This is a delightful historical romance.

I love the main characters. Lily’s family are definitely easy to picture and connect with. Mac arrives with one friend who is faithful and easy to smile at his phrases and attitudes.

The storyline is easy to follow. I had no problem picking up on who was the danger to Lily and Mac’s relationship. Yet at the same time it was fun to see how the story developed and how individuals and relationships grew.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

I am truly enjoying this series by the different authors. Andrea is especially my favorite!!
I love her storytelling because she made me travel back in time and I was able to make friends with Mac, Lily and even Captain Mccallister.
I admire Lily through and through. I suppose if I'm faced with a tough situation I could come through just like she did. Aren't us women something? I love how we are able to do multiple tasks while some of the men can't or put it this way won't. I know that my husband doesn't like to do it because he'll forget what he was doing to begin with lol!!
I spent most of the day finishing this wonderful story. If my family leaves me alone or I don't have to work I can usually finish a book in one day especially if it's this good!!
Each time I read a historical novel like this; I always learn something new or that I've missed somehow.
Andrea has done her research very well and I love reading the little notes that the author has either left at the beginning or at the end.
I can just picture the Shenandoah Valley and I've even been through it a couple of times. Virginia is simply a beautiful state. I think that I would like to live there someday if it's God's will of course.
I strongly recommend this book for people who especially love historical fiction. Even if it is fiction, you will be amazed that some of the places actually do exist!!
I received complimentary copy and no compensations were received. All opinions are my own

I really enjoyed this book, though I did feel the solution to Lily's problem was drawn out a bit too long. That being said, I'd be interested in reading more of this author's work.

Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

This book is set just after the war of 1812, we see Captain McAlister “Mac” Albright wanting a change from being a sea captain and see he has bought a parcel of land. Only issue is Lillyanna Laughlin believes she still owns the land Mac bought. Lilly and her siblings have a guardian who has sold the land. We also find out there is more to the story as it unravels.
I enjoyed the story and seeing what would happen next. It has some good secondary characters who almost steal some scenes. I love that there is mystery in the story. I am really enjoying this series. If you like Historical I am sure you will like this book.

1.5 stars
This one was a miss for me. So far, the only one from this series....but it's entirely failed to make me care about what happens to the characters. First off, I felt like the beginning was like a tawdry romance...the young lady bathing in the buff outdoors, while her adolescent brothers roam who knows where around the property? She has a house. Why doesn't she bathe in a bathtub? Or wear her shift while swimming?

Then, too, the entire romance focuses on features for the great majority of the book. Muscled arms, fair skin, golden curls, well-shaped legs....the guy walks into town and the girls in town swoon and chase after him. Ugh. Most of us aren't that gorgeous, okay? Seriously unbelievable. There's no "meat" at all to the story until after the 50% mark. The villain was very bad, the heroine is very pretty and very smart...and the ending was almost entirely predictable. I couldn't even feel any chemistry in the romance because it was so focused on looks and appearances and "unbelievable talent."

Oh well.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free review copy. A favorable opinion was not required.

This is the first book I’ve read that I thoroughly enjoyed in a while. A delightful book from start to finish. Lily and Mac meet under interesting circumstances due to a misunderstanding. They go from neighbours, to friends, to strangers to being in an understanding with each other and each stage of the relationship better than the last. I loved the banter between them. They are faced with numerous struggles, the most prominent, her guardian Mr Everett, a most wicked man. Lily, trying to cope with the loss of her father is also trying to manage raising her younger brothers and find a way to provide for the three of them along with her aunt all the while facing the disapproval of her guardian.
Mac is building a new life away from his hometown after a scandal. Hoping to prove himself to his family and put the past behind him he never planned to be ‘distracted by a golden-haired beauty’ and despite their attraction to each other and their banter he tries very hard to fight it…at all costs, a fruitless venture.
I found this story to be a well written story, very believable… their attraction so real. I loved the way her younger brothers stepped in to protect her when they could and I’m very glad to have discovered this author and will be sure to look out for more of her books.
Thanks to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lily's father died a year ago, leaving her an orphan with two younger brothers to care for, with her aunt's help. As he left no will, an old friend has been appointed the guardian of the three children and is in charge of the property. But is he really as friendly and disinterested as he claims? When a large portion of their land is secretly sold to a newcomer to the area, Captain Mac, who is really quite attractive, Lily has to decide who to believe and rely on.

