A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander

Another great Belmont Mansion novel! This book intrigued me because I have read many of Tamera Alexander's books and because I live in a house with violinist. I fell in love with the two main characters, Rebekah and Nathaniel, and delighted in their interactions. Alexander does an excellent job of "painting the picture," so you can feel the emotions of the characters. She also does a supreme job describing the mansion. You feel as if you are walking through the house and can sense the grandeur. I do think that the story line was mostly predictable. My favorite part of the book is the situation with Nathaniel's family and how it effects Rebekah and Nathaniel's relationship. I also enjoyed going to Alexander's website and listening to the music written about in the book while I was reading. Delightful! Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen

I am always excited when a new book by Julie Klassen is published. Her style of writing along with her story line always engages me and I am thoroughly hooked to every word. This book intrigued me from the very beginning because I have read many historical fiction books, but I have never read about a coaching inn. The main character of this story, Jane Bell, becomes the landlady to a coaching inn after the devastating death of her husband. She has no desire to run the inn and no know-how, but debt and the fear of the town's demise ultimately drags her out of her mourning state and into the business world. She learns how to deal with her mother-in-law, who returns to "help", owning a business as a woman in the early 19th century, her husband's suspicious death, and competition. Through all of this she learns how resilient she really is and that there is hope for the future. I highly recommend this book by Klassen. Thank you to the publisher for the free copy.