Blessing's bookshelf: all en-US Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:33:14 -0700 60 Blessing's bookshelf: all 144 41 https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[Pixels and Paint (Trinket Sisters #1)]]> 159085817 362 Kristi Ann Hunter 1959589075 Blessing 0 to-read 4.24 2023 Pixels and Paint (Trinket Sisters #1)
author: Kristi Ann Hunter
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Peasant King 123185814 Jemmah has always thought of herself as perfectly ordinary . . . until she faces extraordinary circumstances.

When her mother, the Persian king's famous senior scribe, is kidnapped, Jemmah and her sister must sneak undetected into enemy territory to rescue her. But infiltrating their adversary's lands proves easier than escaping them. Fleeing through dangerous mountain passes, their survival depends on the skills of a stranger they free from prison: a mysterious prince named Asher.

Asher is not who the world believes he is. Despite his royal blood, he has had to climb his way out of poverty to forge success from nothing. A manufacturer of some of the best weaponry in the East, Asher has only one goal: to destroy his father. But following his escape from prison, Asher is irresistibly drawn to Jemmah, unaware that she guards her own secret.

Jemmah must convince Asher to give up everything he has worked for, all for the sake of a higher purpose he's not sure he believes in. The fate of the Persian empire--and possibly the Judean people--hang in the balance and in the persuasive power of one ordinary woman.

Bestselling author Tessa Afshar delivers another adventurous novel filled with romance and imagination, reminding readers of what Publishers Weekly calls her "amazing talent for packing action and intrigue into the biblical setting for modern readers."
Full-length historical romance novel set in biblical times
Compelling, clean romance
Can be read as a standalone or as a companion to The Hidden Prince

Includes discussion questions for book groups]]> 384 Tessa Afshar 1496458273 Blessing 0 4.32 2023 The Peasant King
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
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review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Queen's Cook (Queen Esther's Court, #1)]]> 209351079
In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah strives to overcome prejudice and adversity as she ascends through the ranks in the royal kitchen. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther herself, a woman of grace and wisdom, who is navigating treacherous palace politics and whispers of her inability to produce an heir after six years of marriage. Amid this unfolding connection, Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Amestris and Esther's reign hang in the balance.]]> 400 Tessa Afshar 0764243691 Blessing 4 4.34 2024 The Queen's Cook (Queen Esther's Court, #1)
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/16
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames, #1)]]> 63057844 Elowen Atarah, Princess of Imirath, came into the world like a firestorm made flesh. A princess with a link to five dragons should have been a blessing to her kingdom, but her blessing became her curse. The little girl in shackles became a knife wielding woman with a thirst for retaliation.
Now, Queen of Aestilian, a secret kingdom she forged through strength and survival, Elowen needs a way to feed her rising population. She never thought she would have the force to take on Imirath, but when the snarky Commander Cayden Veles of Vareveth, her father’s enemy kingdom, offers her a deal she’s been dreaming of for years, how can she not take it? Even if he ignites her temper like no other, nothing unites two begrudging allies more than a common enemy.
The pair of them, along with three accomplices, will navigate their partnership, politics, and attempt to pull off the greatest heist their world has ever known. Five people, all united through revenge, will have to transcend the odds stacked against them and infiltrate the impenetrable castle if they want to reap their rewards before someone reaps their souls. Putting aside their differences to accomplish a common goal because everyone knows…vengeance is a promise signed in blood.]]> 571 Olivia Rose Darling Blessing 0 to-read 3.61 2022 Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames, #1)
author: Olivia Rose Darling
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Harvest of Gold (Harvest of Rubies, #2)]]> 17239362
A hidden message, treachery, opposition, and a God-given success, will lead to an unlikely bounty.

 ]]> 348 Tessa Afshar 0802405592 Blessing 5 I reread this in 2023 and thought that a rating of 5 was a tad too much. It was interesting and packed with enough lessons but I think a 4 rating would suffice or perhaps my state of mind rereading it this year was 🙂...
Either way this series ignited my love for Tessa's works. Looking forward to future works]]> 4.32 2013 Harvest of Gold (Harvest of Rubies, #2)
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2024/09/14
shelves:
review:
Weird
I reread this in 2023 and thought that a rating of 5 was a tad too much. It was interesting and packed with enough lessons but I think a 4 rating would suffice or perhaps my state of mind rereading it this year was 🙂...
Either way this series ignited my love for Tessa's works. Looking forward to future works
]]> Arms and the Man 383018 Arms and the Man is a comedy written by George Bernard Shaw, first produced in 1894 and published in 1898. It has become one of the most popular of his plays. Like his other works, Arms and the Man questions conventional values, and it uses war and love as targets for satire.]]> 116 George Bernard Shaw 1599869209 Blessing 5 childhood-and-teenage-reads It was a comfort to my novel-starved mind.]]> 3.83 1898 Arms and the Man
author: George Bernard Shaw
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.83
book published: 1898
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/09/14
shelves: childhood-and-teenage-reads
review:
I read this book in secondary school/high school like 30 times.. 😞
It was a comfort to my novel-starved mind.
]]> <![CDATA[Nothing Is Impossible with God]]> 580286
Hundreds healed.

By the hundreds they would come children, adults, ministers of all denominations. Captain LeVrier was healed of terminal cancer. Marguerite Bergeron's crippling, painful, arthritis vanished. Donnie Greenway walked out of his wheelchair. Truly, Nothing Is Impossible With God. 

God cannot fail!

Through this book you will experience the explosive power and excitement of the Kathryn Kuhlman Miracle Services, and you will find hope to meet your needs. God is a specialist when it comes to the impossible, and He is able to do anything but fail! 

Though Kathryn Kuhlman is no longer with us, God still is!]]> 384 Kathryn Kuhlman 088270656X Blessing 5 Reading this book really opened my mind to what God can do. I could feel the pain of the sick, their sorrow and their joy at discovering their healing. I also loved the fact that seeking medical attention was done and used to authenticate (not like God's miracles needs to be proven but for the doctors & any other skeptical person reading etc) the healings.
God is real, he can do anything and with him even the most proven impossible is possible by him. Seek him with all your heart and surrender to him.


PS: It might not be easy, but Jesus has conquered sin therefore we can to for by his grace we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus.]]> 4.52 1974 Nothing Is Impossible with God
author: Kathryn Kuhlman
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.52
book published: 1974
rating: 5
read at: 2022/08/08
date added: 2024/09/14
shelves:
review:
Testimonies detailing God's great healing power using his minister and daughter Miss Kathryn Kuhlman. These testimonies can spark and fuel faith in the life of believers and unbelievers even in this present time.
Reading this book really opened my mind to what God can do. I could feel the pain of the sick, their sorrow and their joy at discovering their healing. I also loved the fact that seeking medical attention was done and used to authenticate (not like God's miracles needs to be proven but for the doctors & any other skeptical person reading etc) the healings.
God is real, he can do anything and with him even the most proven impossible is possible by him. Seek him with all your heart and surrender to him.


PS: It might not be easy, but Jesus has conquered sin therefore we can to for by his grace we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus.
]]> <![CDATA[Harvest of Rubies (Harvest of Rubies, #1)]]> 13160611
Not bad, for a woman living in a man's world. But a devastating past has left Sarah believing that God doesn't love her and her achievements are the measure of her worth—a measure she can never quite live up to.

Darius Pasargadae is accustomed to having his way. A wealthy and admired aristocrat, the last thing he expects is an arranged marriage to the queen's scribe, an intelligent woman who scorns him.

