Love on the Edge of the Unknown Join four brave women making their mark on history at Colonial forts. Faced with tragedy and distrust they will fight to bring civility, family, and love to the frontier. Virginia Company Bride by Gabrielle Meyer James Fort at Jamestown, Virginia, 1608 In September 1608, Anne Burras is the only woman in Jamestown when her mistress dies upon arrival. Laborer … Jamestown when her mistress dies upon arrival. Laborer John Layton is one of only thirty-eight colonists who survived the first year in the colony. Both want Anne on the supply ship returning to England in three months, but neither foresee the difficulties they will face just to stay alive–or the painful sacrifices they will make to stay together.
Embers of Hope by Kimberley Woodhouse
Castle Island, Massachusetts, 1674
Castle William (which would eventually become Fort Independence)
With Castle William burned to ashes, a stone mason’s daughter is the only woman on an island of soldiers. But superstitions and rumors abound that she is bad luck for the island. The captain finds himself falling in love with her, but disaster seems to strike every time they make headway. Can these two find love and hope in the midst of the ashes?
A Treaty of Tulips by Angie Dicken
Fort Burnet in Upstate New York, 1740
Daughter of a Dutch trader, Sabine Van Der Berg is loyal to their land at the trading post and also to her friends, the native Iroquois. When a British lieutenant arrives to expand the post to a fort, not only is Sabine key in keeping the peace for British-Iroquois trade, but she must protect her heart from a man who threatens the only way of life she’s ever known.
A Promise for Tomorrow by Amanda Barratt
Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky, 1778
Pregnant widow Rosina Whiting seeks shelter at Fort Boonesborough after a harrowing journey. She doesn’t expect her heart to be swayed by enigmatic frontiersman Captain Silas Longridge. But will the dangers that await sever their newfound love?
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If you enjoy reading stories set during the American Colonial period, then you are going to love this collection of dynamic stories. Each one is filled with the grit and determination that the early settlers had in carving out a place, a new home, in this wild untamed, dangerous world.
Heartwarming stories of love amid hardship, and faith in God. Of communities coming together and working together for the greater good of everyone. Each story can be read in one setting, or you can take your time and enjoy the journey!
I enjoyed each of these stories. The dynamic characters, the unique story plots, and beautiful descriptions that pulled me in and invited me along on the journey with our early American settlers.
(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
I originally requested this book because I saw it had a story by Amanda Barratt in it and I adore her writing, as well as the cover caught my eye.
I must say though that I throughly enjoyed all four of the stories and will be watching for future stories by Angie Dicken, Gabrielle Meyer, and Kimberley Woodhouse as well now.
These historical novellas were all beautifully told tales and I appreciated that the ladies in them were well-written and each story had a wonderful message in it.
Definitely recommend.
***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book. All views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.***
I have been reading this novella collection as the world faces the pandemic and the timing couldn’t have been any better. These historical stories of life at American forts portrayed the unpredictability and danger of daily life the settlers endured. The struggles experienced by these early settlers were not unlike those our world faces today. Each novella had strong characters that faced fears, enemies, illness and more. I enjoyed watching these characters learn personal lessons of faith. The discovered truths are certainly encouraging. With adventure and romance, these uplifting novellas offer hope with a short amount of reading time involved, which is good anytime. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Four novellas that peek into history in Colonial America.
VIRGINIA COMPANY BRIDE by Gabrielle Meyer. James Fort At Jamestown, Virginia. 1608
The author shows how difficult and dangerous life was at the beginning of the colonization of our country. Anne Burras is the only non-native woman in Jamestown. Hardships and dangers are made real as Anne decides whether to return to England or choose a husband.
EMBERS OF HOPE by Kimberley Woodhouse. Castle Island, Massachusetts. 1673
A small island guards Boston in 1763. The troops are commanded by Captain Christopher Latham. Building a new fort brings stone mason Samuel Howland, his son, Sam and daughter, Esther. She is the only woman among many men and thought to be a curse. Calamities in the past have fed this superstition of women bringing bad luck. Ms. Woodhouse spins a great tale of how all this impacts the garrison on the small island.
