Mark of Distinction by Jessica Dotta

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1830s – England

London is said to be the glittering jewel of society, a world unto itself—but to Julia Elliston it is a city of shadows. Her life is swiftly dissolving into scandal. And in Victorian society, even a whisper of scandal—substantiated or not—can be the death of a young woman’s reputation.

Now under the watchful eye of Lord Roy Pierson, one of most influential men in England, Julia begrudgingly accepts his protection. But Chance Macy’s power is far-reaching as well, and he is eager to assert his claim over her.

Thrust into society as the Emerald Heiress, Julia is the toast of London, a celebrated curiosity. But in reality she’s trapped between the clutches of two powerful men. Aided only by a gentleman whose intentions she prays she can trust, Julia must finally take control of her own fate—but outwitting one’s foe rarely goes according to plan.

London Dawn by Murray Pura

1834 – England

In this stunning conclusion to the saga, we find Lord Preston and his family are gathered in London in the late 1930s for what turns out to be a homecoming. The family is finally all together again, gathering in a way they haven’t been able to do for years. But looming ahead is the summer and fall of 1940 when both the Battle of Britain and the Blitz will occur. Though the family is blissfully unaware of this soon-to-be reality, Lord Preston, privy to top secret info in his position in the government, has grave concerns; the gravest he’s ever had, that England will be invaded. The Danforth family patriarch does his best to hide his fears with a cheerful exterior, but is he successful?

A Hero’s Promise by Roseanna White

A Hero’s Promise

1835 – Maryland

This free e-romance novella is an exclusive bonus from the Culper Ring Series by Roseanna M. White, set in the intervening years between Whispers from the Shadows and Circle of Spies. Fans of the series will enjoy this chance to revisit the men and women who were part of the legendary American spy ring. Their fascinating exploits are further explored in the series’ full novels, which includes Ring of Secrets, Whispers from the Shadows, and Circle of Spies. January 29, 1835 in Baltimore, Maryland. Twenty-year-old Julienne Lane eagerly awaits the return of her fiancé and naval officer, Jack Arnaud, but she has not been idle. She and her best friend, Freeda Payne, have been working hard to support the abolitionist movement. Their efforts have been clouded in secrecy, but when Freeda shows up in Julienne’s cellar with a runaway slave, the need for secrets becomes imperative. When Jack returns home, will Julienne threaten his career in the Navy by including him in their plans, or will she hide news of the slave from him and put his trust to the test? Moreover, why does her fiancé appear to be hiding a secret of his own? Despite a harrowing tour of duty in the North Atlantic, Jack’s hopes for rest and recuperation are put on hold. His wedding to Julienne is in two days, but a more pressing matter comes to his attention from his associates in the Culper Ring. Should he ask his beautiful fiancée to postpone the wedding for the third time in two years? How will he and the Culper Ring foil the malicious plans they have uncovered? And why does Julienne blush so brightly when he asks her about the cellar? The clock is ticking. Danger looms. Can justice prevail? Will their love survive?

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

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1838 – England

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

Always Remembered by Janelle Mowery

alwaysremembered Always Remembered

1836 – Texas

From the siege of the Alamo to the battlefield of San Jacinto, this epic story of Texas’s struggle for independence shows that freedom and love are always worth fighting for.

Miles Fitch wants to regain his father’s land in south Texas, so he joins the fight for freedom from Mexico. Inside the Alamo, he is drawn to a dark-eyed beauty Rosa Carter — until he suspects that she is feeding information to the Mexican army. Forced to leave the mission, Rosa watches helplessly as Santa Ana’s army closes in. Did the man she love somehow escape or survive the battle? And if he did, how will she ever prove to him that she is not a traitor?

The Irish Healer by Nancy Herriman

The Irish Healer

1832 – England

Accused of murdering a child under her care, Irish healer Rachel Dunne flees the ensuing scandal while vowing to never sit at another sickbed. She no longer trusts in her abilities-or God’s mercy–though when a cholera epidemic sweeps through London, she feels compelled to nurse the dying daughter of the enigmatic physician she has come to love. James Edmunds, wearied by the deaths of too many patients, has his own doubts about God’s grace. Together, they will have to face their darkest fears . . . and learn what it means to have real faith.

The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimony by Sharon Ewell Foster

The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimony

1831 – Virginia

They were all heroes . . . Sparked by an indigo sun, Nat Turner stormed into history with a sword in one hand and a Bible in the other. Thirty years before the advent of the Civil War—in the predawn hours of August 22, 1831, commanding a small army of slaves, Nat Turner led a bloody fight for freedom that shined a national spotlight on slavery and left more than fifty whites dead.

In The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimony, as Harriet Beecher Stowe seeks to learn the truth of the man his people called Prophet, Nat Turner shares the faith, triumph, tragedy, and hope of his fight for liberty, brotherhood, and self-determination.
For 180 years, the truth of Nat’s story has been tainted. Award-winning author Sharon Ewell Foster reinterprets history to offer a new American story of one man’s struggle for freedom and the redemption of his people. Based on actual trial records, interviews with descendants, official documents, and five years of research, The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimony is a story of the quest for truth and the true meaning of liberty.

Ruth’s Redemption by Marlene Banks

Ruth’s Redemption

1830 – Virginia

Set in the 1800s, Ruth’s Redemption, is an unusual depiction of the lives of slaves and free blacks in pre-Civil War America. Bo, was educated while a slave. He was given his freedom and now owns a farm buying slaves for the sole purpose of giving them their freedom. Bo is also a man of God and widower whose life is destined to change when he meets the proud and hard-hearted slave girl, Ruth.Ruth has known nothing but servitude and brutality since being separated from her mother at age thirteen. Purchased and sold primarily for breeding, Ruth struggles to adjust to life outside of bondage. She wants no part of Bo’s Godly devotion. Yet Bo is unlike any man she’s known and her experiences with him will leave her forever changed.A gripping slave era novel, Ruth’s Redemption is a story of love, forgiveness, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of the Nat Turner Rebellion in Tidewater, Virginia, this novel shines the light of God’s unconditional love in the darkness of a culture’s cruel socially accepted inhumanity.

The Loom by Shella Gillus

1835 – Maryland

A slave owner’s wife harbors a secret that threatens to unravel her marriage and the lives of those around her.

Caroline Whitfield lives in the world she dreamt of as a child. Married to Jackson, a plantation owner, in the quiet hills of 1835 Montgomery County, Maryland, she enjoys a simple life, until new slaves, seven-year-old Sadie and her father, arrive.

When Sadie’s daddy is taken from her, the young girl is forced to serve the master and mistress she holds responsible for her loss. With her grandmother, fellow slaves in the “Loom Room,” and a young man bent on obtaining his freedom, Sadie struggles to make sense of God’s will in the midst of pain.

But Caroline harbors a secret that could bring her world crashing down, and her love for Sadie, the daughter no one knows she had, threatens to tear it all apart. Meanwhile, Caroline draws closer to an old friend, an empathetic and dependable married man. Now she must douse the raging flames of a jealous husband and fight to keep her perfect world intact. The Loom is a colorful tale of three families linked by a lie and their discovery that the truth is not always black and white.

The Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund

The Doctor’s Lady

1836 – Several US States

Priscilla White knows she’ll never be a wife or mother and feels God’s call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.

Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God’s leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

The Resurrection of Nat Turner: Part 1: The Witnesses by Sharon Ewell Foster

The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 1: The Witnesses

1831 – Virginia

The truth has been buried more than one hundred years . . .

Leading a small army of slaves, Nat Turner was a man born with a mission: to set the captives free. When words failed, he ignited an uprising that left over fifty whites dead. In the predawn hours of August 22, 1831, Nat Turner stormed into history with a Bible in one hand, brandishing a sword in the other. His rebellion shined a national spotlight on slavery and the state of Virginia and divided a nation’s trust. Turner himself became a lightning rod for abolitionists like Harriet Beecher Stowe and a terror and secret shame for slave owners.

