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Haven Manor #1.5
Kein schlechter Tausch: Kleine Auszeit Roman
Texas, 1890: In der Hoffnung auf einen Neuanfang kommt die junge Ruth Fulbright mit ihrer Tochter nach Hope Springs. Die Anstellung als Köchin in dem kleinen Kurort ist der erste Lichtblick seit dem Tod ihres Mannes und dem Verlust ihres Zuhauses. Doch wie soll sie als mittellose Witwe die Miete für eine Unterkunft in dem wohlhabenden Touristenstädtchen aufbringen? Zwar hat Ruth eine Idee für eine Art Tauschhandel, den sie dem Vermieter anbieten kann – doch wird der sich darauf einlen? Schließlich ist Mr Azlin ein reicher Mann, der sich unübersehbar für etwas Besseres hält …
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2018
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About the author
Karen Witemeyer
69 books4,306 followersFor those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline.
Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.
Karen also loves to reward her readers. Every month she gives away two inspirational historical novels to someone from her newsletter list and offers substantial bonus content on her website. To learn more about Karen and her books, or to join her subscriber list, please visit www.karenwitemeyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 437 reviews
October 10, 2018
Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
What a sweet novella! I read this in one sitting this morning with my coffee, and what a lovely indulgence it was. A Christmas-y feeling permeates much of this story, reminding the reader that it doesn't matter the day, one can always celebrate Christmas. The introduction to the brooch that ties all of the leading ladies together has a touching origin. The romance is endearing and doesn't feel rushed, but fits in well within the parameters and time frame of the story. The tie-in to the Haven Manor series is subtle enough that readers who haven't read the first book won't notice anything, while readers familiar to the backstory will appreciate the nod to those characters.
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
Witemeyer's offering in this collection is lovely as well. Ruth Fulbright is a widow with a seven-year-old daughter - kudos to Witemeyer for writing a winsome yet realistic child - and a bit down on her luck until she is able to put time at her new position as a cook. In her desperate yet determined hands, the family brooch becomes collateral in a business transaction with most wealthy man in town. Beau Azlin may be monetarily wealthy, but he has no family and few friends. Living with a permanent injury to one of his arms, one that made his own mother treat him differently, makes him weary of trusting anyone, especially a woman. Both of these characters enter the story with baggage, but even the backstories felt fully realized and integrated to who they are in the story. Tenderly romantic with endearing characters, this sweet novella provided a lovely way to spend about an hour, creating the perfect foil for the brooch's entry into the family in the first novella.
A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Fleeta Brady has both a unique name and a unique ambition - she wants to work as a gunsmith and has her dream planned out, just as soon as her family doesn't need her anymore. Feeling beholden to her aunt and uncle who took her in a child, she's biding her time until the right moment. When she is gifted the family brooch, she wants nothing to do with the family lore that goes with it. In any case, she can out-shoot and out-hunt any man and feels she can rely on herself. Despite her self-reliance, she is still a very endearing character; to the point but never unkind. Assured but never pushy. I really liked that about her. What begins as a competition between her and a newcomer to town develops into something else entirely. I haven't read the novel that this novellas has ties to, but I followed the story with ease.
Because of You by Becky Wade
I admit, this novella was the one I anticipated most, just because I have such a love for the Bradford sister novels and was eager to be back in their world. These characters are endearing and come across as oh-so-real. After Willow Bradford's model-beauty (I mean, she was a model, nothing against it), Maddie's jeans and t-shirt look was a nice change. Leo's bookish nature won me over immediately, and I loved the parts that were from his perspective. The brooch was mistakenly packed in her parent's attic and only a Christmas project and garage sale brought it to light. I got a chuckle out of Grandma Fleeta giving up "all that folderol" when she married Maddie's grandpa, as it sounded like something her character would have said in the previous novella. But I digress. The issue is that Maddie's dear friend Olivia was married to Leo and two years previously passed away. The plethora of emotions that I would imagine come with falling in love with your best friend's widower are present for Maddie, as is guilt for moving on from Olivia's death. Grief is a strange, difficult thing, and I feel that Wade aptly captures those feelings. Britt Bradford is a fierce friend to Maddie and her biggest fan, and I appreciated the sweet look into their friendship as well. Just an all around endearing, uplifting, and realistically hopeful novella.
I didn't necessarily mention that Christmas plays a role in these novellas, which I'm sure readers gather from the title. I will say that while the holiday itself is the backdrop, but I felt that these were just quality novellas all the way around not just sweet Christmas stories - though they are totally that, too. So, if you are one of those readers that avidly creates a Christmas-themed reading list - or even if you're not - add this charming collection to your list. If you, like me, could use a little more hope in your days (can't we all?), you won't be disappointed. Christmas is just the star on the three, the fruit in the cake, the garland on...well, you know what I mean. :)
I received a complimentary copy of this novella collection. I was not required to post a review, and this review is my honest opinion.
What a sweet novella! I read this in one sitting this morning with my coffee, and what a lovely indulgence it was. A Christmas-y feeling permeates much of this story, reminding the reader that it doesn't matter the day, one can always celebrate Christmas. The introduction to the brooch that ties all of the leading ladies together has a touching origin. The romance is endearing and doesn't feel rushed, but fits in well within the parameters and time frame of the story. The tie-in to the Haven Manor series is subtle enough that readers who haven't read the first book won't notice anything, while readers familiar to the backstory will appreciate the nod to those characters.
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
Witemeyer's offering in this collection is lovely as well. Ruth Fulbright is a widow with a seven-year-old daughter - kudos to Witemeyer for writing a winsome yet realistic child - and a bit down on her luck until she is able to put time at her new position as a cook. In her desperate yet determined hands, the family brooch becomes collateral in a business transaction with most wealthy man in town. Beau Azlin may be monetarily wealthy, but he has no family and few friends. Living with a permanent injury to one of his arms, one that made his own mother treat him differently, makes him weary of trusting anyone, especially a woman. Both of these characters enter the story with baggage, but even the backstories felt fully realized and integrated to who they are in the story. Tenderly romantic with endearing characters, this sweet novella provided a lovely way to spend about an hour, creating the perfect foil for the brooch's entry into the family in the first novella.
A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Fleeta Brady has both a unique name and a unique ambition - she wants to work as a gunsmith and has her dream planned out, just as soon as her family doesn't need her anymore. Feeling beholden to her aunt and uncle who took her in a child, she's biding her time until the right moment. When she is gifted the family brooch, she wants nothing to do with the family lore that goes with it. In any case, she can out-shoot and out-hunt any man and feels she can rely on herself. Despite her self-reliance, she is still a very endearing character; to the point but never unkind. Assured but never pushy. I really liked that about her. What begins as a competition between her and a newcomer to town develops into something else entirely. I haven't read the novel that this novellas has ties to, but I followed the story with ease.
Because of You by Becky Wade
I admit, this novella was the one I anticipated most, just because I have such a love for the Bradford sister novels and was eager to be back in their world. These characters are endearing and come across as oh-so-real. After Willow Bradford's model-beauty (I mean, she was a model, nothing against it), Maddie's jeans and t-shirt look was a nice change. Leo's bookish nature won me over immediately, and I loved the parts that were from his perspective. The brooch was mistakenly packed in her parent's attic and only a Christmas project and garage sale brought it to light. I got a chuckle out of Grandma Fleeta giving up "all that folderol" when she married Maddie's grandpa, as it sounded like something her character would have said in the previous novella. But I digress. The issue is that Maddie's dear friend Olivia was married to Leo and two years previously passed away. The plethora of emotions that I would imagine come with falling in love with your best friend's widower are present for Maddie, as is guilt for moving on from Olivia's death. Grief is a strange, difficult thing, and I feel that Wade aptly captures those feelings. Britt Bradford is a fierce friend to Maddie and her biggest fan, and I appreciated the sweet look into their friendship as well. Just an all around endearing, uplifting, and realistically hopeful novella.
I didn't necessarily mention that Christmas plays a role in these novellas, which I'm sure readers gather from the title. I will say that while the holiday itself is the backdrop, but I felt that these were just quality novellas all the way around not just sweet Christmas stories - though they are totally that, too. So, if you are one of those readers that avidly creates a Christmas-themed reading list - or even if you're not - add this charming collection to your list. If you, like me, could use a little more hope in your days (can't we all?), you won't be disappointed. Christmas is just the star on the three, the fruit in the cake, the garland on...well, you know what I mean. :)
I received a complimentary copy of this novella collection. I was not required to post a review, and this review is my honest opinion.
December 4, 2018
It was while I was reminiscing over my own heirlooms that I came across The Christmas Heirloom, four short novellas based on a Luckenbooth brooch that has been passed down from mother to daughter through the centuries. It was the perfect holiday read!
