Teaville Moral Society #3

 


Mercy McClain joined the school board to protect the children of Teaville, Kansas, from the bullying she experienced as a child. When the worst offender from her school days applies for a teaching position, she is dead set against it. Yet Aaron Firebrook claims to be a changed man. Can he earn Mercy's trust--and her support for the challenges to come?


Published March 6th 2018
 by Bethany House Publishers







My Thoughts:

This is the third installment in the Teaville Moral Society from Melissa Jagears. This book is part of an installment, but can be read as a stand alone. The author sweeps the reader back to Kansas 1909 and introduces us to Mercy McClains and Aaron Firebrook. Mercy is an interesting character. She has an obvious disability with her arm and as a result has had to overcome many things in her life. At present she is helping her brother and sister in-law run and manage a local orphanage plus she serves on the school board council. As the story opens Mercy and the school board are in search for a teacher for the upcoming year. Unfortunately for Mercy she immediately recognizes the candidate from her own school days as not only a fellow student, but also her greatest tormentor.
George Aaron Firebrook has recently returned to his hometown. Aaron as he is known now has changed from the young man who left Teaville, but memories are lasting and for Aaron that is not good. His growing up years were troubled and he became known, but also lived up to being the biggest bully in town. Mercy literally holds his future in Teaville in her hands. Can she put the past behind her or will her judgement be forever overshadowed by memories?
I really enjoyed this book. It is a very written story. The plot is full of twists and turns that just when you think you've figured it out another important factor surfaces, for me this is very engaging and kept me turning the pages. This book does broach the issue of school bullying, but I feel it's something that was resolved realistically.
This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who loves history or just a good, clean read. I received this book from the publisher as part of their book bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  BARNES & NOBLE  CHRISTIANBOOK 

  

Hearts Entwined

Four Historical Romance Novellas of Love (With a Twist of Humor)

The ways of love can be complex. Sometimes a relationship full of unexpected twists and unlikely turns leads to a bond that's strong and secure. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that follow the winding path of romance in stories that celebrate a love that lasts forever.

The Love KnotWhen Claire Nevin's troubled younger sibling sends her an unexpected package by rail, the gift and the man who delivers it--an unexpected face from the past--threaten to upend Claire's life forever. Fighting to hold on to all she has built, will she lose what matters most?

The Tangled Ties That BindConnor Kincaid returns home determined to win the hand of the woman he was too young for when he left. But Maggie is training to be a doctor in a distant town, while Connor's about to settle on a ranch. Will either be willing to give up their dream? Or will they both have to give up the love of a lifetime?

Bound and DeterminedAs punishment for his recklessness, Private Bradley Willis is sent on an errand to help a retired cavalry officer move a herd across Indian Territory. No one told him the herd would be camels instead of cattle, nor that the officer's headstrong daughter, Ambrosia Herald, would seem to be trying to undermine the whole enterprise. He's definitely been saddled with more than he's bargained for.

Tied and TrueWealthy Marianne Lister is in love with business assistant Calvin Hochstetler, but he can't see past the difference in their social status. When Marianne takes a job to prove that she is prepared for a life of hard work alongside the man of her dreams, will it be enough to convince Calvin to risk it all for love?

Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  BARNES&NOBLE  CHRISTIANBOOK  BAKER BOOK HOUSE

My Opinion:

What a wonderful collection of historical novellas!! I found myself getting lost in each story and being captivated until the end.  They each include faith, forgiveness, hope, humor, trust, but most of all love.  In the first book we find a young woman who left New York with a broken heart and settled in Texas.  When an unexpected package arrives on the train from her sister, she is both surprised by the package and the person who brought it. Now she needs to learn forgiveness and learn to trust again. In the second book we meet a young man who's returning home to Colorado after spending the last 5 years in Texas.  He thinks he has his life all planned out, but he should have known things were not going to go his way when he ran into an overprotective mother buffalo. (I loved this scene.) Connor must figure out how to convince a young woman how deeply his feelings for her are.  The third story is set in the Indian Territory in August 0f 1885. We meet a young man who is in the cavalry and is sent to help move a herd.  Just one problem, the herd isn't cattle, but camel. He must deal with not only the camel, but an intriguing and irritating female who was trying to sabotage her father's plans and thereby his mission.  The last novella was set in Kansas City, Missouri in September of 1908.  In this novella we meet a young totally captivated by a young man, who she knows her parents would think is completely below her because of the difference in finances.  The heart wants what the heart wants and she will do anything to convince everyone otherwise. 

I enjoyed each of these stories thoroughly.  Of course, for me this wasn't a surprise since I enjoy the author's books.   I found myself going from one book to the next until I finished the very last page.  This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a good story, likes to feel apart of each story and likes a story that will put a smile on your face.  

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book blogger program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Teaville Moral Society

 

 Lydia King knows what it's like to be in need, so she joins the Teaville Moral Society hoping to help the town's poor. But with her father's debts increasing by the day and her mother growing sicker by the week, she wonders how long it will be until she ends up in the poorhouse herself. Her best chance at a financially secure future is to impress the politician courting her, and it certainly doesn't hurt that his mother is the moral society's president. Lydia's first task as a moral society member--to obtain a donation from Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest man in town--seems easy . . . until the man flat-out refuses.

