Lily

Song of the River #1

by Diane T. Ashley, Aaron McCarver

Cruise down the Mississippi with Natchez belle Lily Anderson. Needing to provide for herself and her sisters, Lily is desperately trying to make a go of a riverboat venture with co-owner Blake Matthews. But they fail to find anything to agree upon. Blake is enamored of the feisty Lily. Attempts to woo her may be lost to the devious Jean Luc Champney. Will the siren song of the river evolve into a serenade or a somber lament?

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Fiction, Historical Romance

319 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Diane T. Ashley, a “town girl” born and raised in Mississippi, has worked more than twenty years for the House of Representatives. She rediscovered a thirst for writing, was led to a class taught by Aaron McCarver, and became a founding member of the Bards of Faith.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1NFMEZP...
Review on my blog (to be posted 9/12): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

3.5 stars

Lily was a good read that, while I did find it interesting throughout, didn't really "hold" my attention consistently. I liked the setting and the fact that a good portion of the book took place on the steamship, Hattie Belle.

I really liked the characters, which I found kind of surprising because I didn't think that was going to happen at first. My favorites were Blake, Tamar, Jensen, and Lily. I don't know what to think about Camellia yet... so I'm looking forward to Camellia, the next book in the series, which will be about her.

I thought the ending to Lily was great and if the whole book would have been that gripping/good I would have given this book 4+ stars.

A few things of interest in Lily to me was that there were some moments when the Underground Railroad was mentioned, forgiveness was a major theme, and I liked how Lily stuck to her convictions regarding certain things.

Overall, I liked Lily and I'm glad I took the time to read it because it was an enjoyable read. If you enjoy historical novels, I think you might also like the book.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily Anderson is 20 years old and as the oldest of three girls she is trying to watch out for her sisters. Her mother died in a tragic boat accident when she was very young and her father abandoned them. They are being raised by her grandparents and an aunt and uncle. Now at an marring age and with her Grandfather death her aunt and uncle want to see her married off even if its not for love. Lily does not want this to happen and wants to protect her sisters from a similar fate. With out telling anyone she buys(or so she thinks) a steam boat and plans to move her sisters onto it and take care of them while hauling cargo up and down the river.

Lily soon finds out that she actually only bought 51%(controlling interest) of the boat. Enter Blake Matthews, he won 49% ownership from a card game with Jean Luc Champney. He plans to turn the boat into a floating casino and Lily wants to run cargo… While Lily and Blake figure out how to work together and make money Jean Luc secretly plans to find a way to get his boat back even if it means breaking Lily’s heart. Blake at first can’t stand Lily but soon finds himself wanting to make her happy and his heart slowly falling for her. Will an accident keep them apart forever or help them find true love?

At first as I started to read this book I was not sure if I was going to like it but as I got deeper into the story I found myself really enjoying this book and looking forward to seeing how everything worked out.

What I liked: The authors did a great job of developing the characters. The story was also interesting and funny. The banter between Lily and Blake was amusing at times. I always enjoy a book where the female character is strong and bold. The books are always more fun. I also have not read any books about steamboats so that was quite interesting to learn about.

What I did not like: The first few chapters dragged on for me. It was nice that the characters where so well developed but it took until about 25% in for the story line to pick up and get really interesting.

Over all this was a fun book to read and I really enjoyed it. The romance was a good story and the suspense fit well into the storyline with out it feeling like it didn’t belong. I am really looking forward to the rest of this series and getting to know Lily’s two sisters and hear their story.

http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2012/0...

[TW · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me five days to finish this wonderful piece of art. I loved Lily and Blake's journey growing closer to God and learning the meaning of forgiveness.

This is a wonderful book and I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of the series!

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lily and her sisters lose their mother and their father abandoned them they are raised by their aunt and uncle. But Lily never lost her love for the River. She convinced her grandmother to give her the money from her inheritance. Then she purchases an interest in a shipping boat. Convinced to support her sisters and herself, she embarks on a life on the River.
Good clean book. A new author for me. I look forward to more books by her.

[Chelsea Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The relationship between Lily and Blake was a good one and I loved how it was developed and how Lily was strong enough to push him away because she knew that he needed to work on his relationship with God before even thinking about going into a relationship with her.

