Before the Scarlet Dawn, by Rita Gerlach

Rating based on writing- 4 stars
Rating based on my enjoyment of the book- 2 stars

Eliza is a woman full of beauty and life.  Living in England in the late 1700s, she is the daughter of a vicar with few prospects.  When a wealthy man desires to marry her, she is brave enough to refuse him based on the fact she does not love him.  The death of her father and the needs of another wealthy gentleman she fancies herself in love with lead her to the Colonies.  Troubles abound with war, Indians and sickness.  With the return of her husband from the war things go very, very wrong...

Well, if I needed to sum this book up in one word it would be...DEPRESSING.  I was pretty interested in the beginning of the book, things started picking up in the middle and then, BAM, everything went downhill.  Yes, I believe this absolutely could have been a realistic look into the life of a woman in the late 1700s, and I (a far cry from a feminist) have a new-found appreciation of the rights and choices that women have.  Like, if I disappoint my husband I will not be left to starve and be rejected by all society and end up destitute and dead.  My personal preference when I read is to have a realistic historical story, BUT a happy ending will come at the end.  Ideally there would also be good things that happened within the book.  Obviously, many enjoy reading these dramas, and I respect that. However, I wish there was a description in the summary that would warn me away from them.  Life, in my opinion, has enough trials and reading (my escape) should be an uplifting experience!

If someone were to be less emotionally involved with the books they read they might find this a very interesting book full of drama and twists, but a true romantic at heart like myself might not quite has the stomach for it. 

The Lady and the Mountain Man, by Misty M. Beller

Rating 4.5 Stars
This was the perfect book to read after two emotional, Amish dramas!!  It was such an easy, but so very enjoyable read.  A woman looking to escape her past answers a mail order bride ad only to find that when she gets there her to-be husband has recently died in an accident.  Have no fear, ladies...he has a brother!  And of course he is tall, dark, handsome and filled with painful memories that only the heroine can help him forget.  Great characters, a strong but feminine leading lady and plot just deep enough to be interesting in the midst of love.  It was completely clean...and Christian, but still romantic.  And believe me, that is a tough line to toe and most can't do it nearly as well as Ms. Beller did.  Brava. 

Levi's Will, by Dale Cramer

Rating 4 stars (out of 5)
Levi's Will was another book  I had ordered and was very anxious to read.  I very much enjoyed his series, The Daughters of Caleb Bender, and was excited that this book contained a character or two from that series.  It may have not been the best book to read after The Choice as they are both pretty emotional and sad at times, but it was beautiful and oh so memorable.  This book touched me and really made me think hard on forgiveness of others at a time I really needed it.  While I would probably not read it again (it's more of a memoir and I don't find those good repeat reads),  I am so glad that I did read it.

Loosely based on the author's father, this story follows the life of an Amish boy who runs away from his community leaving his family and pregnant girlfriend behind.  He joins the military, gets married, makes a bunch of mistakes and learns to forgive, be forgiven and finds the Lord.  I cried in this one...real tears...that hasn't' happened since Where the Red Fern Grows in 8th grade.  Emotional, real, beautiful. 

The Choice, by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Rating 4.5 (out of 5 stars)
What a gem I found in this book!!  Carrie is planning to run away with her Amish boyfriend turned baseball star when tragedy strikes.  Baseball star chooses baseball over her (and what's right if you ask me) and Carrie is left to make a swift choice about marriage to a man she hardly knows.  She agrees to it...and then the ride begins.
I had never read a book by Ms. Fisher and can certainly say I will be looking for more of her books in the future.  The Choice is not your typical Amish fiction and I loved every page.  Well, except when it was really sad, then I didn't love it, but I kept turning those pages! It is free on kindle so there's no excuse not to give it a try!  Just don't plan to get much done once you start reading! 

The Colonel's Lady, Laura Frantz

Rating 3 Stars
So  I was thrilled to get this book in the mail and so excited to read it.  Laura Frantz is so talented and can spin such a beautiful tale.  But...
This book was fine.  Really, it certainly wasn't bad or anything, but i just felt like it never got going until the very end...which was really good, but it was a long time getting there.  However, a look at Amazon proves I am pretty much alone in my thoughts on this book as there are 355 reviews and the average is 4/5 out of 5 stars.  I really think I just might have not been in the right "mood" for this book.  Maybe in the future I'll pick it up again and see if it's different this time. 

Baron of Godsmere by Tamara Leigh

RATING: 4.5 stars (out of 5)

Three feuding families ordered by the king to marry each other or else forfeit their lands, a brave lady who schemes to thwart her enemy and a forced marriage that ends in love.  "sigh" and swoon.  Bravo Tamara Leigh!  You never fail to disappoint.  

Sooo I just finished this and...WOW...just...WOW.  Tamara Leigh is one of my two very favorite authors and I could not wait for this book to come out.  It kept me up way too late and I am so very glad that it is book one of what promises to be a very exciting series!  As a girl who is quite partial to the days of chivalrous knights, Ms. Leigh's medieval fiction never fails to pull me in.  The Baron of Godsmere had a twisty and complex plot that didn't live me bored or confused (I love history, but there better be some drama in there...this IS Christian romance) but instead on the edge of my seat.   This is one I will most definitely be coming back to read again.

Oh, and Ms. Leigh had better write fast...I am dying to know what happens next!!!!

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

RATING: 4 starts (out of 5)

 I had long been awaiting this book on the reservation list at the library!  After reading Lori Benton's first novel, Burning Sky, I am very excited to read everything she write.  I have to admit I liked Burning Sky a bit better, but this one was awesome, too.  Beautiful characters, heartfelt interactions and exciting plot are present in this novel.  

Tamsen is a (beautiful) young woman with a cruel step father who is determined to marry her off to the "right" suitor.  When said suitor seems to be a carbon copy of the horrid stepfather she accepts the help of Jesse Bird (an Indian-raised, frontiersman) in escape.

 This book was SO worth my time.  Lori Benton spins this novel flawlessly.  It was real and beautiful without being cheesy.  And well, who doesn't love a book where a rugged man saves the girl?  Can't hurt for sure!