Yours, Dorothy by E.B. Wheeler

Based on a true love story from the British Civil War.

Dorothy Osborne's family has sacrificed everything for King Charles of England, living in exile in France after the king's defeat by Parliament. Dorothy knows it is her duty to marry well and help her family, which means finding a wealthy suitor: Royalist, or maybe French, but never a Parliamentarian, and not someone of her own choosing.

William Temple struggles to commit to his father's Parliamentarian cause, making his family wonder if he'll ever commit to anything. William wonders too, until he meets Dorothy Osborne. The connection between them is instant, but their families will go to any length to keep them apart. Can their love survive separation and the upheavals of the British Civil War?

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 I love historical fiction- especially when it helps me learn about something I don't know much about.  I really know nothing about the British Civil War but this book sure brought to light so many of the struggles from that time.  Books like this help me pause for a moment in my busy and comfortable life and think about the struggles of others gone before and how those struggles have shaped the world I know today.  It reminds me to be grateful for what I have here and now.

I thought the author did a good job with the history and helping me to see how the government and people were divided and how that affected the people there during that time.  I appreciated her chapter notes and the obvious dedication she had to research.

For me, this book was so slow and it was hard to stick with it at times.  I didn't really connect to the characters emotionally but instead felt like a casual observer from the outside looking in.  The last third of the book started to pick up and I enjoyed it much more than the rest of the book.  I admired Williams loyalty to Dorothy and how constant his heart was.  He said so many pretty words to her.  I loved those.  My romantic heart sighs when two people fight against all odds to be together for love.  In the end, that's exactly what my heart did.  I love that this is based on a true love story.  It makes it all the more real and sweet.

Content:  peril, war time actions were mentioned but nothing in detail.  Mild romance, some kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Born to Treason by E.B. Wheeler

Joan Pryce is not only a Catholic during the English Reformation but also Welsh, and comes from a family of proud revolutionaries. But when a small act of defiance entangles her in a deadly conspiracy, a single misstep may lead her straight to the gallows. Now, Joan must navigate a twisting path that could cost her life, her freedom, and her chance of finding love.

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It took me a little while to get into this book but it happened and I couldn't help but feel all kinds of emotions while reading it.  I don't know that I felt a lot of emotional connection to the characters but the subject matter definitely had me thinking and feeling grateful and fortunate.  

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres for this exact reason.  I'm able to learn about a period and place in time in a way that brings it to life.  I will admit that I'm quite ignorant when it comes to Wales and it's history.  I knew very little of the plight of the Welsh Catholics until I read this book.  Religious oppression has always existed at some point or another- in almost every country on the earth.  It's such a shame.  

Joan is a young woman and an orphan.  Her parent are both deceased and she is dependent on others for her livelihood.  I like that Joan is always trying to help the downtrodden and the sad.  She loves her Catholic religion and worship brings her peace.  I loved how Joan grows as she makes decisions and learns to rely more on her own merits and judgement instead of others telling her how and what to feel.

I could tell while reading that this author did her homework.  The book felt true to the time and I came away feeling like I learned something new.

I just loved this bit from the book.  "What the heart wants is not always what our head knows is best for us.  Then it takes great courage to follow the course we know is right.  Other times, though, it takes great faith to follow what our heart whispers, even when we see no sense or hope in it." (pg. 133)

Content:  This book is based around religion so yes, there are religious elements to it.  There is some violence and some graphic violence mentioned.  Otherwise clean.  No swearing or sexual situations.