meezcarrie's review
4.0
World War 1 Flying Aces and German Zeppelins zoom across the pages of A Refuge at Highland Hall, the challenges of war meticulously researched and creatively conveyed. The beginnings of new love spark for two couples in this story, tempered by the separation of war – be it by deployment or internment – but allowing the power of the written word to fan the heart’s spark into a steady and enduring flame is truly the stuff of great romance! My favorite of the Edwardian Brides series, A Refuge at Highland Hall is best appreciated if read in context (the characters!!) though it can also be read as a standalone. Speaking of characters, the Ramseys and the Fosters and those in their household (servants and friends) will carve out a spot in your heart, and though this farewell is bittersweet it is also sweetly satisfying. If you enjoyed Kate Breslin’s Not By Sight or Pepper Basham’s Penned In Time series – or if you’re still mourning the loss of Downton Abbey, you will find a refuge in Carrie Turansky’s Edwardian Brides series as well!
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
Read my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
Read my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this conclusion to the Edwardian Brides series. I was sad to see it end but really enjoyed the conclusion. Would like to see the series continue!
nataliesboooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
emlickliter's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
A Refuge at Highland Hall (Edwardian Brides #3) by Carrie Turansky – If you like WWI romances, this one is sweet! Happy Reading!
books_n_blossoms's review against another edition
4.0
Penny's story is not what I was expecting, especially with how book 4 left off, but I was incredibly pleased! Throughout this series the narrator kept reminding me of Julie Andrews so I loved it. There was a lot going on in the story, but I love how they all intertwined. I liked how Penny stayed the same throughout all 3 books. She was kind and considerate.
I also really enjoyed Lydia's storyline. You've gotta love it when the servants have an interest in someone as well as those "above stairs". lol That was an interesting storyline and I wasn't sure how it would turn out!
I'm sad to see this series come to an end, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I also really enjoyed Lydia's storyline. You've gotta love it when the servants have an interest in someone as well as those "above stairs". lol That was an interesting storyline and I wasn't sure how it would turn out!
I'm sad to see this series come to an end, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
booksforchristiangirls's review
5.0
About this book:
“The Great War shakes the world of a spirited young woman and the brave British pilot she loves, taking her from London to her family’s magnificent country estate, and sending him into the war-torn skies over France.
Penny Ramsey has always considered Highland Hall her home, but when Britain becomes involved in World War One she travels to London to assist her sister Kate with the eight orphan children she and her husband Jon have taken into their home. Doing her part for the war effort takes priority over Penny’s dreams of romance until she meets Alex Goodwin, a Royal Naval Air Service pilot in training.
Alex is determined to prove his worth and do his part to defend his country. Knowing he is heading off for the dangerous assignment of chasing Zeppelins across the front line in France, he feels it’s unwise to form any romantic attachments. But he can’t help admiring the pretty, warmhearted Penny and wondering what it would be like to find her waiting when he returns home from the war.
As Penny writes to Alex, their friendship blossoms, and she becomes his tie to home and normalcy as he faces the hardships war. But being an RNAS pilot means confronting the enemy, and the fallout from those experiences push Alex beyond Penny’s reach. Can God mend the brokenness left by the losses of war? Will faith and forgiveness bring them together again?”
Series: Book #3 in the “Edwardian Brides” series. Review of book #1 Here!(Old Review), Review of book #2 Here! {Recommend to read in order.}
Spiritual Content- Isaiah 40:30-31 at the beginning (and later mentioned, written, discussed & memorized in the story); Many, many, many Prayers & blessings over food; Lots & lots of strong faiths; Scriptures are read; Many, many, many Talks about God, praying, & trusting; ‘H’s are capital; A couple mentions of Jesus’ seat at the table; Mentions of Bible reading; Mentions of those in the Bible & Saints; Many mentions of missionaries; Siegfried is mad at God & Alex gets a bit mad as well.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast it all’, a ‘blimey’, a ‘drat’; Mentions of cures said not written; All about the war, bombing, soldiers, injuries, flying & crashing (up to semi-detailed); Pain, blood & a knife (up to semi-detailed); Many Mentions of bombs, killing & injuries (semi-detailed); Many mentions of Germans, unfairness & prisoners; Alex’s parents didn’t have a happy marriage; Mentions of cheating; Mentions of blood, fist fighting & teen boys (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a horse accident where a lady died; A mention of #2’s murder; A couple mentions of drunks.
Sexual Content- four cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss; Remembering a kiss (semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; A few mention of #2’s affair (no details); A couple mentions of Helen’s situation (has a daughter, but no husband; Book #2); Mentions of flirting & suggestive smiles; Mentions of reputations; Mentions of miscarriages, trying again & love (no-details); Marius says he’d never take advantage of a woman; A man wants a kiss from Lydia & tightens his grip on her arm (nothing happens); Love, falling in love & the emotions (x2);
*Note: A mention of being the butt of a joke; A mention of a kick in the pants.
-Penny Ramsey, age 19
-Alex Goodwin, age 23 (?)