Briefly, there are four complete novellas centered around the heirloom brooch. In the first, Legacy of Love, we are at the beginning of the brooch's story. Sarah is a companion to a dowager Countess who is dying. It is Sarah's wish to bring her as much happiness as possible during her final days. Sarah's story, as she entertains others on the piano and with her very frank talk, is endearing. As she falls for the dowager's grandson, it would appear that there is no hope of a "happily ever after" ending: a son of a nobleman with a mere companion, but the dowager has other ideas and it is her wish that the two of them find love and happiness together. Her final Christmas gift is bestowing her well-loved Luckenbooth to Sarah. The story is as beautiful as it is uplifting and I enjoyed it tremendously.
The second story, Gift of the Heart, takes us to Texas where Sarah's granddaughter, Ruth, has moved to start over after the death of her husband. All that Sarah wishes for is a good life for her daughter. It's just after the Civil War and there are many poor, out of work people throughout the south but Sarah has found a job in a resort town as a cook at a café. It is there that she fortuitously meets the resort's owner, a recluse who rarely goes out due to a crippling injury. However, this pair bonds over their love for Ruth's daughter and soon that bond turns to love. This is a heartwarming tale of romance and hope and one that I'm sure will delight readers who love romance, faith and hope, especially during the holidays.
As we move to the third story, A Shot at Love, I began to feel a slight shift in the narrative. Because each story is written by different authors, it is only natural that the stories reflect those author's unique writing styles. Fleeta, an unusual name for a rather unusual woman, was orphaned at a young age. Told repeatedly that her mother died of a "broken heart" after Fleeta's father was killed, Fleeta has no use for love or romance preferring, instead, to spend her days hunting and shooting and occasionally doing wood carvings. When she meets Hank, a fellow gun enthusiast, her thoughts begin to shift. Could she actually fall in love with Hank? This was a very well written story and I easily empathized with these West Virginia characters. I am, however, extremely anti-gun and hunting and the story revolves primarily around both. Despite that, the story was written well enough that I did enjoy following the brooch's tale down to Fleeta, a woman so clearly not a jewelry type gal.
The final story was one that I, personally, didn't care for. It is now contemporary times and the brooch was "lost" in the attic until it was discovered by Maddy, a young woman who is gathering items for a garage sale where the proceeds will be used for the family in need whom she is helping. Her partner in the holiday shopping is the widow of Maddy's best friend and the man she has been secretly in love with for years. Their story is a beautiful one and, of course, they find love in the end. There were multiple reasons that I didn't connect with this last story. I'm an historian and the fact that the heirloom meant so little to Maddy's mother, who was quite flippant about it, made me cringe. We had followed the brooch from mother to daughter for years and here was a woman who didn't care at all. It broke my heart. Also, each of these stories are faith based. It's been years since I've read what is now considered "Christian Lit," but at one time it was the only type of literature that I did read. The first three stories had faith and hope at the core of their story lines. This message was beautifully incorporated into the story and was a reflection of these women's lives. By the fourth, however, it became the focal point of the story and was not just about faith but was based on the doctrine of this particular writer. Faith is nearly universal, regardless of your religious ideological beliefs. Doctrine is not. It is specific, not just to Christianity, but to unique beliefs within that Christian faith. Had I not been so involved with the brooch and its story, I would have skipped this last story completely.
Overall, the first three stories are worth purchasing and reading the book. They were incredibly well written and utterly enchanting. If it had just been these stories, I would have given the book a 5 star rating and I still highly recommend the book.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #BethanyHousePublishers for my copy of this beautiful Christmas tale.
Briefly, there are four complete novellas centered around the heirloom brooch. In the first, Legacy of Love, we are at the beginning of the brooch's story. Sarah is a companion to a dowager Countess who is dying. It is Sarah's wish to bring her as much happiness as possible during her final days. Sarah's story, as she entertains others on the piano and with her very frank talk, is endearing. As she falls for the dowager's grandson, it would appear that there is no hope of a "happily ever after" ending: a son of a nobleman with a mere companion, but the dowager has other ideas and it is her wish that the two of them find love and happiness together. Her final Christmas gift is bestowing her well-loved Luckenbooth to Sarah. The story is as beautiful as it is uplifting and I enjoyed it tremendously.
The second story, Gift of the Heart, takes us to Texas where Sarah's granddaughter, Ruth, has moved to start over after the death of her husband. All that Sarah wishes for is a good life for her daughter. It's just after the Civil War and there are many poor, out of work people throughout the south but Sarah has found a job in a resort town as a cook at a café. It is there that she fortuitously meets the resort's owner, a recluse who rarely goes out due to a crippling injury. However, this pair bonds over their love for Ruth's daughter and soon that bond turns to love. This is a heartwarming tale of romance and hope and one that I'm sure will delight readers who love romance, faith and hope, especially during the holidays.
As we move to the third story, A Shot at Love, I began to feel a slight shift in the narrative. Because each story is written by different authors, it is only natural that the stories reflect those author's unique writing styles. Fleeta, an unusual name for a rather unusual woman, was orphaned at a young age. Told repeatedly that her mother died of a "broken heart" after Fleeta's father was killed, Fleeta has no use for love or romance preferring, instead, to spend her days hunting and shooting and occasionally doing wood carvings. When she meets Hank, a fellow gun enthusiast, her thoughts begin to shift. Could she actually fall in love with Hank? This was a very well written story and I easily empathized with these West Virginia characters. I am, however, extremely anti-gun and hunting and the story revolves primarily around both. Despite that, the story was written well enough that I did enjoy following the brooch's tale down to Fleeta, a woman so clearly not a jewelry type gal.
The final story was one that I, personally, didn't care for. It is now contemporary times and the brooch was "lost" in the attic until it was discovered by Maddy, a young woman who is gathering items for a garage sale where the proceeds will be used for the family in need whom she is helping. Her partner in the holiday shopping is the widow of Maddy's best friend and the man she has been secretly in love with for years. Their story is a beautiful one and, of course, they find love in the end. There were multiple reasons that I didn't connect with this last story. I'm an historian and the fact that the heirloom meant so little to Maddy's mother, who was quite flippant about it, made me cringe. We had followed the brooch from mother to daughter for years and here was a woman who didn't care at all. It broke my heart. Also, each of these stories are faith based. It's been years since I've read what is now considered "Christian Lit," but at one time it was the only type of literature that I did read. The first three stories had faith and hope at the core of their story lines. This message was beautifully incorporated into the story and was a reflection of these women's lives. By the fourth, however, it became the focal point of the story and was not just about faith but was based on the doctrine of this particular writer. Faith is nearly universal, regardless of your religious ideological beliefs. Doctrine is not. It is specific, not just to Christianity, but to unique beliefs within that Christian faith. Had I not been so involved with the brooch and its story, I would have skipped this last story completely.
Overall, the first three stories are worth purchasing and reading the book. They were incredibly well written and utterly enchanting. If it had just been these stories, I would have given the book a 5 star rating and I still highly recommend the book.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #BethanyHousePublishers for my copy of this beautiful Christmas tale.
September 30, 2018
This book covers four stories all featuring a beautiful heirloom broach passed down from mother to daughter. The heirloom brings love with it.
Legacy of Love
The first story starts in 1827 Lancashire, England.
Sarah is a companion to Dowager Countess of Densbury. While she doesn’t like much of the dowagers family she is intrigued by Randall Everard. Randal was also curious about Sarah when she first arrived but he’s since determined that she’s just a meek and mild girl.
It turns out Sarah is so much more than he imagined and he finds himself captivated.
Gift of the Heart
This is a cute little read. It takes place in October 1890 in the town of Hope Springs. Ruth Fulbright and her seven-year-old daughter Naomi are starting a new life. After the death of her husband Ruth is desperate. She sells her wedding ring to cover the cost of the stagecoach.
Beauregard Azlin or Bo as he’s known is a rich cold businessman. Or is he?
It turns out Bo isn’t at all what Ruth expects. And Ruth is the kind of woman Bo had given up hope of finding.
Like I said this is a cute read and Naomi is adorable.
A Shot at Love
November 1958 Bethel, West Virginia and Fleeta Brady is a strong woman and an excellent shot. She dresses more like a man and has big plans for the future. None of these plans involve romance in any form. Her mother died from a broken heart and Fleeta is determined that will never happen to her.
Hank Chapin is considering his future, he feels it might be time for a change. Fleeta is unlike any woman he’s ever met before and he finds himself intrigued.
This is another cute little period read.
Because of You
This was probably my least favourite of the four but that’s mainly due to the subject matter. Maddie has loved Leo from the first moment she saw him. She loved him while he dated and then married her best friend. While they had a child together and then in grieving after his wife’s death.
It’s nicely written but I’m just not a fan of any book which features a dead spouse casting a large shadow over a relationship.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.
Legacy of Love
The first story starts in 1827 Lancashire, England.
Sarah is a companion to Dowager Countess of Densbury. While she doesn’t like much of the dowagers family she is intrigued by Randall Everard. Randal was also curious about Sarah when she first arrived but he’s since determined that she’s just a meek and mild girl.
It turns out Sarah is so much more than he imagined and he finds himself captivated.