Jean-Luc did surprise me in the end. Through most of the book, I thought he was a spoiled brat (probably the point but still...) but in the end, I'm glad he was able to take some responsibility and save people from his mistakes.

Lily's relationship with her grandma as well as her sisters and Tamar was a good one as well. As much as she loved her sisters and didn't want them under her aunt and uncle's thumb, I'm glad she was able to let Camellia go.

Finally, I'm glad Lily was finally able to come to terms with her father and start forgiving him. It'll be a hard road for the both of them, but I think they both deserve it.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riverboats fascinate me, and this intriguing story certainly held my attention. I liked the characters of Lily and Blake, and felt they grew in interesting ways throughout the course of the book. Family problems, courage in the face of opposition, standing up for what you believe in, judging character wisely when dealing with someone, clean romance, and a suspenseful ending are all included. One concern I have is that many aspects of this story were quite similar to The River Queen by Gilbert Morris. I hope the interest in riverboats is not going to produce many books that are very similar, as seems to have happened, in some respects, with the Amish fiction.

[Brittney Dods · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by far one of my favorite books! It was so well written and the characters where enchanting! I loved this book so much. I'd recommend this book to anyone =)

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I found this book as a free e-book and discovered that I had already purchased #3 in this series. So being that type of person who has to read books in order, I got it. I'm so glad I did! It was very close to being a 5 star book. For those who enjoy Gilbert Morris, this book felt very similar to his writing (maybe because one of the writers co-wrote with him some). First, there was a lot of Christian content! Some people might find it preachy, but I didn't. God was a big part of many of these character's lives and that was shown in a natural way. I appreciated that. Lily was a strong character and although sometimes she got on my nerves and could be hypercritical, she was trying to do her best for her sisters and she did learn some lessonsin this book. Her faith was strong and she continually relied on God and turned to Him. I loved that she wasn't perfect! Even in appearance she wasn't seen as a beauty. I think there should be more non-perfect-in-every-way characters in books. Especially Christian books. Sorry a bit of a rant there.. :) I also admired Lily for sticking to her convictions! She didn't allow her partner to make their boat into a gambling boat despite the easy money that would have brought in and she didn't give in to being with the man she loved because he wasn't a believer.
I also really liked the setting of this book. I found reading about riverboats and sailing down the Mississippi River fascinating! The other characters were enjoyable as well and I enjoyed reading about them. The romance wasn't rushed, but built slowly over time which made it believable and sweet.
Dislikes: I did find the ending a bit rushed and there was one issue that I wish had been resolved. The fact that it wasn't left the book feeling a bit incomplete. I wish that Blake has reconciled with his family. Especially with his father. He told Lily she should forgive her father and he should have taken his own advice. Also the book ended right after he found Christ and came back to Lily. It would have been nice to have another chapter or epilogue to show it had been genuine and how he changed. We know it was real, but just to show it. For all Lily knew he could have been just saying that so she would marry him. Also there was a bit of lying that I didn't feel was resolved either. Blake kept a couple things from Lily that I feel she should have known. Such as things Jean Luc did.. But that's just me.
One thing I will add is that there were a lot of Christian themes, but there was also gambling and drinking. It was never shown in a good light, but just to let people know.

Overall a great book! I rate it 4.5 stars and I am waiting for book 2 to come in the mail so I can finish the series!

[Kathleen E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thursday, July 26, 2012
Song of the River, Book No. One: Lily by Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver, c2012

Lily Anderson watched the passing scenery from the comfort of her uncle’s carriage. Stately mansions with manicured grounds gave way to the smaller, sturdy homes of local merchants as they traveled toward the Mississippi River. They passed a busy mercantile and several shops before the carriage took a sharp leftward downturn toward the raucous, bustling dock that lay far beneath the genteel residences of Natchez’s wealthy plantation owners and merchants.

Natchez Under-the-Hill. She sniffed the air appreciatively as she disembarked, picking up the scents of fresh coffee, burning wood, and fish. How she loved the river. She barely noticed the disreputable, rickety inns and saloons that sprouted like weeds on either side of the winding road called Silver Street.

