Review: The Captive Heart

I'm so excited to offer my review of The Captive Heart, the brand-new colonial novel from Michelle Griep, whose interview I posted last month.

From the back cover:

The American wilderness is no place for an elegant English governess.

On the run from a brute of an aristrocratic employer, Eleanor Morgan escapes from England to America, the land of the free, for the opportunity to serve an upstanding Charles Town family. But freedom is hard to come by as an indentured servant, and downright impossible when she’s forced to agree to an even harsher contract—marriage to a man she’s never met.

Backwoodsman Samuel Heath doesn’t care what others think of him—but his young daughter’s upbringing matters very much. The life of a trapper in the Carolina backcountry is no life for a small girl, but neither is abandoning his child to another family. He decides it’s time to marry again, but that proves to be an impossible task. Who wants to wed a murderer?

Both Samuel and Eleanor are survivors, facing down the threat of war, betrayal, and divided loyalties that could cost them everything, but this time they must face their biggest challenge ever ... love.

My thoughts:

Michelle’s new release, The Captive Heart, is a tasty mix of romance, adventure, and pre-Revolutionary history. I’m a longtime fan of her work, but she’s at the top of her game in this one, and not just because she set it in what was my long-time home state in the midst of one of my favorite time periods. Meticulously researched, richly textured, and sizzling romance that leaps off the page ... this one won’t soon be forgotten!

(And considering that as of the night before this post date, she already had 112 Amazon reviews for a total of 4.8 out of 5 stars, I'd say many others agree!!)

About Michelle:  I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I've been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write--except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.

The Captive Heart is Michelle's first colonial, but her impressive list of titles includes medieval and Viking-age time travel, gothic Regency, and even contemporary. Check her out at michellegriep.com!

Guest Author Interview: Michelle Griep

September's here! Which means I finally get to introduce you to brand-new colonial fiction read The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep ... and the story that sparked several of my research posts from earlier this year. This beauty releases October 1, and I'll be posting my review next month, but for now I'm so excited to share this special guest interview with the author.

First, the book:

Proper English governess Eleanor Morgan flees to the colonies to escape the wrath of a brute of an employer. When the Charles Town family she’s to work for never arrives to collect her from the dock, she is forced to settle for the only reputable choice remaining to her—marriage to a man she’s never met. Trapper and tracker Samuel Heath is a hardened survivor used to getting his own way by brain or by brawn, and he’s determined to find a mother for his young daughter. But finding a wife proves to be impossible. No upstanding woman wants to marry a murderer.

Thank you so much for being with us today, Michelle! After writing medieval and Viking-age historical, contemporary, and ending up in the Regency era, what got you interested in the colonial time period?

Trappers, actually. I live in the frozen tundra of Minnesota but even here there were voyageurs and trappers that roamed the area. One of my favorite things to do is go to the annual River Rendezvous, a living history reenactment of Natives and trappers and rugged colonists.

What inspired your latest colonial work?

An Anglophile at heart, usually I write stories based in England. But during the Colonial period, lots of British criminals (some truly guilty, others innocent) were transported to America as punishment. Others crossed the ocean as indentured servants, signing away their freedom when they landed in the hopes of creating a better life. I got to wondering what it would be like to have your freedom taken away, and so The Captive Heart was born.

Do you have a favorite colonial place you like to visit and why?

I love the South Carolina backcountry. Stunning scenery. Awesome hiking. And loads of history. It’s hard to choose just one place when there are so many, but I’m going to go with Brattonsville, a living history museum in York County. Besides the setting, I love the historical guides that are stationed at each building. You could seriously spend days here, learning everything from blacksmithing to open fire cooking.

If you care to say, you can tell readers where you live and what colonial places you have in your state or your home state if different.

It’s a little later than the Colonial period, but the North West Company Fur Post (circa 1804) is a fun place to visit. You’ll met French voyageurs, British fur traders and visit an Ojibwe encampment. It’s located just outside of Pine City, Minnesota (about an hour north of Minneapolis/St. Paul).

Do you have a favorite colonial recipe you enjoy and would like to share with readers?

Apple Fritters

Pare some apples and cut them in thin slices, put them in a bowl, with a glass of brandy, some white wine, and quarter of a pound of powdered sugar, a little cinnamon finely powdered and the rind of a lemon grated: let them stand some time, turning them over frequently; beat two eggs very light, add one quarter a pound of flour, a tablespoonful of melted butter, and as much cold water as will make a thin batter; drip the apples on a sieve, mix them with the batter, take one slice with a spoonful of butter to each fritter, fry them quick, of a light brown, drain them well, put them in a dish, sprinkling sugar over each, and glaze them nicely.

