Lady Milliner Faces Sexual Harassment in the 1920s in The Hatmaker's Heart by Carla Stewart

This was a huge disappointment for me and normally I don't waste my time reading books I don't think I'll enjoy, but I kept thinking and hoping this heroine would grow a backbone (before the 95% mark) and thus, be in my opinion a good read. But this did not happen.

It had a lot of interesting side stories: the stuttering, the death of her grandmother, the fashion industry of the twenties, a royal wedding, but frankly it didn't all quite tie together.

It kept me reading, however, even though at 65% I was ready to throw my kindle against the wall because I could not fathom a girl could be so stupid and blind, so spineless. Does she buck up in the end? Yes, but too little too late for me.

There's no romance here. I am not sure if this is being marketed as one, but I know many will expect one. There's not. While this heroine has two men interested in her (one NOT for the right reasons, so I hesitate to say romantic interest), she only pines for a boy she grew up with and he doesn't really have an actual role in the gist of the story.

The 411: Nell left England because her father and grandfather had both passed on, leaving the estate to her uncle. She's now an apprentice to a man named in Oscar and she makes hats, becoming the sensation among young ladies in both NY and England. But her boss sexually harasses her constantly and ridicules her every chance he gets. And she just takes it...endlessly. And this is why I grew very tired of the story.

I really enjoyed the look at the fashion industry of this time though and I found myself wanting to learn millinery myself, so I did get something out of it.

Though marketed as a Christian fiction, it is NOT preachy, at all. You wouldn't know this was even with a Christian publisher if they didn't pray every now and then. There's all of maybe one Bible verse in the whole book. So for those not into being preached at, no worries.

I received this via Netgalley.

Sadie's Secret (The Secret Lives of Will Tucker #3) by Kathleen Y'Barbo

A Pinterton agent who looked like a society girl. With the bearing of a princess and the deadly aim of a sharpshooter.

I looked forward to reading about a lady Pinkerton agent. Another point in the book's favor is I knew it would be sex free. But when I compare it to another recent Christian historical I read recently featuring a lady Pinkerton, Gunpowder Tea, this one falls short.

The premise is intriguing. She's a Pink. He's a British agent whose own twin brother pulled a switcharoo and had him take his place in jail for a year. When Sadie gets this agent out of jail, he wants revenge on his weasely brother, but throughout the story we're reminded that revenge is thine, not mine.

Regardless, long story short, these two put their minds and their wits together to track down the sorry excuse of a brother and an art-theft ring. Meanwhile, he needs to clear his name to get his job back and she's got to convince her family she can take care of herself.

It has all the potential of being a great read. BUT I had a difficult time with it. I grew quite bored, not because of lack of action, but the way it's all told. There's a serious lack of emotion in this writing. We're told Sadie grabs her gun and in the blink of an eye shoots a snake dead. Great. But it's literally a sentence. What does she FEEL? Nothing?

The other thing that ruined this story for me is her parents/family. They are so protective of her, they stalk her, follow her around, meddle in her cases, yet they throw her at available suitor that comes their way. They are so desperate to marry her off, they don't seem to care who it is. Yet they have her followed to make sure she's safe? Maybe it's just, but this made no sense and began to bother me after a while.

For me, in the end, this became a miss. The lack of emotion and the annoying parents--I bailed when they tricked her into accepting a marriage proposal and she dealt with it like the robot she is throughout the novel--just really hurt what otherwise would have been a great tale.

I received this from Netgalley.

It Happened at the Fair (It Happened at the Fair) by Deeanne Gist

This is one of the best books I've read in some time, one that once you pick it up, you want to read it all the way through and have to force yourself to eat, sleep, and do anything not related to the book. And then when you are doing those things, you're thinking about the book or telling the husband all about it.


It's the Chicago World's Fair in the 1890s...and Cullen is there trying to sell his invention: an automatic sprinkler system. His family is about to lose his farm so he's under tremendous pressure, but he's going deaf and add to that, he's in a noisy environment, and he can't make a single sale!

Enter Della, also at the fair teaching deaf children to lip read. When he seeks her help in learning himself, neither has any clue what this will lead to.

A revelation...and I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. This is how Della has been taught and thus, how she feels, "You must never, ever use sign language. It would brand you as deaf and different. It's critical that you blend in with everyone else."

This attitude, while not without its merits (as witnessed later in the book when a potential client refuses to do business with Cullen upon finding out he's going deaf...grrrr) is like saying deafness is something to be ashamed of and teaches the kids just that.. "I must hide it.."

Cullen and his story about how he one time communicated with a deaf man not only touched my heart, but I think began the slow roll of opening Della's eyes. That and his persistence, as well as her own issues in public with claustrophobia...just because she has a fear of confined spaces doesn't mean she belongs in the looney bit any more than a deaf person does... I loved watching Della change her attitude and thoughts and accept sign language. It was beautiful and made a huge impact on me, a deaf reader.

"The problem was, those who supported sign language accepted difference, while those who supported lip-reading sought equality. What she'd just begun to grasp was the deaf were not one for the other; they were both different and equal."

Romance... These two wonderful people fall in love and it's clean and wholesome. There's no sex, no hardening you-know-whats. Though it's not without its barriers. Cullen is engaged to a girl back home and Della has a severe mistrust of men, thanks to her father's warnings.

Humor... There's not shortage of cute, LOL moments.

"There was no point in trying to figure out a woman. There were illogical, inconsistent, confounded creatures, and Cullen didn't know why God thought He'd been doing Adam a favor."