Roustabouts slumbered in the scant shade of the ramshackle buildings while a pair of glassy-eyed Indians staggered down the street, each clutching a brown bottle close to his chest. Lily’s eyes widened at their blatant drunkenness, but their presence did not deter her eagerness to absorb every detail of her surroundings as she followed Aunt Dahlia.

Voices shouted in an exciting mix of languages. She wondered how many countries were represented in this one place. . .English, French, German, and even lilting Norwegian dialects. The latter brought disturbing memories, but Lily pushed them away, determined to enjoy her outing on the Mississippi River.

As she and her aunt picked their way past bales of cotton and barrels of tobacco, her gaze absorbed the myriad boats lining the banks. Rugged keelboats and waterlogged rafts butted up against lofty steamboats, each awaiting cargo or passengers to be floated down the river to the port of New Orleans.

The beginning of this book grabbed my interest when Lily is chasing a thief who has snatched her retinue containing an embroidered hankie, made by her younger sister, that is meaningful to her. Right away I wanted it returned to Lily, and ran down the ramp with her! I wonder if the ship captain she meets is going to show up again!

Lily moved down the line behind her aunt and came face-to-face with the Champneys' son, the young man who, according to rumor, was the real reason for today's party. He was said to be a bachelor on the lookout for a compliant wife. Her heart sped as she wondered which lady he would find interesting. --page 14

Lily doesn't sound very compliant to me! Think he better keep on looking!


Her talent lay in her practicality, her ability to watch out over others and steer them from trouble. --page 18

Here I am interested! Lily! I want to get to know you better.

Book Description:
Desperate for financial independence, Lily Anderson has embarked upon a riverboat venture. Will she learn to trust God’s leading or head into disaster? Lily’s partner, Blake Matthews, is initially stymied, then smitten by the Mississippi miss. Can he anchor her heart, or will Lily fall for another man’s wiles?

Cruise down the Mississippi with Natchez belle Lily Anderson. Needing to provide for herself and her sisters, Lily is desperately trying to make a go of a riverboat venture with co-owner Blake Matthews. But they fail to find anything to agree upon. Blake is enamored of the feisty Lily. Attempts to woo her may be lost to the devious Jean Luc Champney. Will the siren song of the river evolve into a serenade or a somber lament?
~*~ ~*~~~~~* ~~~~~*~ ~*~
Blake watched in fascination as Miss Anderson took over. How had it come to this? They had been invaded by a marauding army. An army of females. The enemy forces had taken over the Hattie Belle without firing a single shot. --page 97

And so it begins! Where would you choose to live on this beautiful riverboat? Mr. Matthews is in for surprises it seems, as Lily and her sisters, Camellia and Jasmine, come aboard. Never fear. They have brought their very own chaperone with them. Surprises may be in store for Tamar too.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Back Cover:
A Natchez Belle's Hopes and Dreams Ride on the Mississippi
Lily Anderson longs for a life of adventure, steaming down the Mississippi on a riverboat. But her relatives, wanting her to secure a future for herself and her two younger sisters, are intent on Lily marrying well and foregoing any chance of living out her dream. When a loveless match seems inevitable, Lily makes a last ditch effort to avoid losing her freedom forever by purchasing the steamboat Hattie Belle from the father of debonair Jean Luc Champney--unaware that her precious dowry garners only partial ownership of the vessel.
Roguish gambler Blake Matthew's dreams are finally beginning to take shape after a night of card playing wins him the title to the Hattie Belle. But Blake's brimming confidence in a successful venture is dampened when he meets his new partner--Lily.
As their riverboat enterprise erupts into turmoil, can Lily and Blake discover that God is the One they can count on when all else fails? Will the siren song of the river evolve into a serenade or a somber lament?

This book is tremendously well-written. Experience the shift of the boat beneath your feet, listen to the long toots of the boats, and become aware of the sights and smells along the muddy Mississippi River, as you arrive on the riverboat with them. Especially when they stop off in New Orleans and embark on a journey with friends only God could have orchestrated for them. Due to their imbibing captain, they scrap up on a sandbar and are detained while their riverboat is being repaired.