I enjoyed the book, and very much appreciated the way that Lily believed Mac over Mr Everett - far too often characters seem to believe false reports rather than trusting. However, there were two main things that stopped it being a 5-star book for me: she was suspicious about the will, but made no attempt to find it; and he never seemed to have a satisfactory reason for not being interested in marriage. These points, together with Lily's gullibility at times toward Mr Everett, just made the plot not quite work for me. But looking past that, I still enjoyed the book and would happily recommend it to others.

Note that I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

My Heart Belongs in Shenandoah Valley is a gentle ( how Mac treats Lily in every way especially where he has to let her know that the land that she thinks is hers he owns) gracefulness ( how Lily reacted to Mac when he proved to her the situation as well as how sweet she is to him there after so they start to fall in love) honorable ( is how Mac is as a gentleman with Lily) precarious - the situation that Lily was in when Matt was gone for a bit, that if she didn't marry this man who was twice her age to save her family and not for love, and she would lose the love of her life forever) will Mac save the day? Will she have to marry that elderly man? Will she save her family?

My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley by Andrea Boeshaar

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Andrea Boeshaar takes on the My Heart Belongs series with a story that will bring laughter, a sense of danger and love worth cheering for.

First things first: the publisher’s description is a little off for this story in two points: 1) the reason Lilly Laughlin no longer owns her family land is due to the fact that her father’s estate executor sold it without her knowledge to “pay debts”, not because of any so called current laws; and 2) Lilly is in danger of a loveless marriage before Mac arrives, not after, and he saves her by offering her a choice she didn’t have before he came. Now, with those pesky details out of the way, I will submit my review. This story was really lovely and I found Ms. Boeshaar’s writing to be very well done. She begins her tale with a funny scene involving an unfortunate time of choosing to bathe which will give Mac, her hero, no end of teasing fodder to use against Lilly, her heroine. Having created a strong character in Lilly, Ms. Boeshaar endeavors to show her readers what was possible for women in a time when their choices might have been severely limited. They had a chance to ensure their families had warm, loving home to stay in; they could stand up to those who would use their families for personal gain; and they could fight for what was right while also showing politeness and grace. Lilly has become the leader of her family since her father died and she is finding it fulfilling, if very taxing, work. Making sure the crops of the land are brought in and sold properly, ensuring her brothers receive an education and fending off a nefarious would-be suitor fill Lilly’s days to absolute capacity, leaving little room for personal time. Enter handsome former sea Captain Mac Albright, who, unbeknownst to Lilly, is the current owner of Lilly’s family’s land and the home in which she dwells and Lilly’s life is about to become very interesting. After processing the shock of having had her home and land “sold for paying debts” she is not certain her father owed, Lilly determines to help the new owner settle in and offers whatever help she may provide. This idea does not sit well with her would-be suitor (her father’s friend and estate executor, Silas Everett), who spends most of his daily visits to Lilly’s home telling her of her lack of social graces and manners. Silas has plans to make her into a fine lady to grace his home and be hostess of his inn. But Lilly has no intention of becoming Silas’s wife, nor of running an inn. And as she and Mac come to know each other better, they begin to fall in love. It will be this love that will carry them through several devastating situations that threaten to pull them apart forever. And God will further use this love to bring Mac to faith in Jesus, the ultimate love that Mac was looking for in his life. Ms. Boeshaar includes some wonderful secondary characters in this story to bring a richness and depth that also lend a sense of reality to the tale that is told. With a good variety of language and lots of sarcasm to add spice to the conversations, Ms. Boeshaar made her story one that her readers will enjoy reading more than once. My only issue with the story is that the end seemed to come rather quickly – I would have preferred a longer ending that would have increased the sense of true rescue of Lilly by Mac. The rushed way in which the story closed was a little off-putting and therefore brought my rating down to 4 stars. But the rest of story was well done and I enjoyed reading the book as a whole. I know Ms. Boeshaar has some upcoming works that are pending and I look forward to what she will present us with next. I will recommend this story to others and hope they will enjoy it equally as well.

