Shelley Shepard Gray: Love Held Captive

By Kelly Bridgewater

After the War Between the States, a Confederate officer longs to heal the heart of a beautiful woman—but first he’ll have to right the wrongs that were done to her.

Major Ethan Kelly has never been able to absolve himself of the guilt he feels for raiding a woman’s home shortly before he was taken prisoner during the Civil War. He is struggling to get through each day until he once again crosses paths with Lizbeth Barclay—the very woman he is trying to forget.

Life after the war is not much different for former Captain Devin Monroe until he meets Julianne VanFleet. He knows she is the woman he’s been waiting for, but he struggles to come to terms with the sacrifices she made to survive the war.

When Ethan and Devin discover that their former colonel, Adam Bushnell, is responsible for both Lizbeth’s and Julianne’s pain, they call on their former fellow soldiers to hunt him down. As the men band together to earn the trust of the women they love, Lizbeth and Julianne seek the justice they deserve in a country longing to heal

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I am not a fan of Civil War stories, expect Tamera Alexander's writing. This is the second book in this series that I have read. From the beginning, I was confused on who the women were. There were two sets of women and men, and I had a hard time telling them apart until about a third of the way in. My mind thought they were the same people. Until my mind wrapped around that they were two sets, the story was a little confusing. As for the plot, it takes place in one week. In that one week, both Ethan Kelly and Devin Monroe decide they love these tarnished women and want to marry them. The whole story centers around learning the back story of all four characters and how they would work past their past. I wanted the final showdown to be something big, but it took until about 95 percent into the book to get there, and it was over in one shot. Disappointing. While I had issues with the plot, Gray does do a great job at her research. The story did fit the time period and felt like a Civil War era novel. I'm truly gratetful when an author does that for a book. Makes me admire them a little more. Overall, with a confusing beginning and a lackluster plot, I don't think I would have picked this book up on my own.

I received a complimentary copy of Love Held Captive by Shelley Shepard Gray from Zondervan Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Shelley Shephard Gray: An Uncommon Protector

By Kelly Bridgewater

Overwhelmed by the responsibilities of running a ranch on her own, Laurel Tracey decides to hire a convict—a man who’s just scary enough to take care of squatters and just desperate enough to agree to a one year post.

The years following the war have been hard on Laurel Tracey. Both her brother and her father died in battle, and her mother passed away shortly after receiving word of their demise. Laurel has been trying to run her two hundred acre ranch as best she can.

When she discovers that squatters have settled in her north pasture and have no intention of leaving, Laurel decides to use the last of her money to free a prisoner from the local jail. If she agrees to offer him room and board for one year, he will have to work for her to pay off his debt.

Former soldier Thomas Baker knows he’s in trouble when he finds himself jailed because he couldn’t pay a few fines. Laurel’s offer might be his only ticket out. Though she’s everything he ever dreamed of in a woman—sweet and tender-hearted, yet strong—he’s determined to remain detached, work hard on her behalf, and count the days until he’s free again.

But when cattle start dying and Laurel’s life is threatened, Thomas realizes more than just his freedom is on the line. Laurel needs someone to believe in her and protect her property. And it isn’t long before Laurel realizes that Thomas Baker is far more than just a former soldier. He’s a trustworthy hero, and he needs more than just his freedom—he needs her love and care too.

www.fictiondb.com

My Thoughts:

After reading Shelley Shepard Gray's Chicago World's Fair Mystery series and being pleased with two out of three of them, I had a good idea of how Gray writes. She invites me into the historical setting with no problem. I could picture the setting and see the characters moving around. I understood the character's plight and emotions. While the story is predictable and non-original, I did like the hero who was a "bad" guy turned right, even though I believe his crime that put him in prison wasn't that horrible. Since it is a historical romance, I knew right away that Laurel and Thomas would fall in love and end up married. While the plot idea of someone wanting to scare Laurel off her hundred acres has been overdone, I did enjoy the time I spent reading the story. Once the bad guy was revealed to Laurel and Thomas, it was a quick hand trick and the bad guy was hauled off to jail. I hoped for a better stand-off, but Gray didn't give me one. An Uncommon Protector is a great book for fans of historical romances right after the Civil War. While I prefer to read something with more suspense in it, Gray does a good job at weaving together a story that I enjoyed.

I received a complimentary copy of An Uncommon Protector from Zondervan Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

What makes you pick up a book that is out of your genre of choice? Is it the cover? The synopsis? A recommendation?

Shelly Gray: Whispers in the Reading Room

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

From Amazon

Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

My Thoughts:

I truly enjoyed reading the first two books in The Chicago World’s Fair Mystery Series by Shelley Gray. Secrets of Sloane House and Deception on Sable Hill. Both of the stories were rich in historical detail and interesting characters. In Whispers in the Reading Room, I sadly have to have did not hit the mark with me.