Christopher and the Howlands faith in God help them dispel the myth, the senior Howland uses his knowledge of the Bible to mentor some of the men, thus fulfilling The Great Commission.
A TREATY Of TULIPS by Angie Dicken. Fort Burnet, Oswego, New York. 1740
Sweet, romantic story with elements of mystery. Sabine Van Der Berg has grown up among the natives and is fond of them. When Lieutenant Jacob Bennington arrives, he has much to learn to be able to govern and fit in. A story of new beginnings and great, meaningful traditions. Fascinating facts about Dutch settlers.
A PROMISE FOR TOMORROW by Amanda Barratt. Kentucky 1778
A fun look at what Boonesborough Fort might look like during the time Daniel Boone himself was present. Widow Rosina Whiting and Captain Silas Longridge live in perilous times in early frontier Kentucky, encountering dangerous Indians and a ferocious battle. Ms. Barratt captures the atmosphere of hard living and fierce encounters.
This quartet feeds my hunger to know what it was like in our history. One thing stood out to me: Those ladies had so much to do without any of our modern conveniences and proper lighting at night. How did they get it all done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from one of the authors. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Authors like Lori Benton and Laura Frantz have endeared me to this period of historical fiction. If you’ve enjoyed their work, I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Heart’s Stronghold. Below, I’ve rated the individual stories with what I saw to be their greatest strengths. In my opinion, the depth and heart of the books built into a lovely crescendo (hence the reason I’ve listed them in reverse order).
A Promise for Tomorrow by Amanda Barratt
Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky, 1778
My Rating:
Positives:
• Barratt’s contribution held the most action.
• If you’ve read My Dearest Deitrich, you know how emotive Barratt’s writing can be.
• The more I learned of Rosina’s past, the more I longed for her to find happiness.
• Silas is a dear!
****
A Treaty of Tulips by Angie Dicken
Fort Burnett in Upstate New York, 1740
My Rating:
• Sabine would not allow herself to be ruled by fear.
• I enjoyed how Dicken used Jacob and Sabine’s friendship to demonstrate how our differences can lead to our collective strength.
• Sabine’s mother’s blindness and offering of tulips add another layer to the story.
• The character’s faith is integral to the storyline.
• In regards to his post as well as his daughter, Jacob’s sense of duty is honorable.
Favorite Quotes:
“We all have valleys in which we walk. Mine was dark and desolate—a stubborn journey with my back to the Lord. These blooms were my comfort, my reminder that forgiveness is near.”
“He may never be able to avoid trials, but he could remain strong and courageous to face hardship when it came. No matter the discord around them, he’d follow Sabine’s persistent desire to courageously follow peace.”
****
Embers of Hope by Kimberley Woodhouse
Castle Island, Massachusetts, 1674
Castle William (which would eventually become Fort Independence)
My Rating:
Positives
• A bit of a mystery is woven into the story.
• The story ties back to The Mayflower Bride which is another book by this author that I enjoyed.
• Are you feeling antsy in our COVID-19 quarantine? Esther endures a similar period of self-isolation.
• Esther doesn’t allow the way people treat her to make her bitter. Instead presses on—winning others over by her selfless service.
Favorite Quotes:
“Where was her trust? God had brought them here for a purpose. It was her job to rest in that.”
“Theirs had been a friendship that was quite uncommon. Simple moments talking together. Sharing by the fire. It wasn’t how it would be done in Boston, but what did that matter? It was natural and real. And that was what she loved.”
****
Virginia Company Bride by Gabrielle Meyer
James Fort at Jamestown, Virginia, 1608
Rating:
After the death of her mistress, Anne Burras finds herself to be the focus of attention among the Fort’s 400 male occupants. Some are happy to see someone of the fairer sex while others cling to old superstitions and label her as a curse. One man, John Layton, stood apart from the rest. Although reluctant at first, he did seek to protect her—until he found he could no longer protect his own heart.
Positives
• The main characters have brief encounters with Pocahontas and John Smith.
• Loosely based on a true story.
• The author does a nice job explaining the layout, industry, and threats against James Fort.
