To Love a Stranger by Colleen Coble

Book Description:  Bessie Randall had no intention of moving to Wyoming. But could the life she would never choose be better than the one she had planned?

Bessie is shocked when she finds out that her sister Lenore has used her name to correspond with a soldier she's never met—and that she’s actually married the man by proxy with Bessie’s name. And if Bessie contests it, her sister could go to jail for forgery. Bessie has always felt responsible for her younger sister, and she believes she has no choice but to do the honorable thing and travel west to meet up with Jasper Mendenhall.

With his sister Jessica’s reprimand about marrying sight-unseen still ringing in his ears, Jasper is shocked when he meets the stagecoach. The little wren who meets him is not the beauty whose picture he holds in his hand. Jasper plans to annul the marriage and send Bessie back to Boston. She’s a city girl and he’s not sure she could even survive—much less be happy—at Fort Bowie.

But Jasper’s orders to return to Fort Bowie are moved up, and he has no choice but to take Bessie with him. To his surprise, he finds much to like in the quiet young woman: things like humor and grit. But even those qualities may not be enough as the Apaches move in, determined to eradicate the fort in their midst. Can God mend their hearts together in spite of the circumstances?

My Thoughts:    I enjoy Colleen Coble's stories. 

If you are "lucky" enough to have a sister you know that sisters can be a help or a "pain."

As in, To Love A Stranger, Bessie is hocked, shocked I tell you to find out that her dear sister, Lenore, has been writing letters to a poor solider.  But that's not the shocker....Lenore has been using Bessie's name.

Bessie is in quite a quandary when she finds out, because she is married to the man by proxy!  Oh, My, Stars!  Bessie doesn't want to contest the proxy wedding because then Lenore will go to jail.  so, she moves on with her life.

Of course, her newly wedded hubby comes to get her.  But imagine his shock when he meets Bessie, not quite the young lady in the picture.

Then he gets orders to return to Fort Bowie and has no other alternative but to take Bessie with him.

To his surprise and delight he finds that he likes the quiet young woman with grit and humor.

Oh, What, A, Story!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0529103451
• ISBN-13: 978-0529103451

Secrets at Cedar Cabin (A Lavender Tides Novel, Book 3) by Colleen Coble

Book Description:  Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down. 

Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava. 

My Thoughts:  Another Lavender Tides Novel by Colleen Coble.  Be still my heart!

I've been able to read all three of the books in The Lavender Tides "series."  

They are so good!  and all three are so different.  

Of course, all the books are centered around Lavender Tides.

But I must say that Secrets at Cedar Cabin is my favorite so far.

The tension, the action, the suspense and the romance make this a difficult story to put down.

Bailey Fleming caught my heart strings and I ran with her as she fed for her life.

Imagine  trying to run from those who murdered your mom?!?!

So Bailey runs to the dilated cabin, the only place she can think of that is safe and far away from trouble, in Lavender Tides.

But wait!  this story isn't just the heart pounding story of Bailey it's also the story of FBI agent Lance Phoenix who is trying to find his runaway sister and when he comes to the remote cabin where Bailey is hiding out he can't help but wonder if Bailey is involved in his sister's case.

Oh, what a read!  Oh, what a story!

Loved it!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Series: A Lavender Tides Novel (Book 3)
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 22, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718085841
• ISBN-13: 978-0718085841

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

In the Shadow of Croft Towers by Abigail Wilson

Book Description:  When Sybil Delafield’s coach to Croft Towers was robbed by highwaymen, she should have realized that her new position as companion to old Mrs. Chalcroft would be no ordinary job. Upon Sybil’s arrival, Mrs. Chalcroft sneaks into her room in the dark of night, imploring her to relay messages to town that are to stay hidden from the rest of the family. Who exactly is she working for and what do the messages contain?

When fellow passengers of the robbed coach are later murdered, Sybil’s hunt for the truth takes on a new urgency. The only person she can rely on is Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Chalcroft’s godson, but under all his charms he too leads a double life. Sybil must decide if he is the one honest voice she can trust, or if he is simply using her for his own advances.

My Thoughts:  A debut author, Abigail Wilson, takes into the regency era with mystery, suspense and a touch of class.

It's been awhile since I've read a regency romance but it's the New Year and a new author so this makes for a great read!  and the book cover is fantastic as well...inviting the reader to come on a journey of mystic.

Sybil Delafield is taking on a new job as companion to Mrs. Chalcroft but little does she know that this will be the ride of her life.

Danger, mystery, and a bit of romance.

This is a great read for all fans of mystery.....not just for regency romance readers.

Sometimes one must take a chance in life.  Chance meetings are, sometimes the best of meetings.  Such is the case for Abigail Wilson.

The twisting and turning of events keeps the reader turning the page in anticipation of the next event.

A grandastic new read!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 15, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785223665
• ISBN-13: 978-0785223665

COTT {Clash of the Titles}

Featuring: Mail Order Surprise by Lucy Thompson

PURCHASE

Amazon

About the book:

Colorado, 1881. Lydia Walsh is on the run. The quiet rancher she marries and expected to find safety and protection with turns out to have three siblings, next to nothing to live on, and is a crack shot who may or may not be one of the states best cattle rustlers.

Beau Harding wants to keep his family together and do the right thing by them. His mail order bride comes with her own set of baggage: two more mouths to feed and empty hearts begging him to fill. The job he took for some quick money gets him thrown in jail for rustling, and then to clear his name he takes on another job--and learns that his wife may have been the one plotting his family’s downfall all along.

What COTT voters had to say:

~Waiting to get a chance to read it Lucy
~Lucy Thompson, Great title, great cover!
~Mrs. Lucy Thompson, we wish you the best. 
~Lucy Thompson is not only a wonderful author but I've been blessed to being able to get to know her through Facebook. God bless you Lucy. Hope you win.'
~Lucy Thompson, loved the book.
~Beautiful cover picture and a great book Lucy Thompson!
~YAY Lucy Thompson. Keep up the good work!
~Lucy Thompson, I can't wait to read your novel Mail Order Surprise. It is the next book I will read. All the best for your future releases.

About the author:

Lucy Thompson is a stay-at-home mum to five precocious children by day and a snoop by night, stalking interesting characters through historical settings, and writing about their exploits.


She enjoys meeting new people from all over the world and learning about the craft of writing. When she can be separated from her laptop, she is a professional time waster on facebook.

Annie's Stories by Cindy Thomson

Clash of the Titles' next featured author comes in with a storm of high-five comments from some very dedicated fans! Cindy's novel, Annie's Stories, was the runner-up in our August Clash, and for good reason. Doesn't that cover just make you want to drop everything and float away on a good book? 

Why not grab, this book...?

About the book:
The year is 1901, the literary sensation The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is taking New York City by storm, and everyone wonders where the next great book will come from. But to Annie Gallagher, stories are more than entertainment—they’re a sweet reminder of her storyteller father. After his death, Annie fled Ireland for the land of dreams, finding work at Hawkins House.

But when a fellow boarder with something to hide is accused of misconduct and authorities threaten to shut down the boardinghouse, Annie fears she may lose her new friends, her housekeeping job . . . and her means of funding her dream: a memorial library to honor her father. Furthermore, the friendly postman shows a little too much interest in Annie—and in her father’s unpublished stories. In fact, he suspects these tales may hold a grand secret.

Though the postman’s intentions seem pure, Annie wants to share her father’s stories on her own terms. Determined to prove herself, Annie must forge her own path to aid her friend and create the future she’s always envisioned . . . where dreams really do come true.

PURCHASE

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book Distributors

What our voters had to say!

--Annie's Stories was a sweet novel. Cindy Thomson was a new author to me. I will definitely be reading more of her books!
--Love your stories, Cindy Thomson!
--Sounds wonderful Cindy Thomson. Reminds me of be read to by my lovely parents.
--Looking forward to reading Annie's Stories, Cindy Thomson!
--Cindy Thomson is such a talent!
--I loved this novel by author Cindy Thomson.
--Vote for Annie's Stories!
--Cindy Thomson I am really looking forward to reading Annie's Stories! I know I can carve out some quality reading time really soon! -Ronda R
--Go Cindy Thomson! Her books are great! You won't regret picking up her book!
--I just love the way Cindy weaves a story :-)

What Cindy's readers have to say:
"Now and again there comes along a book that holds a personal message for me. I believe these messages come from God. In that alone I’m so very glad I read this book. The influence a book can have on a reader is a special message gleaned from this book. Annie looks to the characters in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz while dealing with her life challenges. Any reader can relate to having been influenced by a book."  ~Christian Manifesto, 2014 Lime Award Nominee

Amazon reviewer: "A good historical novel will take you back through the years and let you remember a time you never experienced. Cindy Thomson's Ellis Island series is doing just that. A great historical novel won't stop there, though, it will also give you characters to befriend while you're in its pages. Cindy Thomson's books do that as well." ~TheophilusFarrell4

About the author:
Cindy Thomson is a writer and an avid genealogy enthusiast. Her love of history and her Scots-Irish heritage have inspired much of her writing, including her new Ellis Island series. Cindy is also the author of Brigid of Ireland and Celtic Wisdom: Treasures from Ireland. She combined her love of history and baseball to co-author the biography Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story, which was a finalist for the Society for American Baseball Research's Larry Ritter Book Award. In addition to books, Cindy has written on a regular basis for numerous online and print publications and is a mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. Cindy and her husband have three grown sons and live in central Ohio.

Connect with Cindy:
Events 
Facebook
Website

Find more great reads at Clash of the Titles.com!

With this Pledge (The Carnton Series) by Tamera Alexander

Book Description:  Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston's quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause--but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home, where she is governess, is converted into a Confederate hospital, and Lizzie is called upon to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death. Faced with the unimaginable, she must summon fortitude, even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancé and lifelong friend.

As a young soldier lies dying in Lizzie's arms, she vows to relay his final words to his mother, but knows little more than the boy's first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate his leg.

Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers' respect as she tends to the wounded within Carnton's walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn't realize she is pledged to another. But as Lizzie's heart softens toward the Confederate captain, she discovers his moral ground is at odds with her own. Now torn between love, principles, and pledges made, she struggles to be true to her own heart while standing for what she knows is right--no matter the cost. 

My Thoughts:  Quite a read about a part of the civil war few may have read or heard about.

Lizzie Clouston is a nanny on a plantation in Franklin, Tennessee in Carnton.

As the war rages the planation is taken over by the military and used as a hospital. Lizzie is soon assisting the medical doctor and helping to take care of  soldiers.

She is a woman of her word and when a dying young soldier begs her to tell his mother his final words.  And then there's Captain Ward who also asks Lizzie to step in and tell the doctor not to amputate his leg.

The captain doesn't realize that Lizzie is pledged to another man.  And since Lizzie is a woman of her word she will not go against her principles.

A lot to be learned in they fiction read...a battle that is not well known and a battle in the heart of a woman of principle.

*From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves the real-life love letters between Captain Roland Ward Jones and Miss Elizabeth Clouston into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of war.

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Series: The Carnton Series (Book 1)
• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 8, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718081838
• ISBN-13: 978-0718081836