Such a nicely written book with a great split of two timelines and really nicely done characters and plots.
It was a very good read overall for me.

Previously I reviewed book #2 in this series here and I made some statements that showed I didn't know what I was talking about:

One thing I would change in this book is to leave out the murder of the man in the cabin. While it allowed a few extra characters and a bit of cloak and dagger action, it really didn't add to the plot lines except as a distraction. I feel the book would have been a whole story without that particular device.
In book #3, My Daughter's Legacy, the murder is explained along with a few other mysteries within the two stories. In keeping with my format in the last review, I'm going to go with my favorites in this story.

Modern Day Character: Nicole has overcome some pretty extreme things in her life just to get to where she is, recovering from drug addiction, running from the demons that plague her thoughts and dreams, and holding onto her grandfather's secret for many years--a secret she should have never been asked to hold.

Historical Character: Michael Talbot has come home from France after most of the Civil War has been fought. He is reviled by his neighbors for being to cowardly to fight. He joins up anyway as a medic for the local battalion. Using his position as a cover, he spies for the Union army instead of the Confederates in Tennessee. While he was in France he happened upon an illustrated manuscript belonging to a family he knew back in America. He bought the manuscript and brought it home.

The whole of the novel revolves around finding this manuscript and returning it to its rightful owner. The manuscript is stolen a couple of times throughout the book, but is finally found and one more attempt to steal it is committed.

Leslie Gould and Mindy Starns Clark are both excellent writers in their own right, but together, they are an unbeatable team. I can't wait to see what more comes out of their collaborative pens.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and an original illustrated manuscript to protect.

My thanks goes to Harvest House Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

My Daughter’s Legacy
Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould
The team of Clark and Gould have pulled out another amazing story of courage and love in the Cousins of the Dove series. I absolutely loved this entire series; the other two books are My Brother’s Keeper and My Sister’s Prayer. The stories all take place between the past and the present, intertwining the two in an unforgettable way. In the first story, we learn about four cousins and how they stumble upon a dead body in a cabin on their grandparent’s property when they are very young. They race to get help from the adults, only to find the body gone when they return. Each of them deals with the emotional upheaval in their own way. Most unfortunately, for Nicole Talbot, the protagonist in this story, the way is drugs. In the previous books she was an addict and in a serious car accident that almost took her life. During this final book, she has been through therapy and rehab and is on the road to a healthy lifestyle. She has one secret though, that she has carried with her for all these years, ever since that day in the forest at the cabin. When she reveals it, what will her family say? How will they react? And how will it affect them and the investigation into the murder that took place all those years ago?
During this story, we also learn about Therese Jennings, a young woman during the Civil War and a direct descendant of all the Talbot girls. When her father dies and her mother inherits her grandfather’s farm, Therese must decide what is best for her. Her father believed firmly that slavery was immoral and evil and she agrees with him. However, the farm her mother inherits is run by slaves. When her mother refuses to set them free, Therese flees to Richmond, Virginia. There, she works as a governess by day and volunteers at a hospital by night. Even though she is in the heart of Confederate country, she desperately wants the South to lose the war and all the slaves to be set free. Can she use her position to help bring the war to an end? Will she have the courage to follow her heart and do what she knows is right?
Nicole learns Therese’s story throughout the book and draws strength from the courage that Therese showed. As both ladies learn to stand strong in the face of doing what is right, they come to find what happiness really does mean. Take all the excitement and throw in an old manuscript, a decades old mystery, and a family reunion and you have the makings of an exciting, page-turning novel. Although the book does offer resolutions at the end, I could gladly continue reading about the girls and the lives they build for themselves. Any lover of historical fiction will want to pick up this book. Just make sure that you have time to read it without putting it down!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review. All of the opinions are my own.

I have been looking forward to the ending of the Cousins of the Dove trilogy and discovering the truth of what happened with the four Talbot cousins at the cabin. But at the same time I didn't want to have to say goodbye to them and their Talbot ancestors' stories.