This is a family story of growth, acceptance, and forgiveness received and given. Love triumphs. Truth prevails. But not without a struggle and perseverance. Trust. Removing misgivings and working together. Lily and Blake must work out their partnership in the Hattie Belle for the good of all, including themselves. I liked this story as they come to know truth that is beneficial and bears facing. Working together, they overcome adversity. I look forward to the second book in this series as they continue adventures on the mighty Mississippi. The secondary characters were developed very nicely.

Biography: Diane Ashley
I'm a town girl from Mississippi who has always loved to read. When I was in high school, I always read my new literature book from cover to cover in the first few weeks of the school year. I have always wanted to write but couldn't figure out how to keep all the details of a book in my head long enough to get from the beginning to the end. Then I found out about an adult education class being taught at a local college on writing a novel from an outline. It was taught by Aaron McCarver, the man who would one day become my co-author. I would like to tell you I wrote a book that semester and got it published, but it took a bit longer than that (10 years.) My brother often teases me about my "overnight success." I encourage you to write if that's your dream. It's not some mystical experience. All you have to do is sit down and write. God will take care of the rest if you follow His leading. He will take you to places you have never even dreamed of. I am enjoying my own journey and counting my blessings. Thanks to my wonderful husband, my patient co-author, and my family and friends, all who believed in me even when I didn't. I hope you enjoy my books and that you find in them a message that transcends earthly matters and reinforces your belief in our loving Savior. God bless you.

I appreciate receiving Lily from Barbour Publishing in exchange for a review in my own words.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A longer read than what I usually read, but it was worth reading all 326 pages. Lily Anderson loved the Mississippi River and always longed to own a boat so she could go up and down the River. But she had family issues to deal with, including taking care of two younger sisters. She felt she needed to get out on her own and not have to live under the rules of her aunt and uncle. But she was determined not to leave her sisters behind, wanting to raise them herself. Lily does buy a riverboat, but finds that she is only co-owner holding 51% interest. Needless to say, the 49% co-owner has other ideas of how to operate the boat, but later is fascinated with Lily's way of doing things, and later cares for her very much, even cares for her sisters. And Lily grew to love Blake, too, but he was not a man of faith, and because of that Lily rejects him.

[Shliss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read much romance, and the last time I did, was years ago, like at least 5+ years. So I didn't know what to expect with this book. I was feeling like reading romance, so I chose a random book off my shelf.

However, I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed. Not that the plot was bad, but rather it seemed more superficial and was more embarrassing than I'd hoped. I wasn't really drawn to continue reading.

On the other hand I was thankful for the clean, kiss-only content, and good morals displayed by the characters.

[Sarah]

Another book I picked up for free years ago that ended up being a dud. There were quite a few things that felt very inaccurate and the story seemed to be meandering without much of a purpose or anything to hold my interest.
Not bad writing, just not an interesting story.

Content notes: mentions of gambling, passing mentions of brothels and men fighting over the same girl, slaves are a matter of course to most of the people in the story.

[Rosalynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like a christian-book version of a chick-flick.

Lighthearted, kinda predictable, but an easy read that didn’t have a bunch of unnecessary garbage.

Would be a good beach/vacay read for something simple and kinda mindless but still interesting. Makes me curious to go on an overnight boat (but not a cruise). Haha.

[Denise Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Book 3.5 stars Interesting characters and a good plot

[Delta]

Dnf at p. 56

[Sharon B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian reading

I love the intertwined Christian theme and praying. Enjoyed the different characteristics of the people involved
and the turn of event for a happy ending!

[Jen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. The passion and dedication of a young woman in the river. I’d recommend this 10/10 over and over again

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver in their new book, “Lily” Book One in the Song Of The River series published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. takes us into the life of Lily Anderson on a steamboat on the Mississippi in 1858.

From the back cover: Natchez Belle’s Hopes and Dreams Ride on the Mississippi

Lily Anderson longs for a life of adventure, steaming down the Mississippi on a riverboat. But her relatives, wanting her to secure a future for herself and her two younger sisters, are intent on Lily marrying well and forgoing any chance of living out her dream. When a loveless match seems inevitable, Lily makes a last-ditch effort to avoid losing her freedom forever by purchasing the steamship Hattie Belle from the father of debonair Jean Luc Champney–unaware that her precious dowry garners only partial ownership of the vessel.

