Book Review: Uncertain Heart by Andrea Boeshaar

This is a sweet, inspirational romance. 

Uncertain Heart (Seasons of Redemption, Book 2) by Andrea Boeshaar

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (October 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616380233
• ISBN-13: 978-1616380236

Genre: Inspirational, Historical Romance
My Rating:  4.0 of 5.0

The year is 1866, and Sarah McCabe has wanderlust. In an effort to become independent of her family back in Missouri, she accepts a governess position in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Richard Navis is a man determined to finish his indentureship to Captain Brian Sinclair and take over his family's farm. But when he falls in love with Sarah, his homesteading goals blur.  What's more, Richard fears she's fallen victim to the captain's charm and persuasion. 

Review:  I found this light, inspirational, historical romance to be charming and easy to read.

Sarah is a 20 year old daughter of a Missouri Pastor.  She is the youngest of five and is eager to get away from the farm to live independently in the city.  She traveled to Chicago for a position as a music teacher only to discover the position was filled.  She secures a position for the summer as a governess in Milwaukee, with the plan to return to Chicago for another position in September.

When Sarah arrives in Milwaukee her employer has forgotten to meet her.  She goes to seek out Captain Sinclair and instead meets his very trustworthy office manager, bookkeeper, Richard Navis. Richard is attractive, a Christian believer, kind and warm with a teasing sense of humor.  He is immediately taken with Sarah even though he learns that she wants the city life and he can’t wait to finish his business indentureship and return to his family farm.

Sarah finds her four charges to be in need of some taming but they really miss the attention and love of their extremely busy father. Captain Sinclair is a successful captain and businessman advancing his ship chandler’s business. Sarah is awed by the beautifully rich home and naively falls for the suave charm of the handsome and sophisticated Captain.

Sarah develops a wonderful relationship with the children but her romantic feelings are confused between the clear friendship offered by Richard and the mixed signals from the irascible Captain.  Richard is consistently helpful and faithful with his family and Sarah. But he is not beyond having feelings of jealousy creep in to hinder his view of things.

I liked how the author manages to weave prayer and scripture into natural situations in the story. The writing is very light and easy. The characters are well developed and it is easy to imagine a girl of Sarah’s upbringing being lured by riches and wealth of the city and then being confused when favored with attentions of a sophisticated, wealthy man and a warm, teasing man whom she thinks she only wants as a friend.  

I think anyone who enjoys a sweet and charming romance, plus the inspirational aspects, will like this book. It would make a nice light choice for a church reading group or for individual reading when you want an easy read.

xxx

This book was provided by Glass Roads PR for an unbiased review.

It's Monday! What are you Reading November 15, 2010?

This meme starts at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I finished five good books this week and just have a bit left on a fourth. I posted two Guest Posts and three Reviews, one author Q&A and two Hachette Giveaways.

As noted before,  for this feature I will only be giving a rating and a short summary comment on books I read from my TBRs or as fillers - which aren't many :).

I did a little visiting early in the week. Then we had several motels where the Wifi connection was completely iffy.

These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

•  It's Monday What are You Reading? November 8, 2010 

•  Book Review: Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry; Inspirational; my rating 4.75.

•  Book Review and Giveaway: Montana Glory by R.C. Ryan; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0.

•  Q&A with R.C. Ryan

•  Book Review and Giveaway: Stronger than Sin (Sin 2) by Caridad Pineiro; Paranormal Romance; my rating 4.5.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 12, 2010

• Our Road trip Post #1
  

• Sunday Words of Encouragement November 14, 2010.

• Enquiring Minds want to know Meme - Week11

Finished Reading:
PB and (Kindle):  Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry. Inspirational; my rating 4.75. The review is linked above.  

 
PB:  Stronger than Sin (Sin 2) by Caridad Pineiro - Paranormal Romance; my rating 4.5. The review and Hachette giveaway are linked above.

PB:  Uncertain Heart (Seasons of Redemption, Book 2) by Andrea Boeshaar.  I received this book from Glass Road PR. It is charming and light. The review will be posted Monday.

The year is 1866, and Sarah McCabe has wanderlust. In an effort to become independent of her family back in Missouri, she accepts a governess position in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Richard Navis is a man determined to finish his indentureship to Captain Brian Sinclair and take over his family's farm. But when he falls in love with Sarah, his homesteading goals blur.  What's more, Richard fears she's fallen victim to the captain's charm and persuasion.  

Kindle:  Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening by D.C.S. This book was provided by Pump up Your Book Promotion. This is a very good read - I finished it in one day. I will post the review on Tuesday.