Can two such different people help one another overcome the idols that bind them?]]> 342 Tessa Afshar 0802405584 Blessing 5 Sarah is a really strong heroine and Darius can only be summed up in one word perfect*.But characters that I really loved are Damaspia and Bardia.
Sarah's previous life is one that unfortunately most people not just women * though we are the majority if a ratio was to be taken* are grappling with. We do everything for human acceptance therefore keep coming up short and there's no peace. Whatever momentary achievement we get is not enough, we gat to do more. When told of how good we are we don't believe it because we don't see it or seem to compare ourselves by the world's standard.
But with God we are good, his beloved and accepted. We need to learn to let the vinedresser prune the vine for he best knows what's good for the vine. No matter how severe the pruning, all we got to do is trust in Him and make him our all in all, then lines will fall in pleasant places.
Loved the mentions of David and the Psalms used really explained certain things we usually overlooked.
The novel was engaging, exciting, with three dimensional and a variety of characters* is it possible to like a Bible character I have not taken into consideration I mean anytime I pass the book of Nehemiah it's usually when it's mentioned at church, or about the wall builders...But from this book I came to realize that Nehemiah must had been a strong person and have had enemies on the Jewish side due to his association with the heathen🤔* ,humor 💯, spirit inspired lessons, history lessons😆,love and friendships etc..
To sum it all up
☝️
I recommend this book to anyone, if you read and derive the same lesson of total surrender as Sarah, your life will take a turn for the better.]]> 4.40 2012 Harvest of Rubies (Harvest of Rubies, #1)
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2024/09/14
shelves:
review:
Magnifique😍😍😍💯..
Sarah is a really strong heroine and Darius can only be summed up in one word perfect*.But characters that I really loved are Damaspia and Bardia.
Sarah's previous life is one that unfortunately most people not just women * though we are the majority if a ratio was to be taken* are grappling with. We do everything for human acceptance therefore keep coming up short and there's no peace. Whatever momentary achievement we get is not enough, we gat to do more. When told of how good we are we don't believe it because we don't see it or seem to compare ourselves by the world's standard.
But with God we are good, his beloved and accepted. We need to learn to let the vinedresser prune the vine for he best knows what's good for the vine. No matter how severe the pruning, all we got to do is trust in Him and make him our all in all, then lines will fall in pleasant places.
Loved the mentions of David and the Psalms used really explained certain things we usually overlooked.
The novel was engaging, exciting, with three dimensional and a variety of characters* is it possible to like a Bible character I have not taken into consideration I mean anytime I pass the book of Nehemiah it's usually when it's mentioned at church, or about the wall builders...But from this book I came to realize that Nehemiah must had been a strong person and have had enemies on the Jewish side due to his association with the heathen🤔* ,humor 💯, spirit inspired lessons, history lessons😆,love and friendships etc..
To sum it all up
☝️
I recommend this book to anyone, if you read and derive the same lesson of total surrender as Sarah, your life will take a turn for the better.
]]> <![CDATA[As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion, #3)]]> 95621
Following A Voice in the Wind and An Echo in the Darkness, As Sure as the Dawn continues the chronicles of Hadassah, a Christian slave woman living during the height of the Roman Empire. She has saved the life of the scorned child of a disreputable Roman woman and the Germanic gladiator, Atretes. For her faith, Hadassah now languishes in condemnation, awaiting death in a dungeon beneath the arena. Atretes, who holds fast to his dreams of revenge for the slaughter of his people, wants his son back. So he seeks out John the Beloved, who is the key to finding the custodian of his son, and brings his war-weary soul closer to redemption.]]> 520 Francine Rivers Blessing 5 It was a bit of a boorish read in the first chapters but towards the middle -endish parts🤓 lots of lessons were learned.
Atretes I never really was emotionally invested/interested in and though Rizpah is an ok heroine, I preferred Theophilus and Freyja as well as Caleb..
But the first is dead 😞 for a good cause but still dead, the second a veryyy secondary character and the last one a baby insert multiple words that you can't translate unless you speak babish (baby language).
As expected, Francine Rivers did it again she managed to use a book I decided to read out of obligation,to strengthen my faith in God. I pray for more grace and wisdom to continue using beautifully crafted stories as a medium of spreading the gospel.
This isn't really an informative review in terms of book content but I would recommend this to anyone who loves Francine's works, loves a bit of excitement, a book that brings you closer to understanding God without watering down the truth, a retelling of the 3 young men and Nebuchadnezzar's idol etc etc... 😊]]> 4.40 1995 As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion, #3)
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.40
book published: 1995
rating: 5
read at: 2019/09/13
date added: 2024/09/14
shelves:
review:
The last and final book in the Mark of the lion series 😶..
It was a bit of a boorish read in the first chapters but towards the middle -endish parts🤓 lots of lessons were learned.
Atretes I never really was emotionally invested/interested in and though Rizpah is an ok heroine, I preferred Theophilus and Freyja as well as Caleb..
But the first is dead 😞 for a good cause but still dead, the second a veryyy secondary character and the last one a baby insert multiple words that you can't translate unless you speak babish (baby language).
As expected, Francine Rivers did it again she managed to use a book I decided to read out of obligation,to strengthen my faith in God. I pray for more grace and wisdom to continue using beautifully crafted stories as a medium of spreading the gospel.
This isn't really an informative review in terms of book content but I would recommend this to anyone who loves Francine's works, loves a bit of excitement, a book that brings you closer to understanding God without watering down the truth, a retelling of the 3 young men and Nebuchadnezzar's idol etc etc... 😊
]]> The Princess 289747
To uphold the tradition of their country, Shelby and Nikolai agree to an arranged marriage. But while Nikolai is a perfect gentleman in public, he remains distant at home, leaving Shelby to wonder what is in his heart. Will the prince ever love her as he did his first wife? Can the faith they share overcome the barriers between them?]]> 300 Lori Wick 0736918612 Blessing 4 I think major envy issues (from my side) playing out here😩
Also for some readers a few actions might make you raise an eyebrow but the book is old so....

Not my kind of book but for the most part it was a quick and engaging read]]> 4.13 1999 The Princess
author: Lori Wick
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/27
date added: 2024/02/27
shelves:
review:
I won't rate this a five star cause she was a too good to be true woman 😩.
I think major envy issues (from my side) playing out here😩
Also for some readers a few actions might make you raise an eyebrow but the book is old so....

Not my kind of book but for the most part it was a quick and engaging read
]]> The Power of Positive Living 1377397 272 Norman Vincent Peale 0449911667 Blessing 0 currently-reading 4.16 1990 The Power of Positive Living
author: Norman Vincent Peale
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1990
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/02/27
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast]]> 41424
Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage.

When her father comes home with the tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must go to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father protests that he will not let her go, but she answers, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?"

Robin McKinley's beloved telling illuminates the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple, Beauty and the Beast.]]> 256 Robin McKinley 0064404773 Blessing 4 This was a good book and no character was overbearing so why did you have to end it like someone was hot on your heels giving you a chase.
When I reached the supposed end I was a bit puzzled asking myself if this was really it. Maybe a few torn pages I skipped or someftin*😶


The plot is a little different from the original and starts some years before beauty meets the beast, with few side characters. All in all a good read.]]> 4.05 1978 Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
author: Robin McKinley
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1978
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/17
date added: 2024/01/17
shelves:
review:
A corrected 3.5.
This was a good book and no character was overbearing so why did you have to end it like someone was hot on your heels giving you a chase.
When I reached the supposed end I was a bit puzzled asking myself if this was really it. Maybe a few torn pages I skipped or someftin*😶


The plot is a little different from the original and starts some years before beauty meets the beast, with few side characters. All in all a good read.
]]> <![CDATA[[ Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia (HarperCollins Paperback) #04) ] By Lewis, C S ( Author ) [ 2000 ) [ Paperback ]]]> 128787897 The four Pevensies help Caspian battle Miraz and ascend his rightful throneNARNIA... the land between the lamp-post and the castle of Cair Paravel, where animals talk, where magical things happen... and where the adventure begins.Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are returning to boarding school when they are summoned from the dreary train station (by Susan's own magic horn) to return to the land of Narnia—the land where they had ruled as kings and queens and where their help is desperately needed.]]> 0 C.S. Lewis Blessing 4 4.25 1951 [ Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia (HarperCollins Paperback) #04) ] By Lewis, C S ( Author ) [ 2000 ) [ Paperback ]
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1951
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/01/11
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[More Than a Hobby: How a $600 Startup Became America's Home and Craft Superstore]]> 1047913 209 David Green 0785208313 Blessing 0 to-read 4.05 2005 More Than a Hobby: How a $600 Startup Became America's Home and Craft Superstore
author: David Green
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/01/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Honus & Me (A Baseball Card Adventure, #1)]]> 1000164 144 Dan Gutman 0380788780 Blessing 0 4.08 1997 Honus & Me (A Baseball Card Adventure, #1)
author: Dan Gutman
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1997
rating: 0
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves:
review:

]]> The Hidden Prince 60507875
The beloved daughter of Jewish captives in Babylon, Keren is sold into Daniel’s household to help her family survive. She becomes Daniel’s most trusted scribe, while taking lessons and swordsmanship training alongside Daniel’s sons and their best friend, Jared.

But after a tragic accident changes the course of her life, Keren finds herself in a foreign country, charged with a mysterious task: teaching a shepherd boy how to become a lord. When she overhears whispers that hint at his true identity, she realizes she must protect him from the schemes of a bloodthirsty king.

Jared cannot forgive Keren. Still, he finds himself traveling over mountains to fetch her back to the safety of home. When he discovers the secret identity of Keren’s pupil, Jared knows he must help protect him. Love battles bitterness as they flee from the king’s agents, trying to save the boy who could one day deliver their people from captivity.]]> 396 Tessa Afshar 1496458222 Blessing 4 Will probably write a detailed review later]]> 4.48 2022 The Hidden Prince
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves:
review:
This book is a 3.5 as at some point it became dragyyy
Will probably write a detailed review later
]]> Jewel of the Nile 56217940 Whispered secrets about her parents' past take on new urgency for Chariline as she pays one last visit to the land of her forefathers, the ancient kingdom of Cush.

Raised as an orphan by her aunt, Chariline has only been told a few pieces of her parents' tragic love story. Her beautiful dark skin is proof that her father was Cushite, but she knows nothing else. While visiting her grandfather before his retirement as the Roman official in the queen's court, Chariline overhears that her father is still alive, and discovering his identity becomes her obsession. Both her grandfather and the queen have reasons for keeping this secret, however, and forbid her quest. So when her only clues lead to Rome, Chariline sneaks on the ship of a merchant trusted by friends.

Theo is shocked to discover a stowaway on board his vessel and determines to be rid of her as soon as possible. But drawn in by Chariline's story, he feels honor-bound to see her safely to shore, especially when it appears someone may be willing to kill for the truth she seeks.

In this transformative tale of historical fiction, bestselling author Tessa Afshar brings to life the kingdom of Cush and the Roman Empire, introducing readers to a fascinating world filled with gripping adventure, touching romance, and a host of lovable characters—including some they may recognize from the biblical book of Acts.]]> 432 Tessa Afshar 1496428757 Blessing 0 4.43 2021 Jewel of the Nile
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Miss Strong Arm: The Story of Annie Armstrong]]> 7850487 Book by Jacqueline Durham 174 Jacqueline Durham 0805443088 Blessing 0 3.89 1966 Miss Strong Arm: The Story of Annie Armstrong
author: Jacqueline Durham
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.89
book published: 1966
rating: 0
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves:
review:

]]> The Normal Christian Life 1027982 294 Watchman Nee 0875084141 Blessing 0 currently-reading 4.27 1940 The Normal Christian Life
author: Watchman Nee
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1940
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> The Printer's Apprentice 2433115 112 Stephen Krensky 0440412803 Blessing 0 3.38 1995 The Printer's Apprentice
author: Stephen Krensky
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.38
book published: 1995
rating: 0
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves:
review:

]]> The Vicar of Wakefield 112510
New to this edition is an introduction by Robert L. Mack that examines the reasons for the novels enduring popularity, as well as the critical debates over whether it is a straightforward novel of sentiment or a satire on the social and economic inequalities of the period and the very literary conventions and morality it seems to embody. This edition also includes a new, up-to-date bibliography and expanded notes, and contains reprints of Arthur Friedman's authoritative Oxford English Novels text of the corrected first edition of 1766.]]> 197 Oliver Goldsmith 0192805126 Blessing 0 currently-reading 3.48 1766 The Vicar of Wakefield
author: Oliver Goldsmith
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.48
book published: 1766
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> Artifice 63899000 The Light in Hidden Places.

