Journey now to San Francisco, California, of 1853 where… An English socialite finds more treasure than expected on her trip to the American West. When Abby Effingham becomes stranded in the middle of the California gold rush, her money depletes quickly even while her prospects for marriage increase daily. But Abby is on a mission to find her mother–not romance. Will a ridiculous scandal … romance. Will a ridiculous scandal keep her from traveling on, or will it wake up an aloof innkeeper to the treasure right under his roof?
Samuel Harris runs a moderately priced hotel where Abby and her family’s elderly butler find shelter. He is looking forward to when she–and her parade of suitors–move on, though he concedes to let her work in his restaurant. When the sassy socialite is in trouble, will Samuel come to her rescue or find himself alone?
More from My Heart Belongs in Series…
My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss: Priscilla’s Reveille by Erica Vetsch (January 2017)
My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains: Carmella’s Quandary by Susan Page Davis (March 2017)
My Heart Belongs in Ruby City, Idaho: Rebecca’s Plight by Susanne Dietze (May 2017)
My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring by Carrie Fancett Pagels (July 2017)
My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley: Lily’s Dilemma by Andrea Boeshaar (September 2017)
My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah: Leanna’s Choice by Angie Dicken (November 2017)
My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, NY: Adele’s Journey by Amanda Barratt (January 2108)
more
This is a wonderful historical romance!
I love the whole cast of main characters. They are an incredibly diverse group of people. I liked finding out the stories of how each of them came to be in San Francisco. I didn’t expect to find so many of them but I can’t even start to leave any out. There are Abigail, Neville, Sam, Cookie, and a few others. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how much scripture is quoted and how the Lord is relied on.
The plot kept my attention as I saw Abigail’s journey into being a truly mature young woman. It amazes me to think about the fact that most of us consider ourselves adults long before we are truly ready to make mature decisions for our lives.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
My Heart Belongs in San Francisco, California: Abby’s Prospects by Janice Thompson
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I found it interesting that socialite Abby Effingham travels from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to San Francisco, California with only her trusted elder butler, Neville (who is humorous at times), as her chaperon and protector. Of course, it is 1853 and a young lady should not travel without a chaperon. I don’t think she realized San Francisco is in the middle of a gold rush and teaming with lots of gold-hunting men before she arrived. How will she adjust to her new surroundings and all it offers and will she find what she is looking for?
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Samuel Harris, owner of the hotel Abby and Neville find themselves taking shelter in, and his trusted cook, Cookie, quickly became two of my favorite characters. Samuel watches over Abby despite trying not to care for her. Cookie is a sweet, mothering, godly women dishing up Bible verses along with her delicious meals. I enjoyed the historical aspects woven within the story-line and the fun facts about the California gold rush and the authors’ notes at the end of the story. A fun, heartwarming story.
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~I received a copy of this book from the author/Barbour publishing (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~
My Heart Belongs To San Francisco, California is a wonderful book of romances – Yup you read me right I said romances – plural – awesome isn’t it? There is the main characters but also other people of different ages and nationalities – cool eh? This book is authentically historical. It has a great story to the romances and you just find yourself smiling without even realizing it because you are enjoying it that much. If you want to put a smile on your face pick this one up and join me. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com – I look forward to seeing you there.
They both have much to learn about life & love…
I’ve read a number of Janice Thompson’s contemporary romantic comedies so I was pleased to see that she had a title coming in the My Heart Belongs In… series. And when I found out that it was set during the California Gold Rush era I was even more interested.
I have to admit that sometimes I wanted to give Abby a good shaking because of her stubborn naivety. But then the same went for Samuel’s stubborn self righteousness. Those two really are quite the pair. In addition to Abby and Samuel, My Heart Belongs In San Francisco, California: Abby’s Prospects was populated with some delightfully fun and quirky characters, as well as an oily charming villain.
The use of a few phrases/terms that wouldn’t come into actual usage for a few decades was only a tiny hiccup and didn’t distract from my enjoyment of this truly sweet historical romance.
Janice Thompson’s newest release, My Heart Belongs In San Francisco, California: Abby’s Prospects, is a lovely addition to the My Heart Belongs In… series and a must read for all fans.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
History about the Gold Rush, a mystery, interesting characters, and a sweet romance. If you enjoy historical Christian fiction you’ll enjoy this book.
San Francisco was rough during the Gold Rush, and author Janice Thompson shows us that. Saloons, saloon girls, and rowdy miners, along with someone who isn’t really as he portrays himself, keep the story jumping. But along with all of this are people who love God and love people. We see that no matter the sin, redemption is possible.
