A Worthy Pursuit

A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer, 2015 Bethany House

     Little Lily's mother was Charlotte Atherton's best friend after the nine-year-old enrolled at the exclusive school where Charlotte taught. Upon Mrs. Dorchester's death, she granted guardianship to Charlotte away from Lily's wealthy and overbearing grandfather. 

     When the school is shut down Charlotte knows Lily is in danger and - along with two of the school's boys who have nowhere to go - escapes to property left to her by her parents and far from Austin and the Dorchesters's grasping. She doesn't know why exactly Mrs. Dorchester wanted to keep Lily from her grandfather, but Charlotte isn't willing to give up the girl she's come to love. 

     It's no surprise that Dorchester sends a tracker after them, but Stone Hammond is not what Charlotte expects--under his handsome, but overwhelming exterior. Stone isn't willing to allow an abductress to run Lily's life or those of the two boys who escaped the school's closure. But he's surprised by the little family he finds in Charlotte's care. 

     He is likewise surprised by Charlotte herself. She very clearly cares for Lily, Stephen, and John; and she is intelligent enough to recognize the threat he poses to their life together. Yet, Charlotte cares for him when he is injured and trusts him with the truth of Lily's guardianship. 

     Dorchester and his somewhat illegal actions toward Charlotte are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his reasoning for bringing his granddaughter back. Stone and his conscience cannot allow the man to use his granddaughter's photographic memory to his advantage. 

     Somewhere between helping Dorchester, finding the truth, and scheming with Charlotte to allow Lily a proper childhood, stone finds a home with the pretty teacher and her rag-tag family. But Charlotte has demons of her own and trusting Stone will not come easily. The two bond over caring for and protecting the children from the minions Dorchester sends after them and their camaraderie turns into something more. 

     A Worthy Pursuit blends the action of dime-novels Lily Dorchester is so fond of with a romance rooted in faith and trust suitable for readers of all ages. Charlotte and Stone face challenges and must accept that life doesn't always go as planned, sometimes it does better. 

The Beautiful Pretender

The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson, 2016 Thomas Nelson Publishing

     The King had separated Thornbeck and Plimmwald from the duchy of Geitbart because the Duke had chosen to marry against his liege's wishes. Avelina Klien is the maidservant to the Earl of Plimmwald's daughter, Dorothea. When Dorothea flees to be with her lover, one of her father's knights, Avelina discovers just how far the earl will go to try and protect his people: he commands Avelina to take Dorothea's place in the bride-quest the king has commanded of Thornebck's margrave. 

     Avelina is terrified the margrave will discover her deception and that the grumpy lord will punish her for trying to protect her people and provide for her family. Her instructions are simple: fly under the radar while ensuring the margrave doesn't marry the Duke of Geibart's daughter. Her reward is the funding to support her family and a dowry to marry the man of her choice. 

     Reinhart Stolten, the margrave in question, is not pleased the king is requiring that he marry one of ten young ladies from a list. He begs time from the king to choose one, but to get to know all of the ladies in the timeframe allowed. With help from Odette and Jorgen, the steward and his wife, Reinhart sets up a two-week house party to get some measure of the young women--without telling them why. 

     There are more deceptions and secrets about than any of the major players are aware of: Avelina struggles to keep her identity secret from Reinhart and her new friends, Magdalen and Odette. The duke fo Geibart's daughter is plotting something, but what it is no one knows until it may be too late. Avelina's identity is discovered placing her life in danger, but can she convince the margrave that she meant no harm? Geibart's plans may prove their concerns premature as Reinhart and Avelina battle for their lives. 

     Avelina has fallen for the one man she cannot have and her deception discovers the margrave has fallen for her straightforward charm -- despite her attempts to bring Magdelen to the center of his notice. 

     Beauty and the Beast meets the Princess and the Pea in this tale of secrets and surprise. Dickerson weaves historical romance into Christian fiction that readers of all ages will enjoy--some suspense and violence will limit younger readers. 

That's Amore

That's Amore by Janice Thompson, 2014 Revell Publishing

     Several years after her wedding to DJ Neely, Bella is in her husband's hometown to set up a second Club Wed. Shortly before the two relocate with their children Bella discovers that her family will be growing and plans to continue her work in Splendora as long as she can. 

     In Galveston, Bella's sister and her husband have taken the lead in her absence. DJ's business is booming and they turn their eyes back toward Splendora, Texas, and the renovation of Club Wed no. 2. Bubba Neely, DJ's younger brother, and his wife, Bella's best friend, have moved back to his hometown to open a Bar-B-Que joint but face opposition from some town influencers. 

     Neither DJ nor Bubby knows why the mayor opposes both of their enterprises--they'll bring commerce to the small town. As they battle to make a life, even temporarily, in Splendora Bella and her friends struggle with the temptation to give in to wants rather than behaving as her faith prescribes. 

     Halfway through her pregnancy DJ suggests renewing their vows when the chapel at Club Wed is complete. Bella finds the challenges of pregnancy--with twins no less--the frustration caused by Splendora's mayor, the distance from her family, and the minor dramas of small-town life combine to be more than she can handle alone. 

     Bella repeatedly learns she cannot do it all, especially not on her own. This final installment in Bella and DJ's story focuses on faith and family to get through difficult and unexpected times. 

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson, 2015 Thomas Nelson Publishing

     Odette is one of the most sought-after young women in Thornbeck. Now twenty years old Odette has been living with her uncle for the last ten years--since her parents died of the plague. She has a soft spot for the poor of their town. Odette's uncle supports her decision to wait to marry and allows her more freedom than she can expect after marriage: he even helps her distribute the food she illegally poaches from the margrave's forest. 

     Jorgen is the margrave's huntsman and tasked with ensuring the wealth of animal life in the forests. He notices a significant dearth of large game and worries about wolves or large boar, both of which pose a danger to Thornbeck's people. When Odette loses an arrow in the woods Jorgen is certain the poacher who killed his father has returned. 

     When the two meet at the midsummer festival Odette and Jorgen are unaware their mutual attraction is overshadowed by their professional animosity. They develop a liking for each other fraught with uncertain tension: Odette knows he is the forester who seeks to catch her and stop the supply of food to Thornbeck's orphans, Jorgen seeks the poacher with vengeance on his mind. 

     Outside political forces force Odette to take risks which causes her to be caught and brutally injured. Jorgen discovers the identity of his poacher but tries to protect the woman he's come to love. Neither can stop the margrave's justice and neither expects the young lord's punishment. 

     In this blending of Robin Hood and the Swan Princess Odette and Jorgen find friendship and faith leading them to each other. Other suitors try to blackmail Odette and her uncle into a match she resists and to remove Jorgen from the social and political landscape. Younger teens will enjoy the clean romance and quick adventure of The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. 

A Kind of Magic

A Kind of Magic by Betty Neels, 1992 Harlequin

    Rosie MacDonald and her parents left their family home in the Scottish Highlands to "Uncle Donald" after Mr. MacDonald realized an unfortunate investment. The family is living in Wiltshire when Rosie's grandmother demands the young lady accompany her on a rail tour of the highlands. 

     Eager for a vacation and a glimpse of her old stomping grounds, Rosie consents to her domineering grandmother's demands. Rosie plans the time as a break for her aunt who normally cares for her grandmother. Mrs. MacDonald demands the constant attendance and exacting standards of those who care for her. 

     When her grandmother sprains her ankle at their first stop Rosie and Mrs. MacDonald must allow their new acquaintances on the train to move on without them. The local doctor has several responsibilities and has received assistance from Fergus Cameron. 

     Mrs. MacDonald finds the youngish doctor to be competent despite the dislike between Rosie and the doctor. Fergus doesn't reveal to Rosie or her grandmother this renown in the medical world. Fergus takes every chance he gets to visit with the young lady, even going so far as to bring her along with him when he examines her Uncle Donald. 

     With her grandmother's recovery and Uncle Donald's death, the MacDonald family returns to their home allowing Fergus to further his suit with the unsuspecting Rosie. 

     More passionate than her earlier novels,  A Kind of Magic follows the meeting of independent Rosie and strong-willed Fergus as they grow toward each other in a true Neels romance.