Isa de Smit was raised in the vibrant, glittering world of her parents' small art gallery in Amsterdam, a hub of beauty, creativity, and expression, until the Nazi occupation wiped the color from her city's palette.
The "degenerate" art of the Gallery de Smit is confiscated, the artists in hiding or deported, her best friend, Truus, fled to join the shadowy Dutch resistance.
And masterpiece by masterpiece, the Nazis are buying and stealing her country’s heritage, feeding the Third Reich's ravenous appetite for culture and art.

So when the unpaid taxes threaten her beloved but empty gallery, Isa decides to make the Nazis pay. She sells them a fake--a Rembrandt copy drawn by her talented father--a sale that sets Isa perilously close to the second-most hated class of people in the city: the collaborators.

Isa sells her beautiful forgery to none other than Hitler himself, and on the way to the auction, discovers that Truus is part of a resistance ring to smuggle Jewish babies out of Amsterdam.
But Truus cannot save more children without money. A lot of money. And Isa thinks she knows how to get it.

One more forgery, a copy of an exquisite Vermeer, and the Nazis will pay for the rescue of the very children they are trying annihilate. To make the sale, though, Isa will need to learn the art of a master forger, before the children can be deported, and before she can be outed as a collaborator.
And she finds an unlikely source to help her - the young Nazi soldier, a blackmailer and thief of Dutch art, who now says he wants to desert the German army.
Yet, worth is not always seen from the surface, and a fake can be difficult to spot. Both in art, and in people.

Based on the true stories of Han Van Meegeren, a master art forger who sold fakes to Hermann Goering, and Johann van Hulst, credited with saving 600 Jewish children from death in Amsterdam, Sharon Cameron weaves a gorgeously evocative thriller, simmering with twists, that looks for the forgotten color of beauty, even in an ugly world.

"War, resistance, and art are Cameron's canvas; her palette is a balance of trust and perfidy, beauty and defiance, new life and old. Artifice is a vibrantly-hued and many-layered story, exploring our very human inability to spot a fake when we long to believe that the object of all our desire is the real thing." -- Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity

"Painterly prose...filled with rich intrigue depicts constantly shifting issues of trust in this complex, absorbing tale." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review]]> 416 Sharon Cameron 1338813951 Blessing 0 to-read 4.07 2023 Artifice
author: Sharon Cameron
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Pilgrim's Progress 29797 Along a road filled with monsters and spiritual terrors, Christian confronts such emblematic characters as Worldly Wiseman, Giant Despair, Talkative, Ignorance, and the demons of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. But he is also joined by Hopeful and Faithful.
An enormously influential 17th-century classic, universally known for its simplicity, vigor, and beauty of language, The Pilgrim's Progress remains one of the most widely read books in the English language.]]> 324 John Bunyan Blessing 4 4.06 1678 The Pilgrim's Progress
author: John Bunyan
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.06
book published: 1678
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/30
date added: 2023/12/30
shelves:
review:

]]> Wuthering Heights 432394 Wuthering Heights remains one of literature's most disturbing explorations into the dark side of romantic passion. Heathcliff and Cathy believe they're destined to love each other forever, but when cruelty and snobbery separate them, their untamed emotions literally consume them.

Set amid the wild and stormy Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights, an unpolished and devastating epic of childhood playmates who grow into soul mates, is widely regarded as the most original tale of thwarted desire and heartbreak in the English language.

(back cover)]]> 353 Emily Brontë 1593081286 Blessing 3 3.82 1847 Wuthering Heights
author: Emily Brontë
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1847
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2023/12/03
shelves:
review:

]]> Purple Hibiscus 14569052 A previously published edition of ISBN 9781616202415 can be found here.

Fifteen-year-old Kambili and her older brother Jaja lead a privileged life in Enugu, Nigeria. They live in a beautiful house, with a caring family, and attend an exclusive missionary school. They're completely shielded from the troubles of the world. Yet, as Kambili reveals in her tender-voiced account, things are less perfect than they appear. Although her Papa is generous and well respected, he is fanatically religious and tyrannical at home—a home that is silent and suffocating.

As the country begins to fall apart under a military coup, Kambili and Jaja are sent to their aunt, a university professor outside the city, where they discover a life beyond the confines of their father’s authority. Books cram the shelves, curry and nutmeg permeate the air, and their cousins’ laughter rings throughout the house. When they return home, tensions within the family escalate, and Kambili must find the strength to keep her loved ones together.

Purple Hibiscus is an exquisite novel about the emotional turmoil of adolescence, the powerful bonds of family, and the bright promise of freedom.]]> 336 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 1616202416 Blessing 4 4.18 2003 Purple Hibiscus
author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2023/12/03
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review:

]]> Half of a Yellow Sun 18749 A masterly, haunting new novel from a writer heralded by The Washington Post Book World as “the 21st-century daughter of Chinua Achebe,” Half of a Yellow Sun re-creates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra’s impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria in the 1960s, and the chilling violence that followed.

With astonishing empathy and the effortless grace of a natural storyteller, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie weaves together the lives of three characters swept up in the turbulence of the decade. Thirteen-year-old Ugwu is employed as a houseboy for a university professor full of revolutionary zeal. Olanna is the professor’s beautiful mistress, who has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos for a dusty university town and the charisma of her new lover. And Richard is a shy young Englishman in thrall to Olanna’s twin sister, an enigmatic figure who refuses to belong to anyone. As Nigerian troops advance and the three must run for their lives, their ideals are severely tested, as are their loyalties to one another.

Epic, ambitious, and triumphantly realized, Half of a Yellow Sun is a remarkable novel about moral responsibility, about the end of colonialism, about ethnic allegiances, about class and race—and the ways in which love can complicate them all. Adichie brilliantly evokes the promise and the devastating disappointments that marked this time and place, bringing us one of the most powerful, dramatic, and intensely emotional pictures of modern Africa that we have ever had.]]> 435 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 1400044162 Blessing 4 4.34 2006 Half of a Yellow Sun
author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2023/12/03
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Someone to Hold (Westcott, #2)]]> 30658514  
Humphrey Wescott, Earl of Riverdale, has died, leaving behind a fortune and a scandalous secret that will forever alter the lives of his family—sending one daughter on a journey of self-discovery...
 
With her parents’ marriage declared bigamous, Camille Westcott is now illegitimate and without a title. Looking to eschew the trappings of her old life, she leaves London to teach at the Bath orphanage where her newly discovered half-sister lived. But even as she settles in, she must sit for a portrait commissioned by her grandmother and endure an artist who riles her every nerve.
 
An art teacher at the orphanage that was once his home, Joel Cunningham has been hired to paint the portrait of the haughty new teacher. But as Camille poses for Joel, their mutual contempt soon turns to desire. And it is only the bond between them that will allow them to weather the rough storm that lies ahead...]]> 379 Mary Balogh 0451477804 Blessing 3 3.88 2017 Someone to Hold (Westcott, #2)
author: Mary Balogh
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2018/02/21
date added: 2023/09/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Captivating Lady Charlotte (Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace, #2)]]> 32572319 Her heart is her own--but her hand in marriage is another matter

Lady Charlotte Featherington is destined for great things on the marriage market. After all, as the beautiful daughter of a marquess she should have her pick of the eligible nobility when she debuts. She, however, has love at the top of her list of marriageable attributes and her romantic heart falls hard for one particularly dashing, attentive suitor. Sadly for Charlotte, her noble father intends her betrothed to be someone far more dull.

William Hartwell may be a duke, but he knows he was Charlotte's father's pick, not the young lady's own choice. And the captivating Lady Charlotte does not strike him as a woman who will be wooed by his wealth or title. While she has captured his heart, he has no idea how to win hers in return--and the betrayal and scandal his first wife put him through makes it difficult for him to believe that love can ever be trusted. His only hope is that Charlotte's sense of responsibility will win out over her romantic notions.

Can a widowed duke and a romantically inclined lady negotiate a future and discover love beyond duty? Will they be able to find healing and hope from the legacy of grace? Poignant and charming, this is another beautifully written, clean and wholesome Regency romance from Carolyn Miller.]]> 310 Carolyn Miller 0825444519 Blessing 3 3.82 2017 The Captivating Lady Charlotte (Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace, #2)
author: Carolyn Miller
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2022/11/04
date added: 2022/11/04
shelves:
review:

]]> The Lady's Mine 58389761
New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers returns to the California frontier in this sweeping, romantic tale of a displaced New England suffragette, a former Union soldier disinherited by his Southern family, and the town they join forces to save.

1875. When Kathryn Walsh arrives in tiny Calvada, a mining town nestled in the Sierra Nevadas, falling in love is the farthest thing from her mind. Banished from Boston by her wealthy stepfather, she has come to claim an inheritance from the uncle she never a defunct newspaper office on a main street overflowing with brothels and saloons, and a seemingly worthless mine. Moved by the oppression of the local miners and their families, Kathryn decides to relaunch her uncle’s newspaper―and then finds herself in the middle of a maelstrom, pitted against Calvada’s most powerful men. But Kathryn intends to continue to say―and publish―whatever she pleases, especially when she knows she’s right.

Matthias Beck, owner of a local saloon and hotel, has a special interest in the new lady in town. He instantly recognizes C. T. Walsh’s same tenacity in the beautiful and outspoken redhead―and knows all too well how dangerous that family trait can be. While Kathryn may be right about Calvada’s problems, her righteousness could also get her killed. But when the handsome hotelier keeps finding himself on the same side of the issues as the opinionated Miss Walsh, Matthias’s restless search for purpose becomes all about answering the call of his heart.

Everyone may be looking to strike it rich in this lawless boomtown, but it’s a love more precious than gold that will ultimately save them all.]]> 450 Francine Rivers 1496447573 Blessing 5 4.11 2022 The Lady's Mine
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/11/04
date added: 2022/11/04
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The Elusive Miss Ellison (Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace, #1)]]> 30851451 Hampton Hall's new owner has the villagers of St. Hampton Heath all aflutter--all except Lavinia Ellison. The reverend's daughter cares for those who are poor and sick, and the seventh Earl of Hawkesbury definitely does not meet that criteria. His refusal to take his responsibilities seriously, or even darken the door of the church, leave her convinced he is as arrogant and reckless as his brother--his brother who stole the most important person in Lavinia's world.

