Review: Under a Blackberry Moon by Serena B. Miller

Under a Blackberry Moon by Serena B. Miller
Revell / 2013
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

Which wilderness is more treacherous--the one she must cross to find her home . . . or the one she must traverse to find love?

Just a few days after she gave birth alone in the northwoods, a recently widowed young Chippewa woman stumbled into a nearby lumber camp in search of refuge from the winter snows. Come summer, it is clear that Moon Song cannot stay among the rough-and-tumble world of white lumbermen, and so the camp owner sends Skypilot, his most trusted friend, to accompany her on the long and treacherous journey back to her people.

But when tragedy strikes off the shore of Lake Superior, Moon Song and Skypilot must depend on each other for survival. With every step they take into the forbidding woods, they are drawn closer together, until it seems the unanswerable questions must be asked. Can she leave her culture to enter his? Can he leave his world to enter hers? Or will they simply walk away from a love that seems too complicated to last?

Get swept into a wild realm where beauty masks danger and only the truly courageous survive in a story that will grip your heart and your imagination.

My rating:

My thoughts:

Under a Blackberry Moon is the fourth book by Serena B. Miller I've read and it was another book I ended up loving! For most of the first half, I felt like it was a four-star read, but once I got further into the story, wow, I had a hard time putting it down and absolutely loved the ending -- SO good!

The characters were good. It took a little bit for me to get connected to Skypilot and Moon Song, but in the end they are both my favorite characters from Under a Blackberry Moon. I loved how real their actions and thoughts felt. I also thought the romance story was very sweet and the way Skypilot pursued Moon Song was wonderful.

The history in Under a Blackberry Moon was fantastic and I learned some things I hadn't known. I also thought the Author's Note at the end was great. Another thing that I enjoyed was that Katie and her family (from The Measure of Katie Calloway) were mentioned and in this book quite a lot. I kind of wish Ingrid (from A Promise to Love) would have made an appearance, or at least been mentioned, but I understand why that didn't happen.

Overall, Under a Blackberry Moon was a unique and wonderful read. I enjoyed it more than I had initially thought I would. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction with some action and romance.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Available October 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

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Review: An Uncommon Grace by Serena B. Miller

An Uncommon Grace by Serena B. Miller
Howard Books / 2012

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

Grace Connor, a military nurse formerly stationed in Afghanistan, hopes that moving to a farm in rural Ohio will help her recover from the ravages of war.

Levi Troyer finds his pacifist beliefs challenged when he discovers his stepfather has been killed and his mother wounded by an unknown intruder. Levi and Grace are thrown together when she comes to his family’s rescue and saves his mother’s life. A deep attraction develops—even though a relationship between them is strictly forbidden.

Levi belongs to the most conservative and isolated of all Amish sects—the Swartzentruber Amish. Even before meeting Grace, Levi had begun to question some of their teachings. He has considered leaving, but knows he will be banned forever from contact with his younger siblings and widowed mother—who need him to survive. He is torn between his love for Grace and his responsibility to his family.

Grace considers leaving her beloved farm and reenlisting rather than continuing to live near the man she loves but cannot have. Levi must confront the Bann if he pursues Grace. And a murderer must be caught. When lifelong allegiances are tested, can love and justice prevail?

My rating:

My thoughts:

An Uncommon Grace is the third book I've read by Serena B. Miller and it was another great read! Amish novels are not my favorite genre to read, but every once in a while I enjoy reading a good one.

I loved the characters in An Uncommon Grace! Grace and Levi were great main characters. Their romance story was interesting and I liked how it wasn't a given how things were going to turn out - my initial guess was wrong and I was a little surprised by what happened in the end.

I really enjoyed the entire story and loved that there was a little bit of suspense/mystery in An Uncommon Grace. 

Overall, An Uncommon Grace was an enjoyable read and I recommend it to fans of Amish fiction. I look forward to reading more of Miller's books.

*I received this book for free for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

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