About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony, #4) by Shannon McNear

Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony, #4)
ABOUT THE BOOK

The White Doe of the Outer Banks Grows into Womanhood

Return to the “what if” questions surrounding the Lost Colony and explore the possible fate of Virginia Dare--the first English child born in the New World. What happened to her after her grandfather John White returned to England and the colony he established disappeared into the mists of time? Legends abound, but she was indeed a real girl who, if she survived to adulthood, must have also become part of the legacy that is the people of the Outer Banks. 

In the spring of 1602 by English reckoning, "Ginny," as she is called by family and friends, is fourteen and firmly considered a grown woman by the standards of the People. For her entire life she has watched the beautiful give-and-take of the Kurawoten and other native peoples with the English who came from across the ocean. She's enjoyed being the darling of both English and Kurawoten alike--but a stirring deep inside her will not be put to rest.

One careless decision lands her and fellow “first baby” Henry Harvie, along with their Croatoan friend Redbud, in enemy hands. Carried away into Mangoac territory, out of the reach of Manteo and the others, she must learn who she truly -- not only the daughter of Elinor and Ananias Dare but also a child of the One True God, who gives her courage to go wherever the path of her life might lead.



MY THOUGHTS.....

Daughters of the Lost Colony has been such a fascinating series and finally, we're allowed to imagine Virginia's story! Virginia Dare, the first English baby born in the New World, is the heroine in Shannon McNear's new book and it is an engaging story filled with history, intrigue, and a lovely romance. The absolute truth surrounding Virginia's life isn't known so this book is fiction, but McNear's amazing historical research allows us to consider "what might have been"! Why couldn't this first English baby have survived the hardships that were a part of the settling of America? Why wouldn't Virginia be entitled to happiness and enduring love in North Carolina in the early 1600s?

Virginia is an engrossing story of bravery and endurance that has historical facts and fictional details masterfully woven together. It's the fourth book in the series but Virginia's timeline falls between the first and third book. Never fear, it can be enjoyed as a standalone, but you'll probably want to go back to read the others! If you love historical fiction peppered with romance and inspiration, grab a copy of this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in Charleston, South Carolina, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s a military wife, mom of eight, mother-in-law of three, grammie of two, and a member of ACFW and RWA. Her first novella, Defending Truth in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, was a 2014 RITA® finalist. When she’s not sewing, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies. 

Learn more about Shannon McNear:   Website    Facebook       Instagram       Pinterest


DAUGHTERS OF THE LOST COLONY

Elinor

Mary

Rebecca

Virginia

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Monday, September 9, 2024

Here With Me (Home to Heritage Book 2) by Mandy Boerma, Tari, Faris, Susan May Warren

Here With Me (Home to Heritage Book 2)
ABOUT THE BOOK

He’s helping her stay. She’s making sure he can leave. This second chance at love in a small town will tug at your heart and make you believe in love all over again.

"Sadie and David’s journey to salvage love and a family legacy will steal your breath and reaffirm your belief in second chances. A must-read for anyone who cherishes a heart-pounding romance as much as a heartwarming happy-ever-after." USA Today best-selling author Susan May Warren

Love ignites in a last-chance hardware store, but will their hearts, like the failing family business, require a rescue?

She just wants a fresh start…

Inheriting her best friend’s daughter and a store on the brink of collapse, Sadie Hoover is determined to provide Lottie a stable life and keep the family business afloat. But her resolve is tested when the past walks in, wearing a tool belt and a smile that still weakens her knees.

Is he back to break her heart?

David Williams, once the love of Sadie’s life, returns to Heritage not as the missionary he was, but as a man in search of healing and purpose. Tasked with community service, he’s thrown into the daily grind of nuts and bolts, unaware that the hardware store’s troubles—and Sadie’s struggles—are more than just loose hinges and unpaid bills.

What will it cost her to fall for him again?

As they grapple with financial peril and the echoes of a love once lost, David and Sadie are forced to confront what they truly want. The store’s impending foreclosure looms over them, a testament to their joint past and the future they must shape.
If the store fails, they lose not just a legacy, but the second chance life has offered them. Can they rekindle their love while saving the heart of Heritage, or will their dreams rust away like forgotten tools?

Can love be rebuilt from the ruins of their shared history, or will the fight for survival drive the final wedge between them?


MY THOUGHTS.....

What if you discovered that your perception of your God-given purpose wasn't truly in His will? This was David's dilemma as he dealt with being "stuck in a tiny town, practically trapped in his late grandparent's old farmhouse." Would he continue to feel trapped or could he recognize the charms of Heritage, Michigan? Was his best way to serve God waiting to be revealed?

Here With Me is the second book in the Home to Heritage series and I'm once again caught up in this special place. A town where second chances are given, new beginnings are possible, and sweet romance isn't out of reach! Author Mandy Boerma remains true to the vision first shared by Tari Faris and Susan May Warren, and she "hits the ball out of the park" with her well-developed characters who handle real-life issues with faith, trust, and dedication to family.

I loved this heartwarming story and I recommend it to all who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars 





ABOUT THE AUTHORS

When Mandy Boerma isn’t hanging out at her favorite coffee shop writing, she’s a busy mom. After meeting Prince Charming, they started their own version of Happily Ever in the Florida Panhandle. Nothing compares to life at the beach. While those early days included romantic sunset walks with sand between our toes, days are now filled with sandcastles, swimming and school. Mom-duties fill Mandy’s days. You know them all— cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, organizing, helping at school, all the lessons and practices, homework, etc. And because that’s not enough, she also teaches piano, normally with coffee in hand.

Learn more by visiting her  Website 
Follow Mandy on   Facebook     Twitter     Instagram





Tari Faris has been writing fiction for more than twelve years. It has been an exciting journey for this math-loving-dyslexic girl. I had read less than a handful of novels by the time I graduated from college and I thought I would end up in the field of science or math. But God had other plans and I wouldn't trade this journey for anything. As someone told me once, God's plans may not be easy, and they may not always make sense but they are never boring.

In addition to my writing, I also work for My Book Therapy as a special project project manager and blog coordinator for LearnHowToWriteAnNovel.com and you can find me blogging over there on occasion.

​When I am not writing or working, I spend time with my amazing husband. We have been married for fifteen wonderful years and have three sweet children. In my free time, I love coffee, rock hounding with my husband and kids, and distracting myself from housework.
 

Learn more about Tari Faris by visiting her Website     Facebook     Twitter     Instagram 


Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award–winning author of more than eighty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. The mother of four grown children, and married to her real-life hero for over 30 years, she loves traveling and telling stories about life, adventure, and faith.

For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website or connect with Susan on FacebookInstagram, or Twitter.


HOME TO HERITAGE

You’re the Reason

Here With Me
Christmas With You



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