In the Shadow of the River by Ann H. Gabhart My rating: 5 of 5 stars Well… Ann Gabhart has done it again. Another page-turner with wonderful setting, well-rounded characters, a bit of a mystery, a bit of danger, and just the right amount of romance. It’s not my all-time favorite of hers, but this one is certainly in the top five. The characters live on a showboat that travels the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. I’d never thought much about what it would be like living on a boat, but the author brought that experience to life and introduced me to a quirky cast of characters who entertained me thro ..read more

As Silent as the Night by Danielle Grandinetti My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is my first time reading something by author Danielle Grandinetti, and I would definitely read more by her. This novella is well-written and engaging. It showcases a historical period I’m not very familiar with, the end of prohibition in 1933 and the heyday of organized crime. Grandinetti does a good job of bringing the time period to life, including plenty of suspenseful moments to balance the sweet romance. Well worth reading ..read more

Beneath the Bending Skies by Jane Kirkpatrick My rating: 4 of 5 stars Classic Jane Kirkpatrick story with an in-depth look into life as it used to be. Jane brings history alive as few can. Beneath the Bending Skies adds an extra layer. It digs into the relationships – both family and interracial – and how expectations can hinder or help how we relate to each other. Well worth reading. View all my reviews ..read more

A Cord of Three Strands by Christy Distler My rating: 5 of 5 stars Stories set in Colonial America are few and far between anymore, and books featuring Quakers are even rarer. If you enjoy either or both, you’ll need to read this book! The author immerses readers into the time and culture while weaving a story with a strong faith element (they are – after all – Quakers) that illustrates the importance of family. I’m not a big fan of first-person point of view, but Distler writes it so well that I barely noticed it. I was involved with the characters from the start and intrigued by their Quaker ..read more

An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz My rating: 5 of 5 stars I bought this book right after it came out – two years ago! It was the beginning of the Covid shutdown, and I’d stocked up on a stack of paperbacks I wanted to read. And I always enjoy Laura Frantz’s books! But when I started reading it, I realized it was a little too close to the book I was writing at that time, Maggie’s Strength. Both deal with a settler girl taken captive and raised by Native Americans. So I stopped reading and shelved the book. I can’t tell you how many times I looked at it, wanted to get back into it, and yet had o ..read more

The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve read most of Shannon McNear’s books, but I think this one is her best. The setting, the characters, and the tension derived from split loyalties during the Civil War lead to a real page-turner. I enjoyed the story, even the secondary characters were well-defined and interesting. I wouldn’t mind knowing how the story of several of them played out in novels to come ..read more

Byway to Danger by Sandra Merville Hart My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a lovely conclusion to the series showcasing a pair of dedicated and compassionate people who risk everything to help end the war and slavery. We first met Meg in book one – so do read this series in order – but she blossoms in book three. Author Hart has presented a unique look at the undercover operations that were going on – on both sides of the Mason/Dixon Line – while the uniformed soldiers fought on the battlefields. She also offers a clear view of what life was like for those not involved in the fighting but living ..read more

When the Meadow Blooms by Ann H. Gabhart My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’m a loyal Ann Gabhart fan. I’ve read ALL her books! If this one isn’t her best, it’s just as good as. Calla and Sienna Rose spend two years in an orphanage – even though they aren’t orphans. Their mother is in a sanatorium – a special hospital for people with tuberculosis. Rose has nowhere to live and no way to make a living, but she’s well enough to leave the sanatorium. She contacts her dead husband’s brother for help, but she didn’t expect him to show up to collect her and the girls. The crusty reclusive bachelor doesn’t kno ..read more

Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden My rating: 4 of 5 stars I loved Elizabeth Camden’s early novels, but then I read a few that didn’t interest me much. This book was a choice I picked from a reading challenge on Goodreads. I’m so glad I did! It’s a well-written story about a woman from a rich New York family in 1900 and an Irish immigrant lawyer who falls in love with her. If you know your history at all, you’ll know that the Irish were treated very poorly in New York around 1900. The chasm between her world and his was vast. How they manage to walk between the two is a beautiful story with i ..read more