Diana's Review of Veiled At Midnight By Christine Lindsay

Veiled At Midnight (Book # 3 Twilight of the British Raj) by Christine Lindsay

WhiteFire Publishing, 2014

~5 stars~*****

Book Description :

The British empire draws to an end…

but the turmoil has only just begun.

The Partition of India has sent millions to the roads, instigated riots as uncontrolled as wildfire…and caught up in its wake Captain Cam Fraser, his sister Miriam, and the beautiful Indian Dassah. Cam has never been able to put Dassah from his mind, ever since they played together at the mission as children. But a British officer and the aide to the last viceroy cannot marry a poor Indian woman, can he? For a while, Dassah believes that Cam loves her. But as the impossibility of a future with him becomes clear, what choice does she have but to run? He may hold her heart—but she cannot let him break it again. Miriam rails against the separation of the land of her birth, and as British forces prepare to leave India, she struggles. She finds purpose in teaching, in helping...but is Lieutenant Colonel Jack Sunderland her soul mate or a distraction from what God has called her to do?

My thoughts ~

Once again Christine Lindsay sweeps the reader away on an exotic, riveting journey to faraway India -- a land of exquisite, mystical beauty, but one of extreme political and religious unrest as well. Ms. Lindsay's amazing descriptive imagery of this resplendent, beautiful country will awaken the readers' senses to the sights, smells, and allure of India...but her impeccable historical research describes the flip side of the coin as well. The atrocities and prejudices suffered by the Indian people under the guise of religion was heartbreaking, and I learned a lot about this horrendous era of India's history that I wasn't aware of. Add a seemingly futile, but breathtaking romance that transcends all racial barriers, and you have a powerful novel sure to be an award winner---that is nigh unto impossible to put down! I highly recommend reading all three novels in The Twilight of the British Raj, as this will go down as one of my "favorite ever" series of all times!

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 This book may be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and BAM.

GIVEAWAY: A paperback or e-book copy to one blessed commenter! International -- ebook only.

Noela Nancarrow Reviews Shadowed in Silk by Christine Lindsay



Shadowed in Silk

Shadowed in Silk by Christine Lindsay

WhiteFire Publishing, 2011

Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow

~5 stars~*****

I found Shadowed in Silk to be a fascinating and extremely compelling story that had me engrossed right from the onset and throughout this captivating tale until the very end! Set in India during a time of great political unrest during the British Raj (rule), this story is written with such realism you’ll experience first-hand the tension, vulnerability, and danger as the British attempt to suppress the growing tide of insurgence from the natives of India. The treatment of the Indian people from the British will cause you to balk as you observe them being dealt with immense disdain and condescension.

However, despite the drama that unfolds in this outstanding novel, you’ll also be swept away to a culture that’s exotic, colorful, and fascinating. A place that’s teeming with people everywhere you turn with a kaleidoscope of color from the women’s silk saris, skirts and hair ornaments. You’ll imagine yourself hearing the thousands of voices assailing you during the day; the screeching of the colorful parrots; and through the night, the howling jackals and chirping crickets. The smells from the frequent clouds of dust and spices will simultaneously invade your senses.

After a whirlwind courtship, Abby had married army man Nick Fraser after only knowing him for a few weeks. Nick was about to shipped to India to rejoin his regiment there and therefore convinced Abby he wanted to make her his wife right away. After four years of barely hearing from him and with the war ending that Nick was fighting in, Abby has decided to join him in India. Their three year old son Cam whom Nick has never met is with her. Abby feels a little jittery about seeing him and being his wife again but is not prepared for him to not be there waiting at the quayside for them. After four long years of not being together, what could possibly keep Nick from being there to welcome his wife and son?

When Abby finally meets up with him, will she be swept off her feet again by this handsome Lieutenant or will she discover there’s another whole side to this man that she didn’t know?

Major Geoff Richards along with his troops that had survived the war returns home to India on the same ship that Abby and Cam had arrived on. During the voyage, Geoff who is a widower and young Cam develop a special friendship. When Geoff sees Cam and his mother alone and waiting on the pier, he helps them to get to their new home in the British civil lines, a cordoned-off part of the British empire in India. Strong and commanding yet thoughtful and quiet, Geoff himself has been scarred by the war and suffers from a hand tremor and large scar near his temple. It is easy to be drawn to this hero but you feel for his helplessness not only where Abby is concerned but also the injustice against the Indians.

After Geoff had settled back into duty, he needs to discover the Russian spy in their midst before it is too late. He knows this spy is endeavoring to cause unrest among the Indian natives and is involved in selling weapons. Abby and Cam become caught up in in this alarming situation and so with lives being in jeopardy and tensions all around escalating to boiling point, can Abby remain safe and shadowed in silk?

Christine Lindsay’s story is one of the those rare and beautiful gems that provokes such beautiful deep imagery while also gifting the reader with perfectly layered characters and a stirring and mesmerizing story that is almost impossible to put down. It was through these rich characters that the issues of love, loss, abuse, and varying levels of faith in God, are explored and thoughtfully embraced. I highly recommend this exciting and exceptional historical fiction ‘Shadowed in Silk’ to all readers!

This book may be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and BAM.

