“Eyes can’t travel. . . ” But hearts can 🙂
Newly married Bonny MacDonell finds the transition from American college professor to Scottish sheep farmer’s wife more difficult than she expected. When her miracle pregnancy ends in a devastating miscarriage, she fears her husband’s reaction will hurt more than the loss of their child.But Kieran never shows up at the hospital. When found, he is … hospital. When found, he is beaten and unconscious. The only memory of his attacker is the words, “Get off my land.” Reeling from the threat to her husband and the loss of their child, Bonny struggles to hold her marriage together. When faith in love is not enough, where do you turn?
★ A Word From Bonny ★
Thanks for stopping by our virtual home. Kieran and I are so glad to have you join us on our saga of family fiction. For Kieran, and especially for me as a new wife, romance often shows up in those painful moments when life beats us down. I suppose that’s why I tend to think of our story as uplifting women’s fiction. Romance in the midst of a miscarriage seems so superficial. What I needed during my moment of tears was Kieran’s love. Though our story may not be what some think new contemporary romance should be, I’ve always felt our time in Fort William, Scotland prepared us, as newlyweds, for the tough times that came with life on a farm. Is our story popular adoption fiction, popular romantic suspense, popular Christian marriage fiction, popular family secrets fiction, or popular rural romance? You decide. “Popular” is something of a joke between Kieran and I. Living on an isolated sheep farm, one is always the most popular at the moment. 🙂 And now I must go. Kieran fears the kidnapper who stalks me has returned and . . .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Anyone can write a love story where the man and woman fall in love and live happily ever after. What Norma Gail wove together was a tale of deep commitment, of facing hardships and losses together, and triumphing over a myriad of tremendously difficult circumstances because of an abiding faith in Christ. Her description allowed me to almost smell the clover on the hillside, see the diamond shimmers on the lake, and hear the bleating of the newborn lambs. There was beauty, intrigue, suspense, heartbreak, faith, and a deep abiding family love strewn throughout this amazing tale. I could NOT put it down!” – Amazon review
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Within Golden Bands is a fast-paced romance/mystery that takes the reader on an exciting trip to Scotland.” – Amazon review
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “This book is filled with all the amazing qualities of a winsome romance and suspense Christian novel.” – Amazon review
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “A beautiful and heart-rending love story.” – Amazon review
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “This is an easy-to-read, well-written book that has a nice blend of romance, suspense and mystery.” – Amazon review
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “It’s so refreshing to read a story with love, family, mystery, and drama that at the same time is spiritual as well.”” – Amazon review
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Excellent sequel to Land of My Dreams!!! Norma Gail drew me into the story as though I were a magnet. I loved everything about this book. The finish bought tears of happiness to this reader.
Within Golden Bands picks right up where the first book in the series left off. For that reason I recommend that book one be read first to get the most out of your reading experience. The first year of Bonny and Kieran’s marriage was what some might refer to as a nightmare. Not that the couple didn’t get along, but because of all their trials and tribulations they went through. A miscarriage in the first three months of their marriage bought them heartache and they both had different opinions about adoption. Then a disgruntled cousin thought part of Kieran’s land was legally his. When the court judge sided with Kieran this raving lunatic put both Bonny and Kieran’s life in danger. I found it to be an edge of the seat read as Gavin Gunn seemed to know their every move and there was no limit to what he was willing to do to force Kieran to turn the land over to him.
This book is Christian Fiction at its best. Readers of contemporary romance and suspense thrillers will love it. This is the second book that Norma Gail has written. I love her writing style and her ability to bring the beauty of Scotland to her readers. I can’t wait for her next book to come out.
I downloaded a Kindle ebook copy of Within Golden Bands from Amazon. A favorable review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Within Golden Bands by Norma Gail Holtman is the continuing saga of Bonny and Kieran MacDonnell. It finds them married and settling into life as sheep farmers in his ancestral home, Stonehaven Farm. Set in Inverness-Shire, Scotland, life for the newlyweds is anything but normal as they face the heartbreak of miscarriage, infertility, and attacks from someone claiming the ancestral home is his.
Interwoven within the story of the struggles of the young couple are scenes described so beautifully, you’ll feel you’re in the heart of the Highlands. From pastoral scenes by the loch, to pastures filled with sheep and cattle, and even the scenes of running through the deep, wet woods while eluding the bad guys, you will feel the very esssence of Scotland, complete with tartans and bagpipes, beckoning you to her shores.
A beautifully written story of love and loss, and learning to trust an unknown future to a known God, the lives of Bonny and Kieran will remain with you long after you’ve turned the last page. This one is a keeper.
