Waves of Mercy

***1/2

PG

{UM} {GS} {TMP}

Possibly Recommend

I really liked this story but there were a few things that bothered me.

The subject of men cheating on their wives and how common it was is a topic of discussion once.  Also, the use of the "b" word to describe an illegitimate child is used one time.  I still don't know how to feel about that...{Uncomfortable Moments}

There are one or two kissing scenes and I think they were a little much for me. {Too Much Passion}

Two shipwrecks are described in some detail and could be disturbing for some. {Graphic Scenes}

This book is one that goes back and forth between time periods and they end up intersecting.  I really liked the plot aside from one other thing that was uncomfortable for me...one of the main characters ends up marrying someone who she really doesn't love because she thinks the man she DOES loves is lost to her.  Later, she regrets it and contemplates leaving her husband.  In the end she makes the right choice and comes to find she DOES love her husband but it was a bit shaky there for a while.

I'm about to start the sequel and am looking forward to finishing the story.  If I really like the second one I think I would feel comfortable recommending them even with the things I didn't like in the first.

Engraved on the Heart

***1/2

PG(13?)

{UM} {TMP} {SM} {GS}

Probably Not Recommend

I have always liked Civil War era books and Underground Railroad stuff but when I found out the main character of this book had epilepsy I was even more invested since that is a subject dear to my heart.  For that reason I wish I could say I would recommend this book but one of the two intimate scenes was way too much for me {Too Much Passion} :(  There were also several {Uncomfortable Moments} and one {Graphic Scene} that briefly describes a slave taking his own life.  Also, there are a couple of mentions of Masters taking advantage of their women slaves {Subject Matter}.  Honestly, if it weren't for the {TMP} I would recommend it.

Great Civil War story from the perspective of abolitionists in the south though.

The Lacemaker

***1/2

PG

{UM} {TMP}

Probably Not Recommend

Up until the last 50 pages or so I was thinking I could probably recommend this book to people but once they get married the author keeps you too intimately aware of how they spend their time together.  There were also several {UM} that I could have probably lived with otherwise.

It does have a good plot but the book seemed to drag on a bit long for me.

I believe this is the first Laura Frantz novel I have read and would be interested in trying another one.

A Refuge Assured

***1/2

PG

{UM} {a little TMP} {BSt} {SM} {GS}
Possibly Recommend With Explanation

That really is a lot of strikes against this book just viewing my ratings but it wasn't as bad as they may suggest.
There truly were many uncomfortable moments and many of them were related to the backstory and subject matter.
The main character's mother was a prostitute of sorts and that plays into the first quarter of the book quite a bit.  This takes place during the French Revolution and there are a couple of graphic scenes connected with that.
It was a really interesting historical fiction novel and I was fascinated by one of the author's notes at the end concerning the fate of one of the royal family members.