I received this E-Book free of charge from Barbour Publishing/Barbour Books via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley: Lily’s Dilemma (My Heart Belongs) by Andrea Boeshaar

This story is set in 1816 Middletown, Virginia where Lillyanna “Lily” Laughlin lives with her Aunt Brunhilda “Hilda” Gunther and two younger brothers, 14-year-old Jonah and 12-year-old Jed. Since the recent death of her father, Lily now cares for her brothers as well as their small farm and home. However things soon change when she learns she no longer owns part of the land across from her beloved home. Her guardian, Silas Everett, sold it without even discussing it with her and her family to a stranger, Captain McAlister “Mac” Albright. I enjoyed the way Lily and Mac initially meet, although it was rather embarrassing for Lily, and hoped maybe something more than friendship would develop between them. Unfortunately Lily and her family's troubles were only beginning thanks to a very deceitful and evil man. Lily and her family quickly became favorite characters. I admire Lily’s dedication to caring for her family. Not only is she lovely and has a beautiful singing voice, she has a giving heart, strong work ethic, kind spirit and strong faith. Will her new neighbor see all those godly qualities in her?

I felt for Mac and the reason he left his family home and moved to the Shenandoah Valley. He has had his own troubles in the past but with his friend, John Blake to help, he hopes to make a fresh start in Middletown. Will his past troubles follow him there? He soon became another favorite character in this story. He is physically strong...and very handsome...which he will need in order to work the farm and orchard he just bought, and his honesty and integrity are admirable.

Mac’s friend John, Lily’s two brothers and aunt, along with some of the other secondary characters are just as endearing and bring much to the storyline. John especially, who is lighthearted and fun and often brings smiles and laughter. There is one character who I did not like at all, Silas Everett. He is an evil, conniving man, out for his own selfish wants regardless how he obtains them or who he hurts in the process.

The author certainly developed the characters in this story well...some I grew to love and one I did not like at all. The characters experience humor, more than one sweet romance developing, adventure and suspense, deceitfulness and conniving, evil intentions, trust….others and oneself as well as trusting and learning God’s plan for each of them, love and faith. I enjoyed the spiritual aspect of the storyline. Oh, I love the ending, perfect!

The historical details and descriptions of the Shenandoah Valley are beautifully done and invite the reader to step off the pages into the valley itself. The author has a note in the back of the story explaining the history of Middletown of 1826 which is very informative. I like that the stories in each of the My Heart Belongs series (10 stories) are based on actual historical locations and plan to read the other 8 that I have not read yet.

~I received an e-book copy via Net Galley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

This was a sweet book that is reminiscent of the "Love Finds You In..." series. I like the historical era and how hard you can tell the author worked to make sure that the book reflected a realistic point of view from that era. The characters are fully developed and there is some mystery and intrigue. The romance is not the center of the story, but is a nice addition.

I have a new favorite series! I found this book to be enchanting! It was a historical fiction book that looked at land ownership and the need for women to have guardians who had to be men. The romance was interesting as it seemed to include most of the characters instead of just two.

Really enjoyed this book by an author. Her writing had me feel as if I knew the characters.

I am been a huge fan of the My Heart Belongs series and have discovered a few new to me authors including this one written by Andrea Boesher.

