I started reading this book during a busy month. Any other time, I would've devoured this wonderful tale of loss, chance, family secrets, and finding one's way home despite the obstacles. There are those books that one reads and it is just that - reading. Whilst the story may be somewhat entertaining, it ceases to draw you in and fails to connect oneself to place or protagonist. Just another book you quickly want to finish. Then, there's that lovely, lively book that finds its way to your hands and once you've lost yourself in its pages you never want to leave it behind. Secrets of Nanreath Hall is the latter and exactly why I love historical fiction. Set between alternating periods of WWI and WWII, two women struggle to define themselves within a distinguished family that has hidden their secrets well inside the walls of Nanreath Hall.

Another fabulous read of 2016. I fell in love with ALL of the characters, each one growing closer to my heart as the story gained momentum. While the plot is not altogether original, I never felt as if I'd read this before. The scenes of war are vivid and I could hear the engines of airplanes screaming across the British skies. I could sense the fear and feel the heartbreak when letters brought news of lost loved ones, another casualty of war that changed lives in an instant. I ached for the young soldiers dashing off to war, imagining himself a hero but returning as a broken weary veteran, a constant battle inside the war between remembering and forgetting. It felt as if I was at the train depot standing among the women who kissed their soldier's lips for the very last time. Nanreath Hall came to life and I could smell the salty sea air, picture the transformation of the once great home now being used as hospital for the wounded and dying. Yes! Strong characters lived and breathed between the pages and captured my imagination until the very end. Superbly written. Five shiny gold stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


"Doubt that the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move, Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love." - Shakespeare



*I won a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to William Morrow for sponsoring the giveaway and to Alix Rickloff for writing a story that I'll always remember.

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An enjoyable, relaxing read. I enjoyed how Catherine Banner brought the island alive as it's own character. Small town antics, small town rumors, and 4 generations of a family and its dreams. Not all the characters were as well developed as I liked, but Catherine Banner did make her female characters strong and motivated. Banner, also, used the occasional Italian word throughout the book. Overall, a good weekend or vacation read. I did get a good feel of small town/island life, which is what I think I liked the best-the feel of being there.

*****I received this Advance Reader's Copy from a Goodreads giveaway sponsored by Random House.*****

Finished this book a couple of weeks ago and still thinking about the tragedy of losing Tony. Decca has written a beautiful story about tragic events that took place during a family vacation, a serene and well loved travel destination. It's beyond heartbreaking but also full of light. I think Tony would be immensely proud of the story Dec shared with the world.

*I won a copy of this book through the KEEP TURNING PAGES Goodreads group. Many thanks to Doubleday and the fantastic members of KEEP TURNING PAGES for sharing their opinions of each of our wonderful monthly selections. 

A beautiful story with gorgeous detail. My favorite Albom book yet. Mitch Albom weaves an incredible tale unlike anything I've read before. Brilliant! If you're a music fan, read this book. Better still, if you're a book lover, this is a must read.

*I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

**DOUBLE POSTINGS. What's up with this? Haven't been doing a lot of blog posts recently on BookLikes because I'm having so many viral issues. Double postings are annoying as hell, I get it. At first, the posts were doubling only on my Samsung tablet and I was still able to blog from my iPhone and Kindle. Now, it's doing it every post, from each device. Just one of several issues here. Therefore, I've limited my already limited posts. Until something changes, pleas excuse the double vision. 

1667

 

Louis XIV's colony in Canada needs women.

Surrounded by the British, the King needs to tie his settlers to the land with farms, wives, and children to defend in the event their enemies should invade.

 

The King's ministers advised a plan by which young, strong women of good character would be sent at the King's expense to wed the soldiers, farmers, artisans, and fur trappers who popluate the colony.

 

History would remember them as the King's Daughters and the Daughters of New France.

 

History doesn't have to be boring and Runyan has proved that point. As I read PROMISED TO THE CROWN I couldn't help wondering why my history classes mentioned nothing of these brave women, women who left behind families and traded their familiar homeland for months aboard a dirty ship and a treacherous voyage across the Atlantic, only to arrive in a frozen land with the intention of marrying a complete stranger. It takes a brave woman to head in this unknown destination. Runyan delivers an absorbing saga of three young and very different women. Aimie K. Runyan's fifteen years of French and Francophone Studies pays off as she delivers a story that is historical fiction at it's finest. Beginning in France and ending in New France, PROMISED TO THE CROWN is filled with heart and adventure, bringing the courageous Daughters of France to life once again. I was enraptured with the incredible journey of Rose, Nicole, and Elisabeth. This novel has earned its top spot in my all time favorites and Best Books of 2016. Word for word perfection. Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!!

Readers are rewarded at the end of this book with an exciting sneak peek of Aimie K. Runyan's next novel DUTY TO THE CROWN, Book Two in the Daughters of New France series which is set for release in November 2016 by Kensington Publishing.

For more info on Aimie, find her on her website www.aimiekrunyan.com and Twitter @aimiekrunyan.

*I was provided with a copy by the author through the 2016 Around the World blog tour. Opinions are my own and uninfluenced.