The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep [Giveaway - 3 Winners USA]

My thoughts:  This fast paced Regency story guides the reader through the peril of travel along the heaths of the English countryside in the early 1800s. The usual was danger of highwaymen (thieves, murderers, meaness of the worst sort); but as this story unfolds, it is revealed that the most notorious of highwaymen is roaming the heaths.

So for two young ladies, a young lady of station and her maid, to embark in only a simply unguarded coach was the worst type of risk. And sure enough, trouble found them. They were miraculously rescued by Captain Thatcher; and after much persuasion, he became their travel "guardian."

As they traveled encountering numerous dangers, being wounded, and sorely tested, they also found God. Rather, Captain Thatcher found his faith in God through the sweet faith of the lady, Abigail Gilbert. And in doing so, this guardian who has been so strong and noble in protecting Abigail, finds that the truest and best guardian is God.

Abigail Gilbert is journeying to meet her soon-to-be husband who is a noble man, a baronet. She finds, though, that he is not what she desires nor what she believes God wants for her.

This is a delightful story and a joy to read.

About the Book: A Cross-Country Trip through Regency England Brings Intrigue, Rogues, and High Adventure

The must-read conclusion to Michelle Griep’s Bow Street Runners Trilogy: Life couldn’t be better for Abigail Gilbert—but it’s been a long time coming. Having lived with a family who hated her, love is finally within reach. Abby sets off on a journey across England to marry one of the most prestigious gentleman bachelors in the land—until highwaymen upset her plans and threaten her life.

Horse patrol captain Samuel Thatcher arrives just in time to save Abby. But to him she’s simply another victim in a job he’s come to despise. Tired of the dark side of humanity, he intends to buy land and retire.

Abby pleads with him to escort her on the rest of her journey. He refuses until she offers him the thing he desperately needs to achieve his goal: money. Delivering her safely will earn him more than enough to settle into a quiet life.

So begins an impossible trek for the cynical lawman and the proper lady. Each will be indelibly changed by the time they reach her betrothed, if they don’t kill one another first—or fall in love.

GIVEAWAY

3 Winners. Each Wins A Copy

Begins May 20

Ends June 19 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' copies will be provided and mailed directly to the winner by the publisher.

The Forgiving Jar by Wanda Brunstetter [Review & Giveaway] published by Shiloh an imprint of Barbour Publishing

ISBN: 9781624167485
Softcover $15.99
⭐⭐⭐⭐

My thoughts:  It has been awhile since I read one of Wanda Brunstetter's books. Her books are always gentle reads, clean, and filled with heart warming Christian tenets that aid in straightening out lives of flawed characters.

The two feminine protagonists, Michelle and Sara, have lived prior to the opening pages of The Forgiving Jar lives vastly different from the Amish whose community they have now embedded themselves. They are lying, deceitful, spiteful, and a host of other unpleasant characteristics that really made me dislike them. 

As they go about living within the confines of the grandparent's Amish home and associating in church, work, and social events with the Amish they see and envy the peace that these dear folks have.

There are sweet romances in the story and there are times of sorrow. The need for and act of forgiveness are uppermost in this read. Ms. Brunstetter has penned another story that her followers will love.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and are freely given. 

About the book: What would happen if you found out someone has been impersonating you?

Sara Murray had never met her mother’s parents and was surprised to learn after her death that they were Amish living in Pennsylvania. When she is finally able to make the trip to meet them, she is shocked to learn someone else has been living with them and pretending to be Sara. Sara can’t understand how quickly her grandparents are willing to forgive the imposter.

Secrets and deceit seem to follow Sara, and she is so tired of it. Though soon she meets Brad Fuller who is visiting her grandparents for during Christmas. She likes him a lot, but even he seems to pull away from her, not being totally honest.

Struggling, Sara finds an old canning jar hidden in the barn that is full of encouraging prayers. Can Sara find a way to forgive the past and move on to building new relationships?

This is Book 2 in the brand-new series, The Prayer Jars, from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter.
Book 1 -- The Hope Jar (August 2018)
Book 3 -- The Healing Jar (August 2019)

About the author: New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com

Purchase a copy on Amazon - click here

GIVEAWAY

3 Winners Will Be Chosen

Begins January 26

Ends February 20 at 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Giveaway prize is provided by the publisher and shipped directly to the winners.

Woman of Courage by Wanda Brunstetter {Review & Giveaway}

About the book:  Jilted by her fiancé in 1837, Amanda Pearson gives up on romance and turns to her Quaker faith for reassurance. She becomes determined to follow the Rev. and Mrs. Spalding three thousand miles into the western wilderness to minister to the Nez Perce Indians. The trip is fraught with danger, and soon Amanda finds herself recovering from near death in a trapper's cabin. His Indian wife becomes Amanda's first convert, but the trapper and his intriguing half-Indian friend want nothing to do with Christians. Will they still help her reach the mission in the Lapwai Valley?

My thoughts:  Wanda Bruestetter brings the reader another story complete with well-drawn characters, good dialogue, descriptive scenes that capture one’s imagination, and strong faith. Beginning slow and  gentle, the scene soon moves from adventure to miss-adventure to tragedy upon tragedy. It coils around depth of emotions and rank despair to dependence upon and grace given by an Almighty God.

Amanda and her father, both Quakers, leave their established home and go West. They are heading into unknown Indian territory and their destination is the mission where they hope to minister the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Nez Perce Indians. A mission is already established, and their goal is to bring themselves as additional helpers in the mission’s goal.

At one point, Amanda’s father dies of a heart attack. Soon after, her only guide dies when a storm crashes a tree onto him. Now Amanda is wet, cold, alone, sick, and completely desperate. She relies upon God, her faith is strong, but sometimes her spirit wavers.

Well, the story does end well, but there are more mind-boggling happenings that take place. The West was a hard place. And they were in a hard place in the West. 

This story is about the 1837 period when the West was being settled. The Mission in Lapwai Valley, Oregon was a long way from their New York home and its comforts. There were no comforts along the way. The journey was mostly on horseback. They traveled every day – snow, rain, wind, sun. They slept on the ground. It was hard.

Amanda proved to be a woman of courage from the onset of the story – just simply to undertake the journey  took a huge measure of courage. But for her to endure, day after day, and not say, “Enough! Enough is Enough!” took a strength of courage that is beyond measure.

A good book to read and one I heartily recommend.

GIVEAWAY: The good folks at Handlebar Publishing on behalf of the Wanda Brunstetter and Shiloh Run Press are providing one of Chat With Vera's readers with a copy of Woman of Courage. Use the entry form below. Begins August 4 & ENDS August 20 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to US addresses only. 
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Of interest.... My regular Chat With Vera readers know that  sometimes when reading fiction, I decide to learn a little more about the historical period, the peoples, the location, etc. Well, here is some information on the Nez Perce Indians. I just love to look at the pictures and then revisit the story in my mind with these pictures to flesh out the story. IMAGES  General Information Nez Perce Mission in Lapwai Valley Information

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Woman of Courage from Handlebar Publishing on behalf of the Wanda Brunstetter and Shiloh Run Press in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own & I was under no obligation to render a positive review. I received no compensation for this review.