Nicholas Stamford is shadowed by guilt: his own, his brother's, the legacy of war. A perfunctory visit to this dreary part of Gloucestershire wasn't supposed to engage his heart, or his mind. Challenged by Miss Ellison's fascinating blend of Bluestocking opinions, hoydenish behavior, and angelic voice, he finds the impossible becoming possible--he begins to care. But Lavinia's aloof manner, society's opposition and his ancestral obligations prove most frustrating, until scandal forces them to get along.

Can Lavinia and Nicholas look beyond painful pasts and present prejudice to see their future? And what will happen when Lavinia learns a family secret that alters everything she's ever known?]]> 304 Carolyn Miller 0825444500 Blessing 4 3.81 2017 The Elusive Miss Ellison (Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace, #1)
author: Carolyn Miller
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/04
date added: 2022/11/04
shelves:
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]]> Not Here to Be Liked 56755542 Emergency Contact meets Moxie in this cheeky and searing novel that unpacks just how complicated new love can get…when you fall for your enemy.

Eliza Quan is the perfect candidate for editor in chief of her school paper. That is, until ex-jock Len DiMartile decides on a whim to run against her. Suddenly her vast qualifications mean squat because inexperienced Len—who is tall, handsome, and male—just seems more like a leader.

When Eliza’s frustration spills out in a viral essay, she finds herself inspiring a feminist movement she never meant to start, caught between those who believe she’s a gender equality champion and others who think she’s simply crying misogyny.

Amid this growing tension, the school asks Eliza and Len to work side by side to demonstrate civility. But as they get to know one another, Eliza feels increasingly trapped by a horrifying realization—she just might be falling for the face of the patriarchy himself.]]> 384 Michelle Quach 0063038366 Blessing 0 to-read 3.61 2021 Not Here to Be Liked
author: Michelle Quach
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/09/15
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Misleading Miss Verity (Regency Brides: Daughters of Aynsley #3)]]> 42190076
Anthony Jardine relished his role as curate, but his new duties as laird of Dungally aren’t always to his liking. Though he thought his new inheritance would be a blessing, somehow he’s finding nothing but trouble on these estates. And the intelligent, compassionate, feisty lass who was sent to rusticate in his territory is one of the biggest problems. He’s falling in love with her, but she doesn’t share the faith that’s his foundation—not to mention he’s been lying to her about who he really is. For the truth-loving Verity, that may be unforgivable.

The tangled web these two have woven may spell disaster for their happiness—and for the tenants of Dungally.]]> 352 Carolyn Miller 0825467500 Blessing 3 Here is the story about Verity which I thought would be a great book. While it didn't turn out to be so, it's a better read than the previous one.
Characters are a bit more developed, not just our hero and heroine but the secondary characters as well.
⭐ for the lessons learned
⭐ for the characters except the.....
⭐ For the plot, romance and humor (0.33 each)
Half a ⭐ cause of its weird ending and I know it deserves more than 3 stars cause it's actually a good book. Just a bit boring for me. It's not what I had expected of Verity's book.
In conclusion, she's a good writer and this might appeal to some but so far I think the author's books just aren't what I like to read.]]> 4.25 2019 Misleading Miss Verity (Regency Brides: Daughters of Aynsley #3)
author: Carolyn Miller
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/28
date added: 2022/08/28
shelves:
review:
3.5
Here is the story about Verity which I thought would be a great book. While it didn't turn out to be so, it's a better read than the previous one.
Characters are a bit more developed, not just our hero and heroine but the secondary characters as well.
⭐ for the lessons learned
⭐ for the characters except the.....
⭐ For the plot, romance and humor (0.33 each)
Half a ⭐ cause of its weird ending and I know it deserves more than 3 stars cause it's actually a good book. Just a bit boring for me. It's not what I had expected of Verity's book.
In conclusion, she's a good writer and this might appeal to some but so far I think the author's books just aren't what I like to read.
]]> <![CDATA[Underestimating Miss Cecilia (Regency Brides: Daughters of Aynsley #2)]]> 42296389
When a near tragedy brings Edward’s attention to his family duties, this prodigal son decides he needs to settle down with a proper wife. Cecilia hopes to convince him to choose her—but God may want her to forget the wayward nobleman and put her future in His hands alone.

These two try to find their way toward happiness, but prejudice, political riots, and the changing face of England’s societal structures begin to block them at every turn. Can their struggles turn to triumph—or will their paths permanently diverge?]]> 310 Carolyn Miller 0825467497 Blessing 2 2 for the lessons learned and 0.5 for the romance, plot and the characters. It might be a good book for some people but yeah this book was hard to read 😅. To put it mildly it was bland.
But this is my two cents...]]> 4.04 2019 Underestimating Miss Cecilia (Regency Brides: Daughters of Aynsley #2)
author: Carolyn Miller
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2019
rating: 2
read at: 2022/08/28
date added: 2022/08/28
shelves:
review:
2.5
2 for the lessons learned and 0.5 for the romance, plot and the characters. It might be a good book for some people but yeah this book was hard to read 😅. To put it mildly it was bland.
But this is my two cents...
]]> <![CDATA[Full Steam Ahead (Full Steam Ahead, #1)]]> 18652058
Vowing to find a suitable husband to give her father the heir he desires before it's too late, Nicole sets out with the Renard family's greatest treasure as her dowry: the highly coveted Lafitte Dagger. But her father's rivals come after the dagger, forcing a change in Nicole's plans.

After a boiler explosion aboard the Louisiana nearly took his life, Darius Thornton has been a man obsessed. He will do anything to stop even one more steamship disaster. Even if it means letting a female secretary into his secluded world.

Nicole is determined not to let her odd employer scare her off with his explosive experiments, yet when respect and mutual attraction grow between them, a new fear arises. How can she acquire an heir for her father when her heart belongs to another? And when her father's rivals discover her hiding place, will she have to choose between that love and her family's legacy?]]> 346 Karen Witemeyer 0764209671 Blessing 0 to-read 4.20 2014 Full Steam Ahead (Full Steam Ahead, #1)
author: Karen Witemeyer
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2014
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/08/20
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Miss Serena's Secret (Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope, #2)]]> 37915033
Henry, Lord Carmichael, is perfectly aware of his charms to the women of the ton. He's gambled with plenty of their hearts as easily as he does their husband's money—it's all in good fun to him. But lately he's been wondering if there's more to life—and confronting the idea that his actions might not prove worthy of the admirable wives his friends have found.

When Serena's brother-in-law asks his best friend to protect his young ward, Henry promises to be on his best behavior and not woo her. But the more he learns of her, the more he realizes she might be his best reason for changing his character. Then the lady's art leads her to London infamy. Now Henry must choose between the life mapped out for him as the Earl apparent, and the love of his life. And Serena's secret may mean the end of his titled family line.

The second in a new series by internationally popular author Carolyn Miller is full of the same rich historical detail and evocative writing that readers enjoyed, and familiar characters make appearances here. The witty banter will continue to draw in fans of Jane Austen, Sarah Ladd, and Julie Klassen.]]> 344 Carolyn Miller 0825466873 Blessing 4 4.18 2018 Miss Serena's Secret (Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope, #2)
author: Carolyn Miller
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/08
date added: 2022/08/08
shelves:
review:

]]> Heart of Beauty 61102368 30 Tessa Afshar Blessing 0 to-read 4.23 2021 Heart of Beauty
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/07/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Winning Miss Winthrop (Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope, #1)]]> 36809331
Jonathan Carlew's life may look enviable from the outside--wealthy, handsome, landed--but the mystery surrounding his birth has shadowed his entire life. Now as he ascends to the barony, fresh challenges await, including a scheming mama who wants him to embrace power, even at the cost of losing love. How can he remain the kind, honorable man he strives to be and still meet the demands of his new society responsibilities?

These two broken hearts must decide whether their painful past and bitter present will be all they can share, or if forgiveness can provide a path to freedom for the future.

Set in the sumptuous salons of Bath, Regency England's royal breeding ground for gossip, Winning Miss Winthrop is the first volume in Carolyn Miller's new series. Fans of the wholesome and richly drawn first series won’t want to miss this new set of characters.]]> 320 Carolyn Miller 0825445337 Blessing 4 3.95 2018 Winning Miss Winthrop (Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope, #1)
author: Carolyn Miller
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2022/05/14
date added: 2022/05/14
shelves:
review:

]]> George Muller My Journal 22838446 56 George Müller Blessing 5 4.41 2014 George Muller My Journal
author: George Müller
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2022/05/14
date added: 2022/05/14
shelves:
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]]> The Secret of Pembrooke Park 20665064 When financial problems force her family to sell their London home, a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play . . .

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem to know something about the manor's past, the only information they offer Abigail is a warning: Beware trespassers who may be drawn by rumors that Pembrooke contains a secret room filled with treasure.

Hoping to improve her family's financial situation, Abigail surreptitiously searches for the hidden room, but the arrival of anonymous letters addressed to her, with clues about the room and the past, bring discoveries even more startling. As secrets come to light, will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks...or very real danger?]]> 460 Julie Klassen 0764210718 Blessing 3 4.06 2014 The Secret of Pembrooke Park
author: Julie Klassen
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2022/02/23
date added: 2022/02/23
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]]> <![CDATA[An Inconvenient Beauty (Hawthorne House, #4)]]> 34020178
Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, she has no choice but to agree to a bargain that puts her at odds with all her romantic hopes--as well as her conscience. And the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she regrets the unpleasant obligation that prevents her from any dream of a future with him.

