Skip to main content

Review: Something Borrowed

Something Borrowed book cover on blue background

I'll read practically anything having to do with weddings or brides. Add a wedding dress to the mix, and I'm a goner. That's why I'm so glad that I got to read Something Borrowed: A Historical Romance Collection by Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison Pittman, and Susie Finkbeiner, an anthology that releases on August 13, 2024. 

Many thanks to Rachel Scott McDaniel, one of the authors, for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

One perfect dress--three different love stories

In this brand-new novella collection, three renowned Christian historical fiction authors trace generations of wartime romances through a special wedding dress with love sewn into its seams.

"A Heart in Disguise" by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US "Camouflage Corps," sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home--except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

"A Letter to Eli" by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It's never far away from their thoughts--not with Alice's fiancé serving at sea, in danger every minute. That's a worry Bette doesn't envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

"A Daffodil in the Dress" by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family's bookstore since Kate's husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

I love this anthology and the stories woven around a special dress, with prayers offered by women of different generations. This book starts off with a riveting bang and left me moved to tears at the end after enjoying my first story by Susie Finkbeiner. Psalm 91:11 plays a paramount role in offering comfort to such lovely characters as Clara, Bette, and Kate as they exhibit hope in the midst of war and its aftermath. Each of their experiences is unique yet finds a common thread in what it means to trust God with the future when surrounded by uncertainty and the unknown.

It is evident that God's promise is what carries each woman, offering the message that what is true in these stories is true for us today. From Clara's stewardship of her gifts to make a difference to Bette's forgiveness of others when caught in an act of deception to Kate’s protective care for her daughter as a single mother, each woman brings a touch of inspiration as they seek to serve others. Readers who enjoy interconnected stories told through time will be captivated by the gift of a borrowed dress that carries a much deeper meaning beyond a wedding day.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📱
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Final Word - Bite of Betrayal #2

This is a book where the name Miles Morgan will have you wishing he was a real person after getting to meet his character.  The Final Word  is the next book in the Bite of Betrayal series by Laura Thomas , set in the English village of Bramble Downs. Combining the opera, a bakery, a book based on a Cinderella retelling, and sisters who have each others' backs through thick and thin, there is much to explore in Miles and Sophie's story! Many thanks to  Mountain Brook Ink  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : scenes of violence and death, domestic abuse, stalking Book Synopsis When aspiring author Sophie Brooks chooses to trade a vibrant Paris life for the tranquility of a quaint English village, she imagines her final days in the City of Lights will be magical. Sophie doesn’t anticipate a chilling encounter with an old flame—nor does she plan to find a new love on her very last nig...

Review: The Shortcut - Cedar River #1

I'm grateful that I was able to start this series off with The Return Home novella as it set the stage for The Shortcut by Honey Stone . Anyone who is a fan of small town romances will appreciate this series set in Australia, especially with such bright and colourful book covers that reflect the same hopeful content within the books! Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Rosemary doesn't belong anywhere. Could God be about to change that?  Only God knows Rosemary Forrester's secret, unspoken longing – to find a place to belong. Fired and harassed by her former employer, the nomadic medical writer flees Sydney to find her next adventure, but ends up stranded in the small country town of Cedar River. As Rosemary connects with Elsie, a retired maths teacher with a love for soap operas, and Daniel, a software engineer with an awkward charm, for the first time in her life she d...

Christian Book Review Programs

Over time, I've been on the hunt for Christian book review programs that readers can join. As a result, I've been able to compile the following list which may be of interest if you are seeking review copies of Christian books. This list mostly applies to print and ebooks, although some publishers offer audiobooks as well. If further information is available for any of the publishers below (or any missing publishers), please let me know as I am happy to update this list—thank you! Please note that you can also search for these publishers on NetGalley and other review sites in case there are no review programs available or you don't qualify for one 😊 Christian Publishers B&H Publishing Group Previously offered the B&H/Lifeway Blogger program which has since closed Availability: Professors and instructors Link:  B&H Academic Book Requests Baker Publishing Group Availability: U.S. and Canadian residents Genre: Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction Imprints: Bet...