You know an author is talented when they can convince readers that a country is one of their main characters! This is exactly what Norma Gail has done in Within Golden Bands. As she tells the love story of Bonny and Kieran MacDonell. she portrays the magic and beauty of Scotland in a way that made me want to visit it even more than I had before.
Within Golden Bands is both a love story and a mystery and I was surprised and shocked at some of the revelations. Kieran MacDonell’s family has experienced great tragedy in the past and this book isn’t always filled with happy circumstances. It is, however, a joyful story because, during their hardest times and their deepest hurts, Kieran and his wife Bonny remain committed to each other and to God. Yes, Bonny grieves for the baby that she lost and she wonders why this happened but she still loves God. Both she and Kieran are stalked by a deranged person but they still trust God and believe that He will help them. Through their worst times, they are able to display unwavering Christian witness to those around them. Happy? Sometimes. Hopeful? Always! Joyful? Forever!
I highly recommend this book that is filled with both suspense and danger and its ending makes me wish for another story with Bonny, Kieran, and Scotland. If you enjoy contemporary Christian romance you’ll want to read Within Golden Bands.
I received an e-copy of this book from the author. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
This is an easy-to-read, well written book that has a nice blend of romance, suspense and mystery. Set in Scotland, the book accurately portrays some of the customs and idiosyncrasies found in the culture. I love the bits of history the author weaves into the story. I recommend this book without reservations.
Oh, wow!! This is such a great read!!! No matter what life threw at them, Kiernan and Bonny faced it together. Their faith in God, and their love for each other, helped them to keep growing closer to each other and to God. Together, they get through tragic times, and even show two non-believers how, even though not perfect, that you can come through tragedy with God stronger than you were before, and that even when you question God, He still loves you and still keeps working things out for your good, when you trust in Him, rely on Him, and allow Him to be your Lord and Savior. I have the first book in my TBR stack, but even then, I don’t feel as if I missed too much of their backstory. However, I’ll be reading the first book ASAP!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is totally my own.
Very well written. Loved the descriptions of Scotland. Made me want to go visit more than ever! Hope there is a third book! Interesting family!
Within Golden Bands by Norma Gail is a marvellous contemporary Christian crime suspense. It is part of the A Home For My Heart series but can be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading book one first so you can get to know the characters and see their progression.
Wow, what an amazing read. As the suspense rose, so did my heart rate. The plotline is well thought out and executed. Revenge motivates some terrible crimes as a character is consumed.
In contrast there is goodness and light as characters live out their faith in God. He “can’t steal our faith or destroy our spirits unless we permit it.” We cannot stop life happening to us but we can choose how we respond – in faith or fear.
Life may be hard. Sometimes we have to trust God in the dark and “trust through God’s silence.” God is always working on our behalf even when we do not see or hear Him.
Prayer is important. Prayer releases the power of God and leaves us with a peace that passes all understanding. She “watched serenity transform him as he left his concerns with God.” At times “prayers refused to come.” When we have no words, God knows our hearts cry.
The novel has the painful themes of miscarriage and infertility. These are sensitively portrayed and we can ‘feel’ the emotion and the hurt. There is also the theme of adoption which reminds us that we are all adopted into God’s family.
Norma Gail comprehensively describes the landscape enabling the reader to ‘see’ the locations and ‘walk’ through the novel.
I really loved Within Golden Bands as it revealed the faithfulness of God and His heart for His children, as well as being a smashing story.
I want to leave you with my favourite and very powerful quote:
“God’s forgiveness is only limited by our failure to seek it.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
This fast-moving story kept me reading to the end. I loved the rural Scottish culture depicted in the book. The story will resonate with any couple who has dealt with fertility issues or moving to another country. The main characters struggle to walk by faith and not by fear.
I never thought about visiting Scotland before but now I can visualize this beautiful land and imagine the bagpipes making music as the sheep are grazing the land. What a beautiful portrayal of the land and the continued love story of Bonny and Kieran. This book deals with some hard subject matter such as miscarriage, adoption, kidnapping, and other multiple threats but the author takes you on a journey in a sensitive and caring way. Your heart will be full of the family dynamics and undying faith that is shown. That we all would remain faithful and a light in such trying circumstances called life. It is real and poignant and you will find yourself engrossed till the end. These characters will leave you wanting more. I recommend reading book one Land of My Dreams first if you want to experience the full background story, but it isn’t necessary. I liked the glossary at the beginning that defines the Gaelic words.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Within Golden Bands (A Home for My Heart Book 2) is the continuing story of Bonny and Kieran MacDonell. The newlyweds own and operate the family sheep ranch in Scotland. But not everyone is happy with the arrangement. Amid the farm catastrophes, Bonny and Kieran deal with spiritual and emotional upsets. Through their hardships, the reader experiences the struggle to accept the will of God in times of great pain and loss.