Gift of the Heart
This is a cute little read. It takes place in October 1890 in the town of Hope Springs. Ruth Fulbright and her seven-year-old daughter Naomi are starting a new life. After the death of her husband Ruth is desperate. She sells her wedding ring to cover the cost of the stagecoach.
Beauregard Azlin or Bo as he’s known is a rich cold businessman. Or is he?
It turns out Bo isn’t at all what Ruth expects. And Ruth is the kind of woman Bo had given up hope of finding.
Like I said this is a cute read and Naomi is adorable.
A Shot at Love
November 1958 Bethel, West Virginia and Fleeta Brady is a strong woman and an excellent shot. She dresses more like a man and has big plans for the future. None of these plans involve romance in any form. Her mother died from a broken heart and Fleeta is determined that will never happen to her.
Hank Chapin is considering his future, he feels it might be time for a change. Fleeta is unlike any woman he’s ever met before and he finds himself intrigued.
This is another cute little period read.
Because of You
This was probably my least favourite of the four but that’s mainly due to the subject matter. Maddie has loved Leo from the first moment she saw him. She loved him while he dated and then married her best friend. While they had a child together and then in grieving after his wife’s death.
It’s nicely written but I’m just not a fan of any book which features a dead spouse casting a large shadow over a relationship.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.
January 9, 2021
Four Novellas are linked by a beautiful broach passed through multi generations from mother to daughter.
Family legacy has the heirloom piece inscripted with each recipient’s initials and the year presented. With the belief that true love is brought to the owner of the pin, it’s treasured for sentiment over monetary value.
The saga begins with ‘Legacy of Love’ taking place at Christmas in 1827. This was my favorite and I shed unexpected tears because of the love of a cranky dowager for her paid companion and her grandson. It was perfect for the holidays as descriptions of snowy landscapes and pine set the scene. Not to mention that the food detailing had me craving for deserts.
In the second story, ‘Gift of the Heart’, a young widow moves to a new town with her seven year old daughter attempting a fresh start after hardship. The year is 1890 and Ruth has sold her wedding ring in order to afford the travel fees but the heirloom will stay close to be given to her daughter one day. How she navigates her new beginning and her mysterious landlord adds heart to the story.
The two other novellas, ‘A Shot of Love’ takes place in 1958 and ‘Because of You’ in present day are compelling and unique also.
I’m normally not a romance reader but I was attracted to this because of the family element. I have a few treasured keepsakes and like imagining my relatives and wondering about their lives. Lovely holiday reading!
Family legacy has the heirloom piece inscripted with each recipient’s initials and the year presented. With the belief that true love is brought to the owner of the pin, it’s treasured for sentiment over monetary value.
The saga begins with ‘Legacy of Love’ taking place at Christmas in 1827. This was my favorite and I shed unexpected tears because of the love of a cranky dowager for her paid companion and her grandson. It was perfect for the holidays as descriptions of snowy landscapes and pine set the scene. Not to mention that the food detailing had me craving for deserts.
In the second story, ‘Gift of the Heart’, a young widow moves to a new town with her seven year old daughter attempting a fresh start after hardship. The year is 1890 and Ruth has sold her wedding ring in order to afford the travel fees but the heirloom will stay close to be given to her daughter one day. How she navigates her new beginning and her mysterious landlord adds heart to the story.
The two other novellas, ‘A Shot of Love’ takes place in 1958 and ‘Because of You’ in present day are compelling and unique also.
I’m normally not a romance reader but I was attracted to this because of the family element. I have a few treasured keepsakes and like imagining my relatives and wondering about their lives. Lovely holiday reading!
December 8, 2020
A charming holiday read of four women tied together by the promise of true love with a broach handed down to them through time. All the stories were good, but I think my favorite was Ruth, Naomi, and Bo. Thoroughly enjoyed these little novellas.
December 12, 2020
Enjoyable collection of novellas that follows the path in time of an heirloom brooch. Its journey begins in 1827 England captured by Kristi Ann Hunter in Legacy of Love. Third son Randall is at loss for what the future holds. Sarah is a companion to his grandmother.
The brooch then surfaces in 1890 Hope Springs, TX (Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer). This is a tale of a young widow's second chance at love. The three main characters, including a spunky seven year old, were easy to love.
Tomboy Fleeta is an atypical heroine of the novella set in 1958 West Virginia (A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin). Her primary goal is to develop an occupation of building guns. She shoots better than any man in the county. Then a man from the south captures her heart.
The final location of the brooch is Merryweather, Washington. I loved that this was part of the Bradford Sisters Series and featured familiar characters. Trademark humor by Becky Wade in Because of You. Maggie has been in love with Leo for years. The problem is that Leo was married to her best friend that is now deceased.
It was lovely to see the brooch travel through the decades.
The brooch then surfaces in 1890 Hope Springs, TX (Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer). This is a tale of a young widow's second chance at love. The three main characters, including a spunky seven year old, were easy to love.
Tomboy Fleeta is an atypical heroine of the novella set in 1958 West Virginia (A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin). Her primary goal is to develop an occupation of building guns. She shoots better than any man in the county. Then a man from the south captures her heart.
The final location of the brooch is Merryweather, Washington. I loved that this was part of the Bradford Sisters Series and featured familiar characters. Trademark humor by Becky Wade in Because of You. Maggie has been in love with Leo for years. The problem is that Leo was married to her best friend that is now deceased.
It was lovely to see the brooch travel through the decades.
December 1, 2018
I enjoyed each of the stories in this collection by four of Bethany House's strong authors! It was neat that they took place in different eras, connected by the heirloom brooch that is passed down the maternal line. With each story I was immersed in the setting and characters, and a full story arc was achieved in the space of a novella. The romances were sweet and full of chemistry between the lead characters, making the stories come to life. This is a collection that I plan to read again in the future! It would also make a lovely Christmas gift for readers and fans of wholesome romance.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
November 7, 2021
A lovely Christmas novella collection to get you in the holiday spirit! Becky Wade’s was my fave but I also loved Kristi Ann Hunter’s!
May 25, 2019
3.5 stars
Cute concept. Most suffered from a bit of the cram-too-much-in syndrome common to novellas, though Witemeyer’s didn't.
Legacy of Love: Kristi Ann Hunter 3 stars
This one was a little difficult for me to get into, but turned out really sweet. It’s about a young woman in Regency era whose future doesn’t look too rosy until a friend gives her the brooch.
Gift of the Heart: Karen Witemeyer 5 stars
I’m still thinking about how sweet and engaging this little story is. It’s by far my favorite story in the book! A widow who’s fallen on hard times and a man with a deformed arm are the stars of this little story, and there’s even a bit of intrigue thrown in. I’ll be rereading this one more than one time. Just another reason why Witemeyer is a top favorite author!
A Shot at Love: Sarah Loudin Thomas 3 stars
I think I just struggle in connecting to Thomas’s author voice. It was good but I didn’t feel any emotions over these characters. I also didn’t like some of the feminist vibes that didn’t quite get dealt with, the idea that children were a burden...obviously the MC later had kids for there to be a fourth story, but I was left thinking perhaps she didn’t really want to become a mom.
Because of You: Becky Wade 2.5 stars
Becky’s shorts are hit or miss for me, either love-love or eh. This one was an “eh” for me. I liked Maggie more as a side character in the Bradford Sisters novels, which was odd for me.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
Cute concept. Most suffered from a bit of the cram-too-much-in syndrome common to novellas, though Witemeyer’s didn't.
Legacy of Love: Kristi Ann Hunter 3 stars
This one was a little difficult for me to get into, but turned out really sweet. It’s about a young woman in Regency era whose future doesn’t look too rosy until a friend gives her the brooch.
Gift of the Heart: Karen Witemeyer 5 stars
I’m still thinking about how sweet and engaging this little story is. It’s by far my favorite story in the book! A widow who’s fallen on hard times and a man with a deformed arm are the stars of this little story, and there’s even a bit of intrigue thrown in. I’ll be rereading this one more than one time. Just another reason why Witemeyer is a top favorite author!
A Shot at Love: Sarah Loudin Thomas 3 stars
I think I just struggle in connecting to Thomas’s author voice. It was good but I didn’t feel any emotions over these characters. I also didn’t like some of the feminist vibes that didn’t quite get dealt with, the idea that children were a burden...obviously the MC later had kids for there to be a fourth story, but I was left thinking perhaps she didn’t really want to become a mom.
Because of You: Becky Wade 2.5 stars
Becky’s shorts are hit or miss for me, either love-love or eh. This one was an “eh” for me. I liked Maggie more as a side character in the Bradford Sisters novels, which was odd for me.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
July 29, 2019
Probably the most unique and cleverly written set of novellas I've ever read! Every set of short stories will have some kind of connecting theme, but this has knocked it out of the park!
Starting with Kristi Ann Hunter's story, set in late 18th century England. The beginnings of the journey of the heirloom brooch, that will find itself being passed through the generations, right through to present day. It will cross the Atlantic, and see life through every kind of hardship and sweet joy.
There's a legend, is it true? You'll have to read these books and decide for yourself.