In The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 1: The Witnesses, Nat Turner’s story is revealed through the eyes and minds of slaves and masters, friends and foes. In their words is the truth of the mystery and conspiracy of Nat Turner’s life, death, and confession.

The Resurrection of Nat Turner spans more than sixty years, sweeping from the majestic highlands of Ethiopia to the towns of Cross Keys and Jerusalem in Southampton County. Using extensive research, Sharon Ewell Foster breaks hallowed ground in this epic novel, revealing long-buried secrets about this tragic hero.

Hidden Affections by Delia Parr

Hidden Affections

1831 – Pennsylvania

Betrayed by her husband, Annabelle Tyler wears the burden of legally being a divorcee, a difficult position for an upstanding young woman to find herself in. While attempting to start a new life for herself, an unexpected turn of events once again has Annabelle married–this time to Harrison Graymoor, the most eligible, yet elusive, bachelor in Philadelphia. Harrison assures her that he will secure an annulment immediately, unaware that the constable has sent word of the marriage to the press in Philadelphia. And here things continue to go awry. Harrison’s past, a philanthropic cousin with his eye on Annabelle, and the appearance of Annabelle’s ex-husband threaten the tentative relationship growing between Harrison and his “wife.” For two individuals set against marriage, there are certainly a lot of second thoughts regarding the one forced upon them.

Love’s First Bloom by Delia Parr

Love’s First Bloom

1838 – New Jersey

Ruth Livingstone’s life changes drastically the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her to a small village in New Jersey under an assumed name. There Ruth pretends to be a widow and quietly secludes herself until her father is acquitted of a crime. But with the emergence of the penny press, the imagination of the reading public is stirred, and her father’s trial stands center stage. Asher Tripp is the brash newspaperman who determines that this case is the event he can use to redeem himself as a journalist.

Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River–a place where she can find a measure of peace in the midst of the sorrow that continues to build. It is also here that Asher Tripp finds a temporary residence, all in an attempt to discover if the lovely creature known as Widow Malloy is truly Ruth Livingstone, the woman every newspaper has been looking for. Love begins to slowly bloom…but is the affection they share strong enough to withstand the secrets that separate them?

Beloved Counterfeit by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Beloved Counterfeit: Fairweather Keys Series #3

1837 -Caribbean

Batten down the hatches and get ready to be swept away by Beloved Counterfeit, the third book in the captivating Fairweather Keys series by bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo. Ruby O’Shea is determined to start a new life. When her heart is claimed by Micah Tate, it seems all her dreams are coming true. Until a villain resurfaces and her sins are revealed. Will she receive a pardon for past deeds? Or will her protector abandon her as she’s caught in the riptide of her own duplicity?

The Edge of Light by Ann Shorey

The Edge of Light (At Home in Beldon Grove, Book 1)

1838 – Missouri and Kentucky

She’s determined to make it–and she doesn’t need a man’s help to do it.

It is the summer of 1838 in St. Lawrenceville, Missouri, and Molly McGarvie’s life is about to change forever. When her beloved Samuel succumbs to cholera, Molly is heartbroken but resolves to take care of herself and her children.

When Samuel’s unscrupulous brother takes over the family business and leaves Molly to fend for herself, she knows she must head out on her own. It is a dangerous journey, and along the way she must face the loss of another family member. Somehow she must find a way to make a living, restore her family, and fend off some overeager suitors.

Family of the Heart by Dorothy Clark

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1838 – Ohio

In her silk finery, Sarah Randolph knew she was no more a nanny than the haughty widower before her. She’d made a profound error in judgment. How long would it be before Clayton Bainbridge cast her out? She vowed to pack up her trunks and return to Philadelphia at once. But that city held memories of her lost fiance and sweet little Nora Bainbridge desperately needed some mothering. Sarah might not be an expert in child rearing, but she knew a few things about grief. The pain in Clayton’s stormy blue eyes told her that her journey here must be part of God’s larger plan for them all….