As all Griffith's and Isabella's long-held expectations are shaken to the core, can they set aside their pride and fear long enough to claim a happily-ever-after?]]> 373 Kristi Ann Hunter 0764218271 Blessing 3 4.11 2017 An Inconvenient Beauty (Hawthorne House, #4)
author: Kristi Ann Hunter
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2021/12/05
date added: 2021/12/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[An Elegant Façade (Hawthorne House, #2)]]> 27066722 With money and business connections, but without impeccable bloodlines, Colin McCrae is invited everywhere but accepted nowhere. When he first encounters the fashionable Lady Georgina, he's irritated by his attraction to a woman who concerns herself only with status and appearance.
What Colin doesn't know is that Georgina's desperate social aspirations are driven by the shameful secret she harbors. Association with Colin McCrae is not part of Georgina's plan, but as their paths continue to cross, they both must decide if the realization of their dreams is worth the sacrifices they must make.]]> 362 Kristi Ann Hunter 0764218255 Blessing 5 4.09 2016 An Elegant Façade (Hawthorne House, #2)
author: Kristi Ann Hunter
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2021/12/05
date added: 2021/12/05
shelves:
review:
I liked it to bits. This is actually my favorite book in the series.
]]> The Personal Librarian 55333938 The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian - who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths to which she must go—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

This is a previously-published edition of ISBN 9780593101537.]]> 341 Marie Benedict Blessing 0 to-read 3.97 2021 The Personal Librarian
author: Marie Benedict
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/12/05
shelves: to-read
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]]> The Girl in the Gatehouse 8125737 Captain Matthew Bryant, returning to England successful and wealthy after the Napoleonic wars, leases an impressive estate from a cash-poor nobleman, determined to show the society beauty who once rejected him what a colossal mistake she made. When he discovers an old gatehouse on the property, he is immediately intrigued by its striking young inhabitant and sets out to uncover her identity, and her past. But the more he learns about her, the more he realizes he must distance himself. Falling in love with an outcast would ruin his well-laid plans.

The old gatehouse holds secrets of its own. Can Mariah and Captain Bryant uncover them before the cunning heir to the estate buries them forever?

]]> 391 Julie Klassen 0764207083 Blessing 3 3.86 2010 The Girl in the Gatehouse
author: Julie Klassen
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2021/11/30
date added: 2021/11/30
shelves:
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]]> A Woman's Place 80343
Virginia longs to find a purpose beyond others' expectations.

Helen is driven by a loneliness money can't fulfill.

Rosa is desperate to flee her in-laws' rules.

Jean hopes to prove herself in a man's world.

Under the storm clouds of destruction that threaten America during the early 1940s, this unlikely gathering of women will experience life in sometimes startling new ways as their beliefs are challenged and they struggle toward a new understanding of what love and sacrifice truly mean.]]> 446 Lynn Austin 0764228900 Blessing 4 4.21 2006 A Woman's Place
author: Lynn Austin
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2021/11/29
date added: 2021/11/29
shelves:
review:

]]> The Taming of the Shrew 47021
Padua holds many suitors for the hand of fair Bianca, but Bianca may not be married until her spinster sister, Kate, is wed. Could any man be rash enough to take on Kate?

The witty adventurer Petruchio undertakes the task. While he sets about transforming Kate from foul-tempered termagant to loving wife, young Lucentio and his clever servant, Tranio, plot to win Bianca.

Frances Barber and Roger Allam are Kate and Petruchio. Lucentio is played by Alan Cox.]]> 291 William Shakespeare 074347757X Blessing 2 3.75 1593 The Taming of the Shrew
author: William Shakespeare
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.75
book published: 1593
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2021/11/27
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]]> The Merchant of Venice 24128 249 William Shakespeare 0743477561 Blessing 0 3.77 1596 The Merchant of Venice
author: William Shakespeare
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.77
book published: 1596
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/11/27
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]]> Tess of the D’Urbervilles 32261 here and here.

When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D’Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her ‘cousin’ Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future.]]> 518 Thomas Hardy Blessing 2 childhood-and-teenage-reads 3.84 1891 Tess of the D’Urbervilles
author: Thomas Hardy
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.84
book published: 1891
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2021/11/27
shelves: childhood-and-teenage-reads
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Importance of Being Earnest]]> 92303
Cecily Cardew and Gwendolen Fairfax are both in love with the same mythical suitor. Jack Worthing has wooed Gwendolen as Ernest while Algernon has also posed as Ernest to win the heart of Jack's ward, Cecily. When all four arrive at Jack's country home on the same weekend the "rivals" to fight for Ernest's undivided attention and the "Ernests" to claim their beloveds pandemonium breaks loose. Only a senile nursemaid and an old, discarded hand-bag can save the day!

This Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Edition includes a glossary and reader's notes to help the modern reader appreciate Wilde's wry wit and elaborate plot twists.]]> 89 Oscar Wilde 158049580X Blessing 4 childhood-and-teenage-reads 4.17 1895 The Importance of Being Earnest
author: Oscar Wilde
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1895
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2021/11/27
shelves: childhood-and-teenage-reads
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth]]> 785092 212 T. Harv Eker 0060763280 Blessing 0 4.21 Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
author: T. Harv Eker
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2021/11/27
date added: 2021/11/27
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]]> The Maid of Fairbourne Hall 11701627
As she fumbles through the first real work of her life, Margaret struggles to keep her identity secret when suspicions arise and prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall. Can she avoid a trap meant to force her from hiding?

Brimming with romance and danger, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall takes readers inside the fascinating belowstairs world of a 19th-century English manor, where appearances can be deceiving.]]> 410 Julie Klassen 0764207091 Blessing 4 4.06 2012 The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
author: Julie Klassen
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2021/11/13
date added: 2021/11/13
shelves:
review:

]]> Shirley 31168 Jane Eyre, which earned her lifelong notoriety as a moral revolutionary, Charlotte Brontë vowed to write a sweeping social chronicle that focused on "something real and unromantic as Monday morning." Set in the industrializing England of the Napoleonic wars and Luddite revolts of 1811-12, Shirley (1849) is the story of two contrasting heroines. One is the shy Caroline Helstone, who is trapped in the oppressive atmosphere of a Yorkshire rectory and whose bare life symbolizes the plight of single women in the nineteenth century. The other is the vivacious Shirley Keeldar, who inherits a local estate and whose wealth liberates her from convention.

A work that combines social commentary with the more private preoccupations of Jane Eyre, Shirley demonstrates the full range of Brontë's literary talent. "Shirley is a revolutionary novel," wrote Brontë biographer Lyndall Gordon. "Shirley follows Jane Eyre as a new exemplar but so much a forerunner of the feminist of the later twentieth century that it is hard to believe in her actual existence in 1811-12. She is a theoretic possibility: what a woman might be if she combined independence and means of her own with intellect. Charlotte Brontë imagined a new form of power, equal to that of men, in a confident young woman [whose] extraordinary freedom has accustomed her to think for herself....Shirley [is] Brontë's most feminist novel."]]> 624 Charlotte Brontë 0141439866 Blessing 0 to-read 3.76 1849 Shirley
author: Charlotte Brontë
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.76
book published: 1849
rating: 0
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date added: 2021/11/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Persuasion 2156

When Captain Wentworth returns, wealthy and successful, their paths cross again. Amidst the intricate social dynamics of Regency England, Anne must navigate her lingering feelings for him while grappling with the pressures of family, society, and her own sense of self-worth.


Austen’s masterful exploration of resilience, maturity, and enduring love makes Persuasion a deeply moving and timeless classic. With its sharp social commentary and compelling characters, this novel is a treasure for lovers of romance, wit, and literary brilliance.]]> 249 Jane Austen 0192802631 Blessing 4 4.15 1817 Persuasion
author: Jane Austen
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1817
rating: 4
read at: 2021/11/13
date added: 2021/11/13
shelves:
review:

]]> The Scarlet Thread 73297 462 Francine Rivers 0842342710 Blessing 0 to-read 4.17 1995 The Scarlet Thread
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1995
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/10/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> North and South 156538
In North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell skillfully fuses individual feeling with social concern, and in Margaret Hale creates one of the most original heroines of Victorian literature.]]> 521 Elizabeth Gaskell 0140620192 Blessing 5 4.15 1855 North and South
author: Elizabeth Gaskell
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1855
rating: 5
read at: 2021/10/26
date added: 2021/10/26
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Unshakeable Trust: Find the Joy of Trusting God at All Times, in All Things]]> 33785067 240 Joyce Meyer 1455560065 Blessing 0 to-read 4.50 Unshakeable Trust: Find the Joy of Trusting God at All Times, in All Things
author: Joyce Meyer
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/10/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Unspoken: Bathsheba (Lineage of Grace, #4)]]> 535179 213 Francine Rivers 0842335986 Blessing 4 4.21 2001 Unspoken: Bathsheba (Lineage of Grace, #4)
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 2021/10/21
date added: 2021/10/21
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence]]> 13465 272 Ben Carson 0310269008 Blessing 5 The author was able to perfectly send his message across realistically while emphasizing on his relationship with God and the importance.
THINK BIG ie...
Talent, Honesty, Insight, Nice, Kindness, Books, In-depth learning and God plus many lessons seen in this book
If applied in life is guaranteed to change the course of any individual willing and desiring to improve or be successful in life.
To some the author might come across as mushy, not too self confident and the book devoid of encouraging slogans at every page don't let it put you off.
It's a good book and a very good one too.
Happy Reading and I would love to read about what your opinion on it.]]> 4.18 1992 Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence
author: Ben Carson
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.18
book published: 1992
rating: 5
read at: 2021/10/21
date added: 2021/10/21
shelves:
review:
A Masterpiece...
The author was able to perfectly send his message across realistically while emphasizing on his relationship with God and the importance.
THINK BIG ie...
Talent, Honesty, Insight, Nice, Kindness, Books, In-depth learning and God plus many lessons seen in this book
If applied in life is guaranteed to change the course of any individual willing and desiring to improve or be successful in life.
To some the author might come across as mushy, not too self confident and the book devoid of encouraging slogans at every page don't let it put you off.
It's a good book and a very good one too.
Happy Reading and I would love to read about what your opinion on it.
]]> <![CDATA[The Merchant's Daughter (Hagenheim, #2)]]> 10742462 288 Melanie Dickerson 0310727618 Blessing 4 If you liked it you might like this.
The romance aspect was bland but not cheesy. However the message about God and his intention towards us was well done.
So 3.5 out of 5😁😅.]]> 4.01 2011 The Merchant's Daughter (Hagenheim, #2)
author: Melanie Dickerson
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2021/10/12
date added: 2021/10/12
shelves:
review:
A retelling of Beauty and the beast...
If you liked it you might like this.
The romance aspect was bland but not cheesy. However the message about God and his intention towards us was well done.
So 3.5 out of 5😁😅.
]]> Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie 204297 Freaks and bullies, classes and crushes, this is high school.

