The Gentleman's Confession Review

About the Book

 Inexperienced in love, Jemma seeks help from her best friend, Miles, unaware that he has secretly loved her for years.

Brookeside, England, 1822

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Trapped by his own selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever. (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

I love stories that involve the friends to more trope. It is what drew me to this story and also the fact that Miles is a rector. The Matchmaking Mama's are hilarious and really add a lot to the story. I wish there was more of that group in these pages because it is a joy to read! The start of this book had me hooked and I was curious to see what twists would abound as we get to the predictable ending. There were a couple of fun things that added to the plot but to be honest this one was a bit slow for me. I really wanted to love it but by the end of the book it was just okay. I really like Miles character and he really pulls things together while Jemma just isn't my favorite. All that to say there are some fun moments and the setting is great. I think many will love this it just wasn't my favorite but still a nice read. 

Three Stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

A Token of Love Review

About the Book

Book: A Token of Love

Author: Carrie Turansky

Genre: Fiction, Historical Romance

Release date: September 3, 2024

Separated by centuries, the lives of two women intertwine through their shared pursuit of love, truth, and justice.

In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece, Alice, who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister’s plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice’s disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.

In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum’s history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum’s reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of twenty-one inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She loves traveling to England to research her Edwardian novels, including No Journey Too Far, No Ocean Too Wide, Across the Blue, and the Edwardian Brides series. Her novels have been translated into several languages and have received starred reviews from Christianbook.com and Library Journal.

 

 

 

 

More from Carrie

Come with me to London!

My latest novel, A Token of Love, is a dual-time story set in London during the late Victorian Era and present day. That prompted my husband and I to take a trip to London earlier this year. We were especially delighted to visit the Foundling Museum which tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, the first children’s charity home in England. The Foundling Hospital and Foundling Museum tie the historical and contemporary plots together in A Token of Love.

Thousands of children were taken in by the Foundling Hospital when their mothers could no longer care for them. Some of the mothers left small items such as coins, thimbles, and pieces of jewelry with their infants as identifiers in the hope that if their situation changed, they might be able to return and reclaim their child. Those items were called tokens, and we saw several of them on display at the Foundling Museum.

Each token is unique and represents a mother’s love and desire to be reunited with her child. It was very moving to view them on display and think of all the heartache and hope behind each token.

More than two years ago, I saw an image of the tokens on Pinterest. That sparked my curiosity, and I followed the research trail to learn more about them. That led to the Foundling Museum’s website, which offers a treasure trove of information and personal stories about the mothers and children connected by those tokens. What I discovered helped me develop the characters and plot for A Token of Love. The story highlights one mother who gave her daughter into their care, then eight years later tries to reclaim her. But her daughter is missing, and that sets off a series of events that stirs all of London. Family drama, romance, inspiration, and a touch of mystery will make the story meaningful for readers.

If you like stories based on true events in history that will touch your heart and lift your spirit, then I think you will enjoy reading A Token of Love!

If you’d like to see more photos from my research trip to London and the Foundling Museum, I hope you’ll visit my website photo page!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 7

Maureen’s Musings, October 7

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 9

Connie’s History Classroom, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 10

Devoted To Hope, October 10

Simple Harvest Reads, October 11 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Live.Love.Read., October 11

Stories By Gina, October 12 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 12

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 13

lakesidelivingsite, October 13

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 14

Lighthouse Academy Blog, October 15 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 16

Blossoms and Blessings, October 17

Holly’s Book Corner, October 17

Inspired by Fiction, October 18

Pause for Tales, October 18

Labor Not in Vain, October 19

To Everything There is A Season, October 20

Romances of the Cross, October 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of A Token of Love!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

GIVEAWAY

My Thoughts

I didn't know much about the Foundling Hospital prior to reading this book and I have found its history fascinating after doing more research! The first part of this story really got me hooked because it is a bit of mystery in the search for a missing person. I recommend reading the author's note in the back of the book FIRST. It covers more of the actual historic details and to be honest I was a little disappointed to find that the main premise of this story didn't actually happen as portrayed. Now that is not to say that the selling of innocent girls did not happen, of course it did unfortunately, just not necessarily in the way portrayed in the book. So once I realized this it made me think about the rest of the book a tad differently but not in a bad way. The story is dual-time line and I enjoyed the historical story more but both were written in a way that melded together nicely. There is a human trafficking plot in each past and present day stories and it is astounding to see how people haven't changed. Overall this is a good book that brings to light the things that many want to keep hidden in darkness. 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Color of Home Review