My Daughter's Legacy has two interesting aspects related to how it is written. One is that the story during present day is told in first person. I feel that is not always easy to pull off. And the second aspect is the authors brilliantly parallel two stories from two different eras.

In the book, Nicole Talbot has been keeping a secret that took over her life. My Daughter's Legacy is about getting her life back. Her historical counterpart, Therese Jennings, has many losses and decides she needs to live the way she feels is right no matter the consequences. Both women take a chance that could destroy important relationships.

My Daughter's Legacy was hard to put down. There are plot twists about the mystery and romance that took me by surprise. I also enjoyed reading the first two books of the Cousins of the Dove series. I can tell Leslie and Mindy have done a lot of research for the many details of the included Talbot family history. They weave the present day story of the cousins in Virginia easily into the historical story of their ancestors also living in Virginia during the Civil War. l was provided a complimentary review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I enjoyed this book. This is book three in this wonderful series. I liked the dual storyline and time period.

I have read several books penned by these authors...and I am never disappointed. I enjoy their writing style, their imaginations and their story telling. I truly enjoyed this novel...and have shared it w/ my reading friends...It is also on order for my local library. Thank you for the opportunity to read it. FIVE STARS!

Such an incredible story. Having not read the previous books, it took a little to get involved but then I couldn't stop. Loved the way she told the two stories side by side. Thoroughly enjoyed the history given about Richmond in the civil war. Everything was enjoyable, right to the end. Great book I'd definitely want to read again.

Although i didn't read the first two books in the series, it didn't make any difference to my enjoyment. I love stories based around the Civil War and slaves. I shall definitely read the first two books and will be watching out for more books by these two talented authors. I do highly recommend, and unlike myself, i do suggest that you read in order.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.

An incredible story of two women born years apart who face similar struggles and are tied together not only by family but by the mysterious disappearance of an important family artifact.

I fell in love with both of our main characters, Therese and Nicole. Therese is a young woman growing up in the South during the Civil War. She loves her home and her family but her personal values and beliefs are against everything that the South stands for. She struggles with the fact that her family owns slaves and their disregard for her feelings. We watch as throughout the novel, she grows from a quieter young woman who listens to the wishes of her Mother and her deceased Father, to a young woman who knows herself and has the confidence to walk away from her Mother and her plantation in order to stand up for her beliefs. I really liked her character the most – she was strong, independent, confident in her beliefs and courageous to stand up for them.

Nicole is a young woman who was traumatized by an incident that she viewed as young girl. It is something that hurt her so deeply, she became an addict. She had to work hard to overcome her addictions and regain the trust of her family and friends again. My heart would go out to her when she constantly faced doubt from those around her or when her past would be brought up. She had to fight hard to push past her history.

I loved how the authors intertwined the stories of the two young woman as they struggled with their own fears, breaking free of the chains that tied them down and finding hope and love again. Both young women must fight to have those who love them believe in them, trust their decisions and in the end solve a mystery that plagued both young women. My Daughter’s Legacy is a beautiful story that is well written and planned out – I would love to see a second installment for this book!

There has been something about The Cousins of the Dove series by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould that has just sucked me right in. There are so many things to love about this series. The historically rich settings. The contemporary mystery intertwined and connecting the books. The relationships between 4 cousins who once experienced something as young children that has had a lasting impact on their lives.

To be honest, in some ways, the third book is one that may be my favorite of the series, and at the same time my least favorite. Story-wise, it ranks high on my list. The historical aspect of the novel is set during the Civil War and I really enjoyed the heroine. Someone whose beliefs differ from nearly everyone around her. And the contemporary story centered around the cousin who I think has one of the most interesting stories of the four. The thing that brought this book down a notch or two for me had to do with more technical aspects of the book. There were certainly instances where characters made “guesses” about something and were consistently right about. And then there was another instance where another character made an assumption about something with little to know groundwork for it and was completely wrong—yet this played a semi large role in the story. These little things were pet peeves of mine that did hinder my enjoyment just a tad on this book.