Product Description
A plan is exposed, centuries in the making and so sinister not even the legend himself could have predicted the depth of its impact on the world. In his lifetime Stefano Terenzio had a merciless ambition for absolute power. Two generations later the shock wave he ignited was still being felt. Now, as the world inches closer to 2012 sides are chosen, families divide and an epic battle begins that will determine whether mankind continues existing in a world of lies or shatters the chains that have held us prisoner since his-story was written.

Shocking yet hopeful, Synarchy slowly unravels the tightly laced reality we have created for ourselves. Blending the metaphysical with conspiracy, fact with fiction, debut author DCS has opened up a world that will force you to rethink everything you believe about your own. The knowledge within provokes the question: do you really want to know?

 
Audible:  New Tricks by David Rosenfelt. I really love this series.  I will post a review for this on Wednesday.

Line Edits: ------

Currently reading: 
Print & Kindle: The Forever Queen: Sometimes, a desperate kingdom is in need of one great woman by Helen Hollick. This book is provided by Sourcesbooks and the review is to be posted Thursday, November 18.  I am at 36% and this is not moving very quickly.

~ Synopsis ~

The year is 1013, and the young Emma of Normandy is to marry King Æthelred of England. It is a marriage as doomed to fail as Æthelred's entire incompetent reign. But Emma is to find her own happiness when Cnut of Denmark seizes the English throne...


Audible: 

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare. I wanted to read something by Cassandra Clare and got this book through my Audible subscription.  I didn't realize it was the third in the Immortal Series and now I am wondering if I should stop and read Book 1 and Book 2. If anyone has read this perhaps you'll let me know if you think I should read the prior books first.
Product Description
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death.To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?
Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times best-selling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

Audio:  Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue. This is a Hachette Audiobook for review and Giveaway. I will start listening to this tomorrow as I go to work. I couldn't get my DH to listen to the child's voice on our trip. To five-year-old Jack, ROOM is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and

play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be
asleep when Old Nick visits.

ROOM is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and
fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not
enough…not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies
on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just
how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Line Edits:  I have one book that will get released this week. Working on three others to get released also. Then I'll start on more edits.

Upcoming books:
PR:  Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension by DCS. I postponed this one week as I would have had to really push to get this in this week. On the other hand, I am anxious to continue this series after reading book 1.

PR:  The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare. I have received this for review from Sourcebooks.

Enquiring Minds Want to Know Meme Week 11

This meme is hosted by Dollycas Thoughts for Thursdays - which are hard for me to make.  The goal is to get to know our fellow bloggers and visitors better. Each week Dolly asks some questions for us to answer and then link up. I am late doing the post but I am trying to to participate as I would like to learn more about blogger and follower friends.

WEEK 11 QUESTIONS

1.  Do you have a Veteran in your family? (living or in the past)

My father is a Veteran of the Korean War. Our son is currently serving in the Air Force and just graduated from the Mandarin Chinese program at the Defense Language Institute in California.  That was why we drove west - to be there for his graduation. Below is a picture of Matthew (on the right) getting the Air Force Language Coin from his commander the day before graduation. This was at 3pm and we arrived in Monterey at 2:30. 

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2.  Where were you born?

Philadelphia, PA - home of the Liberty Bell.

3.  Have you seen an good movies lately, in the theater or on DVD? Recommend one for us to watch.
We went to see the movie RED with our son in California. A very good movie with action and humor. Cast includes Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Richard Dreyfuss.

Sunday Words of Encouragement November 14, 2010

This is posted a bit late but it's still Sunday and I am posting this particular video as a memorial for the Veterans too.

A Verse for today:

Psalm 46:1

  ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.

My Husband and I visited the Battleship Alabama this morning on our drive home. We prayed for Veterans and all active service members. Thank you to each of you for your sacrifice and service.

Our Road Trip from Florida To California and Back- #1

We have had a wonderful road trip. Unfortunately the last two nights we have had really sketchy internet - 2 bars to none.

I am going to group a few photos in several posts.
We started in Florida on 10/30 and headed west. We went pretty fast out to California since we had to be there by November 3.  I must have read or slept the first two days as I didn't take any photos until we were in Texas on November 1.

Just driving across country has it's own excitement.
Texas has changing scenery as can be seen in these five photos which were taken while we driving and within a matter of fifteen minutes upon leaving Senora, Texas and heading west.

If you note picture four you can see the road going on in the distance.  There were several times that the road seemed to go on and on as we drove about 2500 miles out to California and 2500 miles back. 
Now imagine you were in a wagon train and look back at those photos! We thought that many times during the trip and you will see more photos showing the beautiful but daunting countryside that the pioneers must have faced and where Native Americans lived.
I'll post more road sites and trip pics in future posts.