Extremely engaging stories, each one intertwined by a family connected by blood. Women willing to hang on tight to the brooch, not for its physical value, but for what it represents. Overwhelmingly, the love that comes into each of their hearts. A gift from God.
Becky Wade completes the set, and oh boy does she bring this to a climatic conclusion! I could not put this down. The sheer talent in her writing is something else. Every thought process, every emotion is there for the feeling. You can practically smell the pine trees.
A great Christmas time read to rival anything you may have read before.
I received a complimentary eARC from Bethany House & Netgalley. This is my honest review.
Starting with Kristi Ann Hunter's story, set in late 18th century England. The beginnings of the journey of the heirloom brooch, that will find itself being passed through the generations, right through to present day. It will cross the Atlantic, and see life through every kind of hardship and sweet joy.
There's a legend, is it true? You'll have to read these books and decide for yourself.
Extremely engaging stories, each one intertwined by a family connected by blood. Women willing to hang on tight to the brooch, not for its physical value, but for what it represents. Overwhelmingly, the love that comes into each of their hearts. A gift from God.
Becky Wade completes the set, and oh boy does she bring this to a climatic conclusion! I could not put this down. The sheer talent in her writing is something else. Every thought process, every emotion is there for the feeling. You can practically smell the pine trees.
A great Christmas time read to rival anything you may have read before.
I received a complimentary eARC from Bethany House & Netgalley. This is my honest review.
October 19, 2018
The Heirloom is a collection of four delightful novellas. While each are set during Christmas, there is nothing to stop you enjoying this collection all year round. From a story set during the Georgian era to contemporary story, these four novellas span many generations of women following their dreams and their hearts.
Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
This is the first of Kristi Ann Hunter’s works that I have read. I don’t usually read books set during the Georgian era, but I found Legacy of Love was one of my favourite novellas in this collection. Legacy of Love sets the heirloom’s legacy into motion. Sarah, the main character, is a companion to Dowager Lady Densbury. When in front of the Dowager’s wider family, Sarah plays the role of meek, boring companion, yet she is a strong and forthright young lady. When she speaks out against the family to protect her mistress, Sarah captures the eye of the Earl’s third and youngest son. As Sarah and Randall work together to ensure the Dowager enjoys her Christmas, they find they have more in common then they first realised. Legacy of Love is a sweet, romantic and charming story. I loved Sarah. Loved her strength, gumption and desire to stick up for what she believes in. If Hunter writes all her protagonists with the same fire, I can guarantee that Legacy of Love will not be the last of her works I will enjoy.
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
I adore everything that Karen Witemeyer has penned and her novella Gift of the Heart was the major draw card for me to pick up this collection. A story of a second chance at love, of children, and acceptance, Gift of the Heart is set in America just after the Civil War. Ruth Fullbright has already known love and tragic loss. Now she and her young daughter are relocating to Hope Springs to start a new life. With limited funds, Ruth must convince the biggest businessman in town, Beauregard Azlin that she is reliable and worthy of an advance in her rent. But Bo is not the aloof and harsh businessman he at first seems, and before long Bo finds himself drawn to the strong and principled Mrs Fullbright and her vivacious daughter. Full of laughter and love, Gift of the Heart was my favourite novella in this collection and a delight to read.
A Shot at Love - Sarah Loudin Thomas
Thomas’ books have been on my to-read list for a while now but A Shot At Love is the first time I’ve read anything by this talented author. A Shot At Love is a fun novella, with a fantastic lead character. Fleeta would much rather be out hunting or designing guns than ever donning a fancy gown or trying to capture the eye of a gentleman. When her aunt gives her a family heirloom rumoured to bring the beholder true love, Fleeta couldn’t be more skeptical. But when a friend of a friend is passing through town, she (through a bit of healthy competition and a shared love of fine weaponry), finds herself just a little bit drawn to the charming Hank Chapin. But Fleeta is determined not to let attraction get in the way her chance to finally follow her dreams of becoming a gunsmith. While there were a few loose ends at the end of A Shot At Love, it was impossible not to be drawn to Fleeta and her dertermination to love her life on her own terms.
Because of You - Becky Wade
Chocolate, unrequited love, Christmas shopping and happy endings. Maddie Winslow has loved Leo Donnelly since she first met him. But he started dating, fell in love with and married her best friend. For years, Maddie watched from afar and tried to get her heart under control. Leo, now widowed, and his young son have moved back to town and he and Maddie are paired to work together on the church’s Christmas mission project. Spending time together might be a challenge for Maddie, but for Leo it is an eye-opening experience that his second chance at love might be right in front of him. While I didn’t love this story as much as I have enjoyed books by Becky Wade in the past, mostly because I just didn’t click with Maddie, I did enjoy Leo’s side of the story.
While each of the four novellas are part of larger series, they can each be read as standalones. Perfect for fans of each of the writers or for readers looking to discover new authors, The Heirloom is a delightful collection.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
This is the first of Kristi Ann Hunter’s works that I have read. I don’t usually read books set during the Georgian era, but I found Legacy of Love was one of my favourite novellas in this collection. Legacy of Love sets the heirloom’s legacy into motion. Sarah, the main character, is a companion to Dowager Lady Densbury. When in front of the Dowager’s wider family, Sarah plays the role of meek, boring companion, yet she is a strong and forthright young lady. When she speaks out against the family to protect her mistress, Sarah captures the eye of the Earl’s third and youngest son. As Sarah and Randall work together to ensure the Dowager enjoys her Christmas, they find they have more in common then they first realised. Legacy of Love is a sweet, romantic and charming story. I loved Sarah. Loved her strength, gumption and desire to stick up for what she believes in. If Hunter writes all her protagonists with the same fire, I can guarantee that Legacy of Love will not be the last of her works I will enjoy.
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
I adore everything that Karen Witemeyer has penned and her novella Gift of the Heart was the major draw card for me to pick up this collection. A story of a second chance at love, of children, and acceptance, Gift of the Heart is set in America just after the Civil War. Ruth Fullbright has already known love and tragic loss. Now she and her young daughter are relocating to Hope Springs to start a new life. With limited funds, Ruth must convince the biggest businessman in town, Beauregard Azlin that she is reliable and worthy of an advance in her rent. But Bo is not the aloof and harsh businessman he at first seems, and before long Bo finds himself drawn to the strong and principled Mrs Fullbright and her vivacious daughter. Full of laughter and love, Gift of the Heart was my favourite novella in this collection and a delight to read.
A Shot at Love - Sarah Loudin Thomas
Thomas’ books have been on my to-read list for a while now but A Shot At Love is the first time I’ve read anything by this talented author. A Shot At Love is a fun novella, with a fantastic lead character. Fleeta would much rather be out hunting or designing guns than ever donning a fancy gown or trying to capture the eye of a gentleman. When her aunt gives her a family heirloom rumoured to bring the beholder true love, Fleeta couldn’t be more skeptical. But when a friend of a friend is passing through town, she (through a bit of healthy competition and a shared love of fine weaponry), finds herself just a little bit drawn to the charming Hank Chapin. But Fleeta is determined not to let attraction get in the way her chance to finally follow her dreams of becoming a gunsmith. While there were a few loose ends at the end of A Shot At Love, it was impossible not to be drawn to Fleeta and her dertermination to love her life on her own terms.
Because of You - Becky Wade
Chocolate, unrequited love, Christmas shopping and happy endings. Maddie Winslow has loved Leo Donnelly since she first met him. But he started dating, fell in love with and married her best friend. For years, Maddie watched from afar and tried to get her heart under control. Leo, now widowed, and his young son have moved back to town and he and Maddie are paired to work together on the church’s Christmas mission project. Spending time together might be a challenge for Maddie, but for Leo it is an eye-opening experience that his second chance at love might be right in front of him. While I didn’t love this story as much as I have enjoyed books by Becky Wade in the past, mostly because I just didn’t click with Maddie, I did enjoy Leo’s side of the story.
While each of the four novellas are part of larger series, they can each be read as standalones. Perfect for fans of each of the writers or for readers looking to discover new authors, The Heirloom is a delightful collection.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
December 30, 2020
Pilnīgi noteikti pareizā izvēle, ar ko nobeigt Ziemassvētku lubeņu lasīšanas (klausīšanās) periodu - grāmata, kurā apkopotas veselas 4 tādas. Visi 4 ir vienlīdz jauki stāsti - saldi un tieši tik paredzami, kā es to pati vēlos, bet tomēr netiekšu, ka izmatotas visizplatītākās receptes (neviena Ziemassvētkus nīstoša lielpilsētas juriste neatgriezās mazpilsētā :) ). Personīgi man ļoti patika ideja, ka katrs no tiem notiek pavisam citā vēstures periodā un apstākļos un kā vienojošais faktors ir broša, ko visas varones saņem manotjumā, tādejādi tas, ka katram stāstam ir cita autore, un līdz ar to arī mainās (nedaudz, bet tomēr) rakstības stils, liekas ļoti pamatoti. Katrs stāsts varētu pastāvēt arī pats par sevi, bet ir jauki, ja tie seko viens otram, apstirprinot, ka iepriekšējiem bijis "ilgi un laimīgi", kaut viņus vien piemin, nevis sastopi atkārtoti. Nu un šoriez tas, ka visis ir stāsti, nevis romani ir pluss, jo neviens nepagūst izplūst nevajadzīgā drāmā, intrigās vai liekvārdībā, viss noteik ātri un dinamiski - ja ir, tad ir.