I liked Lily and Mac from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed their first encounter!
She tugged at my heartstrings as it's revealed she's left with her two younger brothers to raise after the death of their father.
As she and Mac form a friendship, it's clear that Everett is untrustworthy and doesn't have Lily and her brothers best interests at heart. Which was sad because he claimed to be their guardian. He's a jealous, manipulative man and no one needs that in their life!

The secondary characters are just as endearing which makes the story a bit more lighthearted.
There's a bit of humor, a couple of sweet romances and an interesting storyline.
If you like historical fiction, you'll want to get a copy as soon as you can.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.

My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley
By Andrea Boesshar
In this heartwarming and spunky story, Boesshar brings delight and happiness to two people that are easy to fall in love with.
First, meet Lily, who recently lost her father. Living with her two brothers, who are a little rascally, and their aunt, they have lived on at their family homestead with an old friend of their father’s helping them. Mr. Everett is his name, and it would seem that he is not as much a friend as they would like or need. He appears to be more interested in marrying Lily than in actually helping her family.
Next, we have Captain Mac Albright, recently returned from the War for Independence. He was forced into servitude for the British Army during the war and made to fight against the Americans. When he returned, rather than being gladly welcomed, he was branded a traitor. He leaves his home on the coast for the Shenandoah Valley, where he purchases the land that Lily’s family makes their living on. This is a complete shock to Lily, who had no idea that Mr. Everett was intending to sell it. She doesn’t know how they will support themselves now.
Through dunks in the creek, a snake bite, and stolen kisses, they find themselves mutually falling for each other. But, Mac doesn’t think he can provide for her and his stubborn pride keeps them apart. Finally, once he realizes how much he truly does care, they develop an understanding. She is willing to wait for him while he builds his future.
But can they make things work when so many forces seem to be aspiring against them, not the least of which is Mr. Everett? Take their journey together and find out. You won’t be disappointed. I enjoyed this story and it was easy reading. However, it also had some good messages about God’s timing and protection. If you enjoy Christian historical fiction, you will like this sweet tale of love in the Shenandoah Valley.
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

The setting of this book was so intriguing . I loved how the author brought historical facts into the book to enhance the story and make it come alive. I learned some very interesting things like how hard it was to make a living in 1816. People worked hard and leaned on each other for help. I can't image having to work in the fields all day and do chores on their farm as well. One of the most likeable characters in the story fascinated me. I learned about McAlister "Mac" Albright as a sea captain. Being on a ship for long periods of time were hard and having to oversee everything must have been so stressful. When he come to Shenandoah valley, will he be able to start a new life away from the sea?

Lily was another favorite character of mine. She watched out for her little brothers after her dad passed and help her aunt on the farm. I loved Lily's sassiness and loyalty to her friends and family. I laughed so hard when Mac and Lily first met. It was quite an embarrassing moment for her. As if Lily doesn't have enough to deal with, now Mac is accusing her of being on his land. What a jumbled mess they find themselves in. It makes for a wonderful story filled with adventure, trust, deceit and discovering God's plan for their lives.

Now to the character I loved to hate. Just saying his name makes me want to spit nails. Mr. Everett is the epitome of an evil man. He is deceitful, mean and abusive . His words cut through Lily and at times make her feel unclean. He has one goal and that is to control Lily and everything her father left her. The author draws readers in with a battle between right and wrong. It breathes realistic scenes with danger and twists that keep readers glued to their chairs. Will Lily get to keep her land? Can Mr. Everett convince everyone that Lily's dad deeded the land to him? Will Mac and Lily become more than neighbors? Don't miss this wonderful book that captures the true setting of 1816 and characters that make this story stand out in the historical genre.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Andrea Boeshaar continues the My Heart Belongs series, all stand-alone novels, with the story of Lily and her young brothers in the early 1800s of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Lily's father died and she and her brothers are now supposedly wards of her father's friend, Elliot, who is making choices for their family without a thought to what Lily might want. Will she have to marry him to be able to make a home for her siblings? Where would she go if she chooses not to marry him? Lily is beset with snakes in the grass, both of the reptilian kind and the human. Will Mac be able to save her? Mac, a former sailor has dreams of escaping the gossip of Alexandria where his family resides and becoming a landlubber. He and Lily have a humorously embarrassing encounter at the beginning of the book and their relationship continues with its ups and downs throughout the book. Will their 'downs' be too strong and destroy them or will they find strength in a God who cares for them? Strong characters, great dialog, and a well-written prose give readers a glimpse of life in the early years of America and a story that will captivate and charm the reader.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

