Review: Heart of Glass

Heart of Glass
Jill Marie Landis
Historical Inspiration Romance
Louisiana/1876
Irish Angel Series/Book 3
Zondervan/February 14, 2012

Kate Keene's childhood memories compel her to take her newly-acquired architectural skills to a dilapidated Louisiana mansion. But when she returns to the Reconstruction-era South, she's shocked to discover the man she's dreamed of for so long has become a bitter, angry recluse. 

Colin Delany, the handsome older brother of her best friend, has lost all he once held dear, with no hope of ever restoring the Belle Fleuve mansion and plantation. Filled with spunk and determination, Kate feels it's her duty to help, so when Colin demands she roll up her drawings and get out, she refuses. 

And when Colin forces Kate to promise his dying sister they will care for his niece and nephew, she complies. Having been orphaned herself, Kate realizes she must put the children's welfare above her own, even if it means a marriage of convenience. 

But will Colin's hovering darkness ever lift? And can Kate's persistent love and faith transform their uncertain future? 

Even thought this is the third book in the series, it stands well on its own.  The inspirational touches are fairly light.  God and faith are mentioned but the writing doesn't preach, merely informs and makes faith or the loss of it, a trait of each character.

The Civil War, or the War of Northern Aggression as southerners refer to it, has been over for a decade but the aftermath is still highly visible in many parts of the the south.  One place it is still visible is the plantation Belle Fleuve.  It's here Kate Keene is drawn back to and here where her heart lies.  Kate is determined to bring Belle Fleuve back to it's original glory.  Her main obstacle is the current owner, Colin Delany who also happens to be the man she's in love with and has been for many years.  Kate is a smart woman and isn't afraid to show her intelligence, even in the world of architecture.  I liked Kate but I did find the easy acceptance of her as an architect hard to believe.  It's not only 1876 but the south where women are firmly in the traditional roles of wife and mother.  Kate's abilities as an architect are viewed with surprise but she doesn't have any real obstacles when applying for a position. 

The war has taken it's toll not only on the land of the south but the people.  Colin Delaney is one of those young men that left to fight what was thought to be a short war and ended up taking years.  Then thinking he had nothing left to go home to, he signed on with the Union Army to fight out west.  He's back now, injured and depressed.  Colin is a sad, bitter hero who really needs a kick in the pants to get him past his depression and into the land of the living.  I felt sympathy for Colin but he did seem to wallow in his misery a little too long.  His turn-around in attitude came quickly but he still had a few idiotic moments.  I wish he had cherished his life, family and home more from the beginning.    

This is not a lighthearted read but a look at the long-term affects war has on the ones who fight and the ones who are left behind.  Landis does well in conveying very strong emotions in her characters.  I enjoyed seeing how Kate and Colin overcome their fears, grief and longing for something that no longer exists.  They must find a way to create a new life in the world after the war and they do this through perseverance and their love for each other and their family. 

Rating: B-

Irish Angel Series ~

Heart of Stone
Heart of Lies
Heart of Glass

Review: A Bride in the Bargain

A Bride in the Bargain
Deeanne Gist
Historical Inspirational Romance
Washington Territory/1865-66
Bethany House/June 1, 2009

From the back cover ~

In 1860s Seattle, redwoods were plentiful but women scarce. Yet a man with a wife could secure 640 acres of timberland for free.

Joe Denton doesn't have a wife, though. His died before she could follow him to Seattle and now the local judge is threatening to take away his claim. In desperation, he buys himself a Mercer bride--one of the eastern widows and orphans brought to the Territory by entrepreneur Asa Mercer.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Mercer is an escape from the aftermath of the Civil War. She signed on to become a cook--not a bride. When she's handed over to Denton, her stubborn refusal to wed jeopardizes his land. With only a few months before he loses all he holds dear, can he convince this provoking, but beguiling, easterner to become his lawfully wedded wife?

I first heard about Deeanne Gist when Wendy aka Super Librarian blogged about her trip to The Biltmore Estate that she won from Ms. Gist and her review Ms. Gist's novel Maid to Match got me itching to read one of Ms. Gist's novels. With my love of the mail-order-bride trope it was an easy choice to pick up A Bride in the Bargain, along with Maid to Match at the library. The bonus - I have this thing for lumberjacks. I just love reading about them! The hero in A Bride in the Bargain is a lumberjack. Double Win!

Joe Denton is in a bind. If he can't prove he was married, he will lose half of his land. Land that he's work hard on for ten years to build into a logging camp. When his last chance at proving he was married falls through, Joe is desperate enough to hand over $300 to Asa Mercer for a bride. It takes months but Joe's bride finally arrives and just in time. Joe is ready to get his bride and get married. The only problem is, no one told the bride.

Anna Ivey is a resilient and resourceful woman who, in desperation, agrees to make the long journey to Washington Territory. She has nothing left to keep her in Massachusetts and every reason to leave. I loved how Gist didn't skip over Anna's trip on board the S. S. Continental but made the hardships and wonder of the trip come alive for this reader. After everything that Anna goes through, she is still a little too naive when she arrives in Seattle. This adds to the confusion over what role she would play in Joe Denton's life, making for some amusing dialogue. Anna's comments leaves Joe thinking one thing and Anna meaning something completely different. After everything is sorted out, Joe still needs a wife but he'll take a cook. He still isn't giving up and decides to try to spend his time convincing Anna to follow through with the marriage.

The romance is sweet but not too sugary. Anna and Joe have two very different goals in mind when it comes to their relationship. Joe wants Anna to marry him but Anna only wants to repay Joe for her travel expenses by cooking for his crew. Anna does try to think of Joe as only her employer but living in close quarters with him leaves her wanting more. Even with the attraction, Anna is determined to keep to her belief that she is not meant to be anyone's bride. But it takes a man of strength and dedication to make it in the territory. Joe puts those traits to good use when convincing Anna to be his bride.