Roguish gambler Blake Matthews’ dreams are finally beginning to take shape after a night of card playing won him the title to the Hattie Belle. But Blake’s brimming confidence in a successful venture is dampened when he meets his new partner–Lily.

As their riverboat enterprise erupts into turmoil, can Lily and Blake discover that God is the One they can count on when all else fails? Will the siren song of the river evolve into a serenade or a somber lament?

When I get to New Orleans one of the first things I am going to do is take a steamboat cruise on the Mississippi. The pacing is slow, there is the sound of the paddlewheel and there is the feeling of romance as you cruise by the cities and states of the South on the Big Muddy. Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver return us to a South that doesn’t exist anymore with absolutely interesting characters interacting aboard a steamboat. Ms. Ashley and Mr. McCarver know how to tell a great story because they have filled it with tension. Blake and Lily do not get along, each one wants something different for the ship and Jean Luc Champney wants the title he lost to the ship back no matter what it takes. On top of all this romance is beginning between Blake and Lily and there is the danger that someone is trying to stop the business that Blake and Lily are trying to build. Many kudos to Ms. Ashley and Mr. McCarver for a truly memorable, fun book, I was sorry to see it end. The good news is Book Two in this series is not far away. And I am guessing that the focus will be on Lily’s sisters. I can hardly wait.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Barbour Publishing, Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Lily by Diane Ashley and Aaron McCarver
5 STARS
A nice read for a sunday afternoon. No bedroom scenes. Deals with
forgivness, independant, freedom, choices, gambling, drinking, slaves
and even the Under Ground Railroad.
Lily is the eldest of three sisters, who have been raised by her grand-
parents. Her Aunt Dahlia & Uncle want her to marry a man their age. She is not
as pretty as her younger sisters. She does not want to be forced to marry someone she does not love.
After her grandfather dies she talks her grandmother to let her have her & her sisters dowery to put in the bank and let the money earn interest. Lily knows
her Uncle has accepted a proposal for her. She goes to a businessman that owns a lot of boats and wants to buy one and run gargo a long the river.
Blake owns a gamblers table and is known for having honest games when a
young man home from Europe comes aboard to gambles and he throws his ownership of a boat in the pot and looses to Blake.
Jean Luc Champney is home from Europe and his family throws him a party on one of thier riverboat Hattie Belle. He meets all the young ladies that are from the best homes. His father later gives him 49 % ownership of the boat.
Jean Luc is disapointed but feels at last his father is trusting him. He goes out to celebrate and ends up gambling away the boat.
When Blake finds he only owns part of a ship and not all of it. He decides to bring a business plan to his partner to keep the ship docked and open it for gambling.
Lily plans to take her sisters and live on the boat Mr. Champney sold her
and take cargo down to New Orleans and up the river as she can get cargo.
So she and her sisters won't have to marry against their will. When she finds Blake at her ship she finds she only was sold 51% not all of it. She will not have gambling on her ship.
Jean Luc's father is disapointed in his son gambling away the ship and he does not want to do business with Blake. So when Lily comes to buy a ship he agrees to sell the Hattie Belle. Jean Luc figures that he can marry Lily and get his ship back. He also arranges things to go wrong for her so that she will turn to him.
Blake figures Lily will get tired of being on the river and he just has to earn enough money to buy her out.
Things get interesting as they learn how to work together. Some surprises happens that add conflict and interest. I enjoyed reading Lily and look forward to reading more from Diane and Aaron in the future.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
06/01/2012 PUB Barbour Publishing, Inc.

[Reet Champion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted here: http://reetchampionbookreviews.wordpr...

