THE FASHION DESIGNER by NANCY MOSER

THE FASHION DESIGNER by NANCY MOSER is a charming book. I love the theme of fashion design and dressmaking. Although it is the second novel in The Pattern Artist series it can most definitely be read as a stand alone. The characters are very real and the story is lovely.
The novel is set in 1912, a time when women were not expected to break out of the stereotypical roles into which they were born.
Three friends give up their jobs to follow a dream. Led by Annie Culver, former housemaid, and promised funding by Eleanor Sampson, they rent the apartment above and get down to work. Maude Nascato worked with Annie at Butterick and Edna Holmquist worked at Macy's. Annie's husband, Sean, keeps his job at Butterick, but is very much a part of the whole project. They want to improve life for the ordinary woman by designing and making clothes that are comfortable, affordable and that make them look and feel good.
Annie and her friends have experienced so many miracles, including missing the train which would have got them to the Titanic in time for its departure, and this helps them hold on in faith when things seem to be hopeless. We see how important it is to follow God's leading and how easy it is for things to go wrong when we leave God out and try and make things happen in our own strength.
It is a really enjoyable read with a strong Christian message.



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THIEF OF CORINTH by TESSA AFSHAR

THIEF OF CORINTH is another biblically based novel by TESSA AFSHAR, every bit as good as the ones that have come before. The publishing date is 7/8/18 and it is well worth waiting for!
When Ariadne hears that her grandfather, with her mother's blessing, has promised her in marriage to Draco, the vile son of his friend Evandos, she runs away from Athens to live with her father in Corinth. Theodotus, her foster brother, goes with her, leaving her brother, Dionysius, who can't do anything wrong in her grandfather and mother's eyes, to smooth things over for her.
While she is living in Corinth, it is by accident that she finds out her father's secret and the reason her mother left him. She is devoted to her father and will do anything for him. Unlike his sister, Dionysius is angry when he learns his father's secret, and it takes meeting Paul the apostle for him to forgive his father.
It is a story of redemption, the longing to belong and to be loved, forgiveness and restoration. Ariadne's favourite statue in Athens was the one in honour of The Unknown God, and when the disciple Paul introduces her to the true Unknown God, the God of love, her life changes.
It is a beautifully written book. As always, the author has done a great deal of research into life at the time and the story really comes alive for us. It is full of biblical truth and really worth reading. I cannot recommend it highly enough.



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THE HIDDEN SIDE by HEIDI CHIAVAROLI

THE HIDDEN SIDE by HEIDI CHIAVAROLI is not a light and easy read, but it is well worth reading. It is very well put together, with the story of Mercy Howard, who lived in 1776 in war torn America, intertwining with the story of the Abbot family in 2016, who were fighting their own war.
When Natalie Abbot came across the book, The Journal Entries of Mercy Howard, next to her twelve year old son Chris' bed, she did not know what an encouragement Mercy's story would be to her and also eventually to Chris' twin sister, Maelynn.
Natalie works for a radio station under the nom de plume, Skye, and she and her co-host, Tom, take calls from people, mostly desperate ones, giving them Godly advice and encouragement.
In spite of the heaviness of the subject matter, hope shines through both Mercy's and the Abbot family's stories, and we see that the Lord can bring good out of even the most awful situations. As hidden secrets are eventually revealed, the healing begins and life goes on.
It is a very "real" book and an excellent read. 


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A DEFENCE OF HONOR by KRISTI ANN HUNTER

A DEFENSE OF HONOR by KRISTI ANN HUNTER is a delightful book and one that I will definitely read more than once. The author has a really good way with words and I love the easy conversations between the characters. The content is rich with scriptural truth. A serious matter, that of illegitimacy and the lives that are affected by it, is dealt with in the novel. The story takes place in 1816 in England, and the description of British society at the time, with all its class distinction, is well done.
Graham, the viscount Wharton, finds a beautiful, but rather secretive, young lady, hiding behind some foliage in a ballroom. He later comes across her in the street nearby bravely threatening to throw her knife at some vagabonds who are about to harm her. He saves her from them and learns her name is Kit.
When his friend Oliver's sister disappears from London society without a trace, Graham goes with him to look for her.
He comes across Kit again when they follow a lead to Marlborough and he finds her at Haven Manor where she, with the help of Daphne and Jess, look after twelve children of varying ages.
I don't want to spoil the story for you but I will just say that there is romance, intrigue and a great deal of food for thought. It is one of the best books I have read lately and I can really recommend it.
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TOGETHER FOREVER by JODY HEDLUND

TOGETHER FOREVER by JODY HEDLUND is a historical romance novel that is both encouraging and eye opening. The story starts in 1858 at the Children's Aid Society in New York with Marianne Neumann and Andrew Brady preparing to set off on a placing out mission with thirty one children of varying ages. They are hoping to save the children from bad situations in the city by having them taken into families in farming communities.
It is a beautifully told story. The characters are very real. We see examples of unconditional love, great courage and strength in adversity.
It is heartwarming to see Marianne and Drew's loving interaction with the children who have such sad stories to tell, and who are also understandably anxious about what their future holds.
Marianne has to overcome the guilt she feels about losing her sister Sophie and Drew feels guilty about the drowning of a boy when he was swimming with a group of boys at the school where he used to teach. Marianne lost both her parents and knows what it is like to live on the streets of New York, and Drew has a bad relationship with his father who is embarrassed by him. It is interesting to see how the Lord deals with these issues.
I can highly recommend the book for the interesting and exciting story and the strong Christian message.

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THE HOUSE AT SALTWATER POINT by COLLEEN COBLE

THE HOUSE AT SALTWATER POINT by COLLEEN COBLE is a romantic suspense novel with a good deal of mystery and some Christian truth.
Ellie Blackmore and Jason Yarwood, her sister's ex husband, are partners in a business called Lavender Farm Homes. Ellie is known as "Hammer Girl" because of her blog of the same name.
When Ellie goes to visit her sister, Mackenzie, on her tall ship, Lavender Lady, she is horrified to find that Mackenzie has disappeared and the deck is covered in blood.
Grayson Bradshaw is really Shauna Bannister's long lost brother, Connor. He is in the Coast Guard Investigatve Services and is in Lavender Falls to track some missing cocaine, andTarek Nasser, the terrorist who killed his best friend.
Although the book is a sequel to The View from Rainshadow Bay, it easily stands alone. The novel is fast paced and we are kept guessing all along. It is a most enjoyable read.



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