Carrie Fancett Pagels Reviews Carrie Turansky's Audiobook A Refuge at Highland Hall

A Refuge at Highland Hall Audiobook Cover

A Refuge at Highland Hall
by Carrie Turansky

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Five Stars *****

A Delight!!!

Blurb: In this third and final book in the Edwardian Brides series, listeners are swept away to England and France in 1915. At this time the Ramsey family, their staff, and their friends face the dramatic challenges and losses of World War One, yet they also experience the hope and triumph that comes as they put their trust in God to carry them through. Penny Ramsey helps the family welcome a group of orphaned children to Highland Hall, but she soon discovers that caring for them is more difficult than she'd expected. She writes to Alex Goodwin, a daring British pilot who chases German Zeppelins across the sky over the front line in France, and longs for the day she will see him again.

CFP: I listened to this audiobook as an audible.com download. Because of the sheer number of characters and subplots, I'd recommend listening to the book in small doses.  The reader may find it better to read with their eyes. I really enjoyed the book and I found I could follow the plot if I kept my listening times short and if I listened while cleaning. I wouldn't recommend this as a book to listen to if you are driving because you won't want to miss out on all the excitement in the book, particularly as you get halfway through and on because so much is happening you don't want to possibly skip any threads.

This is an Edwardian era book, set in Great Britain. The hero is an Air Force pilot and the heroine one of the daughters of Highland Hall.  There are other romances afoot, too, which makes for double the fun in the listen!

I have recently been through a dry season in my reading and it was so wonderful to get Carrie's book on audio. The downside is I kept wanting to sit down to listen to it while I was trying to clean and listen at the same time!

You can find Carrie Turansky's books at Christian Book Distributors, Barnes & Noble,  Amazon, and at other bookstores.  It is available in multiple formats including ebook, paperback, audio download and MP3 disc audiobook.

Giveaway: A copy of the bound ARC of this book. Are you an Avid Christian Audiobook Listener like me? If so, you can opt for an audible.com download as your prize! To be eligible please leave your email addy written (at) and (dot) to prevent spammers.
 

Noela Nancarrow reviews ASHTON PARK by Murray Pura

Ashton Park

Ashton Park

by Murray Pura
Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2013)

Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow
~5 Stars~ *****

This is an exceptional and exhilarating saga featuring a wealthy, large aristocratic family called the Danforth's of Lancashire, who reside in an ancient, grand manor on their Ashton Park Estate. There is nothing stuffy about this story however, considering it is replete with forbidden romances, and drama and action that's also intensified with an edge-of-your-seat suspense. Ashton Park carries a semblance of Downton Abbey but whether you're a fan or not, you can be sure this novel is definitely livelier and way more action-packed than the television series.

We are taken back to an era during World War One where the decline of the aristocrats and the breaking down of strict social rules has begun to take effect. Lord William and Lady Elizabeth Danforth struggle to come to terms with these changes when it directly touches their family with some of their children falling in love with those of a lower class. As a result, there are secret rendezvous', betrayals, and heartbreak. With the Great War also impacting upon the Danforth family due to the active service of three of the young Danforth sons and one of the Danforth daughters, this family of nobility goes through tremendous upheaval during the time span of this book which is from 1916 until 1923.

It is during this time; the great conflict between the British and the IRA (Irish Republican Army) was also transpiring and beginning to intensify. The youngest son Robbie Danforth, who was enlisted in the British Army, was serving in Ireland for this war and we see him wrestle for self-control when it becomes extremely personal to him. His brother Kipp, a pilot in the Royal Air Force, takes up in the air for an exciting battle with a German tri-plane and ends with a victory that then credits him with becoming an Ace. And Edward the eldest son is in the Royal Navy, and faces his own harrowing experiences. These and a few other portrayals of extremely intense battles are illustrated in this book, but all are absolutely thrilling without being verbose. The history is fascinating and interesting, and the author, proficient in his research.

There is not a dull moment to be found in Ashton Park amidst the trials and triumphs of the Danforth's and their loved ones. The romances dotted right throughout are delightful and smile-inducing. Their faith in God is often tested, and sometimes left wanting, while other times, inspiring. The births and weddings are joyous, but the dangers and deaths are heart-stopping and heart-rending. Ashton Park also delivers an important message of redemption and forgiveness. Overall, it captures you with its charm whilst whisking you on a fascinating journey back into history with its breathtaking scenes!

