remaininhislove

About

Recently widowed Annalisa Werner has the feeling her husband was murdered but can’t prove it. Alone with her young daughter in 1881 Michigan, she has six months left to finish raising the money needed to pay back the land contract her husband purchased, and the land is difficult to toil by herself. She needs a husband. With unmarried men scarce, her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.

For nobleman Carl von Reichart, the blade of the guillotine is his fate. He’s been accused and convicted of a serious crime he didn’t commit, and his only escape is to flee to a small German community in Michigan where he’ll be safe. He secures a job on Annalisa’s farm but bumbles through learning about farming and manual labor.

Annalisa senses that Carl is harboring a secret about his past, yet she finds herself drawn to him anyway. He’s gentle, kind, and romantic–unlike any of the men she’s ever known. He begins to restore her faith in the ability to love–but her true groom is still on his way. And time is running out on them all.

Review

Let me just begin by saying that Ms. Hedlund has some of the best premises. A mail-order groom? Sounds odd, but totally works in this novel (though its a bit more complicated than that). Also, I love the way the author throws herself into the story. The story reads as though its realistic, never once, was I jarred by anything in the novel and Annalisa read like a woman of her times. Her development throughout the book made complete sense and I did not find her to be annoying in any way. Carl, though, was probably my favorite. What a hero. He’s funny, he’s kind,and even though there is a bit of deception going on in this book, I never felt let down by his character. The story is not complex, but the romance was lovely and worth every page. Spiritually, Annalisa has to come to the recognition that she is important to God, he hasn’t forgotten her. Great read. Recommended!

**I received this novel courtesy of Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in any way.**

About

A transporting historical novel about a promising young inventor, his struggle with loss, and the attractive teacher who changes his life, all set against the razzle-dazzle of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Gambling everything, including the family farm, Cullen McNamara travels to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with his most recent invention. But the noise in the Fair’s Machinery Palace makes it impossible to communicate with potential buyers. In an act of desperation, he hires Della Wentworth, a teacher of the deaf, to tutor him in the art of lip-reading.

The young teacher is reluctant to participate, and Cullen has trouble keeping his mind on his lessons while intently watching her lips. Like the newly invented Ferris Wheel, he is caught in a whirl between his girl back home, his dreams as an inventor, and his unexpected attraction to his new tutor. Can he keep his feet on the ground, or will he be carried away?

Review

Oh, I had so much fun reading this book! Ms. Gist does an incredible job of creating characters who are so real that they jump off the pages and having situations that you most likely haven’t come across before. I so adored Cullen and his drive to succeed was something I found myself rooting for throughout the book. I thought Della came across as very unique and I found her endearing and not annoying. I really appreciated the back drop of the fair and thought it became a character in and of itself. I can promise you that this book will have you smiling and maybe even laughing at times. The biggest spiritual theme in this novel is trusting God and you see that really played out through Cullen. Great read and highly recommended!

**I received this novel from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in any way.**

About

Review

Once again this series picked me up and placed me in Europe and I felt like I was on my own grand tour. The novel takes up right where the previous one left off. There are a few new characters, but most of them are old friends. Cora is still my favorite character. She knows her own mind and isn’t afraid to say what she thinks. Will is a favorite too, though there were times I wished he had a bit more backbone. However, he is a man of his times and that is a credit to Ms. Bergren. The descriptions of the places are wonderful, the mystery is sufficiently interesting so that you want to know what happens next and the romance was done really well. There is a bit of a conclusion here that had me rejoicing and I’m glad it didn’t drag on until book 3. There is less tension in this novel between the travelers (though there is some!)and I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss it. Spiritually, I love how Cora seeks God’s face as to what to do and doesn’t fall into silliness.  I love the emphasis on having a relationship with Christ. This book is a sold continuation of the series and I look forward to see what happens next in book three.

**I received this novel from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in any way.**