Overall, I really did enjoy this novel. Enough that I would recommend, as I would this series as a whole. While I can see where these books could be read out of order or as standalones, I would suggest starting at the beginning. The historical stories throughout are a bit more on the standalone side, but the contemporary story is much more continuous.


**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**

I've been on a bit of a mystery kick lately, and this certainly fit the bill. Unbeknownst to me until just this second, My Daughter's Legacy is book 3 in the Cousins of the Dove series - but you truly wouldn't know it. The self-contained plot allows the reader to pick it up without having read either of the earlier books (huzzah!).

My Daughter's Legacy frankly blew me out of the water. Another book that kept me guessing, routinely checking my watch in anticipation of my next bit of down time to sneak in a few more pages!

Perfect for fans of both present day and historical fiction, My Daughter's Legacy seamlessly intertwines 1864 and present-day Richmond. Similarly, if you enjoyed Gilbert Morris and Lynn Morris's Cheney Duvall, M.D., series, you will also enjoy this one. I felt like Therese was Cheney's Southern counterpart/doppelgänger!

The book is clean, free of language, and weaves the Christian faith throughout.

5 out of 5 stars, and I look forward to reading the others in the series.

My Daughter’s Legacy is a split timeline novel with elements of both romance and suspense. It starts in the present with Nicole Talbot, who has just finished her first year of college … after a long stint in rehab. She is now going home for the summer, staying with her sister, and working as an equine therapy intern at a nearby equestrian centre.

A secret, a body, and a missing manuscript. Nicole has a secret—something her deceased grandfather said she could never tell anyone. She knows it’s time to tell the truth, but she’s also worried that no one will believe her, especially not Nana, the family matriarch. As an ex-drug addict, she has a well-earned reputation for lying.

When she gets home, Nicole finds she’s not the only one with secrets. Her sister and aunt have been undertaking some family history research which may shed light on Nicole’s secret … but unearths a whole new set of questions about the body they found as children, which subsequently disappeared.

We then switch to the Civil War era. This is Therese’s story (Nicole’s great-great-great-great grandmother. Plus or minus a great). Therese lives in the South, but her father was a prominent abolitionist, and she shares his views. She takes a job as a governess in Richmond. She also undertakes volunteer work at the local hospital where her friend, Polly Talbot, volunteers. Here she meets Polly’s handsome Northern cousin, Dr Alec Talbot, and also comes into contact with Polly’s brother, Michael, her teenage crush.

Although My Daughter’s Legacy is part of the Cousins of the Dove series, this is the first book I’ve read. There were references to past events that read as though they’d been covered in more detail in previous books. I haven’t read them (although now I want to!), and I don’t think that was any loss, as I found it easy to pick up the story. There was also a nice summary at the end which rounded out the series.

A dual timeline story can be hard to read. This is simply because there is one character or story I enjoy better than the other. I often find it hard to relate to the modern character. This is usually because the modern character has some issues that are self-inflicted, but there is no real acknowledgement that they are the author of their own problems:

That was the thing I liked about Nicole. She knew she had problems. And she knew whose fault the problems were. Her own. And she was working hard to overcome those problems.

In contrast, many of Therese’s problems—internal and external—were the result of the Civil War and not knowing who she could trust. These are common conflicts in Civil War-era fiction, and meant it took me a little longer to warm to her as a character. What kept me engaged were the fascinating insights into Civil War America. For example the concept that working in a hospital was men’s work, and that hospitals were only for the destitute. Gentlemen were looked after at home.

But in the end, both stories delivered both in terms of suspense and in terms of romance. Now I’m off to buy the first two books in the Cousins of the Dove series: My Brother’s Crown, and My Sister’s Prayer.