Find Murray’s books at Amazon, CBD, B&N, DeeperShopping, and other bookstores.

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GIVEAWAY: Winners choice of a copy of one of the books in The Danforths of Lancashire series; Ashton Park, Beneath the Dover Sky, or London Dawn—paperback or ebook.

Leave a comment and your email address to be entered in the contest.

Guest Review by Debra Marvin: Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer

Wings of a Dream

Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer
Bethany House, 2011

Reviewed by Debra Marvin

                                                         

Wings of a Dream, from Bethany House Publishing is Anne Mateer’s debut novel. I consider it historical fiction with romantic elements.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book other than I knew Anne was a wonderful writer and skilled editor. I had no doubts as to the quality of writing.  But these are often not enough, because it all comes down to a compelling storyline and characters we are eager to explore, bond with, and hate to part from.

Rebekah Hendricks is a dreamy nineteen-year-old when the story opens. The Great War rages in Europe and she is at odds with her small Oklahoma world. Her caring father and domineering mother are both wrapped up in concern over their son off in Europe and Rebekah is anxious to leave.  Nothing makes this more clear to her than her boyfriend’s decision to join the service, and leave her behind.

I wasn’t sure I was going to be like or be able to invest in Rebekah. It’s been a long time since I was a teenager and her focus on what she wanted made her a little selfish and all too realistic. But Anne’s beautiful writing carried me through chapter after chapter. When Rebekah’s plan for a new life in Texas completely fails, her life couldn’t have been more frustrating--and that’s when I found I’d completely invested in this character. She became precious to me.

I’ve read the two or three 3-star reviews for this book (and a few of the over forty 5-star Amazon Reviews) and the biggest complaint was Rebekah’s selfishness. It’s there but I disagree that it takes away from the book. If she’d been unselfish at nineteen-years-old, when the ‘wings of her dream’ were clipped I would have probably put this book aside as lacking credibility.

Rebekah’s life changes dramatically over the course of the book, and rather than give away plot points, I will just strongly recommend Anne’s book. It is a look study of a very difficult time in American, and world history, and exquisitely paints life in a small town during a war.

Anne brings us into the world of Spanish Flu long before Downton Abbey showed us. And yet neither could really teach us the impact of the world’s largest pandemic of death. It’s a wonder we didn’t lose an entire generation from the Tuberculosis and Spanish Flu carried home with servicemen and women after the Great War.

Rebekah’s story is one of maturity and growth. Rather than let her youthful selfishness breed resentment, Rebekah opened her heart and kept moving forward even after repeated emotional wounds by her young man, loss of her family, and the domineering, thoughtless treatment by her mother. Rebekah found joy again and optimism for the future, through situations few would have handled so tenderly. Wings of a Dream’s romance runs beautifully smooth and realistic, and I might add, did not run the obvious route but gave us a lot to consider.

I had high expectations for this book and I was not disappointed. It was in my top ten books of 2011, and I’m glad to recommend it to readers of historical fiction, historical romance, and women’s fiction, yet it is completely appropriate for male readers as well because of the vivid portrayal of this period of history. Also appropriate for the YA market.

I was sorry to see this book end and look forward to more from author Anne Mateer.

Anne's books can be purchased through Amazon, CBD, Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saturday. Your choice of Anne's books and choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.

Gratitude

Today, on Memorial Day, we acknowledge and give thanks to those who fought and died for our country. The French people gave a tangible reminder of their gratitude.  Yesterday, at the Virginia War Museum I saw something I had not heard about.

The doughboys arriving in France must have been pretty surprised to find themselves packed into these rickety wood cars, built in the mid to late 1800's. They were referred to as 40/8s - forty men or eight horses could fit inside!

According to the plaque, the American people sent over $40,000,000 in supplies to the French after the war(s) and following WWII, these cars were sent to the United States filled with gifts from the French people. Coats of arms from each province are on the side of each car.

My great-uncles both served as medics during WWI. My uncle Fred was an extremely accurate rifleman, and hunter, but his religious convictions did not allow him to serve as a soldier. Was I ever shocked to read an account of what happened with those medics, as still does today, because they were forced to defend themselves and the ones they were trying to save. I was naive to think that because he was a medic he did not have to fire upon someone. He came home to an epidemic of Spanish flu, his home region of Michigan under quarantine, and was asked as a medic to stay where he was and help with the dying and dead. He did.

Gratitude - we thank those today who gave their all. This tangible gift from the French people is a reminder of the attitude we should have.