Starting high school is never easy. Seniors take your lunch money. Girls you’ve known forever are suddenly beautiful and unattainable. And you can never get enough sleep. Could there be a worse time for Scott’s mother to announce she’s pregnant? Scott decides high school would be a lot less overwhelming if it came with a survival manual, so he begins to write down tips for his new sibling. Meanwhile, he’s trying his best to capture the attention of Julia, the freshman goddess. In the process, Scott manages to become involved in nearly everything the school has to offer. So while he tries to find his place in the confusing world of high school, win Julia’s heart, and keep his sanity, Scott will be recording all the details for his sibling’s—and your—enjoyment.

Read the companion novel, Sophomores and Other Oxymorons, coming August 18, 2015! ]]> 288 David Lubar 0142407801 Blessing 3 dropped 3.82 2005 Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie
author: David Lubar
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2021/07/31
date added: 2021/07/31
shelves: dropped
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?]]> 56495
Designed to be read in 42 days, each chapter provides a daily meditation and practical steps to help you discover and live out your purpose, starting with exploring three of life's most pressing questions:

The Question of Existence: Why am I alive?
The Question of Significance: Does my life matter?
The Question of Purpose: What on earth am I here for?

The book also includes links to 3-minute video introductions and a 30- to 40-minute audio Bible study message for each chapter. Plus questions for further study and additional resources.]]> 336 Rick Warren 0310276993 Blessing 0 to-read 3.98 2002 The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?
author: Rick Warren
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2002
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/07/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Jewel of the Nile 56130741 Raised as an orphan by her aunt, Chariline has only been told a few pieces of her parents’ tragic love story. Her beautiful dark skin is proof that her father was Cushite, but she knows nothing else. While visiting her grandfather before his retirement as the Roman official in the queen’s court, Chariline overhears that her father is still alive, and discovering his identity becomes her obsession. Both her grandfather and the queen have reasons for keeping this secret, however, and forbid her quest. So when her only clues lead to Rome, Chariline sneaks on the ship of a merchant trusted by friends.

Theo is shocked to discover a stowaway on board his vessel and determines to be rid of her as soon as possible. But drawn in by Chariline’s story, he feels honor-bound to see her safely to shore, especially when it appears someone may be willing to kill for the truth she seeks.

In this transformative tale of historical fiction, bestselling author Tessa Afshar brings to life the kingdom of Cush and the Roman Empire, introducing readers to a fascinating world filled with gripping adventure, touching romance, and a host of lovable characters―including some they may recognize from the biblical book of Acts.]]> 432 Tessa Afshar 1496428765 Blessing 5 Had waited for Theo's story to be honest I expected and wanted more but nonetheless he seemed at peace and got closure .
It was nice seeing old characters like Priscilla, Dionysius and Ariadne (their how many lines cameo 👀)... Natemahar and Sophocles were very interesting additions too.
So many characters in the book that would have loved to see more of the assassin who never had a name bless his heart, Vitruvia, the Kandake's and her last pages appearance...
It's a Tessa book and I have a natural bias hence the 5 star it ought to be a 4.5 or 4 cause it didn't feel rushed but I felt like more scenes should have been added like there's so much potential here......
In summary
Inspiring Message : 5 star
Plot : 4.5 star
Romance: 4.5 star
Relationships : 5 star
Characters development : 4.5/5 star]]> 4.26 2021 Jewel of the Nile
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/07/09
date added: 2021/07/09
shelves:
review:
I think the message here would be to let go and trust in God. it's easy to want to be in charge luckily Chariline had friends that helped her remember to rely on God. There's also the identity problem most Christians have Natemahar had to learn of his real identity. In a way Theo as well..
Had waited for Theo's story to be honest I expected and wanted more but nonetheless he seemed at peace and got closure .
It was nice seeing old characters like Priscilla, Dionysius and Ariadne (their how many lines cameo 👀)... Natemahar and Sophocles were very interesting additions too.
So many characters in the book that would have loved to see more of the assassin who never had a name bless his heart, Vitruvia, the Kandake's and her last pages appearance...
It's a Tessa book and I have a natural bias hence the 5 star it ought to be a 4.5 or 4 cause it didn't feel rushed but I felt like more scenes should have been added like there's so much potential here......
In summary
Inspiring Message : 5 star
Plot : 4.5 star
Romance: 4.5 star
Relationships : 5 star
Characters development : 4.5/5 star
]]> Leota's Garden 95608
At eighty-four, Leota is alone, her beloved garden in ruins. All her efforts to reconcile with her adult children have been fruitless. She voices her despair to a loving Father, her only friend.

And God brings a wind of change through unlikely means: one, a college student who thinks he has all the answers; the other, the granddaughter Leota never hoped to know. But can the devastation wrought by keeping painful family secrets be repaired before she runs out of time?]]> 432 Francine Rivers 0842335722 Blessing 4 4.11 1999 Leota's Garden
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2021/06/27
date added: 2021/06/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Her Daughter's Dream (Marta's Legacy, #2)]]> 8142508 New York Times best seller Her Mother's Hope, Francine Rivers delivers a rich and deeply moving story about the silent sorrows that can tear a family apart and the grace and forgiveness that can heal even the deepest wounds.

Growing up isn't easy for little Carolyn Arundel. With her mother, Hildemara, quarantined to her room with tuberculosis, Carolyn forms a special bond with her oma Marta, who moves in to care for the household. But as tensions between Hildie and Marta escalate, Carolyn believes she is to blame. When Hildie returns to work and Marta leaves, Carolyn and her brother grow up as latchkey kids in a world gripped by the fear of the Cold War.

College offers Carolyn the chance to find herself, but a family tragedy shatters her newfound independence. Rather than return home, she cuts all ties and disappears into the heady counterculture of San Francisco. When she reemerges two years later, more lost than ever, she reluctantly turns to her family to help rebuild a life for her and her own daughter, May Flower Dawn.

Just like Carolyn, May Flower Dawn develops a closer bond with her grandmother, Hildie, than with her mother, causing yet another rift between generations. But as Dawn struggles to avoid the mistakes of those who went before her, she vows that somehow she will be a bridge between the women in her family rather than the wall that separates them forever.

Spanning from the 1950s to present day, Her Daughter's Dream is the emotional final chapter of an unforgettable family saga about the sacrifices every mother makes for her daughter and the very nature of unconditional love.

]]> 580 Francine Rivers 1414334095 Blessing 5 4.37 2010 Her Daughter's Dream (Marta's Legacy, #2)
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2021/06/01
date added: 2021/06/01
shelves:
review:
Perfect wouldn't change a thing.
]]> <![CDATA[Her Mother's Hope (Marta's Legacy, #1)]]> 6926176 512 Francine Rivers 1414318634 Blessing 5 4.31 2010 Her Mother's Hope (Marta's Legacy, #1)
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2021/05/11
date added: 2021/05/11
shelves:
review:
Every second spent reading this book was worth it.
]]> <![CDATA[The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern, #1)]]> 179064 She was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue, a word she could not taste.

Her name was Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. And when she was older, she watched as a colt was born, and she heard the first word on his tongue, his name, Falada.

From the Grimm’s fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original, and magical tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can lead the people she has made her own.]]> 383 Shannon Hale 1582349908 Blessing 4 4.14 2003 The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern, #1)
author: Shannon Hale
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2021/04/24
date added: 2021/04/24
shelves:
review:

]]> The Atonement Child 9943 384 Francine Rivers 084230052X Blessing 5 Characters: Loved granny Evie and her Widows squad wished we had seen more dialog between them. Dr Wyatt too. Joe's ok. Dynah was like most Christians when under trial seeing her succumb to her human emotions not pretending to have it all together the struggle about right vs wrong was relatable. Her trust in God made evident as she did what was right even when it was hard.
Sticking to Christian views: 8/10
Humor: 3/10
Romance: 4/10
Realistic meter: 7/10 (Some characters never had closure ie Dynah's parents it's kind of hard to swallow that just a scene like that can make them sweep away all those years of hurting under a rug; that was either lazy or hurried writing. There's more but this especially didn't sit well with me.)
Regardless....
Is this book worth it ?
My Answer: Well it's a Francine Rivers book ... 😀💯]]> 4.28 1997 The Atonement Child
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1997
rating: 5
read at: 2021/04/24
date added: 2021/04/24
shelves:
review:
The message of forgiveness of past sins was addressed properly. The main issue (abortion) was handled well especially seeing as it's a sensitive topic in this day and age. Plus learned new stuff about abortion especially consequences of it and might I add for the first time.
Characters: Loved granny Evie and her Widows squad wished we had seen more dialog between them. Dr Wyatt too. Joe's ok. Dynah was like most Christians when under trial seeing her succumb to her human emotions not pretending to have it all together the struggle about right vs wrong was relatable. Her trust in God made evident as she did what was right even when it was hard.
Sticking to Christian views: 8/10
Humor: 3/10
Romance: 4/10
Realistic meter: 7/10 (Some characters never had closure ie Dynah's parents it's kind of hard to swallow that just a scene like that can make them sweep away all those years of hurting under a rug; that was either lazy or hurried writing. There's more but this especially didn't sit well with me.)
Regardless....
Is this book worth it ?
My Answer: Well it's a Francine Rivers book ... 😀💯
]]> <![CDATA[The Practice of the Presence of God]]> 498641 Alternative cover edition of ISBN 0883681056 can be found here

Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the art of “practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end.” He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our souls. We must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence.
As a humble cook, Brother Lawrence learned an important lesson through each daily chore: The time he spent in communion with the Lord should be the same, whether he was bustling around in the kitchen—with several people asking questions at the same time—or on his knees in prayer. He learned to cultivate the deep presence of God so thoroughly in his own heart that he was able to joyfully exclaim, “I am doing now what I will do for all eternity. I am blessing God, praising Him, adoring Him, and loving Him with all my heart.”
This unparalleled classic has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day.]]> 95 Brother Lawrence Blessing 4 4.31 1692 The Practice of the Presence of God
author: Brother Lawrence
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.31
book published: 1692
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/07
date added: 2021/03/07
shelves:
review:

]]> Rebel Daughter 56568002
Esther dreams of so much more than the marriage her parents have arranged to a prosperous silversmith. Always curious and eager to explore, she must accept the burden of being the dutiful daughter. Yet she is torn between her family responsibilities and her own desires; she longs for the handsome Jacob, even though he treats her like a child, and is confused by her attraction to the Roman freedman Tiberius, a man who should be her sworn enemy.

