Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

One Dark Night by Anna Faversham takes place in 1821 on the English Coast. Lucy is the star and heroine as we meet her as a young girl living in the prestigious home where her mother is a maid. She is friends with the privileged Dougie. This life is suddenly taken away from her as she and her mother find themselves suddenly poor. Lucy goes to work at a nearby farm, doing whatever is asked of her. Daniel, the farmer’s son, tries to protect Lucy but he cannot always do that. The coastal village has a smuggling problem because of high taxes being charged. When Karl enters the picture as the Revenue Officer, he is determined to put an end to the smuggling and the lives of those most responsible. Lucy soon catches his eye and he takes her to work in the Watch House. Lucy sees things she regrets, overhears things she shouldn’t, and many in the village consider her a spy. As events take place and situations change, Lucy learns secrets from her childhood and is forced to choose between Daniel and Karl for a husband.

One Dark Night by Anna Faversham is a very good book offering romance, danger, adventure, mystery, excitement and so much more and I found it was very hard to put down. I really was rooting for Lucy to end up with a good life for all the grief she had endured and was hoping she would pick the man I liked best. I also hoped that all the bad people would get what they deserved. Anna Faversham did a perfect job of combining all the elements into one winning story and I highly recommend One Dark Night be added to your reading list.

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers' Favorite

In Sadie: Pendleton Promises Book 1 by Shanna Hatfield, the author has taken ordinary people with ordinary lives and written a story around them that is intriguing, romantic, and easy to relate to. The main characters are Harley John Hobbs and Sadie Thorsen as well as Sadie’s parents, Lars and Marnie, who run an orphanage and have adopted quite a few children over the years. There are a number of other family members, as well as other characters that appear throughout the book. The story starts in 1913 and ends at the end of the First World War in 1919.

The book showcases the struggle young women had to get recognized in various fields that were solely the domain of men, like becoming a doctor which Sadie aims to become. It also shows how the young men who went to war were unprepared for what was waiting for them. The story draws you in from the first page to the last as you find you want to know what happened. Where did Sadie and Harley end up and did their love, which started in a field in Pendleton, Oregon 1913, last through all the obstacles that life had thrown at them? Sadie by Shanna Hatfield is a book well worth reading. A delightful story and a book that you will return to and read again and again as the years go past. It helps one realize that nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it and stick at it. This is a treasure of a book that should be on everyone’s bookshelf. I highly recommend it for all readers and young people just starting to find an interest in reading. Thank you, Shanna, for an exciting, and interesting read. I really enjoyed it.

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

Amber Graham was an orphan Christian girl with no roots. She longed for a family, and fate smiled on her. A sudden Valentine’s Day invitation to the Wright mansion introduced her to Trey Wright and Ryan Pierce. These two men resented each other but adored Amber. The Wright family was perfect, and to become part of it, she would give anything to marry their charming son. Then there was Ryan Pierce, who hailed from tainted roots but worked hard to succeed and sever ties with his dysfunctional family. While Amber reciprocated the affection of one man, she joined the other in an unrelated investigation that opened Pandora's box into her roots. Will Amber let go and let God guide her? Find out in Roots Redeemed by Tracy Michelle Sellars.

Roots Redeemed by Tracy Michelle Sellars is a riveting historical romance novel set in the late 1800s. This third installment in the Roots Run Deep series creates an intersection between love, crime, and faith. I enjoyed the realistic storyline because it was relatable, especially to people of faith. Often, we impose our will on God and expect Him to make it happen. Other times, we are so desperate that we lose our spiritual sensitivity and accept the devil’s gift that looks exactly like what we asked of God. If we have to jump through hoops and strip ourselves of all dignity to please a partner, then it’s not love. Love encourages advancement and wholesomeness. Tracy weaved a brilliant plot together with excellent character development and flowing dialogue. This third book was easy to understand even though I haven’t read the first two installments. Thank you for a refreshing book, Tracy.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Dauntless Hearts: A Tale of Heartbreak, Courage, and True Love by Lincoln Tuvelais is a Regency romance with a bit of a difference. Kitty Otis is not your typical, simpering young woman desperate for a husband during the London “Season”. No, Kitty is indeed a beautiful, young woman but smart, business-savvy, and strong-willed to go along with it. With her ailing former pastor father in tow, Kitty embarks on turning around a rural northern England estate that has somewhat been left to rack and ruin. With her modern, scientific farming methods, Kitty won’t endear herself to everyone, though. When she meets a brash, young Irish nobleman, the atmosphere is immediately electric for both of them but any relationship between the pair is bound to be fraught with political difficulties as his Irish family treat the British with as much disdain as they themselves consider the Irish. Despite appearing for her “debut” season in London, Kitty is lacking suitable suitors and perhaps must consign herself to achieving her business dreams ahead of her romantic notions.

