Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd

July 1, 2022June 30, 2022 / Gail Johnson / 13 Comments

Good morning! Yes, I know it’s Friday. Or at least I think it’s Friday. I also thought yesterday was Friday. LOL. But enough about me. I wanted to share a beautiful story coming July 5 from Sandra Byrd.

About the Book

Title: Heirlooms

Author: Sandra Byrd

Release Date: July 5, 2022

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Inspirational

Length: 460 pages

Back Cover

Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.

After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.

Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim―Eunhee’s granddaughter―to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.

Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women―grandmothers and granddaughters―intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.

My thoughts

This was my first multi-period novel. I was a little wary after hearing other readers say they always prefer one story over the other. But I’m happy to say that wasn’t the case with this reader. The author did a fantastic job connecting the two timelines through loss, hobbies, and secrets.

Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd is like unwrapping a basket of goodies. She immerses the reader in the story’s setting by weaving tidbits from real life into her fictional tale, making the character’s world come alive.

Remember party lines?

By the end of the book, the reader has made new friends and collected a treasure trove of gardening and culinary ideas they can use in their own lives.

I love that Byrd’s characters are always strong and can find a solid solution to their problems. The mid-century story of two widows is a story of triumph and heartbreak. I like the way Helen helped Euhnee even though she knew it could cost her everything. Their friendship is a beautiful reminder of how precious true friends are. The modern-day story of Cassidy and Grace is about overcoming the odds and facing the truth of the past. All four women were relatable and likable.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. I also preordered a copy.

Enduring Dreams by Sandra Ardoin

October 14, 2020October 14, 2020 / Gail Johnson / 8 Comments

Loving her might be a blueprint for disaster.

Claire Kingsley is a woman before her time. Unfortunately, she can’t seem to extricate herself from the past to become a trailblazer for others. Her fears and regrets, not to mention society’s prejudices, keep her from reaching for what she wants most. If the past has taught her anything, it is to not reach for things beyond the set boundaries. It doesn’t matter if you’re gifted by the Creator.

Mark Gregory is a visionary looking to the future. His mother lives in the past and refuses to let go of the old traditions. If she has her way, Mark will hold to the family customs and marry a good Polish girl. But Mark wants a new life, and this new life requires change. He has big dreams for his personal and professional life. With his plans in place, Mark expects his business to soar until a man approaches him with an idea surely to wreck his future.

I liked the way Claire kept reminding Mark that God is in control but refused to trust Him for her own future. Isn’t that the way things go? We can’t see what’s in front of us. The journey of loss and restoration is a reminder to never give up on the dreams God has placed in your heart and to remember He alone is in control.

There is a reason I am a fan of Ardoin’s writing. Her characters are always relatable and memorable. The humor between Mark and Claire was endearing, and the romance was clean and swoon-worthy. Once again, she has given her reader the perfect story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes. However, I enjoyed this story so much I pre-ordered an e-book copy to keep. Yes, it is that good.

I recommend Enduring Dreams Widow’s Might Series Book 1 to anyone who loves historical fiction.

Enduring Dreams by @SandraArdoin The humor between Mark and Claire was endearing, and the romance was clean and swoon-worthy. #bookreview @GailJohnson87
Tweet

Unwrapping Hope ~ Sandra Ardoin

October 13, 2019November 3, 2019 / Gail Johnson

I am privileged to be on Sandra Ardoin’s launch team for her latest release, Unwrapping Hope. Squee! I’m sure you’re going to love this one. Let’s get started!

Book Description

Phoebe Crain, an accomplished pianist, lives in near poverty to protect her five-year-old daughter from scandal. When Phoebe receives a handcrafted cigar box by mistake, her desperation to give the child something special for Christmas drives her to suggest a trade with Spence Newland, a man she views as no more principled than her daughter’s late father. But the more time she spends with the department store heir, the more Phoebe struggles to keep up her guard against him.

Spence believes the cigar box will help him gain a reclusive investor’s financial support for his proposed five-and-ten-cent stores, demonstrating his ability to manage the family fortunes. Yet he hesitates to bargain with a widow who mistrusts him for no apparent reason…until he meets a charming little girl at the train station who awaits the arrival of a prince.

Will a betrayal in Phoebe’s past and Spence’s unraveling plans derail their hope for happiness and keep a child’s fairy tale from coming true?

My thoughts

Novellas have been the perfect read for me this year. Even better were the historical Christian fiction stories. And Sandra Ardoin’s Unwrapping Hope didn’t disappoint. I loved her stories and her characters. All of them!

Ardoin drew me in with breadcrumbs bursting with promises and led me to the perfect ending. Along the way, I empathized with Phoebe as she struggled with the answers to her problems. I cheered for Spence as he chased his dreams. And in the middle of all this book love, I fell for a little sprite waiting at the train station.

Unwrapping Hope is a refreshing story of love, forgiveness, and mercy that you will not want to miss!

I received a copy from the author, but I pre-ordered my own Kindle edition. All opinions are my own.

5 Stars

Here’s that link: