As Love Blooms by Lorna Seilstad

I have really enjoyed this series featuring the Gregory sisters. Lorna Seilstad has done an excellent job including humor and romance with a wonderful storyline. I like each of the sisters, but I think Tessa is my favorite. That surprised me some because she wasn't a favorite of mine after reading the first 2 books. However, I loved her spontaneity and how she kept Reese on his feet.

The way Reese rescued Tessa so many times had me laughing by the end. The poor man had to just have shaken his head when he had to do it again! Aunt Sam was another person I really liked reading about. I think she's a story in herself, which would be a good spin-off. I'm not sure if it will happen, but there's some opening into the whole Women's suffrage that would make an excellent series, as well.

Edward always seemed shady to me, so I couldn't decide until the end whether or not I liked him. I was a little surprised by the predicament Tessa found herself in because I never saw it coming with the person who was involved.

I liked the message of the book about speaking the truth and not keeping secrets. Secrets can tear a family apart, so Tessa had every right to worry about the plethora of secrets each person had and whether or not it would rip their family apart.

The cover to this book is also beautifully done. The contrasting colors really catch the eye of the readers.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.



While Love Stirs by Lorna Seilstad

I really like the cover on this book.  I like the fading colors in the back and the sharp, beautiful colors of the girl on the front.  I found it to be very appealing and drew me to the book.

I was really glad that Charlotte was featured in this book, which is the second book in the Gregory Sisters series.  She reminds me of who I would like to be sometimes!  (Don't worry... I'm not!). She's fiesta and has a strong personality that helps her in where she is wanting to go.  However, she also has a lot to figure out when it comes to God and laying down her will.

I got a lot of good laughs between Joel and Charlotte!  I found their encounters refreshing and in many instances, just funny.  Their quirks were fun to imagine a marriage with!

I like all of the Gregory sisters so I liked the update on Hannah.  I'm hoping Tessa gets the main feature in the next book.  I can only imagine how great that book will be with Tessa's personality!  I bet that Lorna Seilstad has a lot of fun writing these books and conjuring up the different scenarios!

I like historical fiction, but I think the history in these books make the story even better.  It's not heavy history, but it's definitely enough to set the stage and give you an understanding of the time period. 

Looking forward to book #3!

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Take one lovely young woman.
Add two ambitious young men.
Stir . . . and stand back.
As a graduate of Fannie Farmer's School of Cookery, Charlotte Gregory is thrilled to have the opportunity to travel, lecture, and give cooking demonstrations on the very latest kitchen revolution--the gas stove. And she certainly doesn't mind that the gas company has hired the kindhearted Lewis Mathis to entertain at her lectures.

Lewis encourages Charlotte's work, especially her crusade to introduce fresh, appetizing, nutritious food to those convalescing in hospitals. But young hospital superintendent Dr. Joel Brooks is not convinced any changes should be made--especially by this outspoken young woman.

When Charlotte and Joel are coerced into planning a fund-raising gala for the hospital, will this combustible pair explode?

Follow the second Gregory sister as she looks for true love and makes her way in a rapidly changing world in this breezy, lighthearted love triangle that will keep you guessing.


Lorna Seilstad is the author of When Love Calls and the Lake Manawa Summers series. A former high school English and journalism teacher, she has won several online writing contests and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Lorna lives in Iowa with her husband. Learn more at www.lornaseilstad.com.

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 I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

When Love Calls by Lorna Seilstad

I could not put this book down and am ready for the other books in this series to be released promptly!  I really like all 3 of the Gregory girls, even though I was sad for them in the beginning. They each have such different personalities and gifts that made reading about them so much fun.  

Hannah's personality was funny to me.  I could just see her stomping off after insisting Mr. Lincoln take her money.  I laughed in certain spots because I could so vividly picture what Lorna Seilstad was  wanting me to picture in my head.

I have read several books by Seilstad and have enjoyed each one.  I do know that I'm 

hooked on this series now.  The only way I can think to describe her writing is "fun."  She has such a great way with words.

Another thing that I thought was a plus for her book was all of the other wonderful, well-known authors (all from different genres of fiction) that reviewed her book.  That made me want to read this 

book even more when I saw that some of my favorite authors enjoyed this book too.

I liked the history in this book.  I never knew anything about working as a switchboard operator, 

so that was an interesting story for me.  The strict rules were funny in a way and I liked watching 

Hannah struggle with Lincoln.  It was fun to watch her swallow her pride and for Lincoln to kind 

of put her in her place a bit and make her realize her need for help!

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.