October 13, 2018
I don’t always go for novella collections, partly because the stories tend to meld together in my mind after I've read a couple of them, but there’s absolutely no chance of that happening with this collection. Each of these stories is set in a distinctly different time and place: England, 1827; Texas, 1890; West Virginia, 1958; and modern-day Washington. Each of the heroines also has a very distinctive voice, from the gun-toting Fleeta Brady: “She wanted to be a gunsmith. To take care of her family. And now she was supposed to fall in love too?” right through to Maddie Winslow, who “met the man of her dreams the same day that her friend Olivia introduced Maddie to her new boyfriend. Which would have been splendid, except that the man of Maddie’s dreams was Olivia’s new boyfriend.”
In fact, the only difficulty I DO have with this collection is in trying to decide which of these novellas was my favourite. Was it the first, with the elderly matchmaker who went to the trouble of handpicking a bride for her (unsuspecting) favourite grandson? Or the second book, with the wealthy and aloof (but actually rather soft-hearted) Bo Azlin, who can’t help but be fascinated by a hardworking widow, her charming daughter, and the furry miscreant who moves in despite his objections. And I’ve already mentioned feisty Fleeta and moonstruck Maddie from books three and four. Each romance was perfectly paced for the novella format, very engaging, and had just the right level of sweetness to produce a sigh of contentment at the final paragraph.
Okay, so maybe the second novella just sneaked over the line ahead of the others, (I did form a bit of a soft spot for Bo Azlin) but seriously, they were all delightful reads. So I guess it’s going to be up to you to read them for yourself to see if YOU can work out which one is your favourite.
I received a copy of this collection from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
In fact, the only difficulty I DO have with this collection is in trying to decide which of these novellas was my favourite. Was it the first, with the elderly matchmaker who went to the trouble of handpicking a bride for her (unsuspecting) favourite grandson? Or the second book, with the wealthy and aloof (but actually rather soft-hearted) Bo Azlin, who can’t help but be fascinated by a hardworking widow, her charming daughter, and the furry miscreant who moves in despite his objections. And I’ve already mentioned feisty Fleeta and moonstruck Maddie from books three and four. Each romance was perfectly paced for the novella format, very engaging, and had just the right level of sweetness to produce a sigh of contentment at the final paragraph.
Okay, so maybe the second novella just sneaked over the line ahead of the others, (I did form a bit of a soft spot for Bo Azlin) but seriously, they were all delightful reads. So I guess it’s going to be up to you to read them for yourself to see if YOU can work out which one is your favourite.
I received a copy of this collection from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 12, 2018
What an absolutely delightful novella collection! I loved how perfectly the brooch was woven into each of the novellas! I adored every single one of these stories and highly recommend The Christmas Heirloom!
Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
This adorable novella drew me in from the first page and didn't let go!
I absolutely loved Sarah and Randall's story! The dowager Countess of Densbury quickly became a favorite secondary character. Kristi's writing was fantastic as always and I absolutely loved every moment of this novella!
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
I always adore Karen's books and this novella was no exception! Ruth and Bo were such fabulous main characters, and little Naomi and her matchmaking cat Teddy were absolutely delightful and made me laugh out loud numerous times! Every single word of this novella was phenomenal and I hated to see it end, but as usual when I finish one of Karen's books a sigh of happiness left my grinning lips when I turned the final page!
A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas
This was such a cute novella, I loved it even more than I was expecting to! Seeing as I am not super girly myself I love to read stories about grown up tomboys, and I found myself relating to Fleeta in a number of ways! I loved the voice that this story is written in, it's just so entertaining and all around fun to read! I loved the ending, and the story was an absolute pleasure to read! I don't often read stories set in the 1950's but I will definitely be reading more of this author's work in the future!
Because of You by Becky Wade
This novella was absolutely fantastic! Maddie and Leo were great characters. I found myself relating to Maddie quite a bit, and I loved Leo's quiet reserve and bookishness! I'm a huge fan of Les Mis and I LOVED that it was mentioned in the story, so awesome! I was swept away into this story on page one and I loved every single second I spent reading it! Total awesomeness from beginning to end!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and author Kristi Ann Hunter, which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
This adorable novella drew me in from the first page and didn't let go!
I absolutely loved Sarah and Randall's story! The dowager Countess of Densbury quickly became a favorite secondary character. Kristi's writing was fantastic as always and I absolutely loved every moment of this novella!
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
I always adore Karen's books and this novella was no exception! Ruth and Bo were such fabulous main characters, and little Naomi and her matchmaking cat Teddy were absolutely delightful and made me laugh out loud numerous times! Every single word of this novella was phenomenal and I hated to see it end, but as usual when I finish one of Karen's books a sigh of happiness left my grinning lips when I turned the final page!
A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas
This was such a cute novella, I loved it even more than I was expecting to! Seeing as I am not super girly myself I love to read stories about grown up tomboys, and I found myself relating to Fleeta in a number of ways! I loved the voice that this story is written in, it's just so entertaining and all around fun to read! I loved the ending, and the story was an absolute pleasure to read! I don't often read stories set in the 1950's but I will definitely be reading more of this author's work in the future!
Because of You by Becky Wade
This novella was absolutely fantastic! Maddie and Leo were great characters. I found myself relating to Maddie quite a bit, and I loved Leo's quiet reserve and bookishness! I'm a huge fan of Les Mis and I LOVED that it was mentioned in the story, so awesome! I was swept away into this story on page one and I loved every single second I spent reading it! Total awesomeness from beginning to end!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and author Kristi Ann Hunter, which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
September 8, 2018
As the author of one of the stories this was an extra fun book for me. While we collaborated on the overall stories, the details were left to each author. Reading the stories before mine was like hitting a gold mine of ancestry information and the story after mine was a peek into the future. That alone made this a favorite book of the year!
December 28, 2019
I thought this was a fun collection of Christmas novellas. I liked how they all intertwined through a special piece of jewelry, and the reader was able to see how it was passed down from mother to daughter through several generations. This collection had a nice balance of depth and light-heartedness to it, and I feel as though it could be enjoyed, not only at Christmas, but any time of the year.
Read
December 4, 2020This collection just isn’t for me (at the moment). The only novella I read completely was Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer & it was SO great! ⭐️ I felt at home with the characters from page one & immediately was into the story. I love wounded heroes (that’s nothing new 😂) & the mysterious Beau is one great hero. I love the name Beauregard so that is a major bonus for me. This story was romantic, yet realistic. It had that cozy winter feeling surrounding it. With all Witemeyer novellas I read my only complaint is that they’re just not long enough for me 😜! I listened to it on audio & I loved the narrator’s southern accent for Ruth- it was perfect!
Confession:I started the first novella & wasn’t in the mood. I plan on reading this series at a later date so I may come back to it. I just couldn’t get into it.
I was going to start the other two but my historical loving heart just doesn’t want to read anything post 1900. Sorry 😢
This cover is magical, absolutely love it😍
Confession:I started the first novella & wasn’t in the mood. I plan on reading this series at a later date so I may come back to it. I just couldn’t get into it.
I was going to start the other two but my historical loving heart just doesn’t want to read anything post 1900. Sorry 😢
This cover is magical, absolutely love it😍
December 7, 2021
Such a cute collection of Christmas stories! I really enjoyed all them - the characters and the romances developed at such a great pace and left me feeling so cozy. If you love these authors, you are sure to love these Christmas stories.
July 20, 2025
I don't read a ton of novellas but I'm fond of Christmas collections and these stories do justice to that beautiful cover. I love the heirloom brooch connection to all four stories and the way we get to follow it through the generations.
Loved the opportunity to time travel with four of my favourite authors, savoring spectacular love stories that span centuries. Each one reads like a full length novel with all the complexities of character and plot. Think toe-curls and swoons time four! Leaves a romantical reader kinda breathless! And you can't beat four happily-ever-after Christmas themed love stories to get you in the holiday spirit! A perfect pre-Christmas gift for any avid reader on your list (including you!)
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/07/20/t...
Loved the opportunity to time travel with four of my favourite authors, savoring spectacular love stories that span centuries. Each one reads like a full length novel with all the complexities of character and plot. Think toe-curls and swoons time four! Leaves a romantical reader kinda breathless! And you can't beat four happily-ever-after Christmas themed love stories to get you in the holiday spirit! A perfect pre-Christmas gift for any avid reader on your list (including you!)
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/07/20/t...