Thanks to Harvest House, Litfuse Publicity, and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I really enjoyed how this book went back and forth between the past and present to tell the story. It gives you the background and lets you know the outcome. I did not find it hard to keep up with the story as it was written. There are also two other books in this series, but you don't have to have read them to understand this story, but it will help with the present day story. I also enjoy learning history in the context of a fictional story and this one was no exception.
The story tells about Therese Jennings in the 1860's and Nicole Talbot in present day. When Nichole comes home she finds out much about her family's legacy some good and some not as expected, but with help, she is able to get it all sorted out.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the review is entirely my own.

This conclusion to the Cousins To The Dove series will have you page turning right to the end as answers begin to unfold.
When this book opens we are with Nicole as she has completed her college year and is heading home to again live with her sister, and life is looking so much brighter.
The story in all three books are about strong Talbot woman, and this like the former books spans generations, with one being current time and the other during the Civil War.
As we span the centuries we are caught up quickly in each of the stories that come together and conclude over an artifact, but how it ends is amazing. I was quickly absorbed in Therese life and her beliefs against slavery, and how she played a part in fighting the injustice.
Then we have current day Nicole, she has fought and will continue to take her life back from her addiction, and this summer she is an intern at a horse stable. Loved how the horses are used to help people, and will this hold answers for Nicole, and will she be able to offer help to the horses?
There is a bit of romance, as we cross the centuries and we hope with some trepidation that these women will pick the right man, and one will have you wondering.
This is a book that will be lingering long after the last page has been turned.
I received this book through Lit Fuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

This was the third book in this series and I enjoyed it. It was set in the 1860's and then in the present. .In the present Nicole Talbot's life is starting to get back on track from a addiction. She comes back from college to share a secret her Granddad told her never to tell. When she and her cousins were young they found a dead body in a cabin. The body was removed and no one believe them. It twists back to a relative Theresa Talbot from the civil war period. It is a well done book. Twisting from the past to the present. It kept you on your toes and I was so interested I did not want to put the book down.

My Daughter's Legacy by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould is a Christian contemporary and historical mystery romance and I loved it. It is the third book in the Cousins Of The Dove series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The action alternates between present day and 1864, as secrets in the past are unearthed today. The two stories are linked by common ancestors, a love of history, old photographs and the desire for truth. Both have similar themes in their different time periods.
There is the theme of healing - both literal healing for those in the American civil war and mental healing today from the addiction of drugs and alcohol caused by a past event. God heals souls as we seek Him out. We can discover a God who loves us.
There is the theme of sacrifice. During the American civil war, people sacrificed their needs and comfort for others. Their "freedom was more important than her happiness." Today people sacrifice their free time to help others. "They can't get to church so [he] brings church to them." This reminds the reader that we are called to be the church. The church is not a building but a group of people.
The novel deals with images of war. "A generation of young men - dying, maimed or forever changed by war." War is horrific. Mothers on both sides lose sons. "If only everyone aimed to save lives and not destroy them." War is always about loss. Everyone suffers. Everyone loses.
The wounds of war fester. Likewise our souls can fester when the focus is not on God and others, but on personal gain, power and wealth.
The novel discusses Jesus. Too often our image of Him is clean, surrounded by smiling faces. The reality was, Jesus got down with the people who needed Him most. "Why do we have to make Him neat and tidy? He was in the streets... doing miracles and delivering addicts from the gutter." Jesus wants us to go out and minister to others. He wants us to get our hands dirty. He wants us to be His church to a hurting world.
Jesus brings hope. "Her hope was waning, but she wouldn't stop praying." He asks us to fix our eyes on Him and continue to trust, even though life is hard.
There is the subject of PTSD. A horror in childhood has lasting effects into adulthood. The escape came in the form of drugs and alcohol. It was a short term fix and not a long term solution. Love, care and professional help is needed to recover.
Family is important. Family who will love and support us. Family ties bind.
There was the subject of slavery. The American civil war was fought on this issue. All men should be free. No one should be judged or treated differently because of their skin colour. We are all born equal and we all bleed the same.
The novel wove fact and fiction together, teaching the reader about the American civil war.
I really enjoyed My Daughter's Legacy. It was a fabulous tale with a mystery that kept me guessing. A compulsive read, with brave and selfless characters.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

