Author: KyLee Woodley

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Bookworm Review: Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden

This review was first shared in episode 18 on the Historical Bookworm Show.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Her gilded world holds a deeply hidden secret.  

After years of tragedy, Gwen Kellerman now lives a quiet life as a botanist at an idyllic New York college. She largely ignores her status as heiress to the infamous Blackstone dynasty and hopes to keep her family’s heartbreak and scandal behind her.

Patrick O’Neill survived a hardscrabble youth to become a lawyer for the downtrodden Irish immigrants in his community. He’s proud of his work, even though he struggles to afford his ramshackle law office. All that changes when he accepts a case that is sure to emphasize the Blackstones’ legacy of greed and corruption by resurrecting a thirty-year-old mystery.

Little does Patrick suspect that the Blackstones will launch their most sympathetic family member to derail him. Gwen is tasked with getting Patrick to drop the case, but the old mystery takes a shocking twist neither of them saw coming. Now, as they navigate a burgeoning attraction and growing danger, Patrick and Gwen will be forced to decide if the risk to the life they’ve always held dear is worth the reward.

The Review

Elizabeth Camden continues her legacy of excellent storytelling with memorable characters who readers can root for. Underdog lawyer, Patrick, is tasked with pushing a criminal’s book through to publication despite the Blackstones trying to block it’s release as it will drag their reputation through the muck. He’s met his match in the sweet Blackstone heiress, Gwen, who is sent to change his mind. Readers will anxiously speed through chapters to see if the two will be able to breach insurmountable odds while also solving a decades old mystery that becomes deadly. Another great story from Camden with a sweet romance, ideals of acceptance, and very brief, mild violence.

In the mood for a charming historical romance mixed with danger then Carved in Stone should be on the top of your to be read pile.

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

About the Author

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida, whose novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction.

Fidn out more about Elizabth on her webstie ElizabethCamden.com

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Giveaway! The Kindred Series by Lori Benton

I am so pleased to share this amazing giveaway with you. We always host a giveaway for our faithful newsletter subscribers (join here if you haven’t already 🙂 ), but Lori insisted both books be given not only to the subscribers but also be offered as a separate giveaway. Thank you, Lori, for your giving heart!

And, what a joy it was to speak with Lori! I was so blessed and amazed when working on editing episode 18 that I picked out this quote from Lori.

 
“I would like to invite readers to continue with Ian and Shauna and the new characters that they’ll meet in Shiloh and just taking the full picture of restoration that, that this entire story presents God is not through with these characters, just like he isn’t finished with us.”

If you haven’t had the chance to listen to Lori’s interview, please take this opportunity. It’s Episode 18: Guest Lori Benton & a Review of Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden.

Enter the GIVEAWAY here!

The winner will be notified within 1 week of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

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Episode 18: Guest Lori Benton & a Review of Carved in Stone

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Join guest Lori Benton for a chat about her latest release Shiloh Book 2 of the Kindred Series. Giveaway Link here!

We look at quotes from Jane Austin, Mark Twain, and Fredrick Douglas on our Pinch of the Past. Full article here.

In the mood for a charming historical romance mixed with danger then Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden should be on the top of your to be read pile! Full review here.

 

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Episode 17: Guest Amy Green & a Review of The Barrister and the Letter of Marque

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Join us for a chat with author and speaker Amy Green as she shares about writing her latest WWII novel, The Lines Between Us.

On a Pinch of the Past we look back a few thousand years to the beginning of makeup as we know it. From ancient Egypt to Regency Era England, and to turn of the century America, you’ll enjoy these tidbits of history surrounding cosmetics.

Bookworm Review If you’re in the mood for a riveting courtroom drama that extends beyond the court, The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson will have you searching for ways to prove the truth alongside the barrister. 

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In a Far Off Land by Stephanie Landsem

This review was originally shared in episode 16. Listen to episode 13 to hear Stephanie share about all that went into writing this fantastic book.

