All Things Beautiful

Uncharted Beginnings #3

by Keely Brooke Keith

It’s 1868 in the settlement of Good Springs, and Hannah Vestal is passionate about writing fiction and keeping her stories to herself. By lantern light she slips into her story world and dreams the adventures she’ll never experience. When her father asks to read her work, she decides to have it printed secretly for his 50th birthday. Hannah tries to arrange the printing with the settlement’s pressman, but the witty and dapper Henry Roberts won’t make it easy for her to prove her writing is worthy of his ink.

If Henry Roberts did nothing else for the rest of his life but print and bind books, he would die a satisfied man. In order to secure settlement support for his printing press, the elder council says Henry must print an error-free copy of the New Testament before the settlement’s 8th anniversary celebration. He is determined to meet their challenge, but when the enigmatic Hannah proves to be a beguiling distraction, Henry longs for something more than a life at the letterpress.

Get swept away to the hidden frontier settlement where love requires sacrifice, faith-filled adventures await, and sweet romance makes people glad to be alive. Read All Things Beautiful today and embark on an unforgettable journey of the heart in this inspirational story.

Genres: Christian Fiction

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2018

About the author

Keely Brooke Keith is the author of the beloved Uncharted series—inspirational frontier-style fiction with a slight sci-fi twist.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing, baseball-loving 80s kid. After a 15-year career as a homeschool teacher, she now enjoys exploring the hidden gems of small-town America on road trips with her husband. Wherever the journeys take her, Keely always returns to her hilltop home south of Nashville, Tennessee, where she dreams up stories about a hidden land.

Join Keely’s email list at keelykeith.com/sign-up so you will always know when the next Uncharted book is available.

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and I love the series of their descendants as well. My only complaint is that I would have loved to see more of the people I've grown to love interspersed throughout this story as secondary characters. There are a few, I just wanted more.

Hannah is a writer and I love the bargain she strikes with printer, Henry, that benefits them both. Of course, there are challenges to overcome, pasts to conquer, and things to prove, especially to this new settlement and to doubting family members.

Keith has a way of delivering a sweet and gentle story that packs a powerful punch to the emotions. I genuinely feel like I am a part of the story and I can vividly picture Good Springs by now. These people are more than characters--they're friends, even if they are imaginary.

Content: very mild romance; very mild religious elements

*I received a copy, which did not influence my opinion*

[Keely Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I've written a writer, so this story was especially close to my heart. I had to be careful to make sure Hannah was nothing like me in personality. Still, there were times when God met me on the page as I wrote this story. It brought me to tears. I hope others are as blessed while reading it as I was writing it. Enjoy Hannah and Henry's story!

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever ignored or given up a dream because you feared you weren’t good enough? That’s exactly the theme of Keely Brooke Keith’s All Things Beautiful.

First of all, let me say that this was my first visit to the Land Uncharted. I’ve heard great things about Keith’s series but until now have not read any of them. That said, at no point in this book was I lost. This book stands well on it’s own.

Hannah Vestal’s deepest longing—one she shared with her mother and a friend who helps her out—is to write. Her main focus is on caring for her younger siblings but she takes any private moment (mostly in the wee hours of the night) putting words on paper.

After a conversation with her father and the encouragement of her friend, Hannah decides to print her book and strikes up a bargain with Henry Roberts. The only caveat? He insists on reading it before determining if it’s worthy to be printed. After all, he’s got an even bigger project to complete.

Henry and Hannah are so cute together! They’re both a little shy, both doubt themselves in their own way, but their attraction draws them together despite their hesitations. And *sigh* that scene of them together outside at the Good Springs dance!

This is a sweet story with a message of overcoming self-doubt to find your true potential. Sure, there are some hiccups along the way, some disappointments, but in the end, those things just make the outcome more rewarding.

Now I’m off to read more about the residence of Good Springs…

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Cindi Klemm · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it. deathbed promises. societys unwritten rules. a clueless father. a man's need to prove he can be successful. words and ideas that are floati g around in Hannah's head just begging to be put down in written word. Hannah struggles to find that balance between all her responsibilites and still be an honorable daughter and still be able to find time for her own happiness.

[Megan Easley-Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of All Things Beautiful. True to its title, this is another beautiful installment in the Land. As a reader, it felt like I was returning to old friends. As an author, I loved that it was about a writer. There's also a very special connection, which I thought was a perfect conclusion to the story... but you'll have to read to find out what it is!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third stand-along novel in the Uncharted series, Keith’s marooned but making the best of it culture at long last has time to invest in events not directly tied to survival—reading for knowledge and pleasure, finishing a library building, developing new material to read, perhaps a way to share news and information. The year is 1868, seven years after Landing. Five and a half years earlier, Hannah Vestal promised her dying mother to put the family first. The oldest in a family which includes two brothers and three sisters, Hannah’s time is controlled by running a busy household. The villagers have sorted themselves into their mutual trades, so each family isn’t responsible for self-sustenance. Hannah makes candles which she can trade for things like paper on which to write her story. Since losing her mother’s encouragement, Hannah shares her story with her friend, the village teacher, Olivia. Olivia helps her find the strength to complete her story and have it printed.

Meanwhile, the printer, Henry Roberts, has exchanged his birthright farming with his younger brother Simon who is more suited to caring for the animals and crops. Their father, who ran the printing press, invested Henry with the press, but Henry had been hurt years earlier while helping build the family barn. Now, with pain in both damaged hand and pride, and two unsuccessful passing love interests behind, he decides bachelorhood is his fate. His almost obsessive-compulsive need for order and realism doesn’t translate to the finest of courtly personalities, and when Hannah, courage screwed on, approaches him for a book publishing deal, his business-like response causes both of them to review their lifestyle choices. With the aid of loving family and friends, Hannah and Henry meet their challenges and come out stronger on the other side. Keith ends this story with a lovely tie-in to the contemporary Uncharted series.

Told through alternating perspectives, All Things Beautiful is a revelation of what matters in life. The story is an exploration of the depth of heart and soul and the willingness to see and grown beyond our capabilities. Well-done. Recommended for those who enjoy historical drama with a faint twist of unusual circumstances. This is a stand-alone story with good set-up of the situation, so readers can jump in anywhere and enjoy any story of The Uncharted stories.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first two books of the Uncharted Beginnings series and was thrilled to sit down again to immerse myself in the community of Good Springs. This story focused on Hannah Vestal and Henry Roberts who are both carry lots of emotional baggage and don’t quite know what to do with their growing attraction to each other. Hannah’s promise to her dying mother to raise her siblings makes her believe she doesn’t deserve a life of her own, and Henry’s injury and past romantic failures weigh heavy on his mind. Once again, the author has created complex and relatable characters who I rooted from the beginning of the story. Their journey to maturation is full of twists and turns, forcing them to look inside as well as try to understand the other. I enjoyed the descriptions of the pioneer-type life. Items must be hunted, foraged, grown, or produced, and the community uses a barter system which I found fascinating. The council system the village uses to govern itself is also interesting. The Land is on an island, so expansion is limited. I will be interested to see where Ms. Brooke-Keith continues to go with this series.

I received a copy of the book from free from the author, and review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.

[A Holland Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this third installment of the Uncharted Beginnings Series. One of the things that I liked the best besides the time period was that it was about writing and publishing books alongside the characters stories. I understood Hannah's wanting to keep her stories private but when she did decide to have them printed I was upset that Henry did not really want to help her. But then again he had his own challenges he was dealing with. Hannah was a determined writing doing whatever she could to get paper and ink - her determination was one of the things I really liked about her. When I started this book I felt like I was visiting old friends and catching up with what was going on with their lives. Even thought this book is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone book. A good historical fiction book with a touch of romance added in.

[Becky Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so captivated by this historical fiction novel, that I couldn’t put it down! This is a delightful look at writing from an author’s viewpoint, well-written with endearing characters who seem like they are actually real people. I loved both Hannah and Henry, and their faith, their good morals, their great courage, and even enjoyed learning more about their professions. This book has excellent, wise advice: “not to let the little things matter too much and not to let the right things matter too little.” And this is so true: “It usually isn’t the incorrect judgments that offend us, but those that contain some truth.” All Things Beautiful whet my appetite to read more of this author’s books, and I would highly recommend this book!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third installment in the Good Springs settlement! I just love coming back to all these people almost as if they are family. The whole story behind their town and how they got there is just the beginning to this series of adventures in love and establishing a settlement. This book is about Henry and Hannah who both have hurdles to get over in order to actually have lives of their own and grow as adults in the community. Hannah is so adorable in her desire to be an author and how Henry reacts to her! It tugs on your heart strings, makes you tear up and gives you the happy ever after you are seeking in a historical romance.

[Natalya · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Things Beautiful – They really are!
I’ve enjoyed listening to the “All Things Beautiful” audiobook, which pulled me in from the first chapter. Hannah and Henry’s story is sweet and heartwarming; it is clearly written, centered on God and relationships. The characters came to life and I immersed in the story (or rather two stories, since Hannah is writing her own masterpiece). It has a beautifully written plot with little twists that pleasantly surprised me. I would highly recommend this book and looking forward to reading more from this author!!!
I received an audio copy from the author; I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really been enjoying this series. Keely does a wonderful job of bringing her characters and her setting to life.

I really loved getting into Hannah’s writers mind. I could relate to the way she thought and developed her story.

Henry was a wonderfully flawed character. I loved the tension between Hannah and Henry.

If you have yet to pick up this book or dive into this series I highly recommend you give it a try. If you love historical romance you won’t be disappointed with this one.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author. All opinions are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah is a amazing young woman. The way she keeps her promise to her mother is truly remarkable. Henry is a great guy but some people don’t understand him and his ways. The characters in this book are all very special people. The author will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I would give this book a higher rating than a five star review if I could. I had the honor to review this book for the author. You will feel God working throughout this whole story.

[Marguerite Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am intrigued with this Land out of reach of the rest of the world, protected and unseen sheltering a group of people having to survive cut off from all that they knew before. Keely Keith offers another glimpse into this world with the story of Henry and Hannah, a printing press, and an aspiring novelist.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written story about a fiction writer. The need for paper and the desire to write stories keeps Hannah pursuing her passion. This story includes love, devotion and courage. A great story. I received a copy of this story and this is my personal honest opinion.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this look back to the beginning of Uncharted Land series. Meeting the original families and the situations they faced is wonderful. Very well written and I was totally engaged from the first paragraph. Highly recommended.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resentment tinged with duty

Hannah will remain true to the promise she made to her dying mother, even as is sucks the life out of her.
Until she encounters Henry, who is mired in self pity’s dark moments. Together they find the bright hope of freedom.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the first two of the series, an easy and enjoyable read.

[BrendaLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about the “Uncharted Land” again. Henry and Hannah’s story was wonderful! I’m thankful I got to read an early copy. The characters were engaging and I enjoyed reading about her writing her novel. I loved that she was trying to finish her book for her father’s birthday because it showed me that her family was important and she was also keeping her promise to her mother.
Henry and Hannah both were very determined even in the face of discouraging things happening. They both were so discouraged at times but with God’s help they picked themselves up and kept going.
I recommend all the “Uncharted Land” Series to my friends that love Historical Fiction and the old ways of surviving and making a living.
I received an advanced copy of this book for free but all opinions are my own.
I would like to add I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator read with feeling and made this book even more real. I’m so glad I had a chance to read and listen to this book.

[Linda Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the journey of young woman in the Uncharted Land.
She is forced into the role of mother for her younger siblings and family,at the death of her mother.
The following excerpt reflect her life. " Writing was her escape,her serenity, her expression of life and love and God's redemptive plan,but at her father's request and Olivia's suggestion,she would soon allow a stranger into her private world. "
I understand because writing and reading has always been an escape for me in a chaotic world.
This is powerful historical fiction with a hint of sci is recommended for fans of all Christian fiction genres.

[Amy Anguish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story where the boy and girl both have to learn about themselves, each other, and how a relationship truly works. I was a little confused because I didn't realize they were in the southern hemisphere until over halfway through the book so the seasons were throwing me off. After I figured that out, it made much more sense. The idea behind the village was interesting and gave the story almost a fairytale feel while the character wrote her own. That was a nice touch.
I received an advanced copy for free, but these opinions are my own.

[Iola]

One of the disadvantages of escaping civil war to find a new home in an uncharted island that can’t be reached using normal navigation systems is the lack of reading material. The only books in All Things Beautiful are those the settlers brought eight years ago.

This could be a problem … Hannah Vestal has written a novel. Not that she plans to tell anyone about her literary efforts. After all, no man would be interested in a woman who dreams up stories. But her father is interested, so she decides to print a copy for his birthday. But Henry Roberts, the printer, has other priorities, like printing a New Testament. He does’t have time to waste on printing romantic fairy tales by someone who fancies she can write.

I’ve enjoyed all the Uncharted stories, but never stopped to think about what they read for pleasure (or even if they read for pleasure). And while I sometimes sigh when I find yet another novel about a character who wants to write a novel, I found I enjoyed Hannah’s writing efforts … and Henry’s efforts to improve her writing. It makes point that good writers need good editors. Most novels focus on the writer. Few give credit to the people who work with writers to bring their words to the world.

Of course, All Things Beautiful is also a romance. And not one that runs smoothly! Hannah has a lot to learn about writing, about herself, and about her role in life. Henry has his own challenges to overcome, not least his disability and the way that’s affected his self-belief. Mind you, we all have lessons to learn in this area!

All Things Beautiful is the third (and, I think, final) book in the Uncharted Beginnings series. These were published after the Uncharted series, but are set in the 1860s. They tell the story of the voyage to the Land Uncharted, and the early days of the settlement. This series is more pure Christian historical romance than the later books. (They have a bit of a speculative element as well). Still, I suspect anyone who reads and enjoys the Uncharted Beginnings series will want to go on and read the later books, even if they don’t consider themselves speculative fiction fans.

Recommended for fans of Christian historical romance. Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.