Despite appearances, Nicholas wants to help others but prefers to do it his own way, keeping his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, though Nicholas has a few surprises up his sleeve. Neither foresees the harrowing complications that will arise from working together, and when town secrets are brought to light, this unlikely pair must decide where their beliefs--and hearts--truly align.

Published August 2nd 2016 

by Bethany House Publishers 

Available for Purchase:

AMAZON  CHRISTAINBOOK BARNES & NOBLE 

BAKER RETAIL

Meet the Author:

 

 

Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade and the author of A Bride for Keeps, A Bride in Store, and A Bride at Last, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She's a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly.

Connect Online:

WEBSITE 

FACEBOOK   PINTEREST   GOODREADS

 My Thoughts:

Oh wow, what an excellent story!

The author brings us a story with a theme that is more common than you might think.  This story takes place in southeast Kansas during the fall of 1905.  We are introduced to Lydia King, whom I felt a connection to immediately.  Do you know why?  Simple she loves books. :) Yes, a woman I can relate to. 

Lydia's homelife is anything but perfect.  Her mother has deteriorating health problems which cause great concern for Lydia, but her father is mostly an embarrassment for her with his growing debts.  Yes, she knows poverty firsthand.  

Lydia has joined the Teaville Moral Society with the good intentions of not only helping the town's poor, but to also try to rid it of the very things that has caused her family so many problems.  The Society is a purely volunteer organization through the Freewill Church and her first task was to obtain a much needed donation from Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest man in town.  

Nicholas is a very caring man, but he has secrets that he doesn't want revealed to anyone or the consequences would result in many suffering.  He's intrigued by Lydia's tenacity and her caring, but at the same time he feels she's naive about the true problems of the poor and the Teaville Moral Society's true reasons behind their work.   

I truly loved this story.  It's a story of how far one woman will go in search of answers and of a man who asks a woman for complete trust and faith.  This story also points out how it's easy to judge when you don't know the full story.  It's easy to throw stones at others for their sins until you step in their shoes and see exactly what they have endured.  

What a wonderful way to start a new series and a book I would recommend to anyone.

**I received this book from the publisher for a honest review without outside influence or bias.   

 

 

With This Ring?

Four top historical romance novelists team up in this new collection to offer stories of love and romance with a twist of humor. In Karen Witemeyer's "The Husband Maneuver," Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins when the ranch foreman she loves seems to be leaving forever. Regina Jennings offers "Her Dearly Unintended," where friends stranded by a rising river pretend to be newlyweds when a dangerous stranger arrives.

Mary Connealy's "Runaway Bride" finds a Texas ranger getting more than he expected when he rescues a young woman fleeing a dangerous arranged marriage. And Melissa Jagears' "Engaging the Competition" finds a young woman forced to assist the man she's often sparred with after an accident leaves him helpless. Each tale is a fun blend of history and romance that will delight readers.

 

Published January 5th 2016 

 by Bethany House  

4 Stars

My Thoughts:

Bethany House has released a collection of 4 historical novellas by some of my favorite authors.  Each story is a stand alone and in no way connected to the others. Each story is well written and pulled me in immediately.  Each were laced with both humor, romance and a small amount of suspense.  The settings are late 1800's and take you from Texas to the Ozarks and ending in the Kansas plains.  

The Husband Maneuver is the first novella which is set in Texas during the spring of 1892 where Miranda Hawkins finds herself in a crossroads.  She lives with her father on the Double H Ranch and his ranch hands.  One in particular caught her attention years ago, Daniel Barrett.  Daniel is her father's foreman, but previous to his employment he was a well known, bounty hunter.  In fact much to his disgust he was the lead characters in a dime store novel, Dead-Eyed Dan, in which Miranda was a fan of.  When she over hears a Dan telling her father he had bought himself a ranch and would be quitting, Miranda knew she needed to do some quick maneuvering if she was to end up with the man of her dreams.  

The second story, Her Dearly Unintended, takes you to the Ozarks during a raging thunderstorm where Katie Ellen is alone tending the farm.  Josiah Huckabee was either a blessing or a nuisance.  A few years ago she had thought they had more than a friendship, but after a comment her made she finally knew her place as nothing more than an inconvenience.  Josiah knew Katie Ellen had been a little bit prickly the last few years, but when the storm came up and knowing she was alone he went to check on her.  Unfortunately with the bridge washed away and trapped Josiah feels this is the opportunity for them to settle their differences. 

The Runaway Bride, brings us Carrie Halsey and John Conroy and story filled with supsense.  Carrie's father has essentially sold her to the highest bidder and she refuses to see the wedding through.  She flees her home in the dead of night and runs into none other than Big John Conroy Texas Ranger.  John was hired to help her escape her father's clutches and get her to Colorado to her sister.  As the two set on their every step is dogged by would be kidnappers hired by the intended groom. Will they reach her sister in time?