Norma Gail has done a great job bringing her characters and setting to life. The reader can see and smell Scotland, hear the bleating of sheep, and feel the lush pastures beneath their feet. And if the sight and sounds don’t keep you awake, the author weaves a mystery that will keep you reading until the power-punch ending! 4.5 stars
Some women readers may relate to Bonny MacDonnell whose greatest desire is to have a child.
He’s a Scotsman. She’s a transplanted American. This books deals with their first year together and their efforts to start a family.
The setting is a sheep and cattle farm in Scotland. With the descriptions, I felt as though I was right there on the rainy, loch-brushed land. While the issues with pregnancy and all that entails take center stage, there’s also a plot line of suspense and danger involving the MacDonell family land that has the reader on the edge of her seat.
The story provides insight into the Scottish culture, and I felt for Bonny and Keiran as they struggled to find an answer to an uncertain family future.
Honestly, there were times when I wanted to shake Bonny. She was a bit too whiny and demanding of her husband for my tastes. She wanted a child and she wanted one right then. On the other hand, Keiran had his own agenda for a family, which made for good conflict between the two.
All in all, I enjoyed this story of seeking God’s direction as opposed to our own.
This book is so good. It is well written Christian fiction that has action, suspense and heartbreaking grief. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a new-to me author and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. I highly recommend this book.
The second book in A Home for My Heart series, Within Golden Bands is a well-written, powerful book that deals with difficult topics in a sensitive manner. Because I am childless by choice, I had trouble relating to Bonny MacDonnell whose deepest desire is to have a baby. But I understand wanting something so badly, you’ll do whatever it takes to realize your dream. The conversations between Bonny and her husband Kieran are poignant and realistic as they tried to reconcile their opposing opinions. What came through for me is the need for honest and open dialogue paired with serious prayer when wrestling with a difficult decision (or anything really!). Periodic use of Scottish dialect combined with evocative descriptions immersed me in the rolling, rainy fields of Scotland. Kieran is a man of strength, integrity, and faith, and it’s easy to see why Bonny fell in love with him. The mystery of what was happening on the farm added an exciting subplot, but near the end I began to question the police’s capabilities as the villain continued to elude them. This book is easily read as a standalone, but your experience will be richer if you read Land of My Dreams first.
Within Golden Bands. Norma Gail’s newest book, transports you to the beautiful area of Loch Garry in Scotland where the main characters, Bonny and Kieran MacDonell, live. The descriptions portray a peaceful, calm and tranquil area. However, it is anything but for Bonny and Kieran.
I was unaware that Within Golden Bands was the sequel to Land of My Dreams. I found though, that except for one or two small exceptions, I was able to follow the story quite easily.
The book is full of action, suspense, mystery and intrigue, along with following the honeymoon and getting to know one another phase of the MacDonell’s lives.
There were several things I appreciated about the story. For instance, the way Gail describes a devastating but very real loss and its effects on both the characters and their family and friends. The faith storyline was skillfully written without self-righteousness or holier than thou. Nonetheless, there were several aspects of the book I struggled with. I could not comprehend how any one person, much less two, could bear up under the constant, non-stop onslaught of pain, tragedy, fear and horror in this story. Some of the more descriptive pages of the aforementioned horror are truly horrific.
I would caution anyone with PTSD or other such difficulties that there are several heartbreaking and heart-stopping scenes.
I received this book from the author. However, I was under no obligation to write a review.
Family heritage and love of ancestral land is woven beautifully through this story of love and triumph as the reader joins Bonny and Kieran MacDonell on this romantic and suspenseful journey. With riveting detail, Norma Gail binds our hearts with the MacDonells as they battle for the survival of their family farm all while struggling with the pain of infertility. The reader will find herself reading in a Scottish brogue at times, clinching the page with knuckles white with urgency, wiping tears of love and gratitude, while finding the faithfulness of God carrying this couple through life’s hardships into their place of fulfilled promises. I highly recommend Within Golden Bands to you. You won’t be disappointed.
The author has penned a story that is full of emotional turmoil and heartache. Bonny struggles with adjusting to a marriage in a strange land, the loss of her baby, and the attempted murder of her husband by an unknown attacker. Her faith is tested to the limit as she struggles to hold everything together. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It is a real page turner, so get comfortable, grab a few tissues for the tears that are bound to come, and settle in to enjoy this story.