Meanwhile, the growing turmoil threatens to tear apart not only her beloved city, Jerusalem, but also her own family. As the streets turn into a bloody battleground between rebels and Romans, Esther's journey becomes one of survival. She remains fiercely devoted to her family, and braves famine, siege, and slavery to protect those she loves.

This emotional and impassioned saga, based on real characters and meticulous research, seamlessly blends the fascinating story of the Jewish people with a timeless protagonist determined to take charge of her own life against all odds.



Running Time => 9hrs. and 30mins.

©2021 Lori Banov Kaufman (P)2021 Listening Library]]> Lori Banov Kaufmann Blessing 3 I do understand that it's based on true events,real people and commend how accurately it fits into history.
The characters were actually quite realistic and seemed relatable not portrayed as perfect or too evil they were humans but I think maybe it's because for me the story seems to start when 70% of the book is over and the many mentions of potions and incantations here than actual scriptures just made it a not so enjoyable read.]]> 3.50 2021 Rebel Daughter
author: Lori Banov Kaufmann
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2021/03/06
date added: 2021/03/06
shelves:
review:
It could have been better.
I do understand that it's based on true events,real people and commend how accurately it fits into history.
The characters were actually quite realistic and seemed relatable not portrayed as perfect or too evil they were humans but I think maybe it's because for me the story seems to start when 70% of the book is over and the many mentions of potions and incantations here than actual scriptures just made it a not so enjoyable read.
]]> She Stoops to Conquer 388997 84 Oliver Goldsmith 141914698X Blessing 3 3.65 1773 She Stoops to Conquer
author: Oliver Goldsmith
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.65
book published: 1773
rating: 3
read at: 2021/02/02
date added: 2021/02/02
shelves:
review:

]]> Pride and Prejudice 1885 279 Jane Austen 1441341706 Blessing 3 4.28 1813 Pride and Prejudice
author: Jane Austen
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1813
rating: 3
read at: 2019/11/25
date added: 2021/02/02
shelves:
review:

]]> Pearl in the Sand, Sampler 17761877
Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible's answer is yes. Pearl in the Sand tells Rahab's untold story. Rahab lives in a wall; her house is built into the defensive walls of the City of Jericho. Other walls surround her as well-walls of fear, rejection, and unworthiness. A woman with a wrecked past; a man of success, of faith...of pride. A marriage only God would conceive! Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another's worth and find healing in God.]]> 41 Tessa Afshar 080248977X Blessing 5 4.64 Pearl in the Sand, Sampler
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.64
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/02/02
shelves:
review:

]]> Harvest of Gold Sampler 17761875 42 Tessa Afshar 0802489621 Blessing 0 4.56 2013 Harvest of Gold Sampler
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/02
shelves:
review:

]]> Harvest of Rubies, Sampler 16597243 In her early childhood years, Sarah experienced the death of her mother and her father's subsequent emotional distance and she came to two conclusions: that God does not care about her, and that her accomplishments are the measure of her worth - the measure of herself. Sarah, the talented scribe and cousin to Nehemiah, is catapulted into the center of the Persian court, working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn't failure but success that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation. Sarah soon learns that her worth goes beyond her ability with languages and sums as her very being proves to be a blessing.]]> 46 Tessa Afshar 0802486428 Blessing 5 4.78 2012 Harvest of Rubies, Sampler
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.78
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/02/02
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rescuing Lord Inglewood (Inglewood, #1)]]> 44597093 All he wants is someone he can trust. All she wants is to belong. But when compromising circumstances force them together, do they have a chance at finding love?

Silas Riley, Earl of Inglewood, is known among his peers in Parliament as the man made of stone. As a wealthy peer, there are few he trusts with his friendship. He guards his heart and his honor with vigilance, and when an accident nearly takes his life, he’s faced with a situation which threatens his standing in society.

Growing up in the shadow of her older brother, Esther Fox’s acceptance in his circle has been indifferent at best. So when she ends up in a compromising situation as she saves the life of her brother’s dearest friend, the Earl of Inglewood, she is forced to marry him to save her own reputation. Once again, she finds herself accepted only because of the situation, and not because she is truly wanted.

Neither are prepared for a loss which further complicates their new relationship. With such a difficult beginning, can they ever hope to understand one another, let alone find love?

]]> 232 Sally Britton Blessing 2 dropped She had me wanting to bang my head on a wall everytime she had her moments of self pity. All that negative energy can frustrate an ordinary person. 💁🏼]]> 3.99 2019 Rescuing Lord Inglewood (Inglewood, #1)
author: Sally Britton
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2019
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2020/12/14
shelves: dropped
review:
Couldn't finish
She had me wanting to bang my head on a wall everytime she had her moments of self pity. All that negative energy can frustrate an ordinary person. 💁🏼
]]> The Masterpiece 35605477
A successful LA artist, Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want―money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist―an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship―and both their lives―forever.]]> 512 Francine Rivers 1496407903 Blessing 5 4.25 2018 The Masterpiece
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2020/11/23
date added: 2020/11/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Short-Straw Bride (Archer Brothers, #1)]]> 12963146
Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?]]> 365 Karen Witemeyer 0764209655 Blessing 0 4.19 2012 Short-Straw Bride (Archer Brothers, #1)
author: Karen Witemeyer
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at: 2020/11/15
date added: 2020/11/15
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story]]> 18422 224 Ben Carson Blessing 0 to-read 4.15 1992 Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
author: Ben Carson
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1992
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/11/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Regretting You 44582454
Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.]]> 363 Colleen Hoover 154201641X Blessing 0 to-read 4.10 2019 Regretting You
author: Colleen Hoover
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/11/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[To Whisper Her Name (Belle Meade Plantation, #1)]]> 13569493 To Whisper Her Name weaves the struggles of real people of the post-war South with the journeys of a man and a woman scarred by betrayal.

Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from "Aunt" Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Harding's head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth's husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a Southern man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.

Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn "the gift" that Belle Meade's head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.

As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for "betraying" the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.]]> 473 Tamera Alexander 0310291062 Blessing 2 That's all.]]> 4.25 2012 To Whisper Her Name (Belle Meade Plantation, #1)
author: Tamera Alexander
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2012
rating: 2
read at: 2020/11/03
date added: 2020/11/03
shelves:
review:
Glad am done with this... 😗😑
That's all.
]]> Daughter of Rome 52934510 A woman with a devastating secret. A man bent on proving his worth. A chance encounter that catapults them into the heart of history.

When the daughter of a prominent Roman general meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God's plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can they anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them. Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and a ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they're banished from their home by a capricious emperor, they must join forces with an unusual rabbi named Paul and fight to turn treachery into redemption.

With impeccable research and vivid detail, Daughter of Rome is both an emotive love story and an immersive journey through first-century Rome and Corinth, reminding readers once again why Debbie Macomber has said that "no one brings the Bible to life like Tessa Afshar."]]> 416 Tessa Afshar 1496428714 Blessing 4 4.38 2020 Daughter of Rome
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/08/20
date added: 2020/08/20
shelves:
review:

]]> Waterfall (River of Time, #1) 7879278 What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.]]> 369 Lisa Tawn Bergren 1434764338 Blessing 3 4.02 2011 Waterfall (River of Time, #1)
author: Lisa Tawn Bergren
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2020/07/19
date added: 2020/07/19
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Gods and Kings (Chronicles of the Kings, #1)]]> 359994
But his journey to the Holy One is riddled by influence from an assortment of men: Zechariah, a grandfather of noble standing who has fallen into drunkenness; Uriah, the High Priest whose lust for power forces him to gamble the faith he proclaims; and Shebna, the Egyptian intellectual who guides Hezekiah's instruction.

For the two women who love Hezekiah, the meaning of love--and its sacrificial essence--will direct the course of their lives and help shape the young prince's future.]]> 317 Lynn Austin 0764229893 Blessing 4 4.31 1995 Gods and Kings (Chronicles of the Kings, #1)
author: Lynn Austin
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.31
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2020/06/20
date added: 2020/06/20
shelves:
review:

]]> True Beauty 17914385 125 Carolyn Mahaney 1433540347 Blessing 0 to-read 4.19 2014 True Beauty
author: Carolyn Mahaney
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[And Some Evangelists: Growing your church by discovering evangelists]]> 6359948 192 Roger Carswell 1857925122 Blessing 0 to-read 3.89 1969 And Some Evangelists: Growing your church by discovering evangelists
author: Roger Carswell
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.89
book published: 1969
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Why Revival Tarries: A Classic on Revival]]> 351036 176 Leonard Ravenhill 0764229052 Blessing 0 to-read 4.47 1959 Why Revival Tarries: A Classic on Revival
author: Leonard Ravenhill
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.47
book published: 1959
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Long Way Gone 29492038 “No matter where you go, no matter whether you succeed or fail, stand or fall, no gone is too far gone. You can always come home.”

At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish.

Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns to his remote home in the Colorado Mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith.

When Daley shows up on his street corner twenty years later, he wonders if it’s too late to tell her the truth about his past—and if he is ready to face it.

A radical retelling of the story of the prodigal son, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home.]]> 296 Charles Martin 0718084713 Blessing 0 to-read 4.27 2016 Long Way Gone
author: Charles Martin
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/05/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Bridge to Haven 18228202
To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Zeke and his son, Joshua--Abra's closest friend--watch her grow into an exotic beauty. But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking bad boy who proclaims his love and lures her to Tinseltown.

Hollywood feels like a million miles from Haven, and naive Abra quickly learns what's expected of an ambitious girl with stars in her eyes. But fame comes at an awful price. She has burned every bridge to get exactly what she thought she wanted. Now, all she wants is a way back home.

