Historical Fiction Archives - CoastAndAnchor.com

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

July 27, 2018 By Sara Leave a Comment

Book Title: A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor Book 1)

Author: Kristi Ann Hunter

See My Reviews of First Impressions on : GoodReads | Amazon Review | Library Thing

*Thank you to Bethany House Publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

A Defense of Honor is the first book in a series (Haven Manor). Below is the description from the back of the book:

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

“When Katherine “Kit” FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she’s forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend’s missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she’s telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can’t matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. And as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn’t worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger.”

My Honest Thoughts:

For a regency novel it had a very unique storyline, one that was intriguing, highlighting the outcast due to others mistakes but also one of redemption, grace and trust. The main characters Kit and Graham drew you in and had you rooting for them by the end of the first chapter. Although there is a dark underlying story weaved throughout the pages that revolves around illegitimate children (by-blows) and a heroine who puts everything on the line for her cause, the words on the pages remain fresh and even humorous at times. Several times I had to remind myself that blackmailing is not a worthy cause, because I found myself backing The Governess in her grand scheme of getting revenge. The last few chapters leave you thinking deeply with lines such as “Did you even give them a chance?”, “That’s not the way grace works.” or “He (God) wasn’t confined to the solutions she could conceive.” and many more. At one point in the storyline near the end, I found Graham to be a bit frustrating in that he didn’t know if he could forgive Kit which went against the spiritual advice he was giving out. Although I have not read the prequel, it probably would be helpful in order to understand how Kit and Daphne found themselves in the situation they were in.

Final thoughts:

A Defense of Honor is a beautifully scripted regency romance. The inspirational message of grace and trust was woven into the story without feeling awkward. All in all each character was interesting and the relationships between families, friends and neighbors was worth the few downfalls. If you are like myself and tend to read books based on mood or season, then this would be a great book to grab for a rainy day on the couch or cozied up by a fire in the fall.

To read my other reviews go here: Book Reviews

Keturah (The Sugar Baron’s Daughters, # 1) by Lisa T. Bergren

May 15, 2018 By Sara Leave a Comment

Book Title: Keturah

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

See My Reviews of Keturah on : GoodReads | Amazon Review

*Thank you to Bethany House Publisher for my copy of Keturah in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Keturah is the first book in a series (The Sugar Baron’s daughters). Below is the description from the back of the book:

“In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father’s estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Although it flies against all the conventions for women of the time, they’re determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, proper gender roles are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined–and that’s just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this unfamiliar world.

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

Set on keeping her family together and saving her father’s once-great plantation, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?”

My Honest Thoughts:

First things first, I am not a huge historical fiction fan. So to be honest, I put this book at the bottom of my TBR pile. When I finally picked it up, I was glad that I did. I have not read any of the author’s previous works, but I will pick up the next books in this series. I enjoyed the book as a story, but as you will read below, there were some parts that left me disappointed.

The setting begins in England and then travels to the West Indies in 1772. Due to some unfortunate financial woes of their father, three sisters inherit his estates and have to make some tough decisions. They choose to go the unconventional route and travel to the West Indies via ship. Here lies my first disappointment – this is an almost unbelievable journey in the story. During that time period, what occurs on their travels to the West Indies is not historically accurate. So if you are one who likes historical fiction, I would say this book will be an annoying if not frustrating read. I already stated that historical fiction is not my type of book, so I kept reading it for the story and not the history or accuracy of the time period. With that being said, I did hesitate a few times because it was so far off historically that it was impossible not to cringe.

While I enjoyed the sisterly bond between the three sisters, some of their interactions left me rolling my eyes. I do believe the author was going for strong female characters, but in my opinion two of the sisters missed that mark. Maybe their strength will come out in future books in this series.

The main characters, Keturah and Gray, are both unlikable. I struggled to connect with them. On one hand she wanted to be independent and then in the next breath, she was swooning over his body. Her interest in him was awkward and his interaction with her was the same. The book mentions some very heavy topics (rape, slavery, beating, etc.) although doesn’t go into great detail. There is a enough that I do think it is worth mentioning and being aware of while reading.

I was most looking forward to the setting in the West Indies as I have not read many books that have used that location. This did not disappoint! I enjoyed the journey via ship and the West Indies. Keturah showed great strength and compassion with the people on her plantation. I also enjoyed this aspect of the story.

Final thoughts:

All in all, the book is ok. I will read the other books in the series out of curiosity. Read at your own risk…..you can get your copy today at this link.

To read my other reviews go here: Book Reviews

Hearts Entwined – A Novella Collection

March 6, 2018 By Sara Leave a Comment

Book Title: Hearts Entwined

Author: Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, Melissa Jagears

See My Reviews of Hearts Entwined on : GoodReads | Amazon Review

*Thank you to Bethany House Publisher for my copy of Hearts Entwined in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Hearts Entwined is comprised of four historical romance novellas written by different authors. Each novella has its own theme but all surrounding the topic of love. Each of the novellas has twists and humor wrapped into the story lines which made it a fun and quick read.

The Love Knot by Karen Witemeyer
Claire Nevin’s was young and determined to go her own way. But despite her determination and passion to start a new life, her sister sends an untimely letter with an unexpected message. She faces the challenges before her with determination and holds her own – even with her ‘extra’ responsibilites.

