November is the perfect month to show how thankful we are for books! I know I’m grateful for stories that can whisk me away, immerse me in another time period, or help me see the world in a way I wouldn’t have before. This month I have two recommendations for you of stories that showcase family relationships, love, forgiveness, and finding the strength to overcome life’s obstacles.
The first one is Windsong Manor by Julie Wright. Eleanora Coventry was wed at just sixteen to a much older man who merely wanted an heir. He controlled every aspect of her life, and on his deathbed, forces a promise that she will raise his illegitimate daughter as her own. Eleanora agrees, and soon after she is widowed, moves her son and new daughter to their country estate. The stablemaster there, Ridley Ellis, evokes feelings in her she’s never felt before, but she is overwhelmed with a son who is well on the path of becoming just like his late father—unfeeling and cruel, along with her new daughter who misses her old home. Ridley becomes a haven for Eleanora, but their growing feelings for each other complicate everything. Can they risk everything—including her guardianship over her son—for a chance at love?
This heartfelt romance is very relatable with interwoven themes of how family relationships can affect us throughout our lives. Eleanora had once dreamed of love and marriage, and what she endured smothered that dream—or so she thought. She wants to be a good mother, but outside influences have affected how her son sees her. Eleanora also faces the difficulty of trying to blend a family when she becomes the mother to a girl who misses her birth family. Throughout it all, Eleanora does an admirable job of handling the situations she’s been given. But her relationship with Ridley, a calming influence on everyone involved, is all the sweeter when he shares her burdens and helps her see her true worth. It’s not all smooth sailing, however, when Ridley is hiding a pretty big secret. His own background has taken him on a life path he didn’t expect and it finally catches up to him, adding a thread of suspense to the book and one more obstacle they must overcome on their journey to a hoped-for happily-ever-after. Readers will enjoy this tender, slow-burn romance that, while it has a more modern flair to it, will still immerse the reader in the world of Windsong Manor and the life Eleanora hopes to build with Ridley and her children.
Windsong Manor by Julie Wright, published by Shadow Mountain Publishing, 256 pages, available in ebook, paperback, and audio.
My second recommendation is Skye Fall by Paige Edwards. Isla Montjoy is newly in love with her policeman boyfriend when she discovers he’s a crooked cop who is involved in an organization that covers up their crimes—by making sure no one lives to tell about them. Isla survives her brutal attack and goes into hiding to protect her family. After changing her name and settling in a small town in the Scottish highlands, Isla meets Ben Pressley-Coombes and his father—right before her ex-boyfriend tracks her down and tries to kill her. In order to protect her, Ben and his family take her in and spirit her away to the U.S. Isla is drawn to Ben and his kindness and decency, but she’s afraid to let herself feel anything for him. He gives her a sense of safety she hasn’t had in a long time and part of her wants to give in and let herself fall in love. Does she dare? Or will danger find her again?
This book is loaded with mystery, suspense, and a sigh-worthy romance. From the U.K. to the U.S. readers will be immersed in Isla’s British culture (there’s even a glossary to help readers with the more obscure British words and meanings) that adds a layer of authenticity to the story. Skye Fall is also part of a series, and several previous characters from Ben’s family are part of this book, but readers can read this one standalone and not feel lost. Isla is a strong woman who will do anything to protect her family. She works hard as a nurse to heal people and pours her soul into her paintings—even with a killer stalking her every move. Ben has a loving, supportive family who is dealing with their father’s unexpected injury and the possibility someone has embezzled millions from their family business. The author does a wonderful job intertwining the two mysteries Ben and Isla are facing as well as their sweet romance. Isla is realistically portrayed as she deals with triggers and trauma and Ben is an understanding hero who wants to do whatever he can to help her heal. Romantic suspense fans will love this well-balanced, edge-of-your-seat story with an inspirational ending.
Skye Fall by Paige Edwards, published by Covenant Communications, 224 pages, available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
After winning $10 in a second-grade writing contest, Julie Coulter Bellon knew she wanted to be a published author someday. That dream came true and she is now an award-winning author of thirty books. She is also a podcast host for Authors Off the Page and Book Chat with Julie.