— Randolph, Mary. “The Virginia Housewife.” pg.155.

About Michelle:  I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I've been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write--except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.

Michelle's impressive list of titles includes medieval and Viking-age time travel, gothic Regency, and even contemporary. Check her out at michellegriep.com!

Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship

Book Review by Lisa Norato

PIRATE HUNTERS
Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship
by Robert Kurson 
Random House © June 2015

Recently, I had the opportunity to read this remarkable true account of a pirate who, as incredible as his story was, I had never heard of before and the search to find his sunken ship, the Golden Fleece.  I wanted to share it here because I feel it is a must-read for both fans and writers of historical seafaring and/or pirate adventure.

In 1686, Joseph Bannister, a wealthy, successful and respected merchant sea captain turned pirate for no apparent reason and led the Royal Navy on a chase that is the stuff of novels, except it was all true. Three hundred years later, John Chatterton and John Mattera, both experienced divers and treasure hunters, set out to find the illusive wreck and unlock the mystery of the pirate Bannister. This book is the story of all three mens’ adventures. And what adventures they are!

If, like me, you’re lured by the mystique of the sea in your reading or have an interest in pirates, wooden sailing ships, treasure or history, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. Within its pages, learn about about what life was like for seafarers and why men turned to piracy. Experience the times and dangers of the age of piracy. Or if you’re simply looking for an exciting read−fascinating but true−you will enjoy this book. I could not stop turning pages, hungry for any details about John Bannister and would still be thinking about the story after I put the book down, anxious to get back to it. This book is the closest one can come to diving beneath the sea in a search for treasure without getting out of your chair.

This is a truly awesome read that satisfied my desire for suspense, adventure, romance and mystery, and at its conclusion it impressed me as an inspiring story about never, never giving up.

 

Lisa Norato is the author of the seafaring inspirational suspense novels Prize of My Heart and The Promise Keeper.

Gabrielle Meyer's "A Groom for Josette" -- Reviewed by Guest Gracie Yost

                                                                                      

The Convenient Bride Collection from Barbour (2015)

Gabrielle Meyer's "A Groom for Josette" is a novella in The Convenient Bride Collection (Barbour, 2015).

Guest Review by Gracie Yost

When one thinks of getting married, it's most likely because you fell in love with someone and want to spend the rest of your life with that person. That's how it's supposed to happen right? Marriages haven't always consisted of two people who fell in love. In fact, many were nothing more than an arrangement made by two people born out of necessity.

   Our heroine, Josette Leblanc, finds herself in a precarious position. She has recently learned that at the stroke of midnight on her half-brothers 21st birthday, her father’s entire estate and business will be handed over to her half-brother. The thought of this happening terrifies Josette. Stephen is a known gambler and incompetent. If he gains control of the estate and business, along with  guidance from his mother, not only would Josette become penniless and homeless, but everything would fall into ruin.

    Is there a way for Josette to secure her fathers legacy? And, in the process save herself  from a life unimaginable? Mr.Trestle, her fathers lawyer, informs her of the only way he knows of which could prevent all this from happening. His answer shocks her, "Get married and return with the marriage certificate by the deadline and the estate will remain in your control."

   What will Josette do? She has three weeks in which to find a husband, get married and return with proof of the union. But how? And, who? Answering a newspaper advertisement for brides, Josette travels to the town of Little Falls, Minnesota, in search of  a husband. But, questions remain heavy in Josette’s mind. Will her family’s heritage prevent her from finding a husband as it had in the past? As a daughter of a fur trader and an Indian mother, she knows her chances of finding a husband are slim. But, she retains her hope and faith in God, that he will see her safely through this turmoil.

 

Author Gabrielle Meyer

     I highly recommend Gabrielle Meyer's, "A Groom for Josette". You will be on the edge of your seat as you journey with Josette. You will feel her sadness and share her joy as Josette’s prayers are answered in a way that she never dreamed or imagined possible.

I give this wonderful Novella 5 stars! *****

CFP: Guest Reviewer, Gracie Yost, loves to read Christian fiction, especially Christian Historical Romance.  Thank you, Gracie, for this wonderful review!

GIVEAWAY: Winner's choice of ebook or paperback.  Leave a comment to enter!

The Highwayman by Shannon McNear

Giveaway winner is Charis! Congratulations and thank you all for coming by to comment!

Novella Review by Lisa Norato

The Most Eligible BACHELOR Romance Collection
THE HIGHWAYMAN
by Shannon McNear

Barbour Books © 2015 

The Most Eligible BACHELOR is a delightful collection of nine romantic novellas of Americana history. The bachelors and their love interests range from a variety of time periods and walks of life. This review is for Shannon McNear's novella, The Highwayman.

