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: 👍
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: What Is Left of the Night

I'm very grateful to be able to read my first fiction book by Mark Buchanan , a Canadian author who has written extensively on Christian non-fiction topics. What Is Left of the Night is an ambitious feat, combining multiple points-of-view to deliver a story that is as suspenseful as it is thoughtful. Discourse and action carefully balance each other, keeping rapt attention on a book based on true events during the Second World War. Many thanks to  Kregel Publications  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of:  see author's note regarding language; a closed door scene; descriptions of harm, torture, and death Book Synopsis In the quiet village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, a resistance is stirring. In Europe, the Nazi regime's bloody wake persists as they brutally send "undesirables" to concentration camps. Hannah, a young Jew, loses her mother and sister while fleeing certain death, arri...
Post a Comment
Read more

Theological Backgrounds

Have you ever wondered about the theological background of authors? I am sometimes curious, especially if there are things that pop up in their books that make me pay attention (either positively or negatively). What I've found is that it's not always easy to find out. Some authors will openly share what church or denomination they belong to, whereas others don't seem to mention it—which for privacy concerns, I completely understand. In terms of how important this information may be for readers, or not at all for some, it does make me think about the role that this could play when deciding which books to read and buy. On the one hand, I think not specifically knowing which theological stream an author comes from but still being aware that they fall within the broader evangelical umbrella is fine with me. There's so much to learn as believers and I wouldn't want to be limited to only simply what I know. On the other hand, not knowing much beyond "Christian"...
2 comments
Read more

Hello Again

  Wow, this is the longest I've been away from blogging, so thank you for taking the time to check out old posts and reviews instead! It hasn't been fun being sick, especially when I didn't even have the energy to read anything for the first part of my illness. I'm slowly on the mend and hope to change my reading stats for the remainder of the month. In case I haven't expressed it on here, I am deeply grateful to you for reading my little musings and different Christian book reviews. Although I haven't had the energy to even think about posting reviews, I have missed them, so stay tuned for the ones coming up! I wish you a very happy start to the summer if you're in the northern hemisphere and a very happy start to the winter if you're in the southern hemisphere 🌞❄
Post a Comment
Read more