A Refuge Assured

Despite her former occupation as a lacemaker to royalty, Vivienne Rivard manages to escape the guillotine, flees France and its roiling revolution, and finds herself in Philadelphia.  She finds work as a baker and a room in the French Quarter, but soon feels the need to flee yet again to protect a young boy left in her care.  Will a new French settlement in the wilderness of Pennsylvania finally bring her the peace, safety, and family she has always craved?

Liam Delaney fought in the American Revolution, but struggles to accept the oppressive laws and taxes the newly formed government has begun to impose on the people.  Despite his desire to live peacefully on his farm near the French asylum settlement, he continually finds himself torn between protecting his rights and defending his country.  Though Liam and Vivienne soon form a friendship, that may very well lead to more, neither one seems to ever feel truly safe.  Can their love survive such turbulent times?

Jocelyn Green shows readers a fascinating glimpse of revolutionary France and post-revolution America in A Refuge Assured.  Between the shocking violence and gore of the French Revolution, the struggle to establish an American government, and the complicated relationship between the two countries, I learned a great deal that challenged my view of history.  While I understood Green's graphic and realistic portrayal of the French Revolution, I wonder if she also over-romanticized the toppled French monarchy.  Did they deserve gruesome deaths?  No.  Were they innocent of wrongdoing?  Equally, no.  Perhaps my rebellious American roots run too deep, but I had a difficult time feeling compassion for the "poor, displaced" French aristocrats who found themselves still living in luxury in America.  Vivienne's choice to live among and align herself with them sat ill with me.  Such a decision seems to fly in the face of her hard-working, determined, and self-sufficient character.  That said, Vivienne was otherwise a worthy protagonist, and Liam a perfectly swoon-worthy male lead.  With compelling characters, plenty of intrigue, and wonderful historical detail, A Refuge Assured is certainly worth reading.

I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review was required, and all opinions are my own.

A Song Unheard

Orphan and expert thief, Willa Forsythe, just also happens to be a violin prodigy.  When the mysterious Mr. V hires her to steal a cypher from a famous Belgian violinist staying in Wales, she takes the job immediately.  Lukas De Wilde lives in fear for his mother and sister who went missing in the aftermath of Germany's invasion of Belgium before WWI.  Afraid that Mr. V seeks to exploit his family and his father's work, Lukas decides not to trust the British government and attempt to find his family alone.  Struck with Willa's musical talent, the violinist takes her under his wing and gives her lessons.  While this personal relationship with Lukas makes her search for the cypher easier, Willa soon begins to wonder if she will be capable of betraying Lukas to provide for her own family.  Will Lukas manage to forgive Willa for her deception?  Will either of their plans to protect their families succeed?  Can Willa manage to let Lukas see herself as she truly is?

Roseanna M. White's second installment in her Shadows Over England series, A Song Unheard, certainly does not disappoint.  With wonderful historical detail pertaining to the early days of WWI, a cast of lovely characters, and plenty of mystery and intrigue, White's latest is practically perfect in every way.  Willa's journey to learn to trust, Luka's desperate need to find his family, and the fascinating tidbits about the history of this particular time period, kept me turning page after page... while I probably should have been socializing with my family on Christmas Eve!  While the novel stands well on its own, I was tempted to reread A Name Unknown just because the series is undeniably excellent thus far.  I absolutely adore the "family" at the center of the series, and can't wait to read each of their stories.

I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review was required, and all opinions are my own.

By the Book

Anne Corey has a fulfilling life and career.  She works at a beautiful college in California teaching about and researching books that she loves.  In order to earn tenured position, though, she has to finish-- and find a publisher for-- her first book.  Just as her life seems to be coming into place, Anne discovers her former fiancé has been appointed the president of her college.  Will Anne succeed in the life she has chosen, or wish she had made other choices?  Is it really possible to have it all? 

Julia Sonneborn tells an entertaining, modern version of Jane Austen's classic Persuasion in By the Book.  While I typically love the creativity involved in such retellings, my personal opinion-- as an adoring fan of Persuasion-- is that Sonneborn went a bit too far in changing the ultimate premise of the story.  Sonneborn's development of most of the characters was masterful and spot-on.  Her interpretation of both Anne and Adam, however, left me frustrated.  The best parts of Persuasion were missing.  In the modern novel, Anne breaks off her engagement with Adam after a conversation with a mostly unlikeable professor whom Anne admires.  The fact that the original Anne took the advice of a much more established mother figure in Austen's version make it infinitely more believable and gut-wrenching.  Similarly, Captain Wentworth's slow realization of Anne's true worth is the most beautiful and central storyline in Persuasion.  I ended the novel not quite sure who did any persuading, or whom was persuaded to do anything.  Again, I realize that others may chalk these complaints up to artistic license, and they would be correct.  I would simply argue that too much license was taken, and resulted in an entirely different story.  

**Personal Note: unlike the majority of books I review on this blog, By the Book is not Christian fiction.  While never graphic, pre-marital sex plays a role in the plot, and a main character is openly homosexual.  I had no qualms reading the book, but others may.**

 I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.  

The Lacemaker

On the eve of the American Revolution, Lady Elizabeth "Liberty" Lawson finds herself trapped between the patriots and tories in colonial Williamsburg.  When her father and other British supporters flee in the night and leave Liberty behind, she finally understands that she must choose a side in the unavoidable war to come.  Patriot Noble Rynallt wants to help the homeless and friendless Liberty, despite her British connections.  Can the formerly pampered daughter of an aristocrat survive in the new world the patriots want to create?  Can she prove her loyalty before war engulfs the colonies?  

Laura Frantz takes readers back to a fascinating time in American history in The Lacemaker.  Full of historical detail, adventure, and love, Frantz's latest may be one of my new favorites.  Witnessing the tide of public opinion turn against the British and the early days of the Revolution making for a truly engaging backdrop, and a page-turning story.  Cameos and mentions of famous revolutionaries like Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin add depth and interest to the story as well.  Noble is everything swoon-worthy in a romantic lead, and Frantz does an excellent job telling Liberty's story of growth, maturity, and independence.  I enjoyed every last page.  

 I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.