October 3, 2018
This is an utterly charming collection of Christmas stories by some of my all time favorite authors. Spanning multiple generations of a family with a broach handed down from mother to daughter made for some enjoyable stories and characters to meet along the way. Most of the stories have connections to the authors series, so to see the tie-ins there was completely fun. From England in the 1820's to present day Washington, there is a story for everyone and with the sweetness of Christmas thrown in to the mix, this collection is not to be missed!
I received this book from the author and publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book from the author and publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
October 6, 2018
What a treasure trove collection of stories! I love the over-arching theme of following along the journey a family heirloom takes—a luckenbooth brooch given to four generations. Legend has it that whoever owns this brooch will find true love! First passed down to Sarah Gooding in 1827 from Lady Densbey who in turn, introduced her grandson, thus starting a chain reaction that spanned the years to our own modern day! I really enjoyed this because I not only read four love stories, but they were all Christmas themed to boot! While I can't really fathom that the holidays are just around the corner again, I love an early start to my favorite season in the pages of a book. While each of these stories are novella length, they neither lacked depth nor felt rushed. I think they are perfect for times when a reader can only carve out a small chunk of their day to read. I also discovered a new-to-me author in Sarah Loudin Thomas and will be searching out more books written by her. That's the other thing I love, meeting new authors through collections such as this! All of these stories are wonderful and all were my favorite; not one of them stood out above the other. That being said, I will do a short review on Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer.
Gift of the Heart
Since my favorite Biblical story is Ruth and Naomi, this held a special place in my heart. I really enjoyed the nod to scripture. Widow Ruth Fulbright & her daughter Naomi relocate to Hope Springs, Texas two years after her husbands death. Taking the job as a cook at the Homespun Cafe, she hopes to start a better life for her and her daughter. In the meantime, she meets her landlord, Beaurgard Azlin—or Bo for short. Thus begins their happily-ever-after story, and while this may sound too perfect, it has a few rocky places they both must navigate. Ruth is good for Bo in boosting his self-confidence and in return, Bo is good for Ruth in resurrecting feelings she thought buried with her husband. Naomi is the glue that binds them together! I love her spunky spirit, her childlike view of the world and her compassion for one stray cat lovingly nicknamed Teddy. Talking about the tabby, he contributes his own quirkiness and personality to the mix. A mish-mash family who's love-story is hard earned and has a satisfying end. Witemeyer inserts her trademark humor that had me laughing out loud in quite a few spots & her characters are ones I would have enjoyed meeting. Too bad it's not real because I could make a life in Hope Springs myself! A delightful story with a Biblical twist.
*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House on behalf of the authors and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
Gift of the Heart
Since my favorite Biblical story is Ruth and Naomi, this held a special place in my heart. I really enjoyed the nod to scripture. Widow Ruth Fulbright & her daughter Naomi relocate to Hope Springs, Texas two years after her husbands death. Taking the job as a cook at the Homespun Cafe, she hopes to start a better life for her and her daughter. In the meantime, she meets her landlord, Beaurgard Azlin—or Bo for short. Thus begins their happily-ever-after story, and while this may sound too perfect, it has a few rocky places they both must navigate. Ruth is good for Bo in boosting his self-confidence and in return, Bo is good for Ruth in resurrecting feelings she thought buried with her husband. Naomi is the glue that binds them together! I love her spunky spirit, her childlike view of the world and her compassion for one stray cat lovingly nicknamed Teddy. Talking about the tabby, he contributes his own quirkiness and personality to the mix. A mish-mash family who's love-story is hard earned and has a satisfying end. Witemeyer inserts her trademark humor that had me laughing out loud in quite a few spots & her characters are ones I would have enjoyed meeting. Too bad it's not real because I could make a life in Hope Springs myself! A delightful story with a Biblical twist.
*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House on behalf of the authors and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
January 5, 2019
Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
Delightful and a nice start to the series, I especially enjoyed seeing the characters learn their worth and find an unexpected connection in this story.
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
Though this was a novella, I thought it a well fleshed-out story in a very believable timeline. With Karen’s usual humor and endearing characters, this story takes a hero who would consider himself unlikely and pairs him with a darling little girl and a strong woman who never expected a second chance at love.
A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas
I laughed out loud more than once while reading this story. Fleeta’s penchant for outshooting the boys was hilarious and an outward show of her fortitude. I liked Hank as her match, a man who respected her and was equal to the challenge of showing her his care. I really liked the setting of 1950s Appalachia, too.
Because of You by Becky Wade
This novella ties in to Becky’s “Bradford Sisters Romance” series in setting. Besides the fun cameos of familiar characters, this story wonderfully concluded the collection with a friendship-to-romance plot that touched on the nostalgia of the season but focused more on the joy in serving. It also handled themes of grief in a very real and tangible way, having both Leo and Maddie come to terms with honoring the past and choosing joy and good things for the future. It ended with great possibility, not with everything worked out. and I liked that.
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.
Delightful and a nice start to the series, I especially enjoyed seeing the characters learn their worth and find an unexpected connection in this story.
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
Though this was a novella, I thought it a well fleshed-out story in a very believable timeline. With Karen’s usual humor and endearing characters, this story takes a hero who would consider himself unlikely and pairs him with a darling little girl and a strong woman who never expected a second chance at love.
A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas
I laughed out loud more than once while reading this story. Fleeta’s penchant for outshooting the boys was hilarious and an outward show of her fortitude. I liked Hank as her match, a man who respected her and was equal to the challenge of showing her his care. I really liked the setting of 1950s Appalachia, too.
Because of You by Becky Wade
This novella ties in to Becky’s “Bradford Sisters Romance” series in setting. Besides the fun cameos of familiar characters, this story wonderfully concluded the collection with a friendship-to-romance plot that touched on the nostalgia of the season but focused more on the joy in serving. It also handled themes of grief in a very real and tangible way, having both Leo and Maddie come to terms with honoring the past and choosing joy and good things for the future. It ended with great possibility, not with everything worked out. and I liked that.
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.
December 31, 2018
This was a wonderful book. I wish I would have had a chance to review it when I first finished it, I was on a short vacation with my family.
This is a romance that spans generations. It starts with a Dowager who passes along a locket she received from her husband when they were married. She gives it to her Lady's Companion, who marries her grandson. The locket is passed on to through the maternal line. It brings love into the lives of the women who receive it.
Each story was well written and a joy to read.
Source: I requested a copy through netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This is a romance that spans generations. It starts with a Dowager who passes along a locket she received from her husband when they were married. She gives it to her Lady's Companion, who marries her grandson. The locket is passed on to through the maternal line. It brings love into the lives of the women who receive it.
Each story was well written and a joy to read.
Source: I requested a copy through netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 25, 2018
Kristi Ann Hunter starts out the novellas with “Legacy of Love.” It was a wonderful tale. I loved the spunky grandma who liked to really live and have fun while her family tried to ignore her scandalous behavior. Her companion doesn’t realize grandma is also a matchmaker. I laughed out loud and cried just as hard. The three main characters were developed so beautifully. I really came to care for them.
In “Gift of the Heart” by Karen Witemeyer, a little girl stole my heart with her funny ways and open-hearted love for others, particularly for the man who’s trying to hide away to protect himself and others from discomfort. I appreciated how both Ruth and Bo were willing to step out and take a risk.
My husband is a gun enthusiast and would love all the details in “A Shot at Love” by Sarah Loudin Thomas. When Fleeta is given the heirloom brooch, she can’t figure out why her mama would want to wish love on her. She has no time for a man. When a man who loves guns as much as she does comes along, she questions whether she might just need to change her mind. I appreciated that this story felt a little different. It was refreshing.
Maddie’s response, in “Because of You” by Becky Wade, is the opposite of Fleeta’s. “You mean to tell me that a brooch that might have the power to bring true love into my life has been gathering dust under baby blankets?” (location 4996). She’ll take all the help she can get if it will open Leo’s eyes to seeing her in a different way. It was a sweet story of healing and new love born out of a deep friendship.
These four stories are loosely tied together by an heirloom brooch that is passed down through the generations, so each story is set in a different time and place. I enjoyed the connection and seeing how love looks a little different for everybody connected with the brooch.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
In “Gift of the Heart” by Karen Witemeyer, a little girl stole my heart with her funny ways and open-hearted love for others, particularly for the man who’s trying to hide away to protect himself and others from discomfort. I appreciated how both Ruth and Bo were willing to step out and take a risk.
My husband is a gun enthusiast and would love all the details in “A Shot at Love” by Sarah Loudin Thomas. When Fleeta is given the heirloom brooch, she can’t figure out why her mama would want to wish love on her. She has no time for a man. When a man who loves guns as much as she does comes along, she questions whether she might just need to change her mind. I appreciated that this story felt a little different. It was refreshing.
Maddie’s response, in “Because of You” by Becky Wade, is the opposite of Fleeta’s. “You mean to tell me that a brooch that might have the power to bring true love into my life has been gathering dust under baby blankets?” (location 4996). She’ll take all the help she can get if it will open Leo’s eyes to seeing her in a different way. It was a sweet story of healing and new love born out of a deep friendship.
