Noela Nancarrow reviews Love's Fortune by Laura Frantz

Love's Fortune

Love’s Fortune (The Ballantyne Legacy Book #3)

by Laura Frantz

Revell (September 9, 2014)

Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow

~5 Stars~ *****

A tale you'll never want to leave..

Mesmerizing. Breathtaking. Sublime. Synonymous with all of author Laura Frantz’s novels; ‘Love’s Fortune’ is a story painted with eloquent, luscious prose. The haunting echoes of dulcet tones sweep throughout the pages, enticing the reader to savor every exquisite morsel. With such incomparable writing, and the richly crafted, enthralling characters within, I daresay you may find yourself wishing, like myself, that this book never arrives at the end.

The enchanting and innocent character of Wren Ballantyne infiltrates your heart almost as soon as you meet her. Innocent and devoid of pretentiousness, how will this flower of Cane Run, Kentucky with her southern drawl, calloused hands, and tanned skin, ever make it in the harsh and unforgiving world of the 1850’s Pennsylvania high society? Her wealthy and prominent Ballantyne relatives are mostly accepting, but the harsh appraisal and cold manner of others has Wren longing to flee back to the hills and hollows of Kentucky.

The dashing, perfectly-polished gentleman James Sackett, first meets the beautiful Ballantyne heir, Wren, aboard the steamship he was piloting as he transports her father and Wren to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Stalwart and serious, and committed in his job as the Ballantyne’s most valued river pilot, James’ unyielding veneer is almost undone by the guileless homespun charm of the enchanting Wren. This battle within continues as he is given the responsibility of being Wren’s escort in her coming out in society. He can never allow her to know of his secret affection; his questionable heritage is at odds with the Ballantyne name and the grim danger that pursues him because of his abolitionist dealings is something he won’t submit her to. Can he truly count on her being safe, and how will James’ heart endure watching her being courted by others?

The legacy that the patriarch Silas Ballantyne has established is vast and far-reaching. Though boasting an impressive line of steamships and an industry of ironworks that have made the Ballantyne’s incredibly wealthy and prominent in society, their most enduring legacy would have to be family, love, commitment to God, and their clandestine endeavors of aiding fugitive slaves. In this final installment of The Ballantyne Legacy, we unearth the layers that make up Silas’ granddaughter Wren, including her Nancarrow heritage; we meet the swarthy, rugged, and charismatic Malachi Cameron; and we regrettably close the chapter on one of the most enrapturing ‘book’ families I've ever read about! 

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You can purchase this wonderful book at these places: Amazon, CBD, BAM, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and your local bookstore.

GIVEAWAY: A copy of any of the Ballantyne Legacy books in your choice of format! Leave a comment to enter. 
Leave your email or check back in winners column either Sunday or Monday to see if you have won!

Noela Nancarrow reviews 'LOVE'S AWAKENING' by Laura Frantz

Love's Awakening

Love’s Awakening

by Laura Frantz

Revell (September 15, 2013)

Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow

~5 Stars~ *****

Breathtaking Historical Romance

‘Love’s Awakening’, the second in the Ballantyne Legacy series, is the beautiful, stirring tale of a gentle and blossoming love that strives to flourish against a background of grave danger, various family angsts, and difficult family and societal expectations. This exquisite novel possesses rich historical detail and a sublime visual display of the locales, and is further complimented by the deeply-layered and endearing characters!

Elinora (Ellie) Ballantyne, the youngest daughter of the respected and powerful Ballantyne family of Pittsburgh, has arrived home sooner than expected from finishing school in Philadelphia. Ellie’s unforeseen early arrival home lands her in the midst of much hustle after the recent storm, but she’s also getting the distinct impression she’s not wanted there by her siblings. With her parents Silas and Eden away on a lengthy journey, Ellie decides she needs to get out from underfoot and to make her own way in life by opening up a day school for the young ladies of Pittsburgh. When Chloe Turlock, the youngest daughter of the Turlock family who have been long-time enemies of the Ballantyne’s, asks to join the class, it sets off a sequence of events that will forever change lives.

Jack Turlock, the younger son of Henry and Isabel Turlock who are wealthy whiskey tycoons and well-known exacting slave holders, is troubled. He’s had a life-altering experience that he’s shared with no-one, and although he is still beholden to his family, he desires to separate himself from the family’s cruel legacy. It is to Silas Ballantyne that he looks up to, but figures he’ll never measure up to the noble and respected Ballantyne’s. When Jack’s feelings begin to grow for Ellie, he knows there can never be anything between them, and arranges to head out west. With the danger becoming more dire for those helping slaves, and knowing the abolitionist leanings of the Ballantyne’s, Jack can only pray they’ll be safe in his absence. With two families as different as light is to dark, can there be any hope for love to triumph against such opposing forces? Or will Ellie and Jack need to betray their feuding families to be able to grasp a chance at love?

