Tag: 1800’s

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The Pursuit of Elena Bradford: (A Southern America Historical Romance with a Love Triangle)

352 pages Publisher Revell Publication date May 6, 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nothing would please her family more than her securing an admirable match, but true love and loyalty are harder to come by than she imagined.

At twenty-two, Elena Bradford has never met a man who made her consider marriage. But when her father dies and leaves the family deeply in debt, Elena becomes their only hope. Her mother uses their last funds to take Elena and her younger sister to Graham Springs, Kentucky, where people find healing by drinking the mineral spring water and healthy recreation through the many daily activities–including dances almost every evening.

As her mother schemes to find Elena a wealthy husband, Elena finds herself drawn to two men her mother would never consider. Charming artist Kirby Frazier spends his days drawing and painting the guests, but his real mission is to find a wealthy bride to finance his dream to go west. Melancholy Andrew Harper has come to Graham Springs in need of healing after a broken heart.

When a beautiful young lady shows up at the Springs with no chaperone and a story that seems suspicious, nearly everyone is charmed and intrigued. But when an unexpected tragedy occurs, Elena, Kirby, and Andrew will all be faced with decisions of life, love, and loyalty.

With a Southern flair and a spark of intrigue, this stand-alone clean historical romance will charm readers with masterful artists, colorful dances, a love triangle, and endearing family relationships.

MY THOUGHTS

I just love the author’s books, and this is one of her absolute best.
Books based on actual events like this one, yes please!
I’ve heard of the springs for bathing and mineral water purposes and its many benefits.
Graham Springs, Kentucky has the beneficial springs and health spa with the doctor there insisting all guests partake of the nightly dancing for the health benefits.
When Elena Bradford’s father dies her mother insists she and her two daughters visit the springs, portray themselves as high society ladies and find themselves a rich gentleman to marry, love not required.
The daughters don’t hold out the same hopes, as they want to marry for love, an emotion of the heart.
While there they meet a guest around the same age as the oldest daughter, very mysterious and not open about herself. At the dance that evening a tragedy occurs and she passes away at the dance under unusual circumstances. The book is very intriguing, and I suggest you read the notes in the back of the book by the author as this actually did happen there.
I kept saying, one more chapter, just one more as I had trouble putting this one down.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Ann H. Gabhart caught the writing bug at the age of ten and has been writing ever since. An award winning author, she’s published many books for both adults and young adults. Her books cover several genres from historical to small town family stories to cozy mysteries (mysteries published with author name A.H. Gabhart). Her ideas are sparked by events in Kentucky history and by experiences in her own family. Her first Shaker novel, The Outsider, was a finalist for the ECPA Christian Fiction Book of the Year. Love Comes Home won the Selah Book of the Year award, and These Healing Hills was the Faith, Hope & Love Readers’ Choice Women’s Fiction Book of the Year.

Ann lives on a Kentucky farm not far from where she was born. She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren. Ann enjoys hiking on her farm with her grandkids and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. See more about her books at http://www.annhgabhart.com or join the conversation on her Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/anngabhart.

Right now I’m really enjoying reading historical fiction. I may or may not move on to another reading genre soon. Thanks for stopping in and have a lovely evening.

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Man of Shadow and Mist (Of Monsters and Men Book 2)

322 pages Barbour Fiction publisher June 1, 2023 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

“The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.”
–Bram Stoker, Dracula
 
England, 1890
 
Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.
 
James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.
 
When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.
 
Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?

MY THOUGHTS

This cover, I love it as it goes perfectly with the story.
A Man of Shadows and Mist is the second book in the Of Monsters and Men series.


A historical romance but also gothic I was immersed in the ambience, a dark chilling manor, screams in the night. The author’s writing style is one you will get lost in as you are in her world while reading this.


James has returned from Transylvania to North Yorkshire living in his manor he just wants to care for and find a cure for his dying mother. This is the late 1800’s, he is misunderstood and ostracized, those around him fear him and think he’s evil.


Rosa helps her father out in his subscription library of which James goes to often. She winds up seeing him around town and brings him books. I enjoyed seeing her kind and helpful attitude when no one else wanted anything to do with him.


History, mystery full of encouragement and faith filled. This is my favorite book by the author so far and I look forward to more intriguing books by the author.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I’ve been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write–except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.

You are wonderful. You can do it. Thank you for stopping in.

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Publication Day review for Committing to the Cowgirl: A Sweet Historical Romance (Colorado Cowgirls Book 1) by Jody Hedlund

230 pages July 11, 2023 publication date Northern Lights Press Publisher Grab A Copy here

About The Book

After years away, Astrid Nilsson has returned home to Colorado, hoping to become Fairplay’s second doctor . . . and to find healing for her reoccurring consumption. Spirited and independent, Astrid doesn’t want her illness to be a burden to those she loves, so she has resisted getting serious about any man.

As the current doctor of Fairplay, Logan Steele is seeking to hire a male physician to take over his clinic after he goes back East. When Astrid, his childhood sweetheart, insists that she’s the one for the job, he offers her a bargain she can’t refuse: pretend to court him to appease his mother and he’ll give her the doctor position on a trial basis.

Astrid accepts the arrangement even though she’s reluctant to be in a sham relationship with a man who’d once broken her heart. She tries to keep herself from falling for Logan again but soon finds herself getting much more than she bargained for. With the clock ticking for both of them, can they commit to real love before it’s too late?

My Thoughts

I just love when there are characters that cross over from one series to another. Astrid Nillson was in a Cowboy for Keeps as a child. Younger sister to Greta Nilsson. Astrid is grown now but when she was a child, she was brought west by her sister hoping to help her heal from consumption. Astrid is now a certified medical doctor, not a usual occupation for a woman in 1877.

Returning home to Fairplay, Colorado she can only think about one thing. She must become a doctor in the practice in town advertising for one. She doesn’t know who the practicing doctor is there, but she’s still determined to join the practice. When she finds the doctor is her old love interest, she almost leaves on the double, but she won’t him give the satisfaction of doing so.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between Logan Steele and Astrid. Logan comes home because of his mother’s health. She is down to her last few weeks and he’s trying to make her as comfortable as possible. She won’t be happy until he’s settled and is courting someone.

When he makes a proposition to Astrid, I wasn’t sure if she would agree or not. The book was full of such humor and witty banner between the two. I also really enjoyed the mother’s character. She really does want the best for her son.


We see the narrowmindedness of some of the town’s folks towards a woman doctor. When time is of the essence can she prove her worth and have acceptance?


I just loved this book. it has all that I would expect in a book from this author, a fast-paced keep you reading plot, exciting and diverse characters, strong women thinking outside the box, a clean romance and she has the ability to make me say, “woohoo, I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!”

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.

Enjoy your day. Thanks for stopping in.