The Highwayman is set along the Great Wagon Road, lower Shenandoah Valley, on the eve of the American Revolution.

Samuel Wheeler is a colonial wagon master who is terrifyingly accurate with a whip. His skill and daring "accidentally" land him the title The Highwayman when, on a lark, he darns the unclaimed boots and embroidered coat of a nobleman to become the disguised rescuer of a lady in distress. A rescue has led to chasing down redcoats, and now Sam's exploits are known up and down the Great Road. Stories of his bravery are repeated by children. Sam, however, has grown tired of his clandestine activities and longs for nothing more than to be able to express his love for Tall Sally, but every time he's near her, his tongue grows thick, his hands clumsy and he can hardly breathe, let alone speak.

Sarah Brewster is the tall and lovely red-haired daughter of an inn keeper along the road where Samuel and his cousin frequently stop. When Sally is accosted one evening, Sam dons his disguise and comes to her rescue. He finds he can declare his feelings as the Highwayman in a way he can't as humble wagon master Sam. But is the Highwayman in for a secret romance and more trouble than he can handle?

If you love a strong, silent hero, you'll fall for Sam as much as I did. You'll come to care for Tall Sally and the rest of the Brewster family. Shannon makes her colonial setting come to life, and her plot is a well-crafted tale of danger, deceit and romance with a satisfying, climatic ending. A wonderful, entertaining read that I highly recommend!

GIVEAWAYS!

Leave a comment and your email address to be entered to win this adorable stuffed calf in honor of Sam's team of oxen. Also being given away is a copy of the Novella Collection with a bookplate signed by all of the contributing authors.

Shannon McNear's first published novella, Defending Truth, in A Pioneer Christmas Collection (Barbour, 2013), was a 2014 RITA nominee. Her second novella, The Highwayman, was released in May as part of The Most Eligible Bachelor Collection (Barbour). She writes regularly for The Borrowed Book and Colonial Quills, and is a member of ACFW and RWA.

Lori Benton's The Wood's Edge - Guest Review

The Wood's Edge by Lori Benton

Regina Fujitani's Guest Review of The Wood's Edge by Lori Benton (Waterbrook, May, 2015)

Lori Benton has written a riveting tale of two families, the Oneida and the British. Two families-two cultures that will be impacted by a decision that will change their lives. A young woman is caught between two worlds. A young man is destined to help both families, and to be reunited with his twin brother.

A British colonel loses his baby in childbirth. A young mother with twins that are different in color, one white and one brown. The baby that died has been switched with the white twin. A father that loves his wife, is desperate to save her from another loss.

As the story begins, the Indians and French are fighting an English fort. Two women give birth, one baby dies, the other gives birth to twins.. As the father is evacuating the fort with his wife and the baby she believes is hers. As they are retreating they are attacked by Indians. A fight for their survival becomes imminent.

Colonel Aubrey's adopted daughter, Anna, finds herself friends with Two Hawks. Two Hawks is William's brother. As the story unfolds and the truth comes out, will the two fathers find forgiveness? Or, will there be a war?

I loved how Lori told this story. I felt like I was there during the Indian raid, with Anna, Two Hawks, and William. I felt like I was right there in The Wood's Edge. From the first page to the very last, Lori will keep you drawn into the pages. This beautiful story is worth your time!

I give this book five stars! I cannot wait to read the next book!

Regina Fujitani is a reader, reviewer, and Beta reader for Christian authors. She lives in the Dakotas with her family and is about to become mother-of-the-bride!

Giveaway: A signed copy of Lori's new release!  Leave a comment on Regina's review!

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex

Book Review by Lisa Norato

In The Heart Of The Sea

The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
by Nathaniel Philbrick
Penguin Books © 2000

Several years ago, I received a copy of this amazing book. A good friend and critique partner urged me to read it, but because I felt squeamish about the mention of cannibalism in the description, I decided I wouldn’t enjoy it and tucked it away. Then recently, I caught the trailer for the upcoming 2015 movie based on the book. Wow! On the screen were New England sailors of the Federal era on a dangerous sea journey – the very same period and setting of which I write my novels. I searched out my copy and, for curiosity’s sake, read the preface. I was hooked. More than hooked, I was sucked into an unbelievable yet true, suspense-filled sea voyage. A monumental historical event that not only made for one of the best reads I’ve even experienced, but a rich resource of everything seafaring and a peek into early nineteenth century society.

In its day the tragedy of the whaling ship Essex was received with the same global shock and horror as the sinking of the Titanic. It is the true story which later inspired Herman Melville to pen his classic novel, Moby Dick.