First, being part of a mystery series, I expected a mystery. There was none. If you called a dead body and accusing the owner of the gambling saloon the only suspect without looking at anyone else, then this could be a mystery for you. But as an avid mystery reader, this really had nothing to do with the story. The mystery element felt like it was thrown in at the last minute but really had nothing to do with the overall conflict. It was majorly downplayed for me.

As for the characters of Lydia Bancroft and Sebastian Marks, Sebastian was the only character that I felt a smidgen of empathy for. Lydia is a fallen woman of society because of a couple of financial issues her father left her and her mother in, so her mother is pushing her to marry anyone with money to help them out and keep face in society. Lydia loves books and hides all her emotions while she widdles away the hours reading them. Even though Lydia is demanding and pushing to Sebastian, she is a weakling to everyone else in the story.

Sebastian Marks made a better life for himself by promising to not be like his mother who was a prostitute while she was alive. He now has money and fear of the slums of Chicago’s society’s underbelly. Presently, he owns a gambling club, so he still wants more from his life. He is a closet bookworm, which is how he meets Lydia. I really liked how he swore to better himself  and he did.

As for the romantic conflict, way too fast for my taste. In the beginning of the novel, Lydia is engaged to Jason, a wealthy man in society. Then Sebastian helps her escape Jason, and they slowly move through a relationship, even an akward proposal. I really didn’t feel that they loved each other the way Gray wanted us to believe they did. Their relationship was weird and odd.

On a positive note, Gray does a good job at keeping the historical detail on target. I was reminded of Chicago right after the World Fair in 1894. Every tiny detail now to the outfits the woman wore or the positions in the job market appeared to fit the time period. I really felt like I was enjoying life in Chicago in the late nineteenth century.

Overall, Shelly Gray’s Whispers in the Reading Room is a lackluster conclusion to her The Chicago World’s Fair Mysteries. I really couldn’t wait for the book to be done. It did not grab my attention at all.

I received a complimentary copy of Whispers in the Reading Room from Zondervan Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Purchase Whispers in the Reading Room

Deception on Sable Hill by Shelley Gray

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

The World’s Fair has introduced many new ideas to Chicago society—but can two individuals from very different backgrounds find love together?
It’s mid-September 1893 and Eloisa Carstairs is the reigning debutant of Gilded Age Chicago society. To outsiders she appears to have it all. But Eloisa is living with a dark secret. Several months ago, she endured a horrible assault at the hands of Douglass Sloane, heir to one of Chicago’s wealthiest families. Fearing the loss of her reputation, Eloisa confided in only one friend. That is, until she meets Detective Sean Ryan at a high-society ball.
Sean is on the fringes of the Chicago elite. Born into a poor Irish family, becoming a policeman was his best opportunity to ensure his future security. Despite social boundaries, he is enamored with Eloisa Carstairs. Sean will do anything to keep her safe—even if he can never earn her affections.
Eloisa longs to feel normal again, but a killer is on the loose. In the last month, three debutants have been accosted by an assailant wielding a knife, and Eloisa fears for her safety at every event she attends. As the danger in the city increases, and as the romance between Eloisa and Sean blossoms, they both realize they want to be seen as more than how the world views them. But will they catch the killer before all their hopes come crashing down?

My Review:
I enjoy reading mysteries centered in the late Victorian Era. Even though most of the books I have read and heard of come from Victorian England, not in America. Sherlock Holmes. Jack the Ripper. But when I saw the notice for a mystery series surrounding around the World’s Fair in Chicago during the same time period, my interest was piqued. What was going on American during this time frame? I did not know, but I couldn’t wait to find out by reading this new mystery series by Shelley Gray.
The idea of a Society Slasher going around slashing woman to scar them and then up the dealings to murder later in the book reminded me a lot of Jack the Ripper who killed prostitutes. Deception on Sable Hill occurs five years after Jack the Ripper made his mark on the London community. While the identity of Jack the Ripper was never truly found, the identity of the Society Slasher does come to light at the end of the book. Gray did a good job at keeping the identity of the Slasher hidden. I kept believing the murder was someone. I followed all the clues, but even, I was proven wrong. That is the markings of a good story teller.
The characters make or break the book. Sean Ryan is an enjoyable hero because he wants to improve himself and rise above his humble beginnings. He worked his way up the chain of command in the police force and is respected by many. Eloisa Carstairs, our heroine, feels safe with Sean Ryan around, even so far enough to tell him the dark incident in her past. I enjoyed following Sean through the story, and Eloisa is an admirable heroine because she sees past the social status and views Sean for who he really is. A loving, caring man who will do anything to protect her.
Overall, Shelley Gray, in her second book of the Chicago World’s Fair Mystery Series Deception on Sable Hill does a great job at recreating a Victorian mystery that will keep readers, either historical or mystery lovers, up all night, flipping through the pages hoping to find out who the Society Slasher is.
I received a complimentary copy from Zondervan through Netgalley and the opinions stated are all my own.

From About Shelley on her personal Website

Where to connect with Shelley Gray:

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Where to purchase her books:

Amazon

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Do you enjoy historical suspense fiction? What other authors have you found in this genre?