Love’s Awakening is a beautifully written tale with impressive research into historical details, giving the reader a glimpse into life in the early 1820’s. Undeniably, author Laura Frantz also writes some of the most tangible and memorable characters ever written, and that seem to take on a life of their own. Endearing women such as Ellie that are genteel and dulcet, yet possess a hidden strength; Chloe, Jack’s young sister who’s a tomboy that lacks many social graces but owns a big heart; and heroes like Jack who are strong yet gentle, chivalrous yet vulnerable, and a man of few words… but those few words ooze an intense personality and great depth of character.

Love’s Awakening forged a path straight to my heart just as all of Laura’s sterling stories do, but then I didn't expect anything less!

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This book may be purchased through Amazon, CBD, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, or your local bookstore.

GIVEAWAY: I will be giving away an e-book copy of 'Love's Awakening' to someone who leaves a comment! Make sure you include your e-mail address for contact purposes if you're the winner!


Interview With Lynnette Bonner by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Lynnette Bonner

Lynnette Bonner is the author of High Desert Haven, book 2, and of Rocky Mountain Oasis, book 1 in The Shepherd’s Heart series.

I met Lynnette through our mutual friend Marian Baay who does guest reviews for us. Marian loved Lynnette’s stories and suggested she contact me for a spot on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help.

Lynnette, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

One difficult thing in my life early on, was heading off to boarding school at the age of 8. My parents were missionaries and there weren’t a lot of educational options on the field. The first couple of years were pretty tough, but in the long run, I think my relationship with the Lord was strengthened because of it – I had nowhere to turn but to Him. And later I learned to love boarding school. I still have strong bonds with many of my friends from those years.

In my adult years, I could name several things that have been difficult; being a pastor’s wife…, raising children…, persevering until I finally got published…. But through all of those circumstances, I’ve learned that the best place to turn when the going gets tough is to the Lord. Prayer really does make a difference, if only in my perspective.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

This is a question to ponder, isn’t it? How does one pick just one jewel from a treasure trove full of them? Still, one of my favorite verses comes from Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio? 

Currently none of my books are available as recorded audio books, but all of my stories are available for Kindle and are text to speech enabled.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

I think, as I’m winding down writing my fourth full novel within the next week or so, the one main message I would love for my readers to hear is this: Life is hard. We are all faced with painful circumstances as a result of sin in this world. But with the Lord’s help, we can forge ahead and press on, and even make a difference in this world for the better. A relationship with Jesus is the key to true happiness on this earth.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

For book 3 in The Shepherd’s Heart series, Fair Valley Refuge, I did quite a bit of research on the orphan trains. Many of the stories tugged at my heart strings. Families too poor to be able to properly care for their children often took them to the orphanage steps and left them there during the night. Others truly were orphans, but were separated from siblings in order to secure them homes. Many never saw each other again. Some went to good homes. Some to homes where people only wanted the free labor.

But the piece of research I’ve done that has probably most touched my heart is for a series I haven’t even started yet that will be set on the island of Zanzibar and in East Africa during the late 1800’s. Many people don’t realize that slavery from the east coast of Africa continued long after most of the slavery from the west coast had been abolished. And some of the things those poor people had to endure are enough to bring tears to your eyes. Women who weren’t strong enough to carry both their child and the load of ivory the slavers wanted them to pack to the coast from the interior, had their children killed before their eyes. Young boys, sought after as eunuchs for Indian, Arab, and Chinese royalty, were castrated by the thousands. Only 1 in 10 survived the unsterile procedure. One in ten!

I could go on. But just those glimpses of my research will give you a taste of the heartbreak.

High Desert Haven by Lynnette Bonner

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

In High Desert Haven my heroine Nicki has just lost her husband. It was a forced marriage and she didn’t really love him, but she still grieves his loss. And then has to come to terms with how she is going to forge ahead and overcome the new situation she finds herself in. So a particularly applicable topic would be grief.


Click here to order Lynnette's books from Amazon.

Thank you, Lynnette, for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!


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

Carrie Fancett Pagels Reviews Veil of Pearls by MaryLu Tyndall

Veil of Pearls
By MaryLu Tyndall
(Barbour, 2012)
5 stars*****


Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

MaryLu’s Best Book Yet!

