The Curiosity Keeper - A Book Review

I'm always excited to read a book by Sarah E. Ladd!  She is such an elegant writer and knows how to perfectly pen regency novels.  The Curiosity Keeper is a nice blend of suspense, mystery and romance.  From the first page I was captivated and I stayed enthralled for the duration of the novel.

Camille helps her father who own's Iverness Curiosity Shop in London.  More and more she finds herself fighting off customers who have become angry with her father.  Now her very life is being threatened.  

 Jonathan is the heir to Kettering Hall.  When someone steals The Bevoy, a priceless ruby, Jonathan's father insists that Jonathan search for it.  His search leads him to London and to the Curiosity Shop.  He comes to Camille's rescue when she is being attacked and he takes her back to Kettering Hall to treat her injury.  When Camille overhears her father accusing her of stealing the ruby she knows she must start a new life.  Jonathan helps her find a job and Camille hides from her father.  Camille and Jonathan are getting closer, but Camille can't help but wonder if Jonathan's interest in her is more about the ruby than anything else.

I would definitely recommend The Curiosity Keeper especially if you love the regency era.  There is lots of twists and turns and it had a surprising end.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I can't wait to see what Sarah E. Ladd writes next!

About the Author

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever. Facebook: SarahLaddAuthor Twitter: @SarahLaddAuthor 

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange form my honest review.

The Mapmaker's Children - A Book Review

The Mapmaker's Children is a tale of two women's lives.  One woman's story is from the past, set in the 1800's, the other is from the present.  One I liked, one I didn't and truthfully could hardly even stand to read.  I'll start first with the one I liked.

Sarah Brown is the daughter of John Brown, an abolitionist who helps slaves escape through the Underground Railroad.  There are nine children in the Brown family.  After a terrible sickness Sarah finds out that she will not be able to have children.  Although she is shocked and upset she does not dwell on her misfortune and instead she begins to use her artistic abilities to help save the lives of slaves.  Many slaves cannot read and the directions they are given by John Brown are confusing, if only they could see what he is referring to.  Sarah begins to create maps and hides them in her paintings.  She soon becomes one of the Underground Railroads best mapmakers, but as a war is nearing she finds herself having to make difficult choices that not only put herself in danger, but also those she loves.

Sarah Brown is such a likable character and her story is such an important part of our country's history.  Her story is the only thing that salvaged this book for me and I wish the author would of left out the tale of Eden all together. The book would of been so much more enjoyable.

Eden Anderson is a contemporary woman who has fertility problems.  She has miscarried more than once and has tried just about everything under the sun.  It has caused a huge strain financially and emotionally.  Her and her husband move to an old house in Washington, D.C. in hopes of salvaging their marriage and starting a family.  In the root cellar of their new home Eden finds a porcelain doll head that is linked to the Underground Railroad.  Through this doll and the secret messages Eden and Sarah's lives, although past and present, are now intertwined.

Eden is a horrible character.  I don't know how else to put it.  I couldn't stand her.  She was hateful and mean and I could of done without her story all together.  The book would of been so much better without this character and I personally didn't even get why she was included in this book.  Her story ruined it for me.

There are curse words in this book, which is a huge let down for me.  I don't cuss and I don't like to read those words either.  I cannot with a good christian conscience recommend a book that has curse words in it.   The book had potential if it would of left out the contemporary aspect and concentrated on the life of Sarah Brown.


***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Gone Without A Trace - A Book Review

Livy Reynolds is a homicide detective that can't get over killing a teenage boy in the line of duty.  Even though the act was justified, Livy can't seem to get past the guilt.  She takes a leave of absence and heads to Logan Point for some rest and relaxation.  Rest and relaxation is the last thing she gets.  Two years ago, Livy's cousin Robyn went missing.  Since that time there have been several waitresses gone missing and the most recent is Samantha Jo, a senator's granddaughter.

Alex Jenning is a private investigator who has been hired to find Samantha Jo.   When he meets Livy they discover that the similarities between Samantha Jo's and Robyn's case are eerily similar.  They team up to uncover the truth.  They feel that if they can figure out what happened to Robyn they can figure out what happened to Samantha Jo.  Will they be able to find Samantha Joe before it's too late?  Will someone else be hurt or kidnapped before they catch the person who is doing this?

This book has it all!  Within its pages you will find romance, suspense, mystery, restoration and forgiveness.  The character's are well developed and easy to connect with.  It is one of those books that you don't want to put down until the end.

It is a great mystery that kept me guessing.  A lot of books of this genre are fairly predictable, but not this one.  The author writes in such a way that leaves you on the edge and every time I thought I had figured out who the culprit was I was proven wrong.  This is the third book of a series, but at no time did I feel like I was missing out because I hadn't read the first two.  I will be going back and reading the other two though.  This was my first time reading one of Patricia Bradley's books, but it won't be the last!

Patricia Bradley is the winner of a 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award and a 2012 Touched by Love Award and was also a finalist for the 2012 Genesis Award. The author of Shadows of the Past and A Promise to Protect, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

Thanks to Revell Publishing for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review!

The Innocent - A Book Review

The Civil War is over, but Carlyn Kearney has yet to receive word from her husband.  He fought for the Union Army and she has been notified that he is "missing in action".  Two years have passed and she continues to hold out hope that her husband will return, but that hope is dwindling fast.  She has no money, she is in debt and now she is being forced from her home.  All she has is her dog Asher.

With nowhere else to turn, Carlyn seeks refuge at a nearby Shaker village.  The Shakers are a strange people.  They profess peace through simple living, but they have very strict rules and many strange beliefs that do not point towards God.  Carlyn is told right away that she cannot keep Asher so she turns to Sherriff Mitchell and he agrees to keep her dog for her.  He is clearly attracted to Carlyn, but since she may still be married and she is joining the Shaker's who believe that marriage is evil, there is no hope for a future together.

Not long after Carlyn moves to the Shaker village things become anything but peaceful.  A fire and a mysterious death puts Carlyn under the scrutiny of the elders.  The sheriff is trying to get to the bottom of the murder and Carlyn is feeling less and less like this village is where she is supposed to be.

This is the first book I have read by Ann H. Gabhart and it made me an instant fan.  I was intrigued from the very first to the very last page.  I connected with the characters and couldn't wait till I could sit down each day and get back to the story.  I am going to have to read the rest of the books by this author and if they are half as good as this one I know I won't be disappointed!

***Thanks to Revell Publishing for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.