Historical detail about the World's Fair. Very rich and very well done, this. As they tour the fair, readers tour with them. The author had a perfect balance of telling/showing and has her characters see and experience things, letting the readers, in turn, experience and see them as well.

Foul Play...Someone doesn't want Cullen succeeding.

Tragedy...There are fires and lives lost.

The lip-reading will be a huge eye-opener for those not familiar with it. Many people don't understand all that goes into, that it's not easy and not learned in a day and so many factors are involved. I appreciate the way the author handled this and slowly opened the door to another world for the non-lip-reading community.

"So much depended on whether the person was facing him, facing away, or looking to the side. Whether their lips were thick or thin. If they had a mustache, a beard, or both."

I loved both the heroine and the hero. He wasn't an alpha male aka douche bag. He was a good person and I was gripping my Kindle at times, just hoping so hard they would find happiness, that someone would buy his sprinkler...etc etc.

There was no sex. The book doesn't need it. I was never bored and appreciated the slow growth from teacher/student to more. And though this is labeled Christian Fiction, it never once preached at me. There was none of that "find God and everything just falls into place" stuff. It was just a really good story that didn't need cursing or sex.

Five bikes. I can't recommend it highly enough. Thank you, netgalley.

Whispers of a New Dawn by Murray Pura

I requested this knowing full well it's Amish/religion themed, but the woman pilot during Pearl Harbor was irresistible to me and I wanted to give it a go. I'm glad I did. There was much to like about this novel, though there were some bits that grew tiresome.

Loved:

--The heroine...for the most part. She isn't without her flaws (who isn't?) but I'll get to those in a bit. A sentence from her father in the beginning sums her up to a T:

"Hooking you up to an Amish farm boy would be like putting a modern engine in old Fokker triplane. Why, the stress on the wing struts would tear the plane apart."

She's spunky, brave, and witty. I was impressed that she managed to be such a tough girl without uttering a single curse word. Well done. Most authors couldn't pull this off. I think her flying around with the Zeroes was my favorite part. 

--The hero. This ain't an alpha male, but a nice guy with fears, feelings, and he's poetic too...and patient.

--The banter both between the hero and heroine and the hero and his fellow aviators. Had me laughing out loud many times.

--The flying scenes. Fantastic and on the edge of your seat!

--Watching romance blossom. Rather than fill up pages with sex, the author gave us moments of deep conversation under full moons, playing in the waves, passionate kisses.

--Ruth. Though I didn't care for her how her tale ends...rather cowardly in my opinion, I enjoyed watching her blossom for the brief time she did.

--The Hawaiian setting.

There was lots to love...but there were some things I didn't like as well:

--Loved the romance blooming, but some scenes were over drawn out and sappy. And the party planning scenes bored me.

--The author inserted too many historical facts about the ships and the planes in dialogue. I realize what he was doing, but it didn't stay with me after turning the page.

--Didn't care for Becky at first. She was willing to give everything up, her flying and freedom, for a MAN. And later in the story, she wants Raven to say he loves her, even though she can't say it back. But again, we can't have a perfect heroine.

--I also had trouble with the whole, "we just sit out the war in peace and let everyone kill themselves so we can religious freedom to sit here and do nothing" crap from the Amish. But I loved how Becky and her family did what they felt was right, regardless. I loved her parents, their strength.

Overall though, I think the good outweighs the bad. There were just some scenes that didn't hold my attention. But I appreciated the messages within its pages... Don't be afraid to love again. You aren't living 'til you're lovin'. (That's just me talking there. LOL)

Three bikes. Rich in history and humor.

GIVEAWAY & Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Delilah Rivers

Book: Micah's Blessing
Author: C.L. Williams
Heroine: Delilah Rivers

Hi. Thank you Tara for inviting me here today. It was a pleasure working with you on Micah’s Blessing. Let me tell you, this book has surprised me and I’m grateful you were there to help me finish the project.

I’d like to introduce you to Delilah Rivers. She’s the heroine in Micah’s Blessing, a Contemporary Christian Romance. She’s a nightclub singer on the verge of suicide and even though she doesn’t want to die, she just doesn’t know how to live.

What makes her strong is she knows she needs help, and since she’s tried everything else, she might as well try church.

What makes her sexy? She’s humble and willing to learn from her mistakes. And she’s not as haughty as some would make her out to be. She has an inner beauty and strength that makes her attractive to Micah.

Thank you so much for allowing me this opportunity to be on Book Babe today. If you don’t mind, Tara, I’d like to offer a signed paperback of Micah’s Blessing to one lucky commenter.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll visit me in my cyber home.

http://clwilliams1stldy.weebly.com/

http://www.facebook.com/C.L.WilliamsAuthor

http://clwilliams1stldy.wordpress.com/

Blurb:

There must be another way. Pastor Micah Daniels has grown weary with his well-doing, even worse he’s losing faith in what God has for his life. The only solution Micah can see is to step down from his position as pastor of Revival Tabernacle. Maybe some time away from the parish can restore his ailing heart. Lord, please help me. I can’t keep living like this. Delilah Rivers utters this plea as she stares at a handful of pills. Despondent at the shambles her life has become, Delilah tries one final tactic before ending her life, she goes to church. What God hath joined together... Micah is the last man she expects to treat her with care and respect. His compassion and understanding move her as nothing else can. God wouldn’t send a humble, devout man to cherish someone like her. Her past is sordid, her flaws many, but will she be able accept a better way to love and be the blessing Micah needs her to be?

Are you an author with a strong heroine in your book? Want to see her featured? Find out how here.