In this riveting and highly anticipated tale of temptation, grace, and unconditional love, "New York Times" best-selling author Francine Rivers delivers big-canvas storytelling at its very best.]]> 480 Francine Rivers 1414368186 Blessing 5 4.13 2014 Bridge to Haven
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2020/05/23
date added: 2020/05/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[How the Grinch Stole Christmas!]]> 113946 "The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason."

Dr. Seuss's small-hearted Grinch ranks right up there with Scrooge when it comes to the crankiest, scowling holiday grumps of all time.

For 53 years, the Grinch has lived in a cave on the side of a mountain, looming above the Whos in Whoville. The noisy holiday preparations and infernal singing of the happy little citizens below annoy him to no end. The Grinch decides this frivolous merriment must stop. His "wonderful, awful" idea is to don a Santa outfit, strap heavy antlers on his poor, quivering dog Max, construct a makeshift sleigh, head down to Whoville, and strip the chafingly cheerful Whos of their Yuletide glee once and for all.

Looking quite out of place and very disturbing in his makeshift Santa get-up, the Grinch slithers down chimneys with empty bags and stealing the Whos' presents, their food, even the logs from their humble Who-fires. He takes the ramshackle sleigh to Mt. Crumpit to dump it and waits to hear the sobs of the Whos when they wake up and discover the trappings of Christmas have disappeared. Imagine the Whos' dismay when they discover the evil-doings of Grinch in his anti-Santa guise. But what is that sound? It's not sobbing, but singing! Children simultaneously adore and fear this triumphant, twisted Seussian testimonial to the undaunted cheerfulness of the Whos, the transcendent nature of joy, and of course, the growth potential of a heart that's two sizes too small.

This holiday classic is perfect for reading aloud to your favorite little Whos.]]> 64 Dr. Seuss 0007173040 Blessing 0 to-read 4.38 1957 How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
author: Dr. Seuss
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.38
book published: 1957
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/04/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Lorax 7784 "Unless someone like you... cares a whole awful lot... nothing is going to get better... It's not."

Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth's natural beauty.

His classic cautionary tale is now available in an irresistible mini-edition, perfect for backpack or briefcase, for Arbor Day, Earth Day, and every day.]]> 72 Dr. Seuss 0679889108 Blessing 5 4.35 1971 The Lorax
author: Dr. Seuss
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.35
book published: 1971
rating: 5
read at: 2020/04/05
date added: 2020/04/05
shelves:
review:

]]> The Colonel's Lady 9467341 406 Laura Frantz 080073341X Blessing 3 4.16 2011 The Colonel's Lady
author: Laura Frantz
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/05
date added: 2020/04/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Lightkeeper's Ball (Mercy Falls, #3)]]> 9669445 304 Colleen Coble 159554268X Blessing 3 4.16 2011 The Lightkeeper's Ball (Mercy Falls, #3)
author: Colleen Coble
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2020/03/14
date added: 2020/03/14
shelves:
review:

]]> An Uncommon Woman 46125021
Quiet and courageous, Clay Tygart is not your typical 18th-century man. Raised by Lenape Indians, he returns a hero from the French and Indian War to the fort that bears his name, bringing with him Tessa's long-lost friend, Keturah, a redeemed Indian captive like himself.

Determined to avoid any romantic entanglements as fort commander, Clay remains aloof whenever he encounters the lovely Tessa. But when she is taken captive by the tribe Clay left, his hand--and heart--are forced, leading to one very private and one very public reckoning.

Intense, evocative, and laced with intricate historical details that bring the past to life, An Uncommon Woman will transport you to the picturesque and dangerous western Virginia mountains of 1770.]]> 384 Laura Frantz 0800734955 Blessing 0 to-read 3.88 2020 An Uncommon Woman
author: Laura Frantz
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/02/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Jerusalem's Queen: A Novel of Salome Alexandra (The Silent Years, #3)]]> 38485451
When her guardian betroths her to a pagan prince, she questions HaShem's plan. When Hyrcanus finally marries her to a boy half her age, she questions her guardian's sanity. But though Salome spends much of her life as a pawn ordered about by powerful men, she learns that a woman committed to HaShem can change the world.]]> 384 Angela Elwell Hunt 0764219340 Blessing 3 4.17 2018 Jerusalem's Queen: A Novel of Salome Alexandra (The Silent Years, #3)
author: Angela Elwell Hunt
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2020/02/23
date added: 2020/02/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[God's Generals: Smith Wigglesworth]]> 8476675 128 Roberts Liardon 0883689227 Blessing 5 4.64 2000 God's Generals: Smith Wigglesworth
author: Roberts Liardon
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.64
book published: 2000
rating: 5
read at: 2020/02/08
date added: 2020/02/08
shelves:
review:

]]> Land of Silence 28075719
Before she stole healing by touching the hem of his garment . . .

Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father’s textile trade and caring for her family. When another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from everyone, stripping everything she has left.

No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until she hears whispers of a man whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body . . . and soul?]]> 390 Tessa Afshar 1496414004 Blessing 5 4.45 2016 Land of Silence
author: Tessa Afshar
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2020/01/27
date added: 2020/01/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Healer's Apprentice (Hagenheim, #1)]]> 7826101 Two Hearts. One Hope.

Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her—a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.

When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.]]> 272 Melanie Dickerson 0310721431 Blessing 4
Plot
Was Ok

Characters
While the hero's character did not impress me much there wasn't much to complain about. Everyone was just playing their roles.

Romance
It was warm, pure and lovely. Like you are having a nice hot cup of chocolate milk, cuddled on a soft comfortable bed or cushion😌.
The yearning part wasn't so emphasized and that's a 10/10 for me. It was quite realistic as the author did a good job of showing that that's life. In the real world people move on and date others if you are destined to be with someone and a child of God it will be. Don't try to force it or program it. There was no ridiculous romantic gestures by the protagonists as Rose stopped him from making one that would have ended in future problems and regrets.


In conclusion
Her parents 😕 I don't really get......
I think and hope the author might explore building a parents-child bond between them because if what I read is all we are getting, with no further explanation(s) about their relationship w-e-l-l 🙄.....

My five star isn't because it's such a good book but I believe it deserves a five as the author did not try to do anything grand but just wrote a simple story with a message.
As for Lord Rupert, the next book will determine my feelings about him.

Update: Apparently nothing was said about him in the next book. The author wrapped everything in a happily ever after ribbon and expects us to take it and leave. 😖
4 stars]]> 3.84 2010 The Healer's Apprentice (Hagenheim, #1)
author: Melanie Dickerson
name: Blessing
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2019/12/25
date added: 2020/01/13
shelves:
review:
It's was a smooth read, nothing fascinating or mind blowing just smooth.

Plot
Was Ok

Characters
While the hero's character did not impress me much there wasn't much to complain about. Everyone was just playing their roles.

Romance
It was warm, pure and lovely. Like you are having a nice hot cup of chocolate milk, cuddled on a soft comfortable bed or cushion😌.
The yearning part wasn't so emphasized and that's a 10/10 for me. It was quite realistic as the author did a good job of showing that that's life. In the real world people move on and date others if you are destined to be with someone and a child of God it will be. Don't try to force it or program it. There was no ridiculous romantic gestures by the protagonists as Rose stopped him from making one that would have ended in future problems and regrets.


In conclusion
Her parents 😕 I don't really get......
I think and hope the author might explore building a parents-child bond between them because if what I read is all we are getting, with no further explanation(s) about their relationship w-e-l-l 🙄.....

My five star isn't because it's such a good book but I believe it deserves a five as the author did not try to do anything grand but just wrote a simple story with a message.
As for Lord Rupert, the next book will determine my feelings about him.

Update: Apparently nothing was said about him in the next book. The author wrapped everything in a happily ever after ribbon and expects us to take it and leave. 😖
4 stars
]]> <![CDATA[Unshaken: Ruth (Lineage of Grace, #3)]]> 95610
She gave up everything, expecting nothing, and God honored her.

Meet Ruth , one of the five women in the lineage of Christ. Her loyalty―especially toward her mother-in-law Naomi―helped her to persevere in the face of tragedy, and God gave her a second chance at love. Readers will be encouraged by the truth that God will faithfully provide for His children even when all hope seems lost.

Unshaken is book three in the popular Lineage of Grace series about five unlikely women who changed eternity.

“Francine Rivers spins a tale that’s not only true to history, but satisfying to the heart.”
― Romantic Times

This novella includes an in-depth Bible study perfect for personal reflection or group discussion.]]> 185 Francine Rivers 0842335978 Blessing 0 to-read 4.28 2001 Unshaken: Ruth (Lineage of Grace, #3)
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2019/12/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Unveiled: Tamar (Lineage of Grace #1)]]> 95607
Betrayed by the men who controlled her future, she fought for her right to believe in a loving God.

Meet Tamar , one of the five women in the lineage of Christ. She risked her life and her reputation to be the woman she was called to be. Her story serves as an example of how God uses our circumstances and our steps toward Him, however faltering, to fulfill His plan.

Unveiled is book one in the popular Lineage of Grace series about five unlikely women who changed eternity.

“Francine Rivers utilizes her expertise as master storyteller to unveil Tamar’s saga, a tale of deception, betrayal, and ultimately hope.”
― Romantic Times

This novella includes an in-depth Bible study perfect for personal reflection or group discussion.]]> 192 Francine Rivers 0842319476 Blessing 4 4.29 2000 Unveiled: Tamar (Lineage of Grace #1)
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2019/12/13
date added: 2019/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Unashamed: Rahab (Lineage of Grace, #2)]]> 95609 2001 Christy Award winner!
Book 2 in the Lineage of Grace series by best-selling author Francine Rivers. In her trademark style, Francine tells the compelling story of Rahab from the book of Joshua. Readers will gain a fresh understanding of God's work through the life of this unlikely woman in the lineage of Christ.]]> 176 Francine Rivers 084233596X Blessing 4 4.29 2000 Unashamed: Rahab (Lineage of Grace, #2)
author: Francine Rivers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2019/12/13
date added: 2019/12/13
shelves:
review:

]]> My Utmost for His Highest 175510 400 Oswald Chambers 1586608290 Blessing 4 4.38 2008 My Utmost for His Highest
author: Oswald Chambers
name: Blessing
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2019/11/20
shelves:
review:

]]>