Dauntless Hearts is a genuinely warm and at times quite funny dip into the waters of Regency romance. The period around the beginning of the nineteenth century is ripe for a clever author to highlight the disparities between the “haves” and the “have-nots” and the all-pervading strictures of the class system. This is something Lincoln Tuvelais does superbly, with the character of Kitty. Kitty is, in today’s parlance, a strong, independent, and free-thinking woman, none of which would be seen as a leading characteristic for a young lady of the time. What I particularly liked about Kitty was her warmth and her compassion, which served to feminize other aspects of her nature that would be seen as vulgar and crass in a woman in 1812 or thereabouts. This is a character a reader can definitely get behind and root for and I did enjoy the twists and turns in the plot the author threw in from time to time to ensure a reader never lost interest. The style is as you’d expect from a period piece, redolent of the times and its unique language, customs, and manners and beautifully written throughout. This was a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable read that I can highly recommend.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Discovering Treasure by Crystal Mary Lindsey is a warm and fuzzy, happy story that truly offers inspiration and enjoyment. I found it impossible not to love Treasure Gilroy from our first meeting, as well as all of the friends she comes in contact with; Primrose, Ella, Connor, Thomas, Nellie, Kelvin, Frank, Marcus, and of course, Paris the puppy. Treasure is a famous model, well known in Paris, London, New York and Rome during the romantic years around 1928. When her aunt dies and she inherits her grandmother’s home in the outback of Australia, Treasure decides it is time to give up the life of fame and fortune and, taking her best friend Ella, the two set off on an adventure that will change their lives forever; bringing romance, friends, family and a very special village together. Treasure is soon faced with God’s plans for her new life and slowly comes to know Him in a magical and beautiful way.

Discovering Treasure was perfect from beginning to end. Crystal Mary Lindsey has written a book that reached into my heart and made me happy. I felt the joy and the sadness of each character in a unique and touching way. It was so hard to put the book down, but I knew if I read it too fast I would have to say good-bye to my wonderful new friends. Discovering Treasure is a romantic story, a Godly story, a family saga story, and so very much more. If you have any doubts of what God can do in your life or if you know the Lord, Discovering Treasure will quickly find its way to the top of your favorite book list. I cannot stress enough just how wonderful this story was and the joy it brought me. Please do not pass this one up.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Ruby's Redemption by Edwina Kiernan is a Christian historical fiction novel set in Regency England. The book revolves around the titular character, a prostitute named Ruby, who makes the acquaintance of a vicar named Henry under circumstances that could be nothing less than guided by the hand of God. As the two get to know each other, Ruby's outlook begins to change even though the reality of her circumstances shows no means of escape from threats of death. A hatched plan is faced with obstacle after obstacle. The full protection of the church is not enough to keep Ruby's precarious situation from crashing down around her. Worse still, the danger presented to those who cannot be swayed from helping Ruby live a reformed life in the light of God is the same, if not greater, than the risk to her own person.

Edwina Kiernan delivers the first of her Gems of Grace series with a strong start in Ruby's Redemption and one that is likely to hook readers who enjoy Christian fiction in historical settings. The narrative and descriptions are good without dumping information into the plot, a credit to the author who has the skill and courage to elect for a slower unpeeling of backstory. In the context of a solid love story in this specific genre, Kiernan does not shy away from plot elements that rarely come into play. Religion is deeply woven within this but is still allowed to blanket all aspects. Many contemporary Christian authors temper religion to appeal to a broader readership, but Kiernan holds unapologetically tight, and as a result, so did I to the story.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Lin Wilder’s historical novel, My Name is Saul, is a testimony of love and faith. As a prisoner held in Mamertine prison, Rome, the apostle Paul reflects upon his life. This is his last night alive; tomorrow morning, Paul will be beheaded. He is weary, yet hopeful and at peace. However, within him stirs one last story to tell, one more letter to be penned to his beloved church. Paul asks Aurelius, his Roman centurion jailer and now dearest friend and secret disciple, to be his scribe for the evening. Aurelius is a willing participant; he is honored by Paul’s request. As a matter of fact, Aurelius would do anything for Paul. As Paul recalls his past life, Aurelius becomes overwhelmed, his ideologies are crushed. What he is hearing can’t possibly be true! Paul is not dismayed by Aurelius’s reaction; he continues to tell the story of his childhood and the man known as Saul of Tarsus. Paul’s tragic past is revealed, and his discovery of the Truth unfolds. “Nothing we can undergo, no amount of sacrifice or torture can alter the truth.”

