Tag Archives: Nancy Moser

Top 10 Tuesday — Back To School!

30 Aug

Thanks to the folks at The Broke And The Bookish for weekly hosting Top 10 Tuesday. This week is the Back To School Top 10. To find out what other bloggers are posting, click HERE.

toptentuesday

School has been back in session since the last week in July here in middle Georgia. So, so glad that I don’t have any more kids in school! Oh wait, I do! My youngest son started his first year of Law School two weeks ago. My other two children have both completed Master’s degrees and on their way to outstanding careers. Yeah, I’m a bit proud!

When I read this week’s theme, I just couldn’t get the classic song Don’t Know Much out of my head. Here’s my list in tribute to that Sam Cooke classic.

The Don’t Know Much, Back To School Top 14

Don’t know much about  . . .

History. I really liked European history in school. American history, not so much. So here are a few books that feature those things I didn’t pay attention to in class.

Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser (pre and post-Revolutionary War)

Burning Sky by Lori Benton (post-Revolutionary War)

The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot (Civil War)

Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin (Civil War, Women’s Suffrage, Prohibition)

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Biology. When I think of biology, I think of the birds and bees. When I think of the birds and bees, I think great romances. Here are some that fit that title.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt

The Dandelion Field by Kathryn Springer

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

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Science Books. Science? Yick! I glazed over in my HS Chemistry class and I didn’t even attempt Physics. Here are four novels that involve science but didn’t make me glaze over!

Bad Ground by Dale Cramer (mining)

Critical Reaction by Todd M. Johnson (nuclear energy)

Maximal Reserve by Sam Batterman (petroleum exploration)

Undetected by Dee Henderson (sonar)

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The French I Took. This may be because I took Spanish. LOL! The only French word I can say with confidence is oui! These books set in France deserve a definite oui, oui!

My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould (17th century)

Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot (WWII)

Two Crosses by Elizabeth Musser (Algerian Civil War)

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What are some of your favorite school books?

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Book Review: Washington’s Lady

6 Feb

432943Known for moving first-person novels of Nannerl Mozart, Jane Austen, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Nancy Moser now brings to life the loves and trials of the first First Lady of the United States. When a dapper, young George Washington comes into her life, Martha Custis is a young widow with two young children. Their love and loyalty toward each other—and the new nation they fight for, lasts a lifetime and is an inspiration even now, after 250 years. Washington’s Lady was a Christy Awards finalist.

 

Excerpt

 

71mRTW6rDwL._UX250_Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of over twenty novels that focus on the characters discovering their unique purpose. Her genres include both contemporary and historical stories.

My Impressions:

If you are looking for a book to help celebrate two February holidays, then consider Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser. In this biographical novel, the reader gets a glimpse at the personal life of George and Martha Washington, a couple who loved each other, their family and their nation. Theirs was a life of sacrifice and grief and also a triumph of devotion, loyalty and patriotism. No groundhogs in the book, but perfect for President’s Day and Valentine’s Day reading!

Moser tells the story of the Washingtons from the first person narrative of Martha. The book begins with a young Martha newly widowed, grieving the loss of her husband and two children. A wealthy woman in the Virginia colony, she could have made any match, but chose George Washington, a younger son with little material worth, but something special that told of great things to come. Their life together included the struggle to make ends meet amidst increasing taxes and tariffs from England, the very present dangers of a world without modern medical care, and the demands of the Glorious Cause and a new nation.

I liked that Moser tells the story in the context of a marriage. The story is intimate and real — disagreements over money spent and parenting are part of the story. Martha is an indulgent parent, to the detriment of her surviving son and grandson, but she is also diligent, courageous and concerned with others over self. The two main characters come across as real people, not iconic figures. This novel is a story of a life, not one of battles and politics, something I really appreciated.

Washington’s Lady is the perfect choice for those who love historical fiction, especially novels set during the Revolutionary War.

Recommended.

Audience: older teens and adults.

(I purchased this book for my Kindle. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click HERE.

 

 

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Book Review: The Journey of Josephine Cain

24 Oct

JoCainMoser-e1371575571978When a socialite from the nation’s capital embarks on a journey to the Wild West, her life is changed forever.

A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general’s daughter. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.

NMoser-171NANCY MOSER is the best-selling author of more than twenty novels. She is a winner and two-time nominee of the Christy Award, and her latest novel was named to Booklist’s “Top 10 Romance Novels of 2011.” Nancy and her husband have three grown children and three grandchildren, and they live in the Midwest.

My Impressions:

Nancy Moser is a favorite author of mine. She always delivers a well-written novel with characters a reader easily relates to. The Journey of Josephine Cain is another such book. Set amidst the backdrop of the building of the great Transcontinental Railroad, this tale has it all — great historical detail, great characters and a story that rings true. If you like historical romance, The Journey of Josephine Cain is for you.

Josephine Cain is the sheltered and pampered daughter of a Union general. Her coming out years have been spent knitting and rolling bandages for the troops, rather than attending balls and garden parties. Now with the Civil War over and her brother and cousin lost to the cause, Josephine’s home is in deep mourning. Restless for change and action, Josephine claims adventure by traveling the rails to the West. Out on the prairie, Josephine glimpses what life and love can really be.

As the story begins, Josephine is spoiled and self-centered. She doesn’t mean to be, but used to getting her way with an indulgent papa, she has a hard time breaking old habits. Moser does a great job of maturing her. Her experiences open her eyes to others and their needs. Her sense of right and wrong is established early, but she learns to temper that with compassion.

The setting of the Wild West is sure to please history fans. Josephine encounters Indians, saloons, railroad men, homesteaders and even brothels in her travels. The scenes on the train bring early travel to life for the reader. No detail is left out. There is also a great romance to enjoy!

So, grab this book and settle in for an adventure ride along with Josephine.

Recommended.

For other reviews, click HERE.

(Thanks to Summerside Press and LitFuse for my review copy. All opinions are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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