Beloved Captive by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Beloved Captive: Fairweather Keys, Book 2

1836 – Louisiana and Caribbean

In this sequel to Beloved Castaway, Emilie Gayarre is learning to accept her mixed race heritage while finding fulfillment in teaching children of the key. There is no denying the attraction between Emilie and the handsome young naval commander, Caleb Spencer, who is shadowed by his own flock of secrets. But if her heritage is found out, even greater things than his career are at risk. Enjoy this historical romance full of risk and redemption.

Web of Destiny by Al and Joanna Lacy

Web of Destiny (The Kane Legacy #2)

1836 – Texas

The Kane Legacy: faith, love, courage, and strength. In nineteenth-century Texas, they’re going to need it.

Alan Kane lost a beloved brother at the Alamo and grieves terribly. His one consolation is that he will be reunited with Adam someday in heaven. Meanwhile the United States seems to be caught in a web of destiny to fight Mexico. When General Sam Houston prepares to face off against General Santa Anna, the three remaining Kane brothers volunteer once again, leaving their heavy-hearted wives on the Diamond K Ranch. Who will return this time when the guns are silent and the dust has settled?

Can Alan let go of his brother Adam and freely love the woman he left behind? Can the Kane men make a difference in the war that threatens to destroy all they’ve worked to build? And will peace ever be theirs amid the rages of war?

Spanning a decade in the lives of the Kane family, Web of Destiny follows a loving Christian family through victory, loss, guilt, tears, and valor. It will stir the heart of anyone who has ever loved, lost, or sacrificed for a cause.

Corduroy Road to Love by Lynn A. Coleman

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1830 – North Carolina

Ida Mae McAuley wounder if her occupation and marital status will forever be defined by the same word – spinster. Cyrus Morgan has proposed more than once, but is her gratitude for his kindness since her kindness since her parents’ tragic deaths reason enough to accept? Seven years ago Olin Orr’s temper cost another man his life. Now an accomplished tinsmith, Olin returns to Charlotte to rent McAuley’s vacant smithy, knowing he must also face the past. When the lovely Ida Mae begins receiving threats, demanding she get rid of her tenant, Olin fears coming home was a mistake. But in the prepetrator trying to get rid of Olin? Or is Ida Mae the real target?

A Line in the Sand by Al and Joanna Lacy

A Line in the Sand (The Kane Legacy #1)

1835 – Texas

The Kane Legacy: faith, love, courage, and strength. In nineteenth-century Texas, they’re going to need it.

In 1835, Alan Kane and his family come to the Circle C Ranch in Texas, little dreaming what the future holds in both blessing and danger. Beautiful Julia Miller, daughter of a Louisiana plantation owner, has captured Alan’s heart, but he hardly dares to hope for her hand. Then Colonel William Travis calls for the men of Texas to rally against Mexico’s General Santa Anna. Full of honor and courage, brothers Alan and Adam join up with Jim Bowie to do their part. The plan centers on holding a Franciscan mission known as the Alamo and soon includes Davy Crockett and his Tennessee Mounted Volunteers.

As battle looms, what is God’s purpose for the Kane men? Can they share their eternal hope with men ready to die for Texas? Will brotherly bonds overcome a jealous secret in the face of death? And just what will endure of the Kane legacy?

Beloved Castaway by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Beloved Castaway: Fairweather Keys Series #1

1834 – Louisiana and Caribbean

Isabelle Gayarre, fleeing a life of servitude, refuses to be owned by anyone, yet soon finds her heart in danger of being possessed by the godless Captain Josiah Carter. Can Isabelle trust him to help her escape without losing her heart? Josiah Carter, running from demons of his own, is stirred by the presence of the beautiful woman seeking refuge on his ship. Realizing that a runaway slave can never be his, legally or otherwise, a storm begins to brew within. Will their love ever reach a safe haven, or is it doomed to wreck upon the jagged reefs of the Fairweather Keys?

Dream of Life by Michael Phillips

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1830s – Carolinas

With their beloved plantation, Greenwood, now a vital link in the Underground Railroad, Richmond and Carolyn Davidson must balance the need for safety with their commitment to helping the many runaways who appear at their door. Compounding their danger, the Davidson’s neighbors, the Beaumonts, do not approve of their decision—and view them with suspicion.

