Judith Miller: The Chapel Car Bride

By Kelly Bridgewater

With her penchant for seeing the best in everyone, Hope Irvine sees a world full of good people in hard places. When her father accepts a position traveling in a chapel car as an on-the-rail missionary, she is determined to join him in his efforts and put her musical skills to good use by serving the mining families of West Virginia, saving their souls, and bettering their lives.

Luke Hughes shares Hope's love of music and her love of God, but as a poor miner he knows he can offer her no future. Still, the notes she sings resonate in his heart. When she begins to travel with a young mine manager to neighboring counties, Luke can hardly suppress his jealousy. It isn't until he begins to suspect these missions of mercy might be the mine manager's cover for illegal purposes, though, that Luke feels justified in speaking up. But how can he discover the truth without hurting Hope or, worse, putting her in danger?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

With Judith Miller books, some of her books have been awesome, and I devour them instantly, but I have found some of them not to be so great. With her newest book The Chapel Car Bride, I don't think this story captured my attention either. While the characters and plight of Hope Irvine, who is a daughter of a preacher, riding the rails through the American west in 1913. She is a strong woman who isn't afraid to tell the story of Jesus to everyone, especially the little children in town. I admired her humble spirit and her willingness to step out of her comfort zone and share Jesus to people she met. On a parallel note, Miller wrote the hero, Luke Hughes, as a man who grew up in the mining community with a compassionate heart for the mistreated who wants to be a preacher. The romance between Hope and Luke was not one of my top romances. It moved along just like a romance novel should. It was predictable and unoriginal. As for the pace of the novel, it dragged for a long time. It was hard to stay focused for a long time. There is a mystery element surrounding Kirby, the son of the father who owns the mine, but the idea didn't grasp my attention as I originally hoped.

I received a complimentary copy of The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller from Bethany House Publishers, and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Judith Miller: The Artisan's Wife

By Kelly Bridgewater

Ainslee McKay's world is shaken when she discovers her twin sister has not only eloped with a man she barely knows but now Ainslee must fulfill their obligation at a tile works in Weston, West Virginia. Ainslee must learn the ropes and, if she can keep the tile works profitable, her brother will help her sell the business.

When Levi Judson arrives and shows Ainslee his designs for new tiles, she's impressed by his skill and passion for the business. But he's hiding his true reason for coming to Weston. And Ainslee knows he'd be crushed to learn his plans for a long career at McKay Tile Works are in vain since she intends to sell. Can the growing feelings between them survive if the truth comes to light--or is a future together as untenable as the future of the tile works itself?

From Amazon

My Review:

I enjoyed Judith Miller's The Potter's Wife. It was the fourth book that I have read by her. When I read a historical novel, I want to be taken back to the time period and never once doubt the research and the story that the writer has created for me. In Miller's stories, I never once doubt her love of history and her ability to bring the story to life with her research.

In the Refined by Love series, I enjoy how Miller took three different positions of a brick maker, pottery maker, and a tile maker  and showed me the inner workings of these three types of factories. Her research into how each item is made caught my attention. I really enjoyed learning more about the process to make these items, which helped build our museums, buildings, and flatware.  The setting of each of these factories and their communities jumped off the page. It reminded me of small town America with everyone knowing everyone.

As for the characters, I enjoyed how Miller made the stories intertwine with the recurring characters. The family featured is a family of four children who left Ireland to come to America for a better life. In each of the three books, I watched the oldest brother, oldest sister, and younger twin mature and develop. I really enjoyed how Miller made all the women strong heroines who showed they could run a business just as well as a man. I wish there was more information about Ainslee's twin sister instead of just letters from her.

Since The Artisan's Wife is a historical romance, the plot and romance must go hand in hand. I enjoyed how the romance did not take president over the plot. The plot was the most important with a sprinkling of romance to satisfy the romance readers. Even though I did enjoy the story, about sixty percent in, the plot dragged, and I couldn't wait to finish the novel.

The Artisan's Wife is a well-researched novel by a definite history novel. With strong heroines and the men who love them, Judith Miller's The Artisan's Wife is a novel worth savoring as I learned about the early factories that shaped the landscape of America. 

I received a complimentary copy of The Artisan's Wife from Bethany House Publishers and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Judith Miller: The Potter’s Lady *GIVEAWAY*

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

When Rose McKay convinces her brother, Ewan, to invest in a pottery business, she's determined to assist him in making the venture a success. Having just graduated from the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, she believes she can design pieces that will sell well. In her efforts to help the pottery flourish, Rose reconnects with Joshua Harkness, who oversees his own family's pottery works in a nearby town.

Rylan Campbell has never liked change, but the new owners of the pottery seem to be the decent sort. He just wishes Rose wouldn't insist on cleaning and moving everything. But when McKay Pottery starts losing business to the Harkness company, Rylan realizes Joshua might be taking advantage of Rose.

Then Franklin Hotels announces a design contest. Winning the Franklin contract would be exactly the boost McKay Pottery needs, so Rose and Rylan work closely together to create something magnificent. With Joshua's company as their main competition, can Rylan convince Rose her trust in Joshua may be misplaced?

My Thoughts:

I have enjoyed Judith Miller’s Postcards from Pullman’s series, so I thought I would give Judith Miller another chance. I am glad I did. Miller’s latest release, The Potter’s Lady, is a different and unique historical romance.

I really enjoy how in the four books that I have read of Millers all of the heroine are strong characters. Even during the historical time period when women weren’t shined or allowed to blossomed, Miller allows her women characters to be educated and have a voice in a changing world. This makes her heroines come to life for me. I enjoy reading about strong women who want to change the world around them for the better. This time around was no exception. Rose is a woman who has a strong eye for art and design but believes in the education of all and a cleaner working environment.

Miller does a great job at bringing the historical period of 1872 to life. I really felt like I was roaming the pottery and missing the train as it crossed the railroad tracks through town. Miller captures the emotions and  hurts of the society and brings it to life in my imagination. Miller is a master at using her research to tell a story, not bore her readers with annoying facts. Instead she allows me to take a journey through history with her characters.

I don’t blame Miller for this, but the only problem I had was with the nanny. I don’t know if it is because I just finished a book with the same issue for the servant. I think it is. Recently, I just finished another book where the servant was being bribed by someone with power through money, prestige, and a chance at a better lifestyle for gossip about the family she worked for. It felt like I was reading the same thing again. I think it has become a trend among historical fiction writers.

I believe fans of historical fiction would enjoy this book and love learning more about the horrible working conditions in factories in 1872.

I received a complimentary copy of The Potter’s Lady from Bethany House Publishers and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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