Engaging the Competition, is the fourth and last novella in this collection.  We meet Harrison Gray and Charlotte Andrews who had grown up together in their small town.  Harrison is a school teacher and Charlotte has taken over the running of the family ranch after the death of her father.  In their younger days Harrison and Charlotte had been rivals after she bested him in a shooting match, of course her take on the events were quiet different from his.  Events have thrown them together one more time during a tornado and sparks began to fly. 

Fourth unique and different situations, but full of love, humor and some suspense.  

Collectively the characters are complex and very real issues, but very lovable. The plots flew effortlessly and kept my attention.  Each story held a certain amount of romantic tension and humor that kept me entertained until the last page was closed.  These are clean, feel good romances. 

If you love history, romance and humor then this is definitely a good book for you.  I would recommend it to anyone. 

*I received this book from the publisher for a honest review free of bias or outside influence.  

 Available for Purchase:

Christian Book 

Lifeway 

Barnes and Noble 

Amazon 

Meet the Authors:

 

http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/ 

 CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. In 2011, her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, was a finalist in the Best First Book categories for both the prestigious RITA® award and the National Reader's Choice Award. Karen holds a master's degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers' guild. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.

 

http://www.reginajennings.com/ 

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

 

http://www.maryconnealy.com/ 

 Mary Connealy is the bestselling author of romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a Rita and Christy and IRCC Award Finalist.

  Mary says her writing journey is similar to a lot of others. Boil it down to persistence, oh, go ahead and call it stubbornness.

 

 http://melissajagears.com/

Melissa Jagears is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian Historical Romance after everyone is asleep. She’s the author of the Unexpected Brides Series with Bethany House. The prequel ebook novella, Love by the Letter is free to try. 

 

Unexptected Brides #3

A Bride At Last

 Silas Jonesey's life in Salt Flatts, Kansas, has not followed the course he imagined. After his mail-order bride, Lucinda, abandoned him, it was an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices and sour moods. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true; his estranged wife has contacted him after ten years of silence to tell him of her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but after realizing she had been deceived about her intended groom she never went through with the marriage. Settling into life as a schoolteacher, she's spent her spare time the past few years helping her student, Anthony, and his sick mother. When Lucinda passes away, Kate is ready to fulfill the woman's wish that she take care of nine-year-old Anthony--until a man shows up in town asking about Lucinda and claiming he was married to the woman ten years ago.

Silas and Kate disagree over who should raise young Anthony, who has opinions of his own about his future. After being forced to come together for the good of Anthony, Silas and Kate begin to see another side to each other and the possibility of a united future despite all that stands between them. When Kate's past comes to light, Silas's feelings about women who abandon their grooms immediately throw the walls right back up between them. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together as a family, or will past hurts and new resentments leave them lonely forever? 

 

Published July 7th 2015 by Bethany House Publishers

4 Stars

This is a historical romance set in 1855 that starts out in Missouri, but has you traveling to Kansas.  We are introduced to an array of characters that enrich this story, but the star characters will find their way into your heart from the first page.  

Kate Dawson is a school teacher in Missouri to a group of students that society considers an afterthought.  She was originally from Georgia where she had been living with her sister and brother-in law since the death of her parents.  Her one goal in mind was to escape their abuse, but plans don't always work out as she would like.  She met Lucinda Riverton  a few years ago and immediately took her son Anthony into her heart.  As Lucinda's health started to decline Kate decided she when the inevitable happened she would finish raising Anthony.  

Silas Jonesey was a man in search for a family, but not just any family.  He was in search for his family and to right some wrongs he had committed.  Years ago he had placed an advertisement for a bride which was answered by Lucinda Riverton and they were married shortly after she traveled from back east.  Silas was trying to prove up his homestead and he not only desired a wife, but also a helpmate.  Lucy was anything but.  From the very first she was unhappy about everything. Silas wanted his farm to flourish so he worked long hours, but also picked up the bottle to drink.  After 7 months Lucy left the broken man and farm for greener pastures.  At first he searched high and low for Lucy, yet was unable to find her until the letter came.  Now he had traveled to Missouri to see Lucy and try to convince her to come back home.  

This is a great story, a mail-order bride with a twist.  I loved both Silas and Kate. They are both great characters, but each have flaws which make them more real to me.  To me this is a story about faith.  Do they have enough faith in God and each other to see them through the trials they must face.  As for the romance, yes it's there, but slow to build which I liked.  The question is are their feelings deep enough to put past mistakes behind them or will it destroy their future? 

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good romance with a historical setting.  

I received this book from the publisher for a honest review without bias or outside influence as stated above and I thank them for this opportunity.    

 

  Melissa Jagears is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian Historical Romance after everyone is asleep. She’s the author of the Unexpected Brides Series with Bethany House. The prequel ebook novella, Love by the Letter is free to try. You can learn more about her, her books, and where she hangs out online at www.melissajagears.com