Of all the stories in this collection, this one resonated with me the least. The courtship was too short and shallow for my taste… “A month had gone by since Anne Burras had arrived in Virginia, and John was surprised at how much his life had changed since that fateful day. He never would have believed the first time he saw her that he would be anticipating their wedding any day now.” I also felt it lacked the depth of the other stories in the collection.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Heart’s Stronghold 4 Stories of Love on the Edge of the Frontier
by Kimberley Woodhouse, Gabrielle Meyer, Angie Dicken, Amanda Barratt. The stories are Christian Historical Fiction set in early United States History. If you have read the series Mayflower Brides this book is similar in that it has many historical details of early America, Christian perspectives, romance and lots of thrilling action.
I appreciated the admonition to share the Gospel and remember those who will perish without Christ while we worry about our daily challenges. I loved reading this book because it helped me to imagine the experiences my ancestors may have had.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
Virginia Company Bride by Gabrielle Meyer
I adored this one! I liked that it was based on real historical people and that the author looked for the story within what was written in the history books. It was an intriguing premise and I think she did a great job with it. It was highly engaging and easy to read in just one sitting.
Embers of Hope by Kimberley Woodhouse
I am a pretty huge fan of the Daughters of the Mayflower series, so I was pretty excited to see Kimberley Woodhouse choose to create a fictional character who was a descendant from one of the most memorable real-life characters found in her book The Mayflower Bride. It was interesting how big of a role superstition played in this one and I liked how it was all played out. I always love how saturated this author’s works are with real history and how she is able to seamlessly weave it into her fiction. This isn’t a highly common time period to read in but I really enjoyed it and wish it could have been a full-length novel.
A Treaty of Tulips by Angie Dicken
There’s something about reading a book that takes place in familiar territory that makes you love it more. Born and raised in NY and currently living less than a half hour from Fort Niagara (which isn’t the main fort but is mentioned), I got excited to read this one. I liked that the author was able to create some space in the timeline of this one to make the romance more believable. I also liked the drama within that held my attention and kept the pages turning.
A Promise for Tomorrow by Amanda Barratt
I love how Amanda Barratt wrote with such vivid imagery that it was easy to imagine yourself within the setting. My heart went out to Rosina and I found myself desperately hoping for her happiness. This was another one that I really enjoyed and wished it could have been a full length novel so that I could spend more time with the characters. I wasn’t ready to let them go in the end.
I’ll admit that I don’t read a ton of novellas because I like my full-length novels, but recently I’ve started to really enjoy them. Typically I’ve found that I like some but not others in a collection, however I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed every single one of these. Barbour did a wonderful job of picking just the right authors for this collection.
*I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
This is a book comprised of 4 short stories. They all are set between the early 1600’s and the late 1700’s. During the early settlements of the colonies. They told of the hardships of limited supplies, rough winters, dealings with the French, English, Spanish and the Native Americans. Women were frowned upon, or ogled, if they were anywhere near the forts and soldiers. I have not read any of these authors before. They were ok, but nothing outstanding. By the last two stories I started skimming through. They just were to similar storylines. If you are into that time era and history you may love them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
4 novella length stories with each taking place on a different fort from the early days of Us history.
I found it especially fascinating because I also live in an unincorporated area, Fort Loudon, PA which is rich in history . The fort here was built in 1756 during the French and Indian War and reading these novellas I could vividly picture what life was like at the fort during this time.
Inspirational stores that will give you hope, they tell of life’s struggles,turmoils,forgiveness,truth,triumph and finding love in the most unexpected way.
It’s all the goodness of God’s timing.
I really loved these stories!
Pub Date 01 Mar 2020 Barbour Publishing, Inc.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
3.5 stars
Such lovely collection of colonial fort stories; each exhibiting courage and bravery in its varying forms, for life was hard and love was a precious gift. . . . . not to be hastily grabbed, but tenderly grasped.
