narration is a lot of fun. But he has not used the same voice in any of them. The other three books have been in wonderful first-person narration, but by very different characters (Yoda having been by more than one character). Horton uses a wonderful third-person narration brilliantly executed in order to maintain the humor of the story.

Coming in at 206 pages and with plenty of Tom's illustrations, it's a pretty quick read, and well worth the time. This is a feel-good book that carries on the Dickensian spirit without the work of getting through Dickens' language. Even so, Tom's use of wordcraft is every bit as enjoyable.

A heartily-deserved five stars.

(Addendum: I have been told that sometimes I need to tone down my reviews to keep from seeming like I'm so excited to gush ... I just can't do it for this one. I really love this book.)

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March 11, 2011

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

Last year as part of my 100 in 2010 challenge (which I never did complete), I picked up my first novel by Tracy Chevalier, Girl with a Pearl Earring because it fit in with my historical fiction category. I was underwhelmed by the book and probably wouldn't have picked up another one of her novels if I hadn't been contacted with an opportunity to review Remarkable Creatures.

I just finished Remarkable Creatures and can't quite explain what I think about the book. I was trying to give my mom a quick summary of the book and just couldn't do it. It's a book centered around two women - Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot - who are both fossil hunters, which I know doesn't sound like the most interesting topic but for some reason it was. The book is set in the 1800s and follows these two women through their life as they search for fossils and to find a place where they each belong in the world.

Maybe it was because the women were so very different from each other yet brought together by this common interest, or maybe it was the way Chevalier brought in additional themes like extinction and evolution when Mary found a creature that no one had ever seen before and women's rights when Elizabeth Philpot was refused admittance to a men's only meeting. Or maybe it was just the fact that this was so out of my realm of knowledge that everything was new to me. I'm not sure what it was, but I enjoyed the book and it kept me wondering what would happen next. The best part was at the very end in the author's note, something I'll let you find for yourself.

Overall a good read that is much more than just two women who spend their days searching for and discussing fossils. And not to sound cheesy, but the book itself was a little bit like a fossil for me - something great and unexpected buried inside of something that appears nothing more than ordinary. 4 stars

More Info about Remarkable Creatures from Tracy Chevalier

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March 9, 2012

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

March 8, 2012

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

February 27, 2012

Sweeter Than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

July 29, 2011

Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman

May 8, 2011

"Horton Halfpott" by Tom Angleberger

March 11, 2011

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

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