About the Book

 Audrey Needham, Bay Area interior designer to the rich and pretentious, is down to her last nerve. Her boss is impossible to please, her future is in jeopardy, and her great-aunt Daisy needs support as her husband descends into Alzheimer's. When Daisy enlists Audrey's help preparing for a move to assisted living, Audrey risks her career to return to the idyllic small town of Charity Falls, Oregon, the summer stomping grounds of her childhood. But Charity Falls was also the place that broke her heart when her father was killed in a tragic fire at the Sugar Pine Inn thirteen years ago. Despite Audrey's intent to avoid emotional entanglement, the pull of home is hard to resist. Something should be done about the deteriorating inn. A local girl with an incarcerated father needs a friend. And handsome local do-gooder Cade Carter is coloring Audrey all shades of uncertain. Join award-winning writer and debut novelist Kit Tosello in this lyrical and often humorous exploration of how God redeems brokenness and draws us to the life we're meant to find. (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

I was pretty excited to read this story. There are many good things within the pages but it also didn't quite live up to my expectations. As a debut novel I wasn't totally certain what to expect. It is more descriptive and the dialogue is well thought out. I really love Daisy and reading her perspective. I wish there were more novels that show life from the perspective of an older person who is going through difficult life things or just life in general. Her chapters are my favorite and honestly I wish there was more of her. Audrey has a good character arc that spans the book. I don't love her character but I liked seeing how she healed and discovered in each chapter. This book was pretty slow for me and not a whole lot happens. Yes, there is character growth but I struggled to stay fully invested. For a debut novel it is enjoyable and touches on some good topics. If you want something sweet and slow this could be the book for you! 

Three Stars. 

"I received this book from Revell for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Average Joe Movie Review and Gift Card Giveaway

 

About the Movie

High school football coach Joe Kennedy had no other choice but to fight. A childhood in foster care followed by 20 years in the Marine Corps was nothing compared to his biggest battle: his commitment to stand for God publicly by taking a knee in prayer after each game. When he was fired, Joe and his wife Denise knew this battle for religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the rights of all Americans was one they would have to fight—no matter the cost. From the director and producers of God’s Not Dead and the producers of The Blind comes AVERAGE JOE, in theaters beginning October 11.

IN THEATERS OCTOBER 11th!

BUY TICKETS HERE

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

USA Entries only please. 

My Thoughts

Having only watched the preview for this movie I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I was thinking a typical football movie with touching scenes and someone showing viewers what it means to stand up for what you believe in. Well there are a couple of touching scenes and Joe does strongly stand for his freedom but this movie was a lot different than I was expecting. There is a lot of violence I wasn't prepared for and because of that I don't recommend watching with younger children. The start of the film is Joe's childhood and it was really rough. He was adopted into a large family that didn't want him and who sent him off a couple of different times. The same goes for Joe's wife and her back story. There is a lot of abuse in both of their lives so be warned this is not a happy or easy movie to watch. 

Then there is a big chunk of the film set when Joe was in the military. Then to wrap up the movie we get to football and the difficulties of Joe being told he can't pray on the field. So about half of this movie is back story. The other interesting part of this film is that it is being narrated by Joe and his wife. So there are lots of scenes where they flip back and forth in showing the story and then telling the viewers what comes next. I thought this was a unique choice and I don't know that it was necessary. 

There are a few cuss words sprinkled throughout the film. Once again just use caution if watching as a family or with children. 

The main thing that I did like about this movie is it really showed Joe and his wife fighting for their marriage and that they really did struggle and didn't always agree. I thought this was well done and added a lot to the film. There is a scene where Joe is explaining his reasons for standing firm on being allowed to pray on the football field. It didn't necessarily come down to his belief in the Lord but to the freedom of praying in public. I think the Christian message is very gray and not well portrayed at all. BUT I do think that Joe did a good thing in standing his ground. Because of him it changes how people can now do these things and not get punished. At least by the Supreme Court. There is an interesting statement at the end of the movie that every viewer should watch that explains this in more detail.  

: #AverageJoeMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Many thanks to Average Joe for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Hometown Vendetta Book Review

About the Book

 Marine Captain Luke Steele and FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner must work together to unravel a deadly conspiracy before times runs out while also navigating their undercover fake relationship that is becoming all too real.

When a terrorist attack grips the nation, Luke Steele, a military aide to the president of the United States, is reassigned to track down the suspect because the alleged bomber was spotted wearing a state championship ring from Luke’s hometown. Luke has desperately tried to forget his high school years, but he can’t run from them now. Instead, he must face his most formidable assignment yet: leave his post by the president’s side, return to Pine Falls, Virginia, and face every demon from his childhood—including every person and every thought that told him he wasn’t worth anything.

FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner has spent years tracking domestic terrorism. When she catches a break that could pinpoint the key player in the antigovernment group responsible for dozens of needless deaths, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the information she seeks—even if it means going undercover as Luke Steele’s plus-one at his high school reunion. Though Amberlyn found Luke arrogant and aloof during their time together at Quantico, it doesn’t take long for her to discover that there’s much more to him than she realized. But even as the line between fact and fiction in their relationship blurs, the countdown to danger accelerates. Time is running out, and with the threat of another terrorist attack looming, the stakes are higher than ever. (Goodreads)

GET YOUR COPY HERE

My Thoughts

WOW! This book surprised me in so many ways and I just loved it! The action and suspense is non-stop but not over the top. So many suspense books get crazy with the action that it becomes unrealistic but not so with this one! The romance is not the main plot yet realistic and totally works with the storyline. I LOVE the main characters Luke and Amberlyn and we need more stories with them! They get thrown together on a case and it is really fun and also had me on the edge of my seat. There are so many details throughout the story that made this so good. There isn't much that is predictable and it will keep you guessing until the last few chapters. I recommend picking this one up for your next suspense read!

Five stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Virginia Review

About the Book

Book: Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book Four)

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Romance

Release date: September, 2024

The White Doe of the Outer Banks Grows into Womanhood

Return to the “what if” questions surrounding the Lost Colony and explore the possible fate of Virginia Dare–the first English child born in the New World. What happened to her after her grandfather John White returned to England and the colony he established disappeared into the mists of time? Legends abound, but she was indeed a real girl who, if she survived to adulthood, must have also become part of the legacy that is the people of the Outer Banks. In the spring of 1602 by English reckoning, “Ginny,” as she is called by family and friends, is fourteen and firmly considered a grown woman by the standards of the People. For her entire life she has watched the beautiful give-and-take of the Kurawoten and other native peoples with the English who came from across the ocean. She’s enjoyed being the darling of both English and Kurawoten alike—but a stirring deep inside her will not be put to rest.

One careless decision lands her and fellow “first baby” Henry Harvie, along with their Croatoan friend Redbud, in enemy hands. Carried away into Mangoac territory, out of the reach of Manteo and the others, she must learn who she truly is—not only the daughter of Elinor and Ananias Dare but also a child of the One True God, who gives her courage to go wherever the path of her life might lead.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of four novellas, the first a 2014 RITA® nominee and the most recent a 2021 SELAH winner, and six full-length novels. Her greatest joy, however, is in being a military wife, mom, mother-in-law, and grammie. She’s been a contributor to Colonial Quills and The Borrowed Book, and is a current member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.

 

More fron Shannon

So—here we are! I am just so, SO, sooo blessed to get to be on Celebrate Lit yet again. And book FOUR of my Lost Colony series! Initially I thought two, maybe three books. I pretty much disregarded the possibility of writing Virginia Dare’s story because, well, there’s a good bit of mythology surrounding her, and I felt absolutely no inclination to tackle any of that.

Until early last year. The idea dropped into my head and seemed too obvious to turn away. I didn’t have much idea of what would actually happen in the story, although I knew I wanted to explore the identity of the Mangoac, who held the interior of what is now North Carolina and Virginia when the Spanish and the English first arrived in the New World. They spoke an Iroquoian language and were referred to with dread and distaste among all their neighbors, including the Powhatan. Those people are what we know now as the Tuscarora.

Little was known of the Tuscarora before John Lawson wrote of his journey through the Carolinas in 1700-01. A few years later, Lawson himself met with a fairly horrible death at the hands of the Tuscarora (one wonders what he might have done to tick them off), and tensions soon escalated between settlers and indigenous peoples into all-out war. After their defeat by the English, the Tuscarora people moved northward and became the sixth nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

They call themselves Skaru:re—pronounced sgah-ROOO-rah (with that long “ooh” held out a little extra)—translated variously as “Long-Shirt People” or “Hemp People,” for the garments they would weave from “Indian hemp,” also known as milkweed. The Tuscarora word for milkweed does indeed contain the same root as Skaru:re, but no one knows when as a people they might have made the transition from merely using milkweed fiber for cording or twine to spinning and weaving it into fabric, as the English did flax for linen.

I decided to have a bit of fun in my story, then, with Ginny being questioned about the making of a linen garment, and then a later mention of a “rough, twiny fabric.” I’d meant to expand upon that a bit, or at least address it in the historical notes at the end—and then completely forgot until working through the galleys.

So I get to talk about it—now. 

