Book review My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island by Carrie Fancett Pagels

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island

by 

Carrie Fancett Pagels

Barbour Books (July 1, 2017)

Journey now to Mackinac Island where...

A Tangled Gilded Age Love Story Unfolds.

Although the Winds of Mackinac Inn has been in her mother’s family for generations, Maude Welling’s father refuses to let her run it without the guidance of a husband. So she seeks to prove her worth and independence by working incognito as a maid at the Grand Hotel.

Undercover journalist Ben Steffans, posing as a wealthy industrialist, pursues a story about impoverished men chasing heiresses at the famed hotel.  While undercover, he becomes attracted to an intriguing maid. By an act of heroism Ben endears himself to the closed-mouthed islanders—including Maude—and he digs deep for his story.

But when scandal threatens, will the growing love between Maude and Ben be scuttled when truths are revealed?

My Review:

Firstly thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

I have read a couple other My Heart Belong books this year all set in the west and more westerns. It was refreshing to have a different location and era. I really loved the story. It made me want to go there and see the island and to also taste some of the famous fudge.

Maude wants to run the inn that has been in her family for generations but her father thinks she needs to be married. When the man she hoped to marry breaks her heart she sets about trying to prove herself to her father. On the flip side Ben is posing as a wealthy industrialist when he is in fact a journalist who is trying to expose how men come to the island pretending to be rich to snare a heiress at the famous hotel. Ben is really struggling with his assignment as he feels more comfortable with the locals than the wealthy. He has a story that has scarred him.

As both Maude and Ben seem to be coming closer there are issues arising they need to deal with. 

I loved the different area of America which I haven't read about before. The places are real with the story fiction, and we get a feel of what it would be like to live on the island. Also what it is like when you live year round on a place where in the summer the wealthy will come and stay at The Grand or other Hotels. It then becomes very much a division of the people. There are also other issues that both Maud and Ben have to deal with, which added to the story. 

I really loved the story and have heard Carrie will be writing about one of the other characters in an upcoming book.

Book Review Mermaid's Song by Darlene Franklin

Mermaid's Song 

by 

Darlene Franklin

Book Discription:

At last, the much anticipated 50th book by Darlene Franklin!

Noble Prescott is drawn to the scene of a shipwreck by a sweet song sung in a language he didn’t understand. The songstress is barely alive, holding onto a piece of the ship’s railing. Her dress wraps around her legs like a mermaid’s tail.

Thus begins this imaginative retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale.

Justine Battineaux, an Acadian forced from her homeland on Cape Breton Island by British decree, finds herself adrift in the Maine colony. She doesn’t know the language and is distrusted as a foreigner.

Noble lives up to his name, providing shelter for Justine—and protection, as distrust turns into danger. For himself, his family—and the woman he comes to love.

How will Justine and Noble overcome the evil woman’s schemes to find their own love everlasting?

My Review:

Firstly thanks to the Author for my review copy.

I love the story I couldn't stop reading and due to insomnia I was reading in the early hours of the morning which is not normal for me, but I just didn't want to put the book down. I have read a couple of books dealing with the French Acadian people and them being forcibly resettled and this gives another insight into what happened. I really love how the language barrier proved to be no real barrier in the end, yes it did make things interesting but there are things that transcend language such as music.

When Justine is shipwrecked it is her song that draws Nobel to her. He can hear a beautiful sound and recognises the tune but not the words. I love how even though both worship the same God they can worship in their own languages. Thankfully there is a citizen who knows French in the village although she has a hidden agenda that becomes clear as the book progresses. I would like to say more about the story and what happens but being its a novella I don't want to give the story line or hidden gems away.

This is my favourite novella I have read so far this year.

Book Review Acadian Hearts by Darlene Franklin

Arcadian Hearts

 by

 Darlene Franklin

Rich summer cottager Lucretia “Luc” Phillips and Eddie Bourgoin, the son of a local fisherman, were once best of friends—until he went to work in the family business and she went on her European tour.

Upon her return, their childhood friendship bursts into full-grown love, but the walls separating them have grown higher than ever. Will their risky plan lead them to a lifetime of happiness—or break them apart forever?

My Review:

Firstly thanks to the author for my review copy.

This is a sweet novella. I am not a fan of rich girl/poor boy stories normally but this was well done. While Luc is from a wealthy family she longs to just enjoy a simpler life with her childhood friends. She would be just as happy enjoying the summer time in the beauty of the area rather than with the other rich families. Eddie is now working as a fisherman and certainly not what her father want for her.

What I drew me to the story was the area as I have read a little about the history of the Acadian people and how the lives intertwine. I also wondered how they would be able to overcome the obstacles in their way to find true happiness. Another good read from Darlene.

Book Review My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains by Susan Page Davis

My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountians

by 

Susan Page Davis

Barbour Books

(1 March 2017)

Book Description 

Journey now to Tuscon, Arizona, and into the Superstition Mountains of 1866, where...
 A Chance for Escape Takes Two Unlikely Allies on a Romantic Adventure Along a Desert Trail

Since orphaned at age twelve, Carmela Wade has lived a lie orchestrated by her uncle, pretending to be a survivor of an Indian kidnapping and profiting from telling her made-up story on the speaker circuit. But as she matures into adulthood, Carmela hates the lies and longs to be free. On a stagecoach in Arizona Territory, Carmela and her uncle are fellow passengers with US Marshal Freeland McKay and his handcuffed prisoner.

The stage is attacked. Now a chance to make a new life may suddenly be within Carmela’s reach. . .if she can survive the harsh terrain and being handcuffed to an unconscious man.

Will Carmela’s wish come true, or will she forever be branded by her past?

Book Review:
Firstly thanks to netgalley for my review copy.

I have been reading books by Susan paige Davis for many years and have always enjoyed them as she writes many different genres. This book is a historical with a mystery. The book starts with Carmela at around the age of 14 and upset she has to tell the story her uncle forces her to tell. It is here she meets a young boy who says he will get his brother to help only for her uncle to come and take her away before he gets back.

Fast forward to when shes around 20 we see Carmela and her uncle on the stage along with the local Sheriff who is transporting a prisoner to the state capital. As they travel on they encounter both Indians and outlaws. Here uncle is hurt and she ends up handcuffed to the Sheriff in the Arizona heat. This is just the start of the story and from here we see what will happen. 

I enjoyed the pass of this story and how Carmela has to deal with all her uncle had forced her to do and what she would do. I also really liked Freeland he had integrity and the strength to help her with some of her decisions. There are also secondary characters that are very endearing and pivotal for the story. The story deals with forgiveness both from others and forgiving yourself. If you enjoy historical fiction I would recommend this book. 

This book will be released on March 1st.