GIVEAWAY: Christine has graciously offered to give away a copy of winner's choice of one of her books—choice of format. Answer the question and leave your email to be entered in the contest.

QUESTION: Have you ever seen any persecution to minorities or been persecuted as a Christian yourself?

Diana Flowers Reviews Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay

Captured by Moonlight

Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay

WhiteFire Publishing, 2013

Reviewed by Diana Flowers

5 stars~*****

Absolutely Captivating!

In Captured by Moonlight, Christine Lindsay sweeps us away to the exotic, hauntingly beautiful land of India – of women in colorful saris, mango, coconut, and banana groves, plantations where elephants, tigers, and leopards roam in the nearby jungles – and the scent of spices, jasmine, and mimosa permeating the air. Amidst all of the majestic beauty, however, lie many dangers…of religious and political unrest, life threatening storms, a wounded tigress stalking in the nearby jungle, and the dreaded cholera.

Eshana, a beautiful, young widow, only wishes to serve the Lord and the needy women in the mission house, and her best friend, Laine, an English nurse, is masking her broken heart by administering healing to others. Laine is caught disobeying the rules and is sent to a plantation in Madras to work with a missionary doctor and his sister who treat cholera victims. Madras, where her heart had been shattered to pieces after the war by her first love – Madras, a place she has no desire to return to – ever. Once there she encounters many dangers, not the least of which include dangers of the heart as two men vie for her love, a cholera outbreak, and a life threatening storm.

And in the beautiful, romantic setting of white sand-filled beaches and moonlit nights, is it even possible that Laine's heart might be captured by love once again? What secrets is the owner of the plantation hiding in the surrounding outbuildings…and what of Eshana, who has fallen into sinister hands? Will Laine and the handsome Sikh doctor who has fallen in love with Eshana find her before it's too late?

I have ten authors who are my favs...with Shadowed in Silk—Book One and Captured by Moonlight—Book Two, Christine Lindsay has made it into my top five! I was captivated from the very first chapter of this exciting sequel with its unpredictable storyline which may easily be read as a stand alone. I loved the courageous characters—especially their dedication to put others first, and oh, the romance made my toes curl, my eyes fill with tears, and left me with the goose bumps! The author's use of imagery was second to none, and I could see the beauty of India in her descriptive prose. On my fav list of 2013 goes Captured by Moonlight! Very nicely done, Ms. Lindsay!



This book may be purchased through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

GIVEAWAY: Christine has graciously offered to give away a copy of winner's choice of one of her books—choice of format. Answer the question and leave your email to be entered in the contest.

Question: I was absolutely captivated by the exotic setting in this novel! Where is your favorite "exotic" setting for a book?



Diana Reviews Walks Alone by Sandi Rog

Walks Alone 
by Sandi Rog

(WhiteFire Publishing, 2012)

Review by Diana L. Flowers

5 stars *****

A "Captivating" Read!

Sandi Rog has crafted an unforgettable, gripping tale of a young Dutch woman who comes to America to find her dream, and ends up in the savage wilderness abode of the Cheyenne Indians! Ten year old, Anna van Stralen has left her homeland of Holland, along with her beloved widowed father, to find their dream in Colorado Territory. Upon reaching America's shore, Anna's father passes away and she is left in her abusive uncle's care for six long, miserable years. Anna, however, never loses sight of her dream, and scrimps and saves every penny until she is able to catch a train to Denver, far away from her uncle. Because of her naivete, something goes terribly awry, and Anna finds herself on the back of a horse, held captive by the fearsome Cheyenne, and headed into the savage wilderness home of the Indians.

White Eagle is disturbingly handsome, with mesmerizing blue-green eyes, and speaks English better than Anna. In exchange for Anna's freedom and safe passage to Denver City, she agrees to a platonic marriage to White Eagle, a kindhearted and gentle man, with a haunting secret. As Anna learns to live alongside of these gentle, but strange people, she learns some valuable lifelong lessons about prejudice, the color of a person's skin, and the true beauty that lies within a man. 

Finally on her way by stagecoach to Denver, her coach is robbed by highwaymen, and before she is knocked unconscious she sees a pair of beautiful sea green eyes above the mask of her attacker. Who is this tenderhearted, but deceitful and fierce man she has married, called White Eagle, and will she ever make it to the place of her and her father's dreams? Is the answer to all of her dreams right inside of her carpetbag? Will she ever be able to let go of her bitterness towards God because of the abuse she has suffered? Will White Eagle find forgiveness in his heart towards the white man, and find peace with God?

Sandi Rog has written a beautiful story of forgiveness and forbidden love--heartrending, exciting, and heartwarming--it's all in there. White Eagle is based on a true character in our country's history, who Sandi Rog gleaned alot of the Cheyenne's cultural practices from, and lends to the authenticity of the storyline. With a deep spiritual thread throughout, alot of twists and turns, and a climactic, satisfying conclusion, this one will definitely have the reader burning the midnight oil! Very nicely done, Sandi Rog!

*I was sent an Advance Reader’s Copy by the publisher, WhiteFire, and was not required to write a positive review.


Walks Alone and Sandi's other books are available through Amazon 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 Sandi’s books, choice of format.