The Tangled Ties That Bind by Mary Connealy
After being left behind, Maggie has figured out that being a doctor is her passion. She embarks on a journey to be trained and then take on her own practice. Her long lost beau, Connor Kincaid, comes waltzing back to town only to realize he may have missed out on what he came back to capture – Maggie’s heart. Do they have to give up their dreams for love…..you will have to read to find out….no spoilers here! We all know the answer……it’s not a mystery!

Bound and Determined by Regina Jennings
Private Bradley Willis is sent on a mission after not following orders during a sticky situation. His new mission has become quite comical due to camels, a retired officer and his spunky daughter. Ambrosia Herald is not about to let anyone side rail her mission which is to undermine her fathers attempt to keep his beloved camels. This novella is quite humorous and almost unbelievable. But despite that, it makes for a lighthearted, quirky read.

Tied and True by Melissa Jagears
The last novella in the book is my favorite! Marianne Lister comes from a prestigious and wealthy family, but that does not stop her from following her heart. No one is going to stop her and she sets out to prove, she will WIN! Not only does she break out from the stereotypes of gender, but she also pushes the boundaries of social class. By doing this, she finds a passion of helping others, women specifically. Her heart knows no boundaries when it comes to love and helping those in need.

I enjoyed reading all four novellas, but the one that captured my attention and tugged at my heartstrings the most was Tied and True. The book was an easy read and one you can pick up right where you left off. The writing is crisp and full of detail but also to the point, no detail left out. Each story stood on its own and didn’t leave me with any unanswered questions, which sometimes happens with short stories.

Final thoughts:

I would recommend all four authors, and I look forward to reading some of their other works. If you enjoy historical romantic fiction, then this is a great read for poolside or to tuck in your beach bag. No need to worry about distractions, you can pick up right where you left off! Grab your copy today at this link.

To read my other reviews go here: Book Reviews

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

January 11, 2018 By Sara Leave a Comment

Book Title: The House on Foster Hill

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

See My Reviews: GoodReads | Amazon Review

*Thank you to Bethany House Publisher for my copy of The House on Foster Hill in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Taken from the first chapter of The House on Foster Hill, ” Death had a way of creeping up on a soul” and “There was nothing worse than seeing the casing of a soul that had drifted into eternity, knowing the body would return to dust while the life lived became a tin-plated photograph with a forgotten name. Lives lost in the passage of time.” The chapters take you from dark mystery to crime scene to heartfelt moments. It was quite the roller coaster at times!

In her debut novel, Jaime Jo Wright has captivated me from the first sentence right up until the very last page! It begins in 1906 with a dark, cold scene where Ivy Thorpe is introduced as she accompanies her father to a crime scene where they discover a deceased young woman. Before I go any further, I must say that I am not one to read crime novels or spooky books, so while reading the first chapter I was a tad on edge. BUT, the first chapter did it’s job and the further I read, the more I had to know. After finishing the book, I can now say that I would recommend this book to anyone, even those not normally grabbing for crime, mystery or spooky tales.

Back to the pages, the second chapter is when you realize that you are not only being introduced to another main character, Kaine, but a new time period, present day. The story intertwines the characters and time periods beautifully and really gives a full array of descriptions. Some may not like having to keep track of which character or time period you are in, but I found it captivating and slowing me down in a good way. It made me think and also dug up many questions and mysteries to solve along the way. In fact, I cannot go into much detail because I don’t want to reveal any spoilers.

With that being said, I will divulge that both women are portrayed as strong, confident and able to handle things by themselves, but the story also brings about their weaknesses and how they overcome them. I thought it was especially thought provoking in regards to Ivy’s character in the early 1900’s as it shows her being able to carry her own during a time of male superiority. If you are looking for a strong female character, this book would be a sure pick as it has several.

Although there was a main mystery to be solved, there were also many details or mysteries along the way, maybe a few too many. I was not confused by them, but at times wondered if it could be a little far fetched. Nonetheless, I was still captivated and drawn into the story enough to stay the course.

The House on Foster Hill is not only the title of the book but is the key backdrop in the book. Without a doubt I can say the house was my favorite part of reading this book, uncovering all the old, hidden and creepy things that it unveiled from 1900 until present day. What a story it told! We were on a road trip when I decided to read this book. Exiting the highway and heading through a small town in the Midwest made me put the book down and reach for my cell phone. The houses we were creeping past were exactly what I imagined Foster Hill house would look like!

Final thoughts:

Jaime Jo Wright is going to be an author that is added to my list based on this debut novel. All in all it gets a 4 anchor rating from me. Grab your copy of The House on Foster Hill, beach chair and tervis of ice tea and head out to pool or beach for a great read!

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

Book Title: A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor Book 1)

My Honest Thoughts:

Final thoughts:

Keturah (The Sugar Baron’s Daughters, # 1) by Lisa T. Bergren

Book Title: Keturah

My Honest Thoughts:

Final thoughts:

Hearts Entwined – A Novella Collection

Book Title: Hearts Entwined

Final thoughts:

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

Book Title: The House on Foster Hill

Final thoughts:

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