P.O.V. switches between them, Lydia, Julia (4x), Marius (3x), William (2x) & Jon (2x)
Set in 1915 (Epilogue in 1919)
334 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{Add ½ a star for girls who enjoyed the previous books in the series.}
I didn’t think it was possible, but author Carrie Turansky topped the previous books in this series. “A Refuge at Highland Hall” was fantastic. I adored the other books in the series due to the caring for orphans plot & all the Spiritual Content, but this third and final book did so much of those it was incredible. I completely fell in love with the main characters in “The Governess of Highland Hall” and “The Daughter of Highland Hall”, so I was fangirling seeing everyone again! And they’re major characters in this book as well, so I definitely recommend reading this series in order. The epilogue was just prefect. ;)
There was so much wonderful Spiritual Content, I can’t even began to say how many prayers & talks about God there were. Excellent, just excellent! Also, Penny & Alex were so sweet (--I can’t even--) praying over each other and writing to each other, swoon! Their relationship is cuter than this puppy. Not. Even. Kidding.
I’m still so blown away by how clean this novel was. I love how the author keeps teen girls in mind when writing her “adult” books.
Carrie Turansky just moved up in my favorite authors group. :)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-refuge-at-highland-hall-by-carrie.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Multnomah Books) for this honest review.
“The Great War shakes the world of a spirited young woman and the brave British pilot she loves, taking her from London to her family’s magnificent country estate, and sending him into the war-torn skies over France.
Penny Ramsey has always considered Highland Hall her home, but when Britain becomes involved in World War One she travels to London to assist her sister Kate with the eight orphan children she and her husband Jon have taken into their home. Doing her part for the war effort takes priority over Penny’s dreams of romance until she meets Alex Goodwin, a Royal Naval Air Service pilot in training.
Alex is determined to prove his worth and do his part to defend his country. Knowing he is heading off for the dangerous assignment of chasing Zeppelins across the front line in France, he feels it’s unwise to form any romantic attachments. But he can’t help admiring the pretty, warmhearted Penny and wondering what it would be like to find her waiting when he returns home from the war.
As Penny writes to Alex, their friendship blossoms, and she becomes his tie to home and normalcy as he faces the hardships war. But being an RNAS pilot means confronting the enemy, and the fallout from those experiences push Alex beyond Penny’s reach. Can God mend the brokenness left by the losses of war? Will faith and forgiveness bring them together again?”
Series: Book #3 in the “Edwardian Brides” series. Review of book #1 Here!(Old Review), Review of book #2 Here! {Recommend to read in order.}
Spiritual Content- Isaiah 40:30-31 at the beginning (and later mentioned, written, discussed & memorized in the story); Many, many, many Prayers & blessings over food; Lots & lots of strong faiths; Scriptures are read; Many, many, many Talks about God, praying, & trusting; ‘H’s are capital; A couple mentions of Jesus’ seat at the table; Mentions of Bible reading; Mentions of those in the Bible & Saints; Many mentions of missionaries; Siegfried is mad at God & Alex gets a bit mad as well.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast it all’, a ‘blimey’, a ‘drat’; Mentions of cures said not written; All about the war, bombing, soldiers, injuries, flying & crashing (up to semi-detailed); Pain, blood & a knife (up to semi-detailed); Many Mentions of bombs, killing & injuries (semi-detailed); Many mentions of Germans, unfairness & prisoners; Alex’s parents didn’t have a happy marriage; Mentions of cheating; Mentions of blood, fist fighting & teen boys (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a horse accident where a lady died; A mention of #2’s murder; A couple mentions of drunks.
Sexual Content- four cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss; Remembering a kiss (semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; A few mention of #2’s affair (no details); A couple mentions of Helen’s situation (has a daughter, but no husband; Book #2); Mentions of flirting & suggestive smiles; Mentions of reputations; Mentions of miscarriages, trying again & love (no-details); Marius says he’d never take advantage of a woman; A man wants a kiss from Lydia & tightens his grip on her arm (nothing happens); Love, falling in love & the emotions (x2);
*Note: A mention of being the butt of a joke; A mention of a kick in the pants.
-Penny Ramsey, age 19
-Alex Goodwin, age 23 (?)
P.O.V. switches between them, Lydia, Julia (4x), Marius (3x), William (2x) & Jon (2x)
Set in 1915 (Epilogue in 1919)
334 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{Add ½ a star for girls who enjoyed the previous books in the series.}
I didn’t think it was possible, but author Carrie Turansky topped the previous books in this series. “A Refuge at Highland Hall” was fantastic. I adored the other books in the series due to the caring for orphans plot & all the Spiritual Content, but this third and final book did so much of those it was incredible. I completely fell in love with the main characters in “The Governess of Highland Hall” and “The Daughter of Highland Hall”, so I was fangirling seeing everyone again! And they’re major characters in this book as well, so I definitely recommend reading this series in order. The epilogue was just prefect. ;)
There was so much wonderful Spiritual Content, I can’t even began to say how many prayers & talks about God there were. Excellent, just excellent! Also, Penny & Alex were so sweet (--I can’t even--) praying over each other and writing to each other, swoon! Their relationship is cuter than this puppy. Not. Even. Kidding.
I’m still so blown away by how clean this novel was. I love how the author keeps teen girls in mind when writing her “adult” books.
Carrie Turansky just moved up in my favorite authors group. :)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-refuge-at-highland-hall-by-carrie.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Multnomah Books) for this honest review.