The Book

As the Great Depression hits the Midwest, Minerva Sinclaire runs away to Hollywood, determined to make it big and save the family farm. But beauty and moxie don’t pay the bills in Tinseltown, and she’s caught in a downward spiral of poverty, desperation, and compromise. Finally, she’s about to sign with a major studio and make up for it all. Instead, she wakes up next to a dead film star and is on the run for a murder she didn’t commit.

Only two unwilling men—Oscar, a Mexican gardener in danger of deportation, and Max, a too-handsome agent battling his own demons—can help Mina escape corrupt police on the take and the studio big shots trying to frame her.

But even her quick thinking and grit can’t protect her from herself. Alone, penniless, and carrying a shameful secret, Mina faces the consequences of the heartbreaking choices that brought her to ruin . . . and just might bring her back to where she belongs.

The Review

This book is one of the most beautiful prodigal stories out there. It is an amazing story of love lost and gained, of forgiveness, second chances, grace, the beauty of family.

Mina veered off the straight path and went to Los Angeles to become an actress. Her dreams became just dreams when life threw the most dire of curve balls at her. Her journey was touching–painful to read but redemptive at the end.

If this is the first of Stephanie’s books you are reading, it definitely won’t be your last. The story is doused with love and grace given, that could never be deserved or earned even if one tried.

Love that never says “no” or “enough” is the perfect title for this book. The life-changing lessons of faith are inspiring and noteworthy.

If you love historical fiction that will keep you crying both happy and sad tears, filled with intrigue, mystery and suspense–but also inspires your heart to live a life of love–then In A Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem is the perfect book for you.

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

The Author

Stephanie Landsem writes about women in history for women in history. Her latest novel, In A Far Off Land, is a story of murder, romance, and mercy set in the glamour of 1930s Hollywood. Her biblical fiction brings the unknown women of the gospels to life in The Living Water Series and the Walk In Her Sandals series. She has traveled on four continents and dozens of countries. When she can’t travel, she reads fiction and history and dreams of her next adventure whether it be in person or on the page. She makes her home in Minnesota with her husband of 30 years, occasional adult children, three cats, a dog, and a tortoise named Moe.

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Episode 16: Guest Jody Hedlund & a Review of In A Far Off Land

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Jody is the bestselling author of over 30 historical novels for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Awards. She shares about her new time travel novel Come Back to Me, her love of cats, and the fun of writing. Learn more about her at her website JodyHedlund.com/ and her ReaderRoom Facebook group.

We share prolific hymn writers in our Pinch of the Past. A look at the reformer Martin Luther, the “The Godfather of English Hymnody” Isaac Watts, and blind teacher and lobbyist Fanny Crosby.

Bookworm Review: If you love historical fiction that will keep you crying both happy and sad tears, filled with intrigue, mystery and suspense then In A Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem is the perfect book for you.

We are giving away a copy of Come Back to Me.

Giveaway began on August 15, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 27, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.


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The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

This review was originally shared in episode 14 of the Historical Bookworm Show.

The Book

Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian monarchy, a princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.

1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution, Princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every Russian aristocrat from memory. Svetlana and her family are forced into hiding in Paris’s underbelly, with little to their name but the jewels they sewed into their corsets before their terrifying escape.

Born the second son of a Scottish duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. After treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter. Intrigued by this mysterious, cold, and beautiful woman, Wynn follows Svetlana to an underground Russian club where drink, dance, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.

Out of money and options, Svetlana agrees to a marriage of convenience with the handsome and brilliant Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her family’s debts. It’s the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn cannot help hoping the marriage will turn into one of true affection. When Wynn’s life takes an unexpected turn, so does Svetlana’s—and soon Paris becomes as dangerous as Petrograd. And as the Bolsheviks chase them to Scotland, Wynn and Svetlana begin to wonder if they will ever be able to outrun the love they are beginning to feel for one another.

The Review

A sweeping love story that rivets the reader with narrow escapes, nefarious characters, strong family bonds, and a hero and heroine whose fragile love will be tested by lies born of pride and the troubles of the world around them.