All Lily Anderson wants is what is best for her two younger sisters. With their mother dead and father long gone it has been up to Lily to look after her sisters. And no amount of scheming on the part of cold relatives is going to upset her plans. Having grown up on boats Lily is enamored with life on the Mississippi River. So when she purchases controlling interest in the Hattie Belle she is excited with the brighter future ahead of her and her sisters. There is one thing that has put a damper on her plans, however. Blake Matthews, is the co-owner of the Hattie Belle and he would like nothing more than to see the vessel turned into a gambling operation. In between spats with Blake, arguments with a spoiled sister and the behind-the-scenes scheming of the former and irresponsible owner of the Hattie Belle, Jean Luc de Champney, Lily is in for one wild adventure on the Mighty Mississippi.

Well what to say. I honestly hate giving poor reviews. This was an okay read, but not something I would consider going back to. My mediocre opinion of it most definitely has not put me off from wanting to read the next two books in the Song of the River Series.

I was puzzled by a few characters who had little to no impact on the story; a street urchin who pickpockets Lily during the beginning of the story and later makes a reappearance after he is beat up by a group of boys, Lily’s short-time suitor and his two disruptive sons and Jean Luc’s parents. As for the surprising death at the end of the story, it felt like a quick fix to a problem. The story itself was a little slow and not very realistic. I liked that the author had set the story on riverboats, however; being a maritime nut that just naturally drew my attention to this book.

So I’ll go with a rating of four out of five stars.

DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we have not received compensation for our book review of “Song of the River: Lily”.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

first reviewed here: http://belovedgraceful-carissasbooksh...

Title: Lily

Author: Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver

Series: Song of the River

Chapters: 52

Pages: 319

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Romance

Rating: 5 stars

Lily Anderson is a southern belle who doesn’t want to be forced into a loveless marriage. She takes her dowry and buys a steamboat only to discover that she only owns half of the boat. She wants to be able to raise both her sister’s Camellia and Jasmine the way she was raised on board a steamboat.

Lily shares ownership of the Hattie Belle with Blake Matthews a man who is also running from his past. While Lily is on the Hattie Belle she discovers that Jasmine is thriving on the boat while Camellia is actually wilting. Is living on a steamboat really the right thing for her family? Can Lily and Blake let go of the past in order to have a future?

I enjoyed reading Lily, it was a different type of read life on the river and a southern belle. Lily was the first book by Diane T. Ashley that I read. I am looking forward to next book in the series Camellia’s story. Growing up in a river town I have always enjoyed riding an historic steamboat during the summer.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily is a young Southern girl in the years before the Civil War. Her mother was killed in a riverboat accident, and her father abandoned Lily and her sisters. After the accident, lily and her sisters lived with her grandparents, but when her grandfather dies, her aunt and uncle pressure her to marry a widowerer almost twenty years her senior. Aft asking for her dowry money from her grandmother, she purchases half of a riverboat and moves in with her sisters, much to the dismay of the other owner, a riverboat gambler. Negotiating agreements with her parter, her sisters, and the river as well as villains, keeps Lily almost too busy to fall in love and find the path the Lord has chosen for her.

The story is rich with the south and the problems facing the people of the day. Lily's story is fun to read and affirming, especially for the women who has to choose to be alone rather than become unequally yoked. As Lilly attempts to make solid choices in her life, the application of passages of the Bible lift up the Christian reader and help to strengthen one’s choices today. I would recommend this for readers who enjoy historical romances with heroines who look to the Lord for their dtrength. This one is definitely appealing to the heart.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

LILY by Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver is an interesting inspiration Historical Romance set in 1859 Natchez,Mississippi. #1 in the "Song of the River". Meet Lily Anderson, and her two younger sisters, Camellia and Jasmine. Lily dreams of a riding on the Mississippi River on a riverboat and adventure. But her family wants her to secure her and her sisters futures by marrying well even if this means a loveless match for Lily. She sets off to claim her own life and on an adventure of her own by purchasing the steamship Hattie Belle. Oh but things change quickly....enter gambler Blake Matthew,a Rogue and her new partner.....With a bit of faith,trust, lots of turmoil,and the attraction of Blake and Lily, God has his own plans for the two wayward souls. Natchez's Southern Belle meets the Roguish Gambler! Life changes quickly as does our plans. A wonderful read by two authors who are fast becoming one of my favorites. I can hardly wait to see what trouble, young Camellia gets into. *I have already read "Jasmine" and can honestly say what a challenge these Anderson girls are so far,yes I read them out of order.* Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: SWEET

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book from the second I read the description. A girl owning a steamship, what fun! After a slow beginning the book really includes some fun adventures.

