Gracie's Surrender (1)

About the Book

Book: Gracie’s Surrender

Author: Blossom Turner

Genre: Christian historical romance

Release date: March 8, 2022

Gracie's Surrender Helping the orphan children in Richmond just might overturn everything Gracie thought she knew, including the value of love.

Gracie Williams has always had an adventurous streak, which led her from her home in the Shenandoah Valley to Richmond, Virginia, where she can devote her life to the orphan children. Though her beauty has brought on the advances of many men, she has no plans to marry, and finds suitors an unfortunate irritation she doesn’t have time for—much to her parents’ chagrin.

When she befriends Matthew Weston, the mature and serious orphanage superintendent, she confides in him and believes he shares her goals. Neither are prepared for the sparks that fly. Tension grows as Matthew falls in love with her, yet realizes he is just another man in the long line of would-be suitors.

A family crisis, an orphan train, and the plight of a sweet orphan named Emma throw the couple together in deep and meaningful ways. But will this be enough for Gracie to embrace a new way of thinking, and the gift of love that only true soul mates can share?

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About the Author

Blossom Turner is a freelance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, former newspaper columnist on health and fitness, an avid blogger and published novelist of the Word Guild semi-finalist Anna’s Secret. However, she has found her home in the writing of historical fiction. The power of love and romance is authentically woven into the Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their love stories. She and her husband, David, have two grown children and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Read more at blossomturner.com.

More from Blossom

Do You Enjoy Romance That Keeps You Thinking Days Later?

Long before I knew I could write, I loved to read. Being a hopeless romantic, I gravitated to all romance stories either contemporary or historical. I soon realized that finding clean fiction, but still written with the passion God created us to experience, was hard to find. (Song of Solomon is a good example of the expression of passion and love between a man and woman without being explicit.)

Given the gift of a writing career later in life, one thing was for sure…I wanted to write what I like to read. Clean romance does not need to be boring. As each story pours out, I realize that writing historical fiction is my passion. I finally know what I was born to do. My favorite theme was an arranged marriage…so birthed the first book of the Shenandoah Brides that has now morphed into a series of five sisters and their five love stories. March 8, 2022 is launch day for book four called Gracie’s Surrender.

Where-as book one was set in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, post-civil war, the second book Amelia’s Heartsong took place in the big city of Richmond, Virginia where balls, debutants, pomp and circumstance matter. The third book, Lucinda’s Defender unfolded back in the valley, and this fourth one takes place once again in Richmond. However, you will find a very different Richmond than in book two, for Gracie has a life mission to help the underprivileged orphans.

The backdrop for this fourth book includes the historical orphan train, street urchins, and the love for children in the orphanage to which Gracie and Matthew devote their life. Gracie, who feels men are just a distraction, is in for a grand surprise. Much to Gracie’s vexation, awareness, attraction, and alas, even love grow for her serious but well-meaning superintendent, Matthew. I promise this read will be a romantic page turner with grit and impact that will keep you awake into the wee hours of the morning.

Although this book can easily be read as a stand-alone, enjoying the whole series as the family saga unfolds will deepen the experience.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the read as much as I enjoyed the write. I love to hear from my readers.

MY REVIEW

Gracie is a beautifully written character who is humble, loves God and has a heart to help children in an orphanage. I loved how she went to the orphanage to volunteer each day and refused to be paid for her time there. It is evident how much she adores children with her kindness and how easy it is for her to connect with each child. Her promise to God when she was barely twelve has come to pass as she spends her time loving on the children and making them feel important. I did laugh when she said she had no desire to ever marry. Oh we mustn’t say never, because we don’t know what God has planned for us.

I did like Matthew but he sure was hesitant to let Gracie work at the orphanage. I think he was distracted by her beauty and felt she might be a temptation to him. The interaction between Gracie and Matthew at the beginning was a little strained and I was anxious to see where the author would lead these two. Matthew’s story about his past as a child is heartbreaking and helped me understand why he has such a big heart for the orphans.

I loved how the author included the Orphan Train in the story and how important work it was for so many children who didn’t have a family. As a child it would be hard to be gawked out by people wanting to adopt. What if you are not chosen? This part of the book is emotional as Matthew and Gracie ride the train with a group of children yearning for a family.

In the midst of wanting to help the children, Matthew and Gracie decide on something that may seen unorthodox to their friends and family but their heart was to make sure that each child would find the right home where they would be happy. I liked the relationship between these two main characters and how they respected each other. Their faith was very important and trusted God to direct their path.

The story is a nice clean read that illustrates hope , grace, unconditional love and a bright future for those who wait upon the Lord. I enjoy the author’s style of writing that lets us experience their emotions, and brings a message of putting God first in your life. I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.