In trying to outrun her heritage, Princess Svetlana wilts under the pressures of saving her family single-handedly. All Wynn wants is a chance to further medical science and woo the icy princess. A marriage forces Svetlana to open her heart just as Wynn’s world collapses. Can Svetlana pick up the pieces of their marriage her once stoic heart would have abandoned?

If you’re looking for a sweet, clean read with two very different characters who learn to adapt to an ever changing world then The Ice Swan is for you.

This review was originally shared in episode 14 of the Historical Bookworm Show.

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

The Author

With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the INSPY and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle.

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Faith’s Mountain Home by Misty M. Beller

The Book

Nate Long has always watched over his identical twin brother, Aaron, even when it put him on the wrong side of the law. When Aaron is wounded in a shootout, the brothers are taken to Settler’s Fort to recover. As Nate works to make reparations for their past, he marvels at the nursing Aaron receives under the care of a woman with all the reason in the world to resent him.

Laura Hannon knows what it is to start over, and she knows Nate’s newfound faith is real. What she can’t look past is how far he allowed himself to be led astray by his brother’s weaknesses.

As a fledgling trust grows between Nate and Laura, they stumble upon a mysterious cave in the mountains that may not be as uninhabited as it seems. As they work together for a common cause, will the new lives they seek for themselves include love, or is there too much that stands between them?

The Review

Loving complex characters and multi-faceted relationships as I do, I have to say, I think the hero stole the show a little bit in this story. Nate is an ex-outlaw, with a kind heart and a lot of restitution yet to make. His brother is also interesting–the kind of character I want to see have his own book one day.

All in all, it’s a great cast. The whole town is full of people you can easily imagine meeting if you traveled back in time.

The romance is very sweet and steady. The heroine is kind and courageous; the hero, honorable and humble. There is little violence for a western. The faith element is overt, yet a natural part of the characters’ lives. And I loved the Montana setting; I would tell you about the cave, but you should probably discover that yourself.

This is the third book in the Hearts of Montana series (and from the bits I’ve seen of earlier characters in this book, I want to read the others).

If you enjoy a story about second chances–with plenty of the adventures a Montana wilderness can throw at you–definitely pick up a copy of Faith’s Mountain Home.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Author

Misty M. Beller is a today’s guest is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories set on the 1800’s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close and they continue to keep that priority today. Writing is a dream come true for her. Her family, both immediate and extended, is the foundation that holds her secure in that dream. Connect with Misty at her website MistyMBeller.com

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Episode 15: Guest Ann H. Gabhart & a Book Review of Faith’s Mountain Home

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Join us for an interview with Ann H. Gabhart. Her first historical novel was published 1978 by Warner Books. Since then, she has published over thirty novels, including her latest Along a Storied Trail.

Pinch of the Past … A look at the significance of teacher apples, the first public school in America, and quotes be historical teachers that may surprise you. 

Bookworm Review … Faith’s Mountain Home by Misty M. Beller. If you enjoy a story about second chances–with plenty of the adventures a Montana wilderness can throw at you–definitely pick up a copy of Faith’s Mountain Home.

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School, Apples, and Teachers

Why Apples?

 

Education in Early America.

  • The first public school in America was established on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts and was known as the Boston Latin School.
  • Important people who attended were John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
  • Benjamin Franklin also attended, but dropped out!

Maria Montessori

  • Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870, Maria Montessori was exceptional from the beginning. She was the only female attendee of an all-boys school. Maria was one of Italy’s first female doctors, and became interested in education, and in 1907. She opened a child care center in  in Rome where she put her her educational theories into practice.
  • “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”

Laura-Ingalls-Wilder

On the Frontier

  • Laura Ingalls Wilder the author of Little House on the Prairie author (1867–1957) was a teacher. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse which was 12 miles away from the town she lived in in South Dakota.
  • “The only stupid thing about words is the spelling of them.”

1200px-Einstein_1921_by_F_Schmutzer_-_restoration

Take it from a genius…

So there you have it, a short look at a few teachers in history. Here is one final quote from a teacher, Albert Einstein. “Imagination is everything.” and as a writer and reader, I heartily agree.