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Monday, October 8, 2012

Review of Carla Olson Gade's "Carving a Future" Novella

Colonial Courtships

Colonial Courtships
Carving a Future, by Carla Olson Gade
Romancing America collection
(Barbour 2012)

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Nathaniel Ingersoll is determined to become a master craftsman, carving ship’s figureheads. He and his brother are Mrs. Ingersoll’s two grown sons.  She runs the Red Griffin Inn.  Nathaniel apprentices under his elderly arthritic uncle, a bachelor.  Heroic Nathaniel intervenes when Constance, abducted by a wicked ship captain, protests that she was kidnapped. Hearing her plight, he offers to purchase her indenture contract.  

With his father deceased, money is tight but Mrs. Ingersoll welcomes Constance into their inn, where the young woman has her first experiences in performing domestic duties.  Pitifully, in fact, considering that she was a young woman of higher social standing until her parents died and she became a lady’s companion. 

This was a delightful novella with lots of colonial details that history lovers will enjoy.  Readers who enjoy colonial era Christian romance will be THRILLED with the authenticity of the information included and the lovely heroine and strong hero.  Carla has created compelling characters and a lovely tight storyline for this novella.  Wouldn’t be at all surprised if it is nominated for an ACFW Carol award next year.

Colonial Courtships is available at CBD and on Amazon and through other book sellers.

Disclaimer: I read this novella on my Kindle as a download through NetGalley in return for my honest review.  My opinions are my own.

Giveaway: Winner receives a copy of this book in either paperback or ebook (international winner ebook only.)

45 comments:

  1. Marian BaayOctober 8, 2012 at 8:46 AM

    Great review, Carrie! So nice to see Carla's name on this novella. :)

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 2:08 PM

      Thanks, MARIAN--you guys do it better, but I had started the collection the other night and got through Carla's and then we had a little change up we did for this week on CQ. Looking forward to Carla's tea party next week, which will be awesome!!!

      Delete
  2. Roseanna WhiteOctober 8, 2012 at 11:43 AM

    Can't wait to read this! The collection is a wonderful group of writers, and Carla's novella sounds delightful. Congrats, Carla!!

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 2:09 PM

      Ro, I feel sure that you would love Carla's. Am gonna go read some more, too, which I bet are also great!

      Delete
  3. Tiffany Amber StocktonOctober 8, 2012 at 11:50 AM

    Our first official review! Yay! Thanks so much, Carrie, for posting this. Hoping it's the first of many to come. Our team is so excited about this collection and thrilled to see it finally release.

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 2:09 PM

      Wow, I feel official, lol! Now to go read your novella and Lisa's and Laurie Alice's! All before Sweetie Boy comes home.

      Delete
    2. Carla GadeOctober 8, 2012 at 3:41 PM

      Tiff, so glad you came by today! Carrie, will love Trading Hearts.

      Delete
  4. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 2:07 PM

    I am gonna go and lie down and read some more of the novellas! If I can find my Kindle. There are four novellas in this collection.

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  5. Glenda Parker Fiction WriterOctober 8, 2012 at 2:20 PM

    Thanks for a great review. I appreciate a chance to win a copy. It sounds like a great story. God bless you.

    Glenda Parker

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 6:02 PM

      Glenda, I don't get to do reviews very often but when I get a chance to do one fore a lovely Colonial novella like this... Thanks!

      Delete
  6. Karen LangeOctober 8, 2012 at 2:25 PM

    Thanks for the review! Looking forward to reading it, particularly Carla's story! :)

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  7. apple blossomOctober 8, 2012 at 2:28 PM

    oh, thanks for the review about this book love to win

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  8. Elaine Marie CooperOctober 8, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    Can't wait for my paperback version to arrive! Amazon just sent a note that it would come sooner than expected—YAY! Congrats, colonial ladies! Looking forward to the read!

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 6:04 PM

      Elaine, I thought I ordered copies from either Amazon or CBD but I am not finding evidence that I did. I read the NG version. Better go over to Amazon and order mine. Thanks for the heads up that it is shipping quickly for folks!

      Delete
  9. Susan StahleyOctober 8, 2012 at 3:07 PM

    I love historical romances! This looks like a book I would love to read. luvsherfam @ gmail dot com

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 9, 2012 at 5:34 AM

      I think you would, Susan!!! If you don't win it, the price is really reasonable--under $7.00 for the paperback and less for ebook!

      Delete
  10. Jeanne DoyonOctober 8, 2012 at 3:21 PM

    Good review. I would love to win a copy of Carla's novella.

    Jeanne Doyon in CT

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 7:02 PM

      Thank you, JEANNE, I will put your name in the virtual hat! probably a tricorner one!

      Delete
    2. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 15, 2012 at 11:41 PM

      JEANE, you are the WINNER this week of a copy of Carla Gade's new release! Congrats! Do you want an ebook or a paperback book? I am trying to find your email address since it wasn't left and I sent you a FB message! CONGRATS!!!

