Lauraine Snelling

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week is a FREEBIE topic! I was inspired by an older TTT topic of “books you loved but haven’t written a review for”. I thought: why not talk about some favorites I haven’t reviewed AND tell you a little of why I loved them? So, this custom topic was born: 10 Mini reviews of books I loved but have not yet reviewed.

First, a brief explanation concerning just why I haven’t reviewed these.

Some were read in connection with the INSPY awards so I couldn’t talk about them at the time
Some I’ve just never gotten around to reviewing, though I thoroughly enjoyed them
Some are older reads from before I started writing reviews

Whew, glad that’s off my chest. Now, on to the little reviews!

10 Mini Reviews of books I loved but have not yet reviewed

1. Remembered by Tamera Alexander (Fountain Creek Chronicles #3)

Though it’s been a while since I’ve read this one, I do remember it was my favorite of the series. I particularly remember some interesting freight wagon rides. My favorite part of this story was Véronique because of her determination and unique immigration perspective.

2. Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

In a style and manner only Laura Frantz can achieve, the untamed wilderness swallows you in its wonder as you experience life through Morrow’s eyes. This still remains my favorite Laura Frantz novel for its beautiful romance. Two words: Red Shirt. Fans of historical romance and the American frontier take note: this novel is not to be missed.

3. The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist

I remember the setting standing out to me in this one: 1849 San Francisco, CA in the middle of the Gold Rush. And, an important bit about the Redwood forest. Besides the immersive setting, the characters left an impression, particularly the spiritual transformation of one and the coming-of-age journey, in a sense, of another.

4. A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund (Michigan Brides #2)

This story is a beautiful work of historical romance. I remember Carl, the hero, making quite the impression with his selfless (and swoony) manner. The themes of this novel include the importance of hope and forgiveness — and that family and love are worth fighting for.

5. The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann (A Rush of Wings #3)

A story of finding hope and healing, this riveting contemporary novel remains a favorite in its genre. And, Morgan Spencer is possibly my favorite hero Kristen has penned. It exquisitely executes one of my favorite plot devices to bring the heroine and hero together, but I won’t say exactly how it happens because that would ruin the surprise! If you’re looking for a fresh take on romantic suspense with a tasteful yet passionate love story (this is still Christian fiction), I HIGHLY recommend this novel and series.

6. The Rose Legacy by Kristen Heitzmann (Diamond of the Rockies #1)

I recall this glimpse of the west in all its ruggedness and wild beauty left an impression of me. Particularly, Carina and her feisty spirit, determined to succeed and find happiness. As with several of Kristen’s novels, a slight mysterious element is present, adding to the interest and appeal of the story (and its hero).

7. The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen

This one is a well-crafted historical romance that reminds me of Austen or Brontë in its era, setting, and mystery. I remember the characters being well developed and “real” even amid the proper society and tradition they adhere to. Themes of mercy and forgiveness entwine this story set in the beautiful Cornwall region of England.

8. A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman (Daughters of Boston #1)

This is where it all began. The O’Conner saga that let to 6 full-length books (with the Winds of Change series following) and several novellas. Though I knew how this would end because I read the series out of order, I was still glued to the story as I witnessed the battle of will vs faith. And, Julie’s signature “passion with a purpose” romance style was an added bonus!

9. Ruby by Lauraine Snelling (Dakotah Treasures #1)

This one is special because it was my first venture into “grown-up” Christian Fiction. I can still remember specifically where I got it — shopping with my mom. Having since reread this entire series, I can say it is a great example of western romance with likable characters and connected story arcs in each book.

10. Duchess by Susan May Warren (Daughters of Fortune #3)

With this novel, I learned that Susan pens historicals in the same complex, riveting manner as her contemporary novels. This was a glimpse of “old Hollywood” with all its glamour AND problems, with a few twists involving WWII. Ultimately, a powerful story of healing, forgiveness, and hope.

Thank you to Bethany House, Tyndale, and Summerside Press for the complimentary INSPY review copies. These reviews reflect my honest opinion.

Have you read any of these books or authors? Are there any books you loved but never reviewed or blogged about?

Happy Monday! It’s time for (another) review! This one is Lauraine Snelling’s To Everything a Season, the first book in her new “Song of Blessing” series.

Summary: Trygve Knutson has been promoted from well drilling to heading a construction crew for the fast growing town of Blessing, North Dakota. Though devoted to the land and his family, he sometimes dreams of other horizons. But is he willing to leave Blessing permanently?
Miriam Francini hopes to become an accredited nurse in a large city hospital. She is simply tolerating her assignment at the hospital in rural Blessing because it will give her the experience she needs to accomplish her goal. She can’t wait to finish her training and head to New York to begin a nursing career.
Then Miriam meets Trygve Knutson and all her plans are suddenly in a jumble. She quickly realizes she doesn’t want to live without him, yet she’s a smart, independent woman–she’s even a suffragette. She can’t let anything get in the way of her own plans, even if she’s in love. Or can she?

I’m not one to enjoy writing negative or critical review, but this story just didn’t “click” for me (this is just my opinion- you may love it!). Being a huge fan of Lauraine’s “Dakotah Treasures” series (that was one of the first Christian fiction series that introduced me to the genre), I thought revisiting this author at the start of a new series would be a good idea. I think most of my complaints stem from the fact that I’ve not read her previous series set in Blessing, so I was unfamiliar with many of the returning characters.

One other issue I had is that the plot was not exactly what the synopsis depicts. Though we meet Trygve (pronounced trig-vee) Knutson early on, Miriam’s character doesn’t enter the story until almost half way through. Instead, the story focuses on (returning) characters Dr. Astrid and her mother, Ingeborg, with other minor characters getting some story time, too. I still enjoyed their stories – they were entertaining and spiritually encouraging, but I think I was just expecting a different storyline.

With that said, I did really like Miriam and her character’s growth. To me, the latter half of the story, after we get to know Miriam, was better than the beginning. If you’ve read Lauraine’s other stories set in Blessing, ND, I’m sure you would enjoy catching up with familiar favorites and new people like Miriam. The book is well-written, even if the synopsis is a little off, and the characters are endearing and clearly committed to seeking God’s plan for their lives.

Note: Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for a complimentary ebook copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.