These four stories are loosely tied together by an heirloom brooch that is passed down through the generations, so each story is set in a different time and place. I enjoyed the connection and seeing how love looks a little different for everybody connected with the brooch.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
December 30, 2024
Legacy of Love: 5 stars, really sweet and precious, love the grandmother
Gift of the Heart: 4 stars, love his relationship with Naomi
A Shot at Love: 3 stars, fine, a few inappropriate references at the beginning, a little "not-like-other-girls"
Because of You: 2 stars, don't like contemporary, too many mentions of drinking, and at least one use of a word that I don't like Christians using
Gift of the Heart: 4 stars, love his relationship with Naomi
A Shot at Love: 3 stars, fine, a few inappropriate references at the beginning, a little "not-like-other-girls"
Because of You: 2 stars, don't like contemporary, too many mentions of drinking, and at least one use of a word that I don't like Christians using
May 19, 2019
The Christmas Heirloom has something for everyone. The four novellas span generations so you get historical AND contemporary stories.
I loved how all four novellas went together and yet were their own individual story. I didn't really have a favorite, although I loved how the first one showcased how the original woman got the heirloom.
All in all, I read this collection mainly because of Wade's contribution, but I ended up enjoying them all and recommend the book.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. 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 and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*
I loved how all four novellas went together and yet were their own individual story. I didn't really have a favorite, although I loved how the first one showcased how the original woman got the heirloom.
All in all, I read this collection mainly because of Wade's contribution, but I ended up enjoying them all and recommend the book.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. 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 and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*
December 24, 2021
Note: I listened to this on audio, so please forgive any misspellings or misremembering of names and the like.
This was a nice anthology to read during the Christmas season! I liked how each story was connected by the same family passing down a special brooch through the generations.
The first story, "Legacy of Love" by Kristi Ann Hunter, is set in historical England and our heroine was the companion of a rich and eccentric old woman who decided to do a little matchmaking between her companion and her grandson. I really enjoyed this one. The setting was lovely, the personalities likable, and the story engaging. There was a little sadness at one point, but ultimately it led to the main couple being able to start their lives together in the best way possible. 5 stars.
The second story, "Gift of the Heart" by Karen Witemeyer, is set in the old west, a couple generations later, and clearly inspired by the story of Ruth. I'm actually a little embarrassed how long it took me to realize this since the widowed mother's name was Ruth, the daughter's Naomi, and the hero's "Bo" which of course was short for Boaz. This story was pure sweetness. I loved the relationship Bo formed with both Ruth and Naomi. His friendship with Naomi was especially cute. It wasn't a total copy of the Biblical story, but simply took flavoring from it, and I liked that since it kept the story from being too predictable. I truly enjoyed it beginning to end. 5 stars
The third story, "A Shot at Love" by Sarah Loudin Thomas is set in historical West Virginia, a number of generations later. I wasn't sure about this one at first since it starts with some sadness as the main character, Fleeta's aunt has a miscarriage. This serves as an "inciting incident", though, that prompts the aunt to give our heroine the brooch. (Fleeta's mother has already passed on and therefore can't do it herself.) The rest of the story is pretty sweet as Fleeta slowly falls in love with a fellow hunter she meets during a shooting competition. I liked how our hero was such a gentleman and very respectful of Fleeta throughout. Ultimately, the story won me over and I was able to enjoy it. 4.5 stars
The fourth story, "Because of You" by Becky Wade, is contemporary. Contemporary romance is soooo hit or miss for me. I generally need some kind of twist beyond just a straightforward slice of life story with all the super typical contemporary romance tropes. (Give me mystery, give me a connection to history, give me a retelling, give me royalty, give me SOMETHING besides just romance and you'll increase my chances of liking it by at least 80%.) Unfortunately, there wasn't very much twist to this, and I kind of expected that to be the case since I've seen many of Wade's books in passing and none of them particularly drew my attention. Well, this one did have the connection to the brooch in its favor at least, so I gave it a chance.
I didn't hate it, but didn't love it, either. It was just such typical contemporary romance, I just felt really neutral about it. The main characters were nice enough, but not anything I haven't seen in every other Hallmark movie that features a single dad (with a super sweet kid, extremely well-adjusted kid) falling in love with a super typical, perky, sweet, woman who reminds him of the joys of Christmas. I will give it points for using the brooch well. The addition of the cloth with each previous owner's initials embroidered into it was nice. There was also one very touching scene of the heroine praying to God about her deceased friend and receiving peace that her friend is with Jesus and there's no more need to be worried for her health, happiness, or peace anymore.
Unfortunately, I also must detract points for the super annoying mother character who so desperately wants her daughter married that she constantly nags her about relationships and will literally shove ANY man at her just so long as he's a man and alive. All while somehow not noticing that her daughter's in love with this guy she's known much of her life and is perfect for her? As I stated in my updates, I KNOW this character is often used as almost a comedic element to make the main character and reader eye-roll. I KNOW the author doesn't agree with the mother's attitude and the reader isn't meant to either. But it still drives me nuts because this mother caricature is SO OVERUSED in contemporaries, and this attitude of being indiscriminate in the men she shoves at her daughter just drives me absolutely up the wall. I wish contemporary authors (and TV show and movie writers) would stop using it so often. GAH! /end rant.
Anyhoo. The story still had a nice ending and at least there were a few bits that I liked. I'm giving it 3 stars.
Overall, liking 3 out of 4 stories in an anthology isn't bad at all, and others will like the contemporary story better than I did. I'm giving the anthology as a whole a nice, shiny, 4 stars and recommend it as a good, wholesome, Christmasy read.
Content Advisory:
Sexual: All four stories include clean romance that never goes farther than kissing. The descriptions of the kisses range from un-detailed to mildly detailed.
The third story, "A Shot at Love" is the only one that lightly touches on anything particularly sexual. Fleeta's aunt has had many children and, now, at 50 years old, is pregnant again. Certain characters think she's too old to keep doing this and one boy comments to Fleeta that their uncle needs to just "leave auntie alone" so she won't keep getting pregnant. He doesn't go into further detail.
Story 4 briefly references a shirt flattering a woman's "well-endowed chest"
Violence:
In story 2, a young girl is rescued after falling in an icy pond.
In story 3, someone falls off a motorcycle. They are scraped up and afraid they've seriously injured a leg (brief mention of blood) but the injury turns out to be superficial.
Other:
Just as a heads up to anyone who may be feeling sensitive on the topic around this time of year, all four stories seem to touch on grief at least lightly. dies during the first story.
In the second story, the heroine is a widow whose husband died of illness a few years before.
As stated in the main review, in the third story, Fleeta's aunt miscarries and loses her baby early in the story (mentions of seeing her aunt laying on a bed, clearly in pain, with bloody bedsheets. Further passing mentions of Fleeta seeing people carrying bloody towels until a doctor is able to arrive and help. Fleeta sees the dead baby after everything is over and there is brief description of blue skin. Her aunt then struggles with weakness for a while afterwards.)
In the final story, the hero is a widower whose wife died in a car accident two years before. The heroine was best friends with his wife, so the story touches on their shared grief several times.
Story 4 also makes some references to drinking alcohol and partying.
This was a nice anthology to read during the Christmas season! I liked how each story was connected by the same family passing down a special brooch through the generations.
The first story, "Legacy of Love" by Kristi Ann Hunter, is set in historical England and our heroine was the companion of a rich and eccentric old woman who decided to do a little matchmaking between her companion and her grandson. I really enjoyed this one. The setting was lovely, the personalities likable, and the story engaging. There was a little sadness at one point, but ultimately it led to the main couple being able to start their lives together in the best way possible. 5 stars.
The second story, "Gift of the Heart" by Karen Witemeyer, is set in the old west, a couple generations later, and clearly inspired by the story of Ruth. I'm actually a little embarrassed how long it took me to realize this since the widowed mother's name was Ruth, the daughter's Naomi, and the hero's "Bo" which of course was short for Boaz. This story was pure sweetness. I loved the relationship Bo formed with both Ruth and Naomi. His friendship with Naomi was especially cute. It wasn't a total copy of the Biblical story, but simply took flavoring from it, and I liked that since it kept the story from being too predictable. I truly enjoyed it beginning to end. 5 stars
The third story, "A Shot at Love" by Sarah Loudin Thomas is set in historical West Virginia, a number of generations later. I wasn't sure about this one at first since it starts with some sadness as the main character, Fleeta's aunt has a miscarriage. This serves as an "inciting incident", though, that prompts the aunt to give our heroine the brooch. (Fleeta's mother has already passed on and therefore can't do it herself.) The rest of the story is pretty sweet as Fleeta slowly falls in love with a fellow hunter she meets during a shooting competition. I liked how our hero was such a gentleman and very respectful of Fleeta throughout. Ultimately, the story won me over and I was able to enjoy it. 4.5 stars
The fourth story, "Because of You" by Becky Wade, is contemporary. Contemporary romance is soooo hit or miss for me. I generally need some kind of twist beyond just a straightforward slice of life story with all the super typical contemporary romance tropes. (Give me mystery, give me a connection to history, give me a retelling, give me royalty, give me SOMETHING besides just romance and you'll increase my chances of liking it by at least 80%.) Unfortunately, there wasn't very much twist to this, and I kind of expected that to be the case since I've seen many of Wade's books in passing and none of them particularly drew my attention. Well, this one did have the connection to the brooch in its favor at least, so I gave it a chance.
I didn't hate it, but didn't love it, either. It was just such typical contemporary romance, I just felt really neutral about it. The main characters were nice enough, but not anything I haven't seen in every other Hallmark movie that features a single dad (with a super sweet kid, extremely well-adjusted kid) falling in love with a super typical, perky, sweet, woman who reminds him of the joys of Christmas. I will give it points for using the brooch well. The addition of the cloth with each previous owner's initials embroidered into it was nice. There was also one very touching scene of the heroine praying to God about her deceased friend and receiving peace that her friend is with Jesus and there's no more need to be worried for her health, happiness, or peace anymore.
Unfortunately, I also must detract points for the super annoying mother character who so desperately wants her daughter married that she constantly nags her about relationships and will literally shove ANY man at her just so long as he's a man and alive. All while somehow not noticing that her daughter's in love with this guy she's known much of her life and is perfect for her? As I stated in my updates, I KNOW this character is often used as almost a comedic element to make the main character and reader eye-roll. I KNOW the author doesn't agree with the mother's attitude and the reader isn't meant to either. But it still drives me nuts because this mother caricature is SO OVERUSED in contemporaries, and this attitude of being indiscriminate in the men she shoves at her daughter just drives me absolutely up the wall. I wish contemporary authors (and TV show and movie writers) would stop using it so often. GAH! /end rant.
Anyhoo. The story still had a nice ending and at least there were a few bits that I liked. I'm giving it 3 stars.
Overall, liking 3 out of 4 stories in an anthology isn't bad at all, and others will like the contemporary story better than I did. I'm giving the anthology as a whole a nice, shiny, 4 stars and recommend it as a good, wholesome, Christmasy read.
Content Advisory:
Sexual: All four stories include clean romance that never goes farther than kissing. The descriptions of the kisses range from un-detailed to mildly detailed.
The third story, "A Shot at Love" is the only one that lightly touches on anything particularly sexual. Fleeta's aunt has had many children and, now, at 50 years old, is pregnant again. Certain characters think she's too old to keep doing this and one boy comments to Fleeta that their uncle needs to just "leave auntie alone" so she won't keep getting pregnant. He doesn't go into further detail.
Story 4 briefly references a shirt flattering a woman's "well-endowed chest"
Violence:
In story 2, a young girl is rescued after falling in an icy pond.
In story 3, someone falls off a motorcycle. They are scraped up and afraid they've seriously injured a leg (brief mention of blood) but the injury turns out to be superficial.
Other:
Just as a heads up to anyone who may be feeling sensitive on the topic around this time of year, all four stories seem to touch on grief at least lightly. dies during the first story.
In the second story, the heroine is a widow whose husband died of illness a few years before.
As stated in the main review, in the third story, Fleeta's aunt miscarries and loses her baby early in the story (mentions of seeing her aunt laying on a bed, clearly in pain, with bloody bedsheets. Further passing mentions of Fleeta seeing people carrying bloody towels until a doctor is able to arrive and help. Fleeta sees the dead baby after everything is over and there is brief description of blue skin. Her aunt then struggles with weakness for a while afterwards.)
In the final story, the hero is a widower whose wife died in a car accident two years before. The heroine was best friends with his wife, so the story touches on their shared grief several times.
Story 4 also makes some references to drinking alcohol and partying.
November 7, 2018
I purchased this collection mostly for the novellas by Karen Witemeyer (a longtime favorite author) and Kristi Ann Hunter (a newer favorite author). I've read a few things by Becky Wade, but I've never read anything by Sarah Loudin Thomas, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
This collection was also narrated by 4 different narrators in the audiobook version, which also was a little unusual.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection and I loved how the novellas flowed and connected together. It's a collection that you can tell these writers enjoyed writing together and had a lot of fun while doing it.
"Legacy of Love" by Kristi Ann Hunter ended up being my favorite of the collection. It had my favorite love story of the bunch and I think it managed to tug at the heartstrings the most. It probably also helped that this novella was narrated by one of my favorite audiobook narrators.
"Gift of the Heart" by Karen Witemeyer probably would've been my favorite if the first novella hadn't blown my expectations out of the water. Still, I really, really enjoyed it and loved how the author found another non-stereotypical western hero to highlight. She's been doing that a lot with some of her recent books, and I've really enjoyed that.
"A Shot at Love" by Sarah Loudin Thomas was a surprise delight. Since I've never read any of her books before, I wasn't sure what to expect. But a 1950s story set in Appalachia with a main girl that reminded me strongly of Louis L'Amour's Echo Sackett wasn't what I was expecting, yet ended up being exactly what I was craving. I'll be sure to check out more of this author's books in the future.
"Because of You" by Becky Wade was my least favorite of the collection, but that could be just personal preference and not a reflection of the author's skill. Contemporary isn't my favorite genre, not by a long shot. I also think fans who have read her Bradford novels would probably love this novella more than I did.
This was a fun collection, and I'd recommend if you're a fan of any of these authors.
This collection was also narrated by 4 different narrators in the audiobook version, which also was a little unusual.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection and I loved how the novellas flowed and connected together. It's a collection that you can tell these writers enjoyed writing together and had a lot of fun while doing it.
"Legacy of Love" by Kristi Ann Hunter ended up being my favorite of the collection. It had my favorite love story of the bunch and I think it managed to tug at the heartstrings the most. It probably also helped that this novella was narrated by one of my favorite audiobook narrators.
"Gift of the Heart" by Karen Witemeyer probably would've been my favorite if the first novella hadn't blown my expectations out of the water. Still, I really, really enjoyed it and loved how the author found another non-stereotypical western hero to highlight. She's been doing that a lot with some of her recent books, and I've really enjoyed that.
"A Shot at Love" by Sarah Loudin Thomas was a surprise delight. Since I've never read any of her books before, I wasn't sure what to expect. But a 1950s story set in Appalachia with a main girl that reminded me strongly of Louis L'Amour's Echo Sackett wasn't what I was expecting, yet ended up being exactly what I was craving. I'll be sure to check out more of this author's books in the future.
"Because of You" by Becky Wade was my least favorite of the collection, but that could be just personal preference and not a reflection of the author's skill. Contemporary isn't my favorite genre, not by a long shot. I also think fans who have read her Bradford novels would probably love this novella more than I did.
This was a fun collection, and I'd recommend if you're a fan of any of these authors.
December 8, 2020
I enjoyed all 4 stories but had a couple of favorites and that would be the first one Legacy of Love with Randall and Sarah. Sarah was such a strong and caring character.
The second favorite is Gift of the Heart with Beauregard and Ruth. Ruth was an inspiration! I loved her strength and will to make it come what may.
Overall each story brought something that I enjoyed. It was interesting to see how as the years passed people and the way they acted, dressed and lived changed. More daring in the since of how they spoke to others and treated others. I'm not sure I'm explaining it right, but it's there.
A Shot at Love with Henry and Fleeta (I thought this was a neat/different name). She was definitely tomboy material. I found her shooting skills top-notch too!
Because of You with Leo and Maddie was the most modern story of them all - obviously. There was one comment or description mentioned at the beginning that I thought was unnecessary and would have been fine without it in the story. "fairly well-endowed chest" it seemed so out of place.
Rating: PG -some implied language, physical description
Language: there was one use of deity that I can recall, an implied swear word
Recommend: yes
The second favorite is Gift of the Heart with Beauregard and Ruth. Ruth was an inspiration! I loved her strength and will to make it come what may.
Overall each story brought something that I enjoyed. It was interesting to see how as the years passed people and the way they acted, dressed and lived changed. More daring in the since of how they spoke to others and treated others. I'm not sure I'm explaining it right, but it's there.
A Shot at Love with Henry and Fleeta (I thought this was a neat/different name). She was definitely tomboy material. I found her shooting skills top-notch too!
Because of You with Leo and Maddie was the most modern story of them all - obviously. There was one comment or description mentioned at the beginning that I thought was unnecessary and would have been fine without it in the story. "fairly well-endowed chest" it seemed so out of place.
Rating: PG -some implied language, physical description
Language: there was one use of deity that I can recall, an implied swear word
Recommend: yes
December 16, 2018
I've never been a big fan of novellas though I do read them, I don't like that there isn't a lot of character development. I wasn't even planning on reading this novel because there were too many authors in my opinion! But I'm a sucker for e-books that are deeply discounted. My favorite novella was a tie between Karen Witemeyer and Sarah Loudin Thomas, but all of them were fantastic, and I liked the twist of the brooch being passed on the women through the generations and passage of time.
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