      Delete
  11. Carla GadeOctober 8, 2012 at 3:40 PM

    Thank you, Carrie, for the gracious and generous review! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed my novella and I know that you'll love the other stories in this collection.

    So glad to see all these commenters stopping by!

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 10:05 PM

      You are welcome, Carla, and I appreciate Barbour participating in NetGalley so I could get the advance electronic copy to look at.

      Delete
  12. Kate S (4readin)October 8, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    Thank you for such a lovely review and for offering a giveaway! Thank you so much! This book sounds very charming.

    ks4readin@yahoo.com

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 10:04 PM

      You are very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. Will enter you in the drawing!

      Delete
  13. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 4:49 PM

    A compelling review, Carrie! I love Colonial courtship stories, and the cover is simply beautiful. Thanks for the opportunity to win :-)

    gwen[dot]gage[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 7:03 PM

      I agree, GWEN, that is a gorgeous cover! I was just looking for a free shipping code for CBD to get myself some copies. May have to spring for the shipping!

      Delete
  14. EmmaOctober 8, 2012 at 5:44 PM

    Thanks for the review! I would love to win a copy!

    emmamalissa(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. Mrs TinaOctober 8, 2012 at 7:20 PM

    Thanks for a chance to win a copy of this book, great review.
    I love the cover and the colonial time period....can't wait to read it.

    Blessings, Tina Rice
    tfrice@comcast.net

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 8, 2012 at 7:42 PM

      Well we love colonial, too!!! Thank you--Carla wrote a great novella and so it was easy to review! I had NetGalley version so no pretty cover but I enjoy looking at the computer picture. Have a paperback copy in my online shopping cart!

      Delete
  16. Carla GadeOctober 8, 2012 at 9:37 PM

    Everyone is very kind, I wish you ALL could win a copy of Colonial Courtships. So if you don't win, I hope you'll pick up a copy and let me know how you liked it. Blessings all!

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  17. Rebecca DeMarinoOctober 8, 2012 at 9:59 PM

    Carla - congratulations on your novella - I picked up Colonial Courtships at the ACFW conference - can't wait to read it, and I'll start with yours!

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  18. Debbie ClarkOctober 8, 2012 at 11:28 PM

    Colonial Courtships sounds Intriguing. I love the Colonial era of our country and find the indentured servents fastinating. My husband has ancesters who were indentured servents. The couple eloped and ran away from Germany. He was a German royal and she was lower status. They indentured themselves in order to come to America. Fastinating history.
    Please enter me in the drawing and thanks so much for the chance to win.
    Debbie Clark
    debbiemcla[at]msn[dot]com

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 9, 2012 at 5:32 AM

      Debbie, I am so glad you were able to come by. We have to chat some more on FB! In my first proposal I have a French aristocrat and a German peasant who leave for the colonies. I have them indentured, too. Will pop over there and send you a msg! Blessings!

      Delete
  19. MichelleOctober 9, 2012 at 12:41 AM

    Thanks for the chance to win this one! It sounds wonderful!

    Michelle
    Scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 9, 2012 at 5:32 AM

      With four distinct authors I think there is something there for everybody, Michelle! Carla's alone is worth the price of the book!

      Delete
  20. Janet GrunstOctober 9, 2012 at 8:38 AM

    Thanks Carrie for giving us a peek into Carla's novella. It sounds like a story close to my heart.
    Congratulations, Carla.

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 9, 2012 at 5:30 PM

      Yes, you would love this, JANET! Glad yours is coming!

      Delete
  21. AnonymousOctober 9, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    Interesting review !!! Lots of adventure !!! I like colonial era times in the 13 colonies. Sounds exciting reading this novella !!!

    JKTerrazas09@aol.com

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 9, 2012 at 5:31 PM

      Thanks! We love it too. And you can add on the French and Spanish colonies, too, in North America!!!

      Delete
  22. AnonymousOctober 9, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    Nice Review! This is really my kind of read!
    Thanks for sharing!
    Amy C
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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    1. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 9, 2012 at 5:32 PM

      I would have guessed so, Amy, because we like the same stuff! Blessings!!!

      Delete
  23. tickmenotOctober 9, 2012 at 6:41 PM

    Colonial times are so interesting, especially since it is our history as well.

    Please enter me.

    ischu9@aol.com

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  24. Pat IacuzziOctober 10, 2012 at 1:12 AM

    Going to jump in here real quick to say Huzzah for Carla and release of this great read--and an opportunity to win! <>

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  25. karenkOctober 10, 2012 at 5:28 PM

    would love to read these stories...thanks for the chanace, carrie :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  26. Carrie Fancett PagelsOctober 15, 2012 at 11:43 PM

    JEANNE DOYON was our WINNER this week of a copy of Carla Gade's new release! Congrats! Thanks to all of you who came to visit! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete

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