I have really enjoyed reading the My Heart Belongs series. This one takes place in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the description the book gives is so vivid.
Living on land that belongs to her,Lillyanna Laughlin and her two younger brothers are set. There is a beautiful apple orchard and crops in the field. Money from the harvests will help pay of debts and set them on the right track or so Lily thinks. Seeing Captain McAlister “Mac” Albright and his friend on her property she demands they leave but he sets her straight by telling her that the land is his and her father lost the deed to the land to him while gambling. Mac was a seafaring captain but is happy to finally have his land legs under him and settle down on some property. He feels bad for Lily,her two brother's and her aunt and let's them live in a house on his property. A man who is twice her age is her guardian and nothing she or her brother's do is satisfactory to him. He just nitpicks and criticizes everything they do and wants to send her brother's away to boarding school. When Mac has to go away on business and Lily has overwhelming debt piling up will she be forced into a loveless marriage just to keep a roof over her brother's heads? Mac tries to stifle his affections for Lily but when she is snake bitten he is beside himself and doesn't hold back. He tells her how he feels and spends his time caring for her. When he returns home to his parents house they tell him they are financially ruined and that he must marry a woman he has no feelings for just to keep them afloat since she will be bringing money into the marriage. Will Lily and Mac each be force to marry others against their will? I suggest you read this enjoyable book to find out.
Pub Date 01 Sep 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another great book from Barbour's My Heart Belongs series! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was hooked from page eight where our hero, Mac meet's or rather hears our heroine, Lily. From then on I loved the friendship, teasing and blossoming romance between the two. Mr. Blake and his way with words add so much humor to the story as well. His “bones don' lie.” I enjoyed most of the side characters except for the evil, slimy scoundrel that is Silas Everett.

There is a lot of heart woven into this story. Lily's love of her family home, caring for her younger brothers. I did find her a bit naive at times. I couldn't understand why she would not have contacted her father's solicitor after Mr. Everett sold her property. I know she was grieving but even Aunt Hilda didn't trust Mr. Everett. Then again, it would have changed the story completely so I won't complain.
The faith elements are gently woven in throughout the story befitting the characters personalities well.

I enjoyed the drama in this book as well. This isn't just a fluff story. It has a unique realness to it.
The little side romance between “not a landlubber Mr. Blake and Aunt Hilda was quite fun to watch unfold. Mr. Blake had one of the best lines too, “...I don't even like farm animals unless they're roasted to perfection...”
All in all, I would highly recommend this book to people who love this time period and Inspirational fiction. The book is so very well written and descriptive I felt as if I could reach up and pick an apple off a tree in the orchard.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me the ARC. I enjoyed it so much I purchased the book.

This is not my first time reading this author, but it is only the second book I have ever read by her. The difference between this book and the one I read prior to it is quite significant.

The romance angle in this story is very subtle, not preachy at all, but it didn't feel like a significant part of the story either. That's not something I was expecting to see in a Christian romance! The book was also slow to start, and I didn't feel like it really moved past that meandering pace.

The story itself was somewhat interesting, but I had a hard time connecting to the characters. It felt like everything was just too dramatic, too forced. I did like seeing the fight against the attraction between Lily and Mac, but I felt there wasn't enough actual romance between the two of them.

For me, a rather disappointing entry in the series!