My Daughter's Legacy is the final book from the Cousins of the Dove series. In this installment, Therese is living in Confederate Virginia in 1864. She is fighting against her family over their beliefs of being slave owners. I was fascinated with this story and was hoping she was able to overcome everything she endured to do what was right.
Fast forwarding 150 years, brings the reader to recovering drug addict, Nicole, who is working at a horse therapy facility. I have personally volunteered at these facilities and know how well the horses can help heal. These scenes were definitely true to life and I enjoyed them. There is, also, a murder that needs to be solved, bringing some mystery and suspense to the story.
It was interesting how Therese and Nicole's stories evolved and I was not expecting how it all ended. This is most definitely the best book of the series.
4 stars.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

I have enjoyed the Cousins of the Dove series with the Talbot cousins. In each story, the authors have woven together the stories of ancestors from specific eras that tie them to the modern-day cousins. The cousins have been close since childhood and enjoyed many fun times together but one experience was very traumatic to them and has remained unsolved for almost twenty years. Nicole is the key character of this story which opens with her returning to Richmond for the summer after her first year away at college. The trauma of the past had turned her to drugs as an escape from the memories. She has been keeping a secret since childhood that her grandfather told her she would have to take to her grave, but she knows the time has come that she must tell her grandmother and the authorities. The story is quite involved as Nicole and her sister spend time together with their grandmother and an aunt who has all the inside scoop on their family members who lived through the Civil War. As the story moves back and forth from present day to the last months of the Civil War, loose ends start coming together. But will they ever find enough information to discover what really happened in the Dark Woods when they were children? The land where their grandmother lives was once the plantation that belonged to their great-great-great-grandparents. The book is classified as historical fiction but suspense and romance play an important role in the story. After all, what could be more romantic than spending the night helping a handsome man take care of a valuable horse that has been diagnosed with colic? If you are curious, you will have to read the book to see what that is all about. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

This final book in the Cousins of the Dove series ties up all the loose ends in a satisfying conclusion. The story revolves around Therese from the 1860s and Nicole from the present day. There is an unsolved murder that haunts present-day Nicole and her 3 cousins. Therese faces incredible challenges in living out her conscience as an objector to slavery in the Civil War South. Both stories are excellent. It is better to read the 3 “cousins” books in order as each one builds upon the information you learn about the murder in the previous one.

Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A satisfying conclusion to a fascinating series! Book three begins a year and a half later, featuring Nicole's story in another dual timeline setting in Virginia. An ancestor from the Civil War era and a priceless missing heirloom add to the mystery, as the Talbots continue to search for the truth in the cold case investigation begun in book one. To fully enjoy this series, it is best read in order, though a nice recap is included.

Written in the first person point of view from Nicole, the present day story fills in quite a few facts from the cold case investigation, and some big secrets are revealed. It was inspiring to read about Nicole's success in overcoming addiction and see how she had the courage to move forward, learning to trust God. Trust was an important theme in both past and present stories, being trustworthy, knowing who to trust, and ultimately learning to trust in God. Her ancestor Therese's tale was fascinating, living through the Civil War, facing conflict in her family with the courage to live by faith and not fear, a theme in both main character's lives. The conditions of the hospital and forced poverty of the war, plus her conflict of doing the right thing despite the opposition, made her situation seem so dire. Her bravery and faith were inspiring as she followed her convictions.
The romances involved were tender, and not the main focus of the story, though I enjoyed that aspect. The way the authors tied the past and present stories together, with the mystery made it an interesting read overