The Wings of Morning

This past fall I read a great book called The Wings of Morning by Murray Pura. Now, this novel was so entirely different than anything I'd read before. First, its about the Amish, and while I know there are tons of books out there in that genre, I had only read one. But even if you're a long-time Amish fiction fan, this will probably be out of the norm for you.

Set during World War I, a young Amish man named Jude Whetstone discovers a love for flying airplanes. The leaders of their Amish community have not decided yet whether they approve of airplanes, but for now, Jude is safe. BUT, they definitely know that they are against war and violence.

Lyyndaya Kurtz and her family only joined this faith and community ten years ago, and her parents are always extra cautious, to make sure they don't offend any of the other Amish leaders and families. So although the pastors haven't deemed flying to be wrong, Lyyndy's parents won't allow her to be courted by Jude as long as he flies those contraptions.

So Jude starts receiving attentions from other girls in the community, while Lyyndaya is forced to watch from afar and left to wonder if the two of them have a future together.

I don't want to give away any more of the story, but just believe me when I tell you that this story has so many plot twists that I NEVER saw coming, and while not always super exciting, the characters feel real and lovable, there are tender moments and terse conversations, air battles and jail cells, the Spanish flu, and a shunning, and you will want to know what happens next!

Veil of Pearls

I just finished reading MaryLu Tyndall's newest novel, Veil of Pearls. This is her eleventh novel, and while I have absolutely loved every one, this is definitely one of the best! Her writing style keeps getting better, and this story just flowed like none before.

On to the story. Adalia is one quarter negro, and while she was born free, was forced into slavery after her parents' death. But she escapes, and ends up in Charleston, N.C. She finds work and is content, but then she meets Morgan Rutledge, a playboy son of a wealthy landowner, and one of the social elite. He is instantly attracted to her, and while she does her best to ignore him at first, his persistence eventually gets her to change her mind, and she starts to attend parties and plays with him. The Charleston socialites don't know what to think. A common woman infiltrating their world! Some accept her, while others, like Miss Emerald, do everything in their power to get rid of Adalia.

Meanwhile, Adalia still worries about her owner finding her and taking her back to the plantation, and wonders what Morgan will think if he ever finds out she was a slave. Especially since his father owns slaves and if Morgan were to take over his family's plantation someday, he would become a slave owner himself.

And it turns out Morgan has a secret of his own. He loves the sea and would like nothing more than to be a sailor, but his father and the rest of society would look down on or even disown him if they knew. So he keeps these desires to himself.

What will happen? Will Adalia stay free or be taken back into slavery? Will Morgan find out that she was a slave, and what will he think if he does find out? Will Miss Emerald and her friends succeed in getting Adalia out of the picture? Will Morgan ever get to fulfill his dreams of becoming a sailor?

Find out by reading the book!! :)

I highly highly recommend reading Veil of Pearls! This stand-alone novel is wonderfully written, and really brings to light the struggle we all face to feel welcomed and popular, to fit in with the "cool crowd."Adalia hides her heritage to protect herself, but in the process becomes so enamored with the wealth and social scene that she completely forgets who she was. Morgan does what is expected of a man in his position, causing him to deny the things he really longs for. The book shows other characters' struggles, too, as Adalia sees that each of them is a slave in their own way - whether a slave to wealth and power, a slave to their beliefs and memories, or a slave to others.

You can buy a copy at a local book store, or order it online or download an e-book version from Amazon, CBD, Barnes & Noble, and more!

Check out MaryLu's blog, with links to her website, info on each of her books, and news about upcoming novels:  http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/

If you read Veil of Pearls or any of MaryLu Tyndall's books, let me know what you think!

Walks Alone

This is one of the best and most fascinating novels I've read in a long time. Walks Alone, by Sandi Rog, is about a young woman from Holland who is kidnapped by Indians while traveling from New York to Denver City. Her captor, White Eagle, is half French, but he looks and acts like the rest of the tribe. Anna's father had told her stories about the Indians he'd met years ago, so she is curious to know more about them. But at the same time she is terrified and furious that they've kidnapped her. 

Thus begins this exciting and suspenseful tale of mistrust, lost faith, broken relationships, and war between the Cheyenne and white men, while Anna tries to find her way to Denver City and her dream.

This is the first book I've ever read in e-format, and I am so glad I had it downloaded on my phone, because I could not put it down! Riding in the car, waiting at a friends' house, sitting by the pool... I read it everywhere! And I highly suggest you do the same.

You can check out Sandi Rog's blog here.

Heartless

I just read this incredible fantasy novel by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Heartless is the first book in her Tales of Goldstone Wood series. I have read some great fantasies, but this one was so original!! Yes, it's got a princess. Yes, it's got daring and handsome princes. Yes, it's got dragons. Yes, there are mysterious woods, enchanted gardens, and foreign lands. Yes, there are fairies and other magical creatures. But not necessarily the way you'd imagine them. Plus you've got a jester and a blind cat. With lots of mystery and magic, some fun and quirky characters, and plenty of dark and scary ones, I say this is one of the best fantasies I have ever read. And I can't wait to continue reading the tales of Goldstone.

You can visit Anne Elisabeth Stengl's blog here.

Food For Thought

Whenever I log into my email it says "You've got mail."

How come when I log into my bank account it doesn't say 
"You've got money" ... ?

Hearts in Flight

I just finished reading Hearts in Flight by Patty Smith Hall, and let me start by saying that I read this book WAY faster than anything I've read in the past few years. It was exciting from the start, and didn't disappoint in any aspect.

The setting is 1943 Georgia, in a small town, with a girl who's grown up flying planes. First for her father's crop-dusting business, and now as a member of the WASP - Women's Army Special Pilots. Maggie Daniels gets a job at a military plane-building plant, helping to inspect, work on, and transport aircraft. The thing is, no one thinks she has any business being there. Not her family, not the men in her squad, and especially not her commander, Wesley Hicks. But she's determined to follow her dream, and prove to everyone that she can do anything a guy can.

But it's no smooth sailing. Wesley's got a secret from his past that affects how he feels about woman pilots, Maggie's uncle will do anything he can to get back the house he thinks is rightfully his - the house where Maggie and other plant workers have been renting rooms from her aunt, and someone's leaving threatening notes aimed at the WASPs.

With plenty of action, humor, danger, and romance, you will LOVE Patty Smith Hall's first fiction novel.


For more high-flying adventures, check out The High Calling and A Time of War, both by Gilbert Morris.

A Vote Of Confidence

The latest book I read was A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher, the first book in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series. It's set in 1915 Idaho, where women have recently "gotten the vote", but some men and even some women don't believe that women should take on roles of leadership. The main character, Gwen Arlington, decides to run for mayor of her small town. This, of course, is going to upset some people! Meanwhile, Morgan McKinley is trying to build his New Hope Health Resort and Spa a few miles outside of town, but he's getting a lot of opposition from the town's leadership. So he decides that if he wants to get anything done soon, he's going to have to run for mayor himself.

So you have three people running for mayor - one, the current mayor, who is a known drunkard, at a time when Idaho is trying to pass prohibition laws; the second, a wealthy man who is new to this small town, and so has not gained the trust of the people; and the third, a woman, in a time when a female mayor was literally unheard of!

This book is exciting, funny, and charming. I loved the story, the characters, and the setting, and I definitely recommend you read it! I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series, Fit to Be Tied and A Matter of Character.

You can check out Mrs. Hatcher's website here.