The life a lumberjack is a physically grueling hard one. I enjoyed the descriptions of that life that Gist included in the story. Not only is the work demanding but it's also very dangerous. One miscalculation and the tree could come down the wrong way, hurting or killing anyone in it's path. The men that made up Joe's crew were a colorful bunch of characters who added another layer to the rugged landscape of the story.

Since this is an inspirational romance novel there are scripture references as well as mentions of god gingerly sprinkled throughout the book. In fact, there were times when I was wondering why there were not more references made. The religious overtones were minimal, with enough to show the characters' beliefs without feeling preachy.

The romance suffered a few bumps along the way with both Anna and Joe being too stubborn for their own good. They could have resolved things sooner had they just talked it out. I did find Anna's reason for not wishing to marry somewhat over the top. There were times when she seemed to carry around so much guilt, I was amazed she could find any happiness in life. The ending was fairly predictable, with Anna and Joe getting their happy ending.

Rating: B

Review: The Reluctant Cowgirl

The Reluctant Cowgirl
Christine Lynxwiler
Contemporary Inspirational Romance
McCord Sisters/Book 1
Barbour Books/April 2009

From the publisher's website ~

Actress Crystal McCord gave up the closness of her big family in order to make a name for herself on the New York City stage. But when life in the Big Apple turns sour, she follows a country road back to her parents' Arkansas ranch.

The last thing she expects to find in cowboy country is a new leading man. Still, she can't help but imagine handsome rancher Jeremy Buchanan in the role. Unfortunately, Jeremy's been burned by Crystal's type before. Or has he? Every time he thinks he knows her, the multi-faceted woman surprises him. Will the reluctant pair allow their hearts to guide them, or will their common stubborn pride keep them miles apart?

One of my favorite romance tropes it when either the hero or heroine leave their small hometown then come back years later, wondering why they left. Then they find that the reasons they first left no longer hold the same place of importance. The Reluctant Cowgirl is one of those stories. It's about a young woman who follows a dream to the big city only to find that when she goes homes years later, her dreams have changed.

Crystal McCord knows how much hard work it takes to make it on Broadway or even off Broadway. After her current role comes to a close and her love life takes a serious turn for the worse, she heads back to Arkansas to help out her family. She isn't happy about going but she feels a bit a drift after everything that happened in New York. Crystal has some ghosts to face back home and she's not in any hurry to face them. Right off I liked Crystal. She's a country girl in the big city and while the city has changed her to a certain degree, she's doesn't embrace the fast lifestyle of her roommate. Even though Crystal loves to perform, you do get the impression that she's not completely committed to the dream of Broadway. There's something missing from Crystal's life but she's afraid to admit it.

Jeremy Buchanan is a rancher and loves what he does. He would love it more if his ex-wife hadn't taken off with their daughter. Now he's busy trying to get his ranching operation going and find his daughter. Jeremy is the type of guy who tries to do the right thing. He's honest and open and easy to get to know. I thought he was a good fit for Crystal. He provided not only friendship to Crystal but also gives her another point of view outside of her family. Jeremy's search for his daughter was a test of his faith. The search did get a little slow at some points with Jeremy hiring a private investigator and Jeremy following leads. I was surprised that it took so long to get news coverage of the kidnapping.

The romance between Crystal and Jeremy starts off slowly with Jeremy helping Crystal at her family ranch. They start feeling comfortable in each others company, talking about their likes and dislikes, their hopes and their fears. Crystal still plans to return to New York and doesn't want to get serious with Jeremy. She wants them to be friends only. As Jeremy starts falling for Crystal he wants her to stay but he doesn't push her when the time comes to decide. I liked that he let her know how he felt but didn't resort to persuading her to stay, knowing it had to be Crystal's decision.

After Jeremy gets his daughter Beka back she doesn't fade into the background. She's there with him while he courts Crystal. Jeremy and Beka are a package deal and Crystal knows that. The search for Beka and her subsequent homecoming was a big part of the story. It did bring Jeremy and Crystal closer, having that common goal and then the happiness that comes from reaching that goal. There is also some matchmaking going on by Crystal's siblings. They are a close family who look out for each other. They're all worried about Crystal and want her to be happy and hope that maybe she would be happy with Jeremy and Beka. They don't push but they do encourage the relationship. It was sweet and funny to see Crystal and her siblings sharing that closeness that comes from growing up in a family that loves each other.

I wouldn't consider The Reluctant Cowgirl heavy on the preaching or scriptures. They are present and it's certainly a big part of the family's life but it's not just about going to church every Sunday. It's also about how you live your life the rest of the week and how God is there with you always, not just on Sunday. I thought Lynxwiler did a good job in showing how everyone deals with their problems differently but eventually they rely on God, family and good friends. Crystal had drifted away from the church but coming home, she is reminded of her former self and the way her life used to be.

Lynxwiler does an admiral job of showing how coming home can be a good thing and sometimes you have to face the past to move forward and embrace your future. The romance was sweet and tender with Jeremy and Crystal becoming good friends before they became a couple. That was important for them not only because of their religious beliefs but because they both had been hurt and betrayed by someone they loved. They needed that trust first before the serious romance.

The Reluctant Cowgirl is a thoughtful story with down-to-earth characters and a charming romance. The next book in the series, Cowgirl at Heart, is about Crystal's sister Elyse who is a dog whisperer. Elyse was funny but shy and unsure around men. She's an interesting character and I look forward to reading her story.

Rating: B+