The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Overview: What if the title, the estate, the life of security and splendor… what if it isn’t enough?
 

Strong-willed and beautiful, debutante Katherine Ramsey feels ready to take the London social season by storm, and she must. Her family estate, Highland Hall, has been passed to older male cousin Sir William Ramsey, and her only means of securing her future is to make a strong debut and find a proper husband. With her all-knowing and meddling aunt as a guide, Katherine is certain to attract suitors at the lavish gatherings, sparkling with Great Britain’s elite.

When a shocking family scandal sidelines Katherine, forcing her out of the social spotlight, she keeps a low profile, volunteering with the poor in London’s East End. Here Katherine feels free from her predictable future, and even more so as a friendship with medical student Jonathan Foster deepens and her faith in God grows. But when Katherine is courted anew by a man of wealth and position, dreams of the life she always thought she wanted surface again. Torn between tradition and the stirrings in her heart for a different path, she must decide whom she can trust and love—and if she will choose a life serving others over one where she is served. 

ISBN-13: 9781601424983
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Publication date: 10/7/2014
Series:Edwardian Brides Series
Pages: 336

Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review of The Governess of Highland Hall

My Review: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof... Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalm 46

 This was such a fantastic story. I absolutely loved the characters, plot, and the message that Carrie expertly weaved. The story was interesting and kept me engaged. The characters were well rounded and excellently written. It was definitely nice to catch up with William and Julia.

The characters were fantastically written and developed. I really like Kate as a character. At her age, the confusion and feelings that she felt were natural and appropriate. She is torn between what is tradition and what the Lord wants for her life. Accepting a path that is different from what you always envisioned your life would take is hard, and Carrie does a fantastic job of portraying that. Jon is a strong male lead character. I love his attitude and faith. He is a great example for Kate to follow.

The message, as I believe the verse above portrays, is to lean on God. Trust Him for all things in our lives, and He will bless us according to His will. When we place our trust and our lives in God's hands, all things work out for good, according to His purpose. Taking that leap of faith is a scary and somewhat intimidating, but the author is letting us know that it is worth it all in the end.

Overall, I recommend this story for anyone who loves a good, clean period romance with a strong message of faith, love, and trusting your heart.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Blogging for Books blogging program in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.*

About the Author: CARRIE TURANSKY is an award-winning author of more than a dozen novels and novellas. She has been the winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the Crystal Globe Award, and the International Digital Award, and a finalist for the Inspirational Readers Choice Award and the ACFW Carol Awards and Genesis Contest. She has written contemporary and historical romances, women's fiction, short stories, articles, and devotionals. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Scott, and they have five adult children and four grandchildren.

Connect with Carrie: Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Website | Blog

Top Ten Tuesday: Can't Wait for Sequels

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

 Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. 

 

This Week's topic: Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get

 

 

I really enjoy series that follow a family or group of friends, such as Sabotaged and Now & Forever. It's fun to meet the new family member or friend, while still keeping up with the previous characters. A new favorite kind of series of mine is one that follows the same person throughout the whole series, like Julia Elliston in Price of Privilege, Kate Adams in Desperate Measures, and Mia Quinn in Lethal Beauty. I feel like you can really connect with the character and watch them learn and grow.

1. Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey - Alaskan Courage Series
2. Price of Privilege by Jessica Dotta - Price of Privilege Series
3. To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander - Belle Meade Plantation Series
4. Now & Forever by Mary Connealy - Wild at Heart Series
5. Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas - Appalachian Blessings Series
6. Gone Without A Trace by Patricia Bradley - Logan Point Series
7. Desperate Measures by Sandra Orchard - Port Aster Secrets Series
8. Lethal Beauty by Lis Wiehl - Mia Quinn Series
9. The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky - Edwardian Brides Series
10. After a Fashion by Jen Turano - I don't know if this will be a series or not, but I love Jen's writing so I added it anyways :D

 What sequels are you DYING to get your hands on?

 

The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Hello all! Greetings from Topsail Island Beach! My vacation is underway and it's been pretty exciting so far! My boyfriend asked me to marry him on the beach! It was so romantic and of course, I said yes! I also go to finish this book: The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky.

From Barnes and Noble:
Worlds lie between the marketplaces of India and the halls of a magnificent country estate like Highland Hall. Will Julia be able to find her place when a governess is neither upstairs family nor downstairs help?
 
Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey.
 
Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin Randolph’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from the financial ruin. The last thing he needs is any distraction coming from the kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.
 
While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families—common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?



My Review:  This is my first book by Carrie Turansky.  It was enjoyable, but not as engrossing as I had hoped it would be.  Carrie creates characters that are real and their feelings are very relate-able.  However, I did not like all of the brooding that William did, and I don't feel like his character's spiritual journey was well developed. The fact that the story is told from several different people was kind of distracting, as the stories told by two of the characters were not very well developed and the fact that one of them gets away with deviousness is a little disappointing to me. I feel like that character should have been reprimanded.

The romance between William and Julia is typical in these types of books. They fall in love, but they have to come seemingly insurmountable odds to be together until an almost tragic incident tears them apart. It was a typical story. The message in the book is this: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. We need to learn to rely on God in times of trouble because he is a source of strength.

Overall, this book was enjoyable. It is not a mystery or action packed. It's just a simple, clean romance story that is sweet and inspiring. **I received this book from WaterBrook Mulnomah through their Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review.**

This book is now available for pre-order from: WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers, Barnes and Noble, Amazon,  and Christianbook.com and will be available for purchase on October 15, 2013.