This was a fun read that many times kept me wondering what would happen next. Get yourself a copy and enjoy!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
This one completely fulfilled all my historical romance read requirements! Oh the personality filled characters who will make you wish you could know them in real life – and a few you want to smack over the head for their deviousness. I adored Cookie! The depth of detail in the era and diversity of people at that time and place are so vivid that I lost myself in this glorious story! Sam is swoon worthy and Abby is delightful and sweet in her innocence. The story line itself was a fun and unique one that made me learn quite a bit about San Francisco around the gold rush era. Beautifully written with great detail to the hardships and triumphs during that upheaval of time in our country’s history. Bookshelf keeper!
I had a great time reading this book. I always like reading books set in San Francisco during the gold rush and this book did not disappoint. The characters of Abby and Sam were wonderful, but the story wouldn’t have been there without the secondary characters. All together, they were a varied and fascinating group. I like how the author showed that if we don’t run ahead of God, he has a wonderful way of working things out. I really liked this book and would recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
When Abigail Effingham leaves Philadelphia in April 1853 she believes that she and her English butler will travel to the Oregon Territory, find her mother in Oregon City, convince her to return home and then all will be well with her family. Little does she know that the roads will become impassible and that she and Neville will end up in San Francisco. What follows is a series of events that Abby never expected. Her sheltered and privileged life leaves her ill-prepared for the gold prospectors and saloon girls that she encounters and she soon has to find a job and a place to live.
I enjoyed watching Abby learn to be independent and also accept that her life has changed. She finds a hero in Sam Harris and a villian in Marcus Denies but I must admit that there there are two other characters that I was especially drawn to. Neville isn’t just Abby’s butler, he is also a loyal and steadfast friend. Cookie is the cook extraordinaire who can end a fight or brawl with the mention of her homemade pies and she is also a woman of deep faith. Near the end of this book, in a conversation with Abby, she says “Maybe some things really are better left off in God’s hands. Perhaps all He requires from us is prayer”.
This very wise observation and many more are scattered throughout this book. There are also multiple references to belief, trust and faith and I liked that any references to God begin with a capital H; for example He, Him, His. I also enjoyed the Fun Facts About the California Gold Rush that are shared at the end of the book. I recommend “My Heart Belongs in San Francisco, California: Abby’s Prospects” to all who enjoy historical fiction and Christian romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.
3.5 stars
The good:
I have enjoyed each of the “My Heart Belongs in” series books written by various authors and set in various time periods. What I most love about them is the historical facts that are included in each one. The authors seem to do their research when it comes to including these nuggets in the pages of their story. Books such as this set in the California gold rush era are some of my favorite. It’s a time of booming riches and desperate poverty and people just trying to make it day by day. Janice Thompson does an excellent job of highlighting many diverse characters in her story. She sets the stage for what it must have been like in 1853 on the streets & businesses in San Francisco. I could picture everything in my mind as I read; I love when an author can paint those pictures in my mind!
The bad:
This is strictly my own personal opinion. I couldn’t connect with the characters as much as I really love to. Abby was a socialite from an upper crust family who meets things heads on. But some of the things she did are unrealistic for me to believe about her character because of her upbringing. I found her lacking something, and I can’t pinpoint what that was for me. I did enjoy Neville, her butler. His character was exactly what I would expect for an upper class gentleman. Now Cookie, that’s one gal I could really love! Her spiritual wisdom, gumption and care for all those around her was so fun to watch. I’d say she was about the only one I enjoyed getting to know. Lastly, the focus on the immorality of San Francisco was overdone for my taste. I do understand that is the way it was (and is today), but I just felt it was given more attention than it should have been. I’ve read many other stories set in this time frame but the author neither glossed over it or focused on it overly long. The overall redemptive quality was sorely lacking for me and the romance felt a bit flat. I really wanted to love this story! While overall it was a good read, I just couldn’t connect with it as much as I wanted to.
So while this wasn’t a hit for me, doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it to pieces! My motto has always been, read it for yourself and make your own judgment call. Also, be sure to read the “Fun facts about the California Gold Rush” in the back of the book. For example; did you know that Pioneer Steam coffee mentioned in the book later became known as Folgers brand? I love that Janice included a few tidbits like this!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *
I enjoyed reading about the Gold Rush days in San Francisco and found it inspirational that Cookie had a Bible verse for every situation. It spoke to me that if we let God lead and we follow then His good plans will come to fruition. The characters personalities shine through in the writing style and you can picture all the hard work they accomplished in a day. I loved that it made me laugh and made my heart feel light. This is a quick easy read, but very entertaining. Worth your time.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.