“Women aren’t the trouble . . . It’s the men who cannot control themselves where women are concerned that bothers me most.” – Gabrielle Meyer, Virginia Company Bride
“It was really happening. For the foreseeable future, she’d have to live on an island – the only woman among men.” – Kimberly Woodhouse, Embers of Hope
“Leave my garden alone . . . Build your wall elsewhere.” – Angie Dicken, A Treaty of Tulips
“She didn’t look back. Just let the forest swallow her, . . . . . She must survive. For the life within, if not for herself.” – Amanda Barratt, A Promise for Tomorrow (one of the most romantic historical novellas that I have ever read; in addition, I always enjoy stories that include a glimpse of Daniel Boone)
I received a copy of this book from the authors and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Four great novellas in one. They are all centered around Colonial Forts. Well written and lots of great characters in each book. 1 Virginia Company Bride by Gabrielle Meyer is a story about the only women in the settlement. Lots of true historical info in this book. How hard it was for her to have no one that she could talk to. 2 Embers of hope by Kimberly Woodhouse is a story about superstitions of a women being in a Colonial Fort and how a women brought bad luck to the fort. Everything that happens is always do to a women being in the fort. 3 A treaty of Tulips by Angie Dickens is a story about a family called the Van Der Bergs . The daughter Sabine becomes good friends with the Native Americans and she teaches others about them. When Lt. Jacob Bennington comes to the island to secure and extent the fort from the French and the Natives Sabine starts to open her heart to him. 4 A Promise of Tomorrow by Amanda Barratt tells the story of Fort Boonesborough in 1778. When Rosina Whiting husband is killed by the Indians Rosina walks to Fort Boonesbrough she meets Silas who she loved but was forced to marry another man. Can they find love again? I loved all these novellas loved to see each women and how they were strong and brave.
This read consisted on four novellas with a time period spanning from 1608 to 1778, and focuses on the founders of our Great Country.
We are given a sweet romance in each of these locations, but we also get to walk in the shoes of these people who gave so much, and didn’t have easy lives.
From the Virginia Colony, where we ended up with the gift of the first child born in this Country, to the building of what would become Fort Independence in Massachusetts, to enlarging of Fort Oswego, a place near me and I have visited, and finally Fort Boonesborough, with Daniel Boone present!
As we journey with these individuals, we see the contributions and sacrifices these patriots made for us. The common thread in all of these reads is a love of God.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review
Hearts Stronghold
This is a book comprised of 4 short stories. They all are set between the early 1600’s and the late 1700’s. During the early settlements of the colonies. They told of the hardships of limited supplies, rough winters, dealings with the French, English, Spanish and the Native Americans. Women were frowned upon, or ogled,if they were anywhere near the forts and soldiers. I have not read any of these authors before. They were ok, but nothing outstanding. By the last two stories I started skimming through. They just were to similar storylines. If you are into that time era and history you may love them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Journey back to the rugged American frontier with these entertaining stories to meet four young, memorable, courageous heroines who face illness, harsh weather, superstition, and other hardships and conflicts; and in the midst of all this, find love. Set in four real-life forts during the 1600s and 1700s, these romantic novellas are chocked full of historical detail making them educational as well as enjoyable. The characters are well-developed and engaging. Real-life characters and events are expertly incorporated with the fictional ones. Stands of faith are woven throughout the stories. I highly recommend this easy-to-read narrative.
Quotes that caught my attention follow:
“In a land where life was short and precious, he’d found that love grew quickly.”
(from Virginia Company Bride by Gabrielle Meyer)
“He took the blessings of life for granted. His comfort. Provisions. Until death brought thoughts of faith and God barreling forward. That shouldn’t be the way of things.”
(from Embers of Hope by Kimberley Woodhouse)
“She realized that beauty wasn’t in the seeing but in the knowing—not just appreciating His creation by sight, but knowing Him fully in her heart.”
(from A Treaty of Tulips by Angie Dicken)
“Words are leaves flung into the air to flutter down weightless. Action—now action was lead, heavy and powerful.”
(from A Promise for Tomorrow by Amanda Barratt)
“But God provides ample strength for whatever we must face. Be it the waiting or the acting.”
(from A Promise for Tomorrow by Amanda Barratt)
received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.