Lin Wilder pens an unconventional account of the life of the apostle Paul in My Name Is Saul. The narrative is richly detailed and well-researched. Wilder fluently weaves scripture and history together as she draws you into her story. My Name Is Saul is more than a conversation between two men. In a dark and dank prison cell, on their last night together, a foreboding vigil occurs. Yet, their last hours together forge an unbreakable and eternal bond of friendship. The hearts and souls of the characters are exposed. Emotions are felt; at times unspoken thoughts speak louder than the dialogue. The reader is taken on a journey through time, traveling down the road of Saul’s past to the finality of Paul’s present. Using insightful and creative liberties, Wilder fills in the blanks of Saul’s life before his conversion. As the scribe realizes while listening to Paul, “the past and present had to coexist” because the story would be incomplete otherwise. Paul’s entire life was an expedition to discover the Truth. At the end of his days, he understands that the story of his life belonged to the Lord, the author and finisher of his faith. My Name is Saul proves that no matter what we have done, “all of us can be used by Christ.” It is a compelling read from beginning to end.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Wounded Angels by Chuck Miceli is a novel that is both emotionally and psychologically rich, a story of two souls that have been deeply wounded and a journey towards healing that is filled with mystery. Maureen Bower is just fourteen when her father abandons her. But then Frank Russo comes into her life and makes her feel loved, standing by her on every challenge and supporting her through difficult moments and complications from family and the devastating sense of loss, and separation. But what if Frank also abandons her? Maureen’s thoughts on abandonment usher her into a deep depression and no one seems to have a strong and positive effect on her. The path of healing might be in Doris Cantrell, a woman who has suffered abuse in childhood, has experienced a failed marriage and been estranged from her daughter. The connection between Maureen and Doris might bring the healing that both of them deserve.

Intelligently imagined and deftly written, Wounded Angels is a book that will speak to the reader’s heart. The sense of pathos is very strong as the reader watches the characters struggle with the reality of emotional pain. Chuck Miceli’s book reflects the reality of the human heart, exploring themes of depression, loss, family, love, and healing. The characters are richly developed and each has strong emotional depth. It isn’t difficult to identify with Maureen and to imagine the pain that she goes through after her experience of abandonment. I quickly learned to love this character and wanted to see what eventually becomes of her. The prose is gorgeous, the plot strong and the storytelling craft so refined that readers can’t help feeling as though they are part of the world of the characters, thanks to the humanity of these characters and the realism of the writing.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Memoirs Of The Senator's Wife by S. M. Ford is the story of a forbidden love affair between Estrella Cyrus, a beautiful politician's wife, and her Secret Service agent, Michael Hagar. The story unfolds in the 1950s but spans the 1960s, which is one of the most turbulent times in the history of the United States of America. As an impoverished working student, the beautiful and strong-willed Estella meets Xavier Cyrus, scion of a rich political family. After an unusual and tumultuous courtship, the couple marries and after a difficult few years, she is thrust in a world so unlike her own. Xavier runs for Congress and with the help of his family's wealth and influence, he wins and the family relocates to Washington D.C. Estella proves to be a political asset and she slowly adjusts to the complicated D.C. social scene. Driven by an insatiable ambition, Xavier becomes a member of an ancient secret society that regularly conducts magic sex rituals. Estella is unhappy in her marriage but she has a daughter and a few causes to fill her days until she falls in love with Michael and her world turns upside down.

S.M. Ford's Memoirs of The Senator's Wife is such an interesting read that the reader may need some time to process the various twists and turns of the plot. The main plot, however, is the relationship between Estella and Michael, but it certainly takes a convoluted road to reach the conclusion of the affair. Having said that, the author is able to develop fully the various controversial characters in the story and that makes S.M. Ford a gifted storyteller. It is also fascinating how the author is able to weave together the many subplots flawlessly. From the start of the narrative until its momentous end, this novel will definitely grip the reader's attention in such a way that many other stories can't.

Reviewed by Rebecca S Winner for Readers' Favorite

Evie: Pendleton Petticoats by Shanna Hatfield takes place in Oregon in 1913. Flynn Elliott thinks that courting and falling in love are “sentimental claptrap.” However, soon Flynn meets and is fascinated by Evie, whom he first thinks must be an “astounding figment of his imagination” or a “free-spirited fairy.” Flynn is a landscape architect, designing the yards for well-to-do customers. One of those customers has an employee, Evie, a nanny for his children. Evie happens to be the young lady who got Flynn's attention. Since the parents of the children are not interested in their offspring, Evie is their substitute mother. Due to the landscaping job, Flynn sees Evie frequently for a few weeks. But Flynn thinks he should resist love since it might take him away from his profession. But he has time to be a matchmaker for his sister, Clarice.

Evie: Pendleton Petticoats by Shanna Hatfield is the second book I have read by this author. I love the way Evie mothers the children. I enjoyed the relationship between brother and sister Flynn and Clarice, who both thought they did not have time for a life of their own because the other needed them. I was so glad the situation between the parents and their children was rectified. The author includes interesting historical facts about the area. I enjoyed getting to know the people of Pendleton, Oregon, who are fascinating characters and supportive of each other. I think Flynn's profession is fascinating, making the plot unique. This is an author I am glad to have found, and I intend to read more books by her.