In August of 1819, the Essex left Nantucket with a newly-promoted captain and a crew of twenty to hunt and harvest whales for their oil. Shortly after leaving port, the Essex was caught in a storm of such proportions it knocked down the great sailing vessel, leaving her crew clinging to the rails for their lives. To my mind, there could be no coming back from that, but the Essex is put to straights and sails again. Against his better instincts, her captain is persuaded by his mates to continue the expedition despite damage to the ship and the loss of much-needed whaleboats. What ensues is a harrowing journey of disaster and setbacks, the most amazing of which is the attack of a giant sperm whale out for vengeance. It rams the Essex with humanlike intent and calculation, striking a devastating blow in defense of his own kind. The Essex crumbles and sinks beneath the whale’s massive skull, yet not a single seaman is lost.



Actual drawing my Essex cabin boy, Thomas Nickerson, of the whale's attack. Notice the whaleboats on the bottom edge manned with crew members.

Nathaniel Philbrick has pulled together extensive research and firsthand accounts to tell a tale that reads like a suspense novel and puts you right there in the open boats, bobbing on a vast ocean, along with the awestruck survivors.  I felt their breathless shock at the loss of their ship as they sat divided among three whaleboats, unable to believe their eyes. Fearing tales of cannibalism, they chart a course to avoid the nearby islands and instead head towards South America, over 2000 miles away. Although I find nothing heroic about the business of whaling, I felt deeply for these whaling men and was amazed at their courage and fortitude as they persevered in a desperate battle for survival.

If seafaring adventure is your passion, I promise you will be swept into this detailed historical account with the same enjoyment as you would a novel or a movie. Like me, you will have to stop and remind yourself – this really happened!  For writers and nautical history buffs, In the Heart of the Sea is a valuable resource on ships, sailing, navigation, boat construction, whales, rank aboard ship, Nantucket and social class during the Federal era. Also included are pages of informative notes and a bibliography.

A major motion picture based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea is set to be released March 2015, directed by Ron Howard and starring Chris Helmsworth (People magazine’s sexiest man of the year 2014). I can’t wait to see this story on the big screen! I hope to come back then with a review of the movie. To view the trailer that led me to discover this incredible book, click here.

New Year's Blessings to All!

Lisa Norato is the author of the seafaring inspirational suspense novels Prize of My Heart and The Promise Keeper.  She lives with her family on the New England coast in a cozy historic village with homes and churches dating into the eighteenth century.

The Fruitcake Challenge by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Review by Lisa Norato

The Fruitcake Challenge

A Christmas Novella

Christmas Traditions Book 3

by Carrie Fancett Pagels

The Fruitcake Challenge is a cozy Christmas read, but a romance to enjoy for all seasons!

In her lifetime, “Jo” Josephine Christy  has had to put up with the shenanigans of many different fellows—big, hulking lumberjacks with everything from humble to aggressive personalities, men from all over the world. She was raised in a logging camp and grew up working alongside her now-deceased mother in the camp kitchen. But in all that time, no man has ever annoyed her so much as their new axeman, Tom Jeffries.

He’s an arrogant, smooth talker who flaunts his intelligence and devilishly handsome looks like one who has never known rejection. Jo would like nothing better than to take the proud rooster down a peg. Especially when he issues a challenge: “I have decided I’ll marry any gal who can bake a fruitcake just like my mother makes every Christmas.”
 

The audacity! The workers in the cookhouse rise to the challenge, and the men are caught up in the excitement. Obviously, Tom has instigated this challenge just to irk her. But could he be serious? Why does something in Jo’s heart wish it to be true? And why does she keep baking fruitcake after fruitcake just to prove she’s not one to back down from a challenge, even though everything within her longs to be freed of a life tied to a lumber camp. She wants a life beyond the one she’s always known and that most certainly does not include marriage to a lumberjack. She’s twenty-five years old and time is running out on her dreams.

She’s about to discover there’s more to Tom Jeffries than what meets the eye. . . .
 

I loved this story! The Fruitcake Challenge is a well-written novella with warmth and humor. I enjoyed all the characters but especially Jo and Tom, in their confusion about their futures, looking for God’s guidance. I really enjoyed the unusual Victorian setting of a wintry, rugged logging camp in northern Michigan. There’s lots to enjoy in this heartwarming story—romance, family, yummy food, the scent of the pines and a crackling fire to warm you in the cold woods!

Click here to get your copy!

 

Carrie Fancett Pagels of the popular "Hearts Overcoming Through Time" blog is a Christian historical romance author. She is a finalist in the Maggie Awards for Excellence for 2014. In July 2014, Carrie won in the Historical Genre for Family Fiction's "The Story 2014" contest, with her short story, The Quilting Contest. Carrie is the founder of the Colonial Christian Writers and our administrator for the Colonial Quills blog.