Sincerely Yours ~ Four unexpected letters. Four intrepid women. Four lives changed forever.
Rating: 3.5/5
Meet four incredible women living in different times in America as they struggle to find their place and find love along the way. With each letter, each young woman begins a new adventure that launches them into their destiny.
Moonlight Promise by Laurie Alice Eakes
After Camilla Renfrew receives a letter offering her a job, she leaves everything she has ever known in England to escape to America. She must find a way to connect with her friend before she leaves her behind. After she barely manages to gain passage on a Hudson River steamboat to the new Erie Canal, she finds herself in a strange world and with a need to survive. She fears for her life as the boat seems to attract mishap after mishap. Will she make it to her friend on time? Will she escape those who are wrongly in pursuit of her? Can she trust the captain? Can she allow herself to fall in love with someone she just met?
I could not stop reading until I reached the end of this novella. The pacing was great and the story was captivating – I now want to ride on a steamboat on the Hudson River. (Does Disneyland count?) I felt Eakes’ characters were great, despite the fact that there wasn’t as much time for character development. Definitely a fun, fast-paced read!
Lessons in Love by Ann Shorey
When Marigold Montgomery Bentley, aka M.M. Bentley, receives a letter offering her the job for Kipler’s Home Weekly as the marriage advice columnist, she is overjoyed but realizes the editor thinks she’s a man. She manages to get her piano teacher to help her, so she can find a way to do what she loves – write for a living. Will she be able to keep up this deception? Will spending the extra time with her piano tutor blossom into something more?
As a fellow piano player and lover of music, I love almost any story that involves music. I read the story quickly, inevitably knowing how it would end, but still anxious to see if I was right. I can’t imagine how difficult it was for women of that time and I like how Marigold finds out who she is and what she believes about marriage.
One Little Word by Amanda Cabot
When Lorraine Caldwell receives a letter from her long-lost brother, she immediately sets off to find him. Lorraine is being pressed to marry a man she does not love. As a New York socialite, she is unaccustomed to work, but when she arrives at Lilac Hall to find her brother engaged, she is determined to help out while he goes on his honeymoon. She finds herself unusually attracted to a lowly artisan, a carousel carver. As one of “the New York Caldwells”, can she fall in love with him? Can she find love and uncover what God has planned for her and her family?
I think this story was my favorite of the four. I really enjoyed learning about carousels. I had no idea how fascinating their history was and I want to thank the author for opening up a whole new world for me to explore and research. I love how God’s perfect plan is evident through the story. Such an enjoyable read!
A Saving Grace by Jane Kirkpatrick
When a young girl asks Grace Hathaway to bring her mother back to her, Grace quickly rushes off her see her friend. She is appalled to find that her friend is living in an isolated clinic that seems to be starving its patients. She meets a doctor named Claude doing research there and finds herself attracted to a man that is supporting such a terrible setup. Can she find a way to rescue her friend before it’s too late? Can she trust Claude? Will she be able to help the rest of the patients who are slowly dying and being taken advantage of?
Honestly, this story was creepy. Some might say intriguing. I couldn’t stop reading because I was so appalled at what was taking place. As someone who wants to be a doctor someday, it was hard to read what Dr. Hazzard was doing to her patients. Only at the end did I find out that the story is based on the real Dr. Hazzard and her practices. When I was reading, I kept thinking this story was in the wrong genre. I loved Grace’s determination and love for her friend. She’s a beautiful character who stands up for justice.
I definitely recommend reading this novella. If you would like to have a chance to win a copy from Jane Kirkpatrick, check out her blog here.
I received this book for free from Revell and NetGalley but was not required to give a positive review.