Althea become Adelia when she escaped Sir Walter Miles. MaryLu Tyndall’s newest story, set in federalist era Charleston, South Carolina, has all the makings of an amazing novel. The setting, the characterization, the story, and MaryLu’s voice come together to give the reader an amazing emotional experience. I would like to thank Barbour for allowing the Colonial American Christian Writers and the Overcoming Through Time—With God’s Help blog, an advance PDF copy to read.  I flat-out loved this story.

It takes a multi-published author to pull off a story about a white slave who has raced to her freedom, from the islands where Althea enjoyed a happy childhood until taken captive by Miles, and then becoming Adelia, a healer working with a physician in Charleston. Adelia is a feisty gal who has had to struggle to become free and has endured insufferable indignities at the hand of her “owner.”

Fabulous job of conveying the physician’s own mixed reactions to his times and to slavery and of incorporating his back story into the work with a deft hand. And of showing Adelia’s reaction to the slaves in Charleston and the sweet little girl that is slave to the doctor.

Her early interaction with the Rutledge family, wealthy plantation owners, portends of the problems that could bring strife between Adelia and the very bored Morgan—who needs to get a life.  He, also has been living a double existence, unbeknownst to his father.  With unflinching detail, MaryLu exposes Morgan’s father and brother as the brutes they are. 

Adalia,finds herself pulled into a society that will never fully accept her if they find out the truth of her past. I sure hope all those families in Charleston, where I lived for seven years, don’t take offense at their last names being associated with some nasty characters, such as the ever-spiteful Emerald Middleton.  Miss Middleton is “a piece of work” as we’d call her nowadays. Both Morgan and Adelia need the Lord to help them with their situation and with this conniver.  There is also a demonic-type character in this book who well portrays how satan tries to come against us when we are at our weakest.

This was an amazing book. MaryLu's best book yet!!! You will be thinking about this book and the characters long after you are done reading.  I would LOVE to see this made into a movie.  It would be great. 

MaryLu's books can be found on CBD, Amazon, Lifeway, Barnes and Noble, and other book stores.


Thank you to Marian Baay for the book trailer.  You can read Marian's review on Colonial Quills (click here.)

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

Diana Flowers Reviews Veil of Pearls by MaryLu Tyndall

Veil of Pearls 
by MaryLu Tyndall
Barbour Publishing (July, 2012)

A Gem Of A Novel!

From the pen of MaryLu Tyndall comes a sweeping saga set in the early 1800s in Charleston, South Carolina; a bustling seaport city, plenteous in ships, beautiful, lush plantations, aristocrats in their gorgeous silk gowns, lavish soirees, and the sweet smell of yellow jessamine permeating the air. But underneath the social season and affluence, and the guise of gaiety, laughter, and parties, lies another world...the dark world of slavery, malice, and deceit.

At the passing of Adalia Winston's parents at the age of twelve, she becomes a slave to Sir Walter Miles at his sugar plantation in Barbados. Adalia soon realizes she has not only lost her parents, but her innocence as well. Although Adalia is only one quarter black, she is still considered a slave, and Sir Walter uses and abuses her as such. After many years of careful planning, Adalia escapes to Charleston, South Carolina, with nothing much--save her mother's black pearls, and another item that ends up becoming a terrible mistake to have brought with her. She secures a position with a kindly doctor, and since she appears white, she captures the eye of the heir of Rutledge Plantation, Morgan, who loves her for her beauty, honesty, and plucky spirit.

Morgan Rutledge, in spite of his vast wealth, is discontented and bored with his life; the soirees, the shallow women, and doing what society expects of him. His longing is to sail the wild seas into faraway lands. He realizes Adalia is more than just a passing fancy, but is also aware of the fact that his father will never approve of him marrying a commoner.

Adalia, in spite of herself, loves the attention of this handsome man and slave owner; the parties, the plays, etc., and feeling a part of the social crowd for the first time in her life. There are those, however, who are jealous of her, and will stop at nothing to bring her down. Will Morgan find out the truth...that she is naught but a runaway slave? If so, will he still want to marry her? What did she bring along with her from Barbados, that could be her total undoing, and who wants to see her destroyed and why? Will Morgan and Adalia learn to commit their ways to the Lord?...and find healing for their wounded hearts?

In my opinion, this book shows MaryLu's versatility as an author, and is her best book to date! This is a lovely, haunting, romantic story, and I ran the whole gamut of emotions while reading it; joy, fear, heartbreak---you name it. 


I'm proud at how far America has come since those horrible days of slavery, and saddened for those who had to endure it. With a strong spiritual thread throughout, many twists and turns (and wondering how things could EVER work out), this is a book I will not soon forget. What a masterpiece, MaryLu Tyndall!