Lily does not want to marry unless it is for love. Running away from a proposed loveless marriage she uses her money to buy a steamship. What she does not realize is that money has only bought her half ownership, now she shares the ship with gambling man Blake Matthews. Will they work well together? Will they find love together or will Lily be tricked into a relationship she will not be happy in?

Overall the book was entertaining. I liked the setting, as I have not read many books set along the river like this one was. I thought the characters were described well and their actions followed their personalities. I gave this book 4/5 stars because although the setting was great, some of the dialog dragged the story down.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. A woman in the pre-Civil War error takes her inheritance, buys a river boat, and starts her own business to raise her sisters. But...

I DID NOT LIKE LILY! First of all, it's very unlikely that something like this could have happened during this time period. That aside, though, Lily was a self-centered person. She takes her sisters onto her boat to live without even caring what they may or may not want. I felt so sorry for the sisters! Then she continually throws into the hero's face that she owns 2% more of the boat than he does. She hardly listens to anything he has to say - it's all about her wants, her needs, and her values.

I gave this book three stars because I thought it was an interesting read. I liked the "bad guy" in this story and the conflict that occred surrounding the bad guys. I like the hero. I like the grandmother. I think Lily's character could have stayed strong, but her attitude was just too much for me to take in. She cam off as selfish, not practicing what she preached...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

first book ever by both of these authors but just by reading the back I knew I wanted to read it! I wasn't dissapointed:) I think Lily's attitude was a bit much but I liked the fact that she went out there and did her own thing instead of seeing marrying as her only option! Blake was nice.. if I was him I wouldn't have taken Lily's attitude all that well, although I understand why she wouldn't want to have gambling on her boat but she made sure he knew she owned a bit more of the boat than him and because of that she had final say, on several occasions.
forgiving is not always easy and under the circumstances I think it would be especially hard. but I really think the authors brought it across well how we are to forgive as Christ forgave us. and how freeing it was for them after they had forgiven! I also liked how Lily and Tamar were grounded in the fact they could and would not marry a man who wasn't a Christian even if they were in love with him.
I'm definitely looking into these authors!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set in the pre.civil war period and Lily lives close to the Mississippi River that she has come to love. In order to avoid a prearranged marriage set up by her aunt and uncle, she decides to use her inheritance to buy a steamboat. Unfortunately she is not aware that she had bought only one half of the boat and she must share the other part with a an attractive man, but one who decidedly would rather not be her partner. She and her sisters move to the boat and their lives are enormously changed. Things change too for Lily as she finds that she can trust and depend on her partner to help and protect her and her sisters.
Lots of twists to the plot make it an interesting tale that finally leads Lily to true love.

[Melissa MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part this is a well written and intriguing book. Riverboat books seem to be one of the newest influxes in Christian fiction. I personally find the genre very interesting. The authors held true to historical fact in regards to the rampant gambling that went on on riverboats. It seemed highly unlikely that Lily and Blake could find common ground, rest assured they did. Both characters could have been better developed and parts of the story were rather far-fetched. However, the book kept my attention and I look forward to reading the next installments.

[Maddison Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book of 3 that really make the story come full circle. This one sets up characters and the setting - it sets the tone for the next 2 books. I find the romance unrealistic (sparks flying, electricity shock, deep blushes with one guy - how can it get any more obvious than that??). But I enjoyed the read. I like Lily and Blake's relationship and their devotion to God. There were many unbelievable twists in the story - to be fully revealed in later books, but I found it interesting.

[Crystal Yawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is from: Lily (Song of the River) (Kindle Edition)
This is a wonderfully clean book that i will recommend to all my friends. It had a bit of a slow start, but then turned into a heartwarming tale of a young woman trying to make her way in a mans world while taking care of her sisters and trying to follow gods will.
It's a beautiful tale that emphasis the need for gods love in all our decisions. I will look for more of this author's work.