Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Back Cover:

When sixteen potential brides step off the train in Plum Grove, Nebraska, the town may never be the same again! Join Stephanie Grace Whitson for this spirited tale of courageous women who risk everything for the dream of owning land and finding love on the prairies of Nebraska.

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS?

This is a wonderful book...Follow the lives of Sixteen Brides as they try to take what could have been a nasty deception, and make it into a wonderful Opportunity!

These women thought they had joined up with Mr. Drake, that they would be headed to Nebraska to file for their own Homesteads...Not getting ready to marry on the spot. So when they found out about Mr. Drake's 'side buisness' venture, they dicided to stay at the town before, their destination....Plum Grove.

These ladies all have different aspects of their past that they aren't to thrilled about, and some are from bad marriages, where they wouldn't want to get married even if 'the right man' came along. So they all set up their own homesteads, adjacent to eachother's with the house in the center of their connecting corners, where they all reside. But the didn't figure on the nice men that live around Plum Grove, and how that would affect some of their 'sisters'.

Sixteen Brides is a great story, involving many angles...And I can't wait to read it again!








To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book from Bethany House Publisher. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by Bethany House to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.

Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller

~Daughters of Amana~

Back Cover:

Johanna Ilg has lived her entire life in Main Amana, one of the seven villages settles by devout Christians who believe in cooperative living, a simple lifestyle, and faithful service to God. Although she's always longed to see the outside world, Johanna believes her future is rooted in Amana. But when she learns a troubling secret, the world she thought she knew is shattered. Is this truly where she belongs?

Berta Schumacher has lived a privileged life in Chicago, so when her parents decide they want a simpler life in Amana, Iowa, she resists. Under the strictures of the Amana villages, her rebellion reaches new heights. Will her heart ever be content among the plain people of Amana?

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHST?

I have to say, that I'm not one that would pick up an Amish type book. (this is not an amish book, but has similarities) But I thought this one was really good.

You have a girl (Johanna) that has never seen the 'outside' world, but has longings to travel. But she also knows that she is expected to do what her people have done for generations.

Berta, Knows of the outside world, but has been thrust into the life of Johanna...With everyone wearing the same clothing, in the same houses, with the same type of decorations. And on top of that, she is now expect to wake up @ 5 in the morning to work in the Kitchen under the tootalege of Johanna Ilg. She doesn't know if she can make it to when she's an adult, and able to leave Amana...all she can seem to do, is get in trouble, which isn't that bad to her way of thinking, because the punishment for that is, Your banned from Prayer Service everynight, and Church on Sunday...

Johanna has a lot of work to do, with trying to get Berta to conform to their ways. She and Her Boss(the head of the kitchen) both realize that for Berta to get banned from services, would make her happy, so they try to keep her troubles from the elders...Only thing is, they stress telling the truth. But what happens when Johanna realizes that her parents have been keeping a life changing secret from Her? And will she be able to quell this urge to see the 'outside' world?

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book Bethany House Publishers. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by Bethany House to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.

Back Cover:

During New York City's Gilded Age...

THE GAME

is played amid banquets and balls.

THE PRIZE

is a lifetime of wealth and privilege.

THE RULES

will test friendships and the desires of a young woman's heart.

Clara Carter is the social season's brightest star...

But at What cost?

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS?


This is a very informative book. Being that it's a historical fiction, you learn what it would have been like, to be 17 in the Gilded Age of New York, with debut's and Wealthy Men looking for a trophy wife, and what those young women had to go through to 'catch' their man. Just by reading this book, I know I couldn't have made it! lol...Just living through her torture of having to learn: how to wear a corset(and all that goes with it), the language of the fan, the art of making a man want to marry you...the list goes on.


Clara Has been raised by a governess, who saw her potential to be a very bright young woman, and forgoed the usual studies of young ladies, and taught her Math and science instead. Until Clara's Aunt comes, and decides that she needs to debut a whole year ahead of schedule...which means a switch from math and science to 'How to be a Lady 101'. Along with the dismissal of her life long governess, causing Clara to feel all alone. And if that wasn't enough, her Aunt and Father, have told her who she needed to secure as a husband to restore the family honor. The only thing is, that as she's going through the traditions....she's learning that there may be more to life that wealth, but will she learn it in time to keep her from making a terrible mistake?


This was a great book, and I recommend it to anyone that loves this era...big pretty dresses, balls, and corsets.







To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book Bethany House Publishers. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by Bethany House to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.

Life has left few choices for Elvira Kilmer. Her hopes for marriage and a family of her own have long since passed her by, and her arrival on Dillon's Island, nestled in the Susquehanna River, is not of her choosing, either. She needs work. And Jackson Smith needs a housekeeper.

Jackson, on the other hand, has never met anyone quite so...plain. But he quickly comes to realize that Ellie's presence may solve his own problems-both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage.

When Jackson offers he something quite out of the ordinary, will Ellie look Beyond mere necessity and risk opening her heart?

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS?
This is one of the stories, that you just know your going to like. It's a Marriage in Name only, and is only so that Ellie may stay at the house, without anyone ruining her reputation.

But when their 'Married Bliss' hits some rocky spots, will they be able to endure it, or just throw in the towel.

Jackson can't get the thought out of his head that Ellie might be just like his first wife Rebecca, and he can't get past the hurt she caused...So when Ellie may do anything like Rebecca did, he blows his top...And each time, he's wrong, and each time he breaks a part of Ellie's heart.

Ellie is 31, and never married, because she chose to stay and take care of her parents when they were ill...and she's heard it from several people, including her new husband, that the only reason her married her was because she was plain. And he thought no other man would want her. Only thing is, she can't help losing her heart to him...But could he ever come to love her the same way?

A Great book on how holding onto things, will sometimes make it appear better or bigger than it actually was. And that what you felt then...might not be what you feel now if you take the time to consider the matter.







To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book Bethany House Publishers. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by Bethany House to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.