The danger intensifies when the Davidsons’ older son, Seth, becomes engaged to Veronica, the Beaumonts’ beautiful, scheming daughter—against her parents’ wishes. As the two families are swept up in events leading up to the Civil War, they must choose sides—in a conflict that will change their lives forever.

The Noble Fugitive by T. Davis Bunn and Isabella Bunn

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1832 – England

Serafina, daughter of a Venetian merchant prince, is desperate to be reunited with the dashing tutor her father banished. As her family sets sail for America, she secretly abandons ship. Alone in England, she finds herself as a lowly chambermaid. A world-weary ship captain is also forced to seek refuge, hiding from henchmen determined to silence his shocking revelations about the slave trade. The lives of these two characters become intertwined, and a place that once seemed only a dreaded detour becomes a sacred venue for the unveiling of God’s Providence.

Just Above a Whisper by Lori Wick

Just Above a Whisper (Tucker Mills Trilogy, Book 2)

1839 – Massachusetts

Through a hard turn of events, Reese Thackery has become an indentured servant. When the owner of her contract dies, the bank has rights to her fate. Conner Kingsley, the son of the bank’s owner, comes to Tucker Mills to investigate and soon releases Reese from obligation and hires her to keep house for him.

Reese is grateful for freedom but unsure of her other feelings for Conner. Yet, as her emotional hurts heal, and her faith blossoms, Reese allows herself to trust someone for the first time. But will Conner do the same?

When love at first sight is not the case, can shared faith and restoration grow from a whisper of understanding into a proclamation of love?

Moonlight on Millpond by Lori Wick

Moonlight on the Millpond (Tucker Mills Trilogy, Book 1)

1838 – Massachusetts

This first book in the Tucker Mills Trilogy from beloved author Lori Wick follows Jace Randall as he leaves his childhood home to help his Uncle Woody Randall run the saw mill in Token Creek. Jace diligently focuses on work until he meets the visiting niece of local storekeepers. Jace pursues her until she finally agrees to attend a picnic with him and take a chance.

But before the relationship has a strong foundation, the couple separates because of gossip fueled by Jace’s sister. Later, when she admits her wrongdoing and shares her testimony of a new faith, the couple must decide whether to try again. Will the sister’s example of faith and transformation be enough to restore broken dreams?

These Tangled Threads by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

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1833 – Massachusetts

Timid yet alluring Daughtie Winfield finds herself in a precarious position when the new doctor casts his favor upon her. Though flattered by his attention, she is drawn to Liam Donohue, a local Irish artisan. As Daughtie and Liam work together to help runaway slaves, their friendship blossoms. But her work in the mills is threatened when a downturn in profits causes the Associates to decrease wages–resulting in plans for a strike. With the fate of the textile industry in an upheaval, will her hopes for love be thwarted as dissention infiltrates life in Lowell?

A Fragile Design by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

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1831 – Massachusetts

The mill town of Lowell, Massachusetts, beckons Arabella Newberry when she decides to flee the life of the Shakers. There she finds the independence she seeks and a greater purpose as she works for educational reform. But Lowell, plagued by ethnic strife, seems no longer a safe haven but rather a danger when several girls go missing. As rumors and conflict invade the industry of the mill, Arabella struggles with her own heart as two men vie for her love.

The Reluctant Bridegroom by Gilbert Morris

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1838 – Oregon Territory

The Reluctant Bridegroom begins with Sky Winslow, the son of Chris and Dove Winslow, agreeing to return East and bring a wagon train of brides to the men of Oregon City. As experienced as he is on the trail, the past hurts of an unfaithful wife and the care for a twelve-year-old son who truly needs a mother’s love make Sky an unlikely candidate for such an assignment. On the long trip from New York to Oregon, two of the women who join the wagon train will make their impact on Sky Winslow. Rebekah Jackson, in hope of finding a new start, is leaving a broken past. Rita Duvall is a dance hall girl who knows the way to break down a man’s defenses.