The Captive Brides Collection by various authors

I have read quite a few of these wonderful collections by Barbour Publishing company.  I really enjoyed this one so much.

This collection was about women in various situations where the had lost their rights and freedoms, such as from slavery.  These stories were all different, unique and Christian in theme.  They were truly inspiring.

The interest was created by the fact that there were different periods of history and different locations.  All were captivating.

Highly recommend this book.  It was a page turner!

Disclosure:  I received an ebook copy of this book from NetGalley for my review.  All thoughts are my own.

You can get your copy here!

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands Romance Collection by Various Authors

When the lady mayor of Turtle Springs, Kansas sets out to help the female population of her community all kinds of things happen.  What's the plan?  It's to have auditions for husbands for the single or widowed women in her town.  As the War between the States has taken the lives of many of the men of Turtle Springs, an advertisement goes out and brings in many candidates and possible choices for the many women left in town.

I liked these seven stories which all were woven together as one to show the events in the lives of the people of Turtles Springs.  Each story seems to build into the other.  These were all sweet romances during the historical time period of the mid 1800's when life was a bit more rugged.

The stories, although with a common thread, were each different and unique which keeps your interest going throughout the book. I enjoyed the Christian themes throughout and was glad that I had an opportunity to read this delightful series of novellas.

Disclosure;  I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review which I have given.  All thoughts are my own.

The Lassoed by Marriage Romance Collection (Multiple authors)

I am not going to review each of the 9 historical Romances in this collection individually, but will review Amy Lillard's contribution.  First, I really enjoyed the book and I was so happy to add it to my collection.  Each story was unique in it's own way and was about situations causing an unexpected/unwanted matrimony and how they turned out.

I especially enjoyed Amy Lillard's in which the heroine, a woman with some property and only a prospect that wanted that property, decides to take matters into her own hands, as she realized that she can't plow and maintain all as it should be.

Her choice of mates was definitely an unusual one and I won't tell who that was or how it came to be except that it was a first in my reading experience.  I really enjoyed the stories.  And totally loved the collection!

Christmas Traditions by 7 Great Authors and a Giveaway!

This is a charming and wonderful way to get ready for the Holidays.  Seven authors combine to put together this wonderful book.  Each story was really enjoyable to read.  I have been listening to this set of romance stories on my Kindle as I travel to and from work.  It is always hard to set it aside.   The stories are heartwarming and remind me of Christmas times of my youth.  One of the stories is written about a time period not too terribly far from my age. The majority setting us back to the late 1800's.

This is a time period I really enjoy reading about, specially when it comes to traditions.  And I really enjoy historical writings.  So I knew that I would enjoy this set.

An Apple for Christmas is a cute story written in the "apple" theme, including the name of one of the characters, Pippin, a twin, whose school  difficulties may bring a little Christmas miracle of sorts to their lives.  Very nice stories, as all of them are.

Handcarved Christmas is a delightful read by Cynthia Hickey, whose character leaves home with intentions to marry a man she's been writing, sight unseen.  A great addition to this compilation.

Another novella written by Carrie Fancett Pagels was a fun read.  I had no idea what this book would be about, except that it took place in a lumber camp in Michigan.

I loved it.  Carrie's writing style really appealed to me and as I got to know her characters, they became very interesting people to me.

Jo is a cook at the lumber camp but would like to move on into a bakery in a different setting.  She meets the new lumberjack to their camp, Tom.  He is a very interesting young man trying to earn his living as a lumberjack, although he is actually a teacher.  As he is trying to help his mother financially, he takes this job, as the money he earned teaching does not stretch far enough.

He makes a challenge that he will marry whoever can make a fruitcake that is as good as his mother's.  That's when the fun begins and fruitcake of every imaginable recipe is baked and served to the workers at the camp.  So does he find a bride and does anyone make a good enough fruitcake to please his palette?  This you will discover as you read this delightful book!

I think these and the other Novellas would be good reading for anyone.  So fun and all good clean reads.
You can get a copy at this link

I received an e-book copy from one of the authors for my honest review, which I have given.

Carrie Fancett Pagels has offered a free e-book version of this collection to one lucky commenter!  If you would like to read this wonderful set of books, please leave a comment below for Carrie.  Be sure to leave an email address in a safe way so that you can be contacted. The giveaway ends Aug 12 at 6:00 pm MDT.  Thanks Carrie!

Mistletoe Memories by Jennifer AlLee, Carla Olson Gade, Lisa Karon Richardson and Gina Welborn

This was a book that I purchased Christmas 2013 but just read this Christmas.  I guess I am a "little" slow!  But it was such a fun book to read that I am glad that it didn't stay on my "TBR" pile any longer.

This book is actually four different novellas written by four different authors, from none of which I had previously read anything.  So all new authors for me.

The novellas follow in time sequential order with the first starting in 1820 about a house know as the Graff House, which was in she location of Schooley's Mountain in New Jersey.  Steven Yost is the local carpenter who becomes very fond of Annaliese Braun and is determined to build a house for her.

The next novella takes us to 1868 and a story about giving an orphaned girl a place to stay temporarily with a woman who has claims to not want any children.
The third novella takes place in 1910 with this house serving as an orphanage.  Ready to lose the house and property due to back taxes, manager Olympia Paris fights to earn whatever it takes to pay them off, only to fall short on the due date.

The final novella dates to an unknown modern-day setting and the house serving as a transitional house for foster children.

The story was fun to read as it progressed over time, but always serving to be a place of refuge for those needing help in some way.  This was a good Christmas read and I loved how it progressed in four generations of time.