I received this ARC from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion.


Here is the link to the CBD page for more info about this book and for ordering: Click here.  Here is the Amazon order page for VoP Click here.


Giveaway:  Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of MaryLu's upcoming release.

Diana's Corner - Book Review of The Measure of Katie Calloway

The Measure of Katie Calloway 

by Serena Miller





Revell 2011

5 stars~ *****






Review by Diana L. Flowers

A "TREE''MENDOUS READ!

In The Measure of Katie Calloway, Serena Miller takes us on an arduous journey beginning in post civil war-ravaged Georgia to a lumber camp in Bay City, Michigan. Katie falls in love with and marries the handsome and charming, Harlan Calloway, a graduate from West Point, the sole heir of Fallen Oaks Plantation in Georgia. 


As Sherman and his Union troops burn down everything in their pathway, Fallen Oaks is destroyed, leaving only a small cabin for Katie, her little brother, Ned, and Harlan, to inhabit. After the war, Harlan, turns to alcohol, and beats Katie severely, until one day fearful for her very life, she runs away, taking Ned and a small bag of coins with her, determined to get as far away as the money will take her. 


She ends up in the beauful logging country of Michigan, and meets Robert Foster, owner of a lumber camp and desperately in need of a cook for his men. 

Robert Foster is a kind and fair man; good to his "shanty boys" as the loggers were called, but a man who carries a deep burden of guilt for not being with his wife when she died giving birth. He, too, was on the battlefield, and saw tremendous atrocities such as couldn't be uttered, and he carries a secret that no one knows. Does Katie find out what it is by reading an old journal she finds of Robert's? And what about the secret she is keeping from him - the fact that she is not a widow, but a married woman.

Katie's work is backbreaking, and she must get up at two in the morning to begin feeding the shanty boys. Gruff on the outside, but with hearts of gold, they all grow to love Katie, and of course, her wonderful cooking! Robert Foster is falling in love with her as well, but Katie fights their growing attraction, as she is still married, and fearful of Harlan finding her. 


Add a terrible forest fire that could destroy the whole 680 acre camp, a starving Indian woman with her baby, and a once runaway slave, to the budding, but forbidden romance, and you have one more exciting tale!

Serena Miller's novel is laced with humor (I laughed outright at some of the episodes), but she covers some pretty heavy issues; slavery, spousal abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder, to name a few. Her extensive research into the lumber business taught me alot, and her realistic setting had me actually smelling the scent of spruce and freshly sawed white pine trees. I loved her secondary characters, and still miss the rough spoken and malodorous, but protective and loving shanty boys.

*One word of warning-Do not read this book while hungry, because Ms. Miller's many descriptions of the delectable, mouth watering meals that Katie concocts, will have you craving food and running to the kitchen..mmm.:)  Wonderful novel, Serena Miller, and I am wholeheartedly looking forward to the next one! 


Giveaway:  Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book in either Kindle or paperback version, your choice!  

The Duke's Redemption - book review

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels


The Duke’s Redemption
Love Inspired Historical 2010
By Carla Capshaw

I originally published this blog post last April, 2010.  I am reposting this review and doing a giveaway of a Kindle copy of The Duke's Redemption.

This is a historical romance rather than a historical book with romantic elements. I enjoyed it very much.

Set during the American revolution primarily at a plantation near Charleston, Capshaw does a good job at explaining how people had to travel during that time and using that in her story line (Elise is a spy). Having lived in Charleston for many years, I was a little disappointed she did not include even more of the geographic features of the area. However, this book delivered more than I was expecting, since the Love Inspired Historical line was fairly new at that time. This book definitely could compete with those from the bigger Christian publishing houses.

Capshaw has some unusual turns in this book and it is not as predictable as some books I have recently read in this genre. I especially like that she was not afraid to include, and process, an element of history that needs more light shed on it – mainly, what happens when your male relative fathers a child into slavery. Cathy Gohlke also addressed this beautifully in her book, “William Henry is a Fine Name”.

This was a great night time read, is a page turner, with good pacing and plot. If you enjoy reading historical fiction (particularly colonial), this will not let you down - surprise you with the English hero but not disappoint you!

The Colonial Quills blog has a Fiction Sampler of this book up from Monday of this week.  Check it out here http://colonialquills.blogpot.com - just scroll down to the post and happy sampling!

Giveaway: Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win a Kindle copy of this book. Oh, and Carla is giving away a paperback copy at Colonial Quills, if you prefer that!  Drawing for both is Friday morning!