Arms of Love by Kelly Long

Arms of Love by Kelly Long covers a unique subject: what life was like for the Amish during the Revolutionary war. When we think of the Amish, we think of them in today's times. But they were in America at the time of the Revolution, and life was very difficult for them since they refused to fight for either side. This book is a beautiful work of historical fiction that focuses on the lives of Adam Wyse and Lena Yoder.

Adam Wyse is a young Amish man whose inner turmoil mirrors the turmoil of the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. He wants two things but can't have them both: he wants to fight and he wants to marry his beloved Lena Yoder. To join the Patriot cause means leaving his faith and his love. But because of a promise he made, he may never be able to be with Lena anyway.

Lena senses Adam's pain, but he won't tell her what is on his mind, nor about the promise he made to her mother. He just ends their relationship. Left alone, Lena finds herself having to turn to Adam's brother, Isaac.

Will Adam's promise bring about the good results it was supposed to? Or will it tear apart families instead of bringing peace?

I found this to be a very well-written book with an intriguing storyline. The Revolutionary War is one of my favorite periods of American history, so I enjoyed learning something new about it. Readers of historical fiction and historical romances will enjoy this book.

To visit the Thomas Nelson product page for this book, click here Arms of Love product page 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html>: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Review of The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

I just had the pleasure of reading The Messenger by Siri Mitchell. As soon as I read the description of the book, I knew I had to get this book. I mean, for a person who loves historical fiction and romances, does it get much better than the Revolutionary War, Quakers, spies, and a sweet little love story, all in the same book? And let me tell you, The Messenger did not disappoint.

Hannah Sunderland is a Quaker young woman living in Philadelphia during the British occupation. She is content to obey the Quaker rules for living until her brother joins the Colonial army and is captured and thrown into jail-- and the Quaker faith forbids her and her family from visiting him. Even if she were allowed, she would need a pass in order to get in to see him.

Jeremiah Jones is a Colonial spy who desperately needs someone to take a message into the jail. If he can't get that message to the right men soon, the escape being planned by General Washington may for those prisoners may not take place. He decides to make a deal with Hannah-- he will get her a pass to get into the jail if she will carry messages into and out of the prison. Each is wary of the other and neither is prepared for the feelings they begin to develop for each other.

This book is an excellent read that I would recommend to everyone. The only thing that is slightly confusing when you first start the book is that it is written in the first person from both the perspective of Hannah and Jeremiah. One chapter is written through Hannah's eyes, and the next through Jeremiah's, and it goes back and forth like that through the entire book. But I love books written in the first person, and once you get used to being inside of both of the main characters' heads, it is thoroughly enjoyable.


I received this book free from Bethany House publishers as part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.