You might guess that both details, which may feel random to the casual reader, are a nod to the translation of the name Skaru:re, and to the influence that either the Spanish or the English might have had on various Native people groups. A good author endeavors, of course, to not have any random details littering a story. In Virginia, many small things point back to previous stories—there are hints of connection to Rebecca as well even though either story could be read before the other. By the same token, all four books are what we could term alternate history—a reach beyond what is known into what might have been. I think it most likely that as Native peoples acquired European fashions, they used what they already had (in the case of the Skaru:re, a familiarity with milkweed and other materials to provide fiber) to produce garments and other items modeled after what the Spanish and English used. They were nothing if not eager to take advantage of new technologies—and what if their contact with members of the Lost Colony was what sparked the idea behind their famed “long shirts”?

A stretch, for sure. But there’s a reason why I’ve always enjoyed writing speculative fiction as well as historical. 

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 6

To Everything There Is A Season, October 6

Devoted To Hope, October 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 8

lakesidelivingsite, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 9

Betti Mace, October 10

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 11

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 13

Bizwings Book Blog, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 15

Lights in a Dark World, October 15

Holly’s Book Corner, October 16

Sylvan Musings, October 17

Pause for Tales, October 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

GIVEAWAY

 My Thoughts

I have so enjoyed this series! It has made me do extra historical research on my own after reading- it is that interesting! This book is one of my favorites in the series. Virginia Dare is in herself interesting simply because she was the first English child born in the New World. Add to that fact so many of the details and possibilities of these people co inhabiting and living with the Native people. I love the research that is done and I do recommend reading the author notes in the back of the book! There is adventure and grief and a really strong religious plot thread in this novel. I think there was more conversations about knowing the Lord on a personal level than in the previous books and it surprised me but in a good way. I do recommend reading Elinor and Mary (two other books in the series) first to fully understand a lot of the back story. Elinor especially would be helpful in reading first BUT you could read this as a stand alone. It was a pleasure to journey back to the time of the Lost Colony. History lovers will enjoy! 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review." 

White Bird Movie Review and Gift Card Giveaway

About the Movie

From the world of Wonder, which sparked a movement to "choose kind," comes the inspirational next chapter: WHITE BIRD. Struggling to fit in at his new school after being expelled for his treatment of Auggie Pullman, Julian (Bryce Gheisar) is visited by his grandmother (Helen Mirren) and is transformed by the compassionate and heroic story of her attempts to escape Nazi-occupied France during WWII. From the director of Finding Neverland, WHITE BIRD reminds us to be brave and choose kind.

 Buy tickets today to see White Bird in theaters starting October 4th!

GIVEAWAY

$10 Amazon gift card. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US entries only please. 

 My Thoughts

I really love period films. There are so many stories to be told based on past events so I was really excited to watch White Bird. This is a really great movie and be prepared for lots of tears. It is awful how humans treated/treat other humans, especially during WWII. My goodness this is a hard thing to watch and I recommend not watching this with young children. Unlike the movie poster portrays, this is a gruesome film in parts and it doesn't shy away from the horrific things that went on at the time. You see people get shot, a young man attacked by an animal, people mocked and hurt for being Jewish, and how evil the Nazi soldiers were overall. While the film makers showed the hard things it is also important to understand so these horrors don't repeat themselves. 

 The main thread of the story follows a young girl and boy and their sweet friendship and imagination that is created from a world of utter darkness. I love how this film showed continual hope amid the fear and uncertainty of daily living. The light shines in the darkness. 

Helen Mirren is one of a kind and her scenes add so much as you can imagine. I love how the story line is set up with Sara (Mirren) telling her grandson her story and how it ties in with his current life. It makes this film relatable to us today and also proves how important it is to know our history.  

Overall this is a great film that needs shown to the next generation and to those who think these things never happened or that it doesn't matter anymore. It did happen and it does matter. 

#WhiteBirdMIN #WhiteBirdMovie #BeBraveChooseKind

Many thanks to Kingdom Faith Marketing Services for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Across the Star-Kissed Sea Review

About the Book

 When May becomes a lady’s maid at sea, she’s hoping for an innocent adventure but instead must navigate rough waters, deadly combat, and unexpected love.

Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love. (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

I started this book having no clue that it was tied to Georgana's Secret which is the book Hawks wrote previously with a similar setting. I LOVED that book so I was even more excited to dig into this one! While you don't have to read the previous book, I do recommend it because this story means so much more if you do! 

I just love stories that are set on a ship and this book holds quite the adventure. The characters are well developed and so fun to read. The only thing is that I I really struggled to like May's character. By the end I did like her but I didn't see a lot of character development by the last page. Elias is such a unique individual and I applaud the author for creating a hero that isn't perfect. I so enjoyed getting to see the life of Dominic and Georgana again and I think that was the highlight for me while reading. This isn't my favorite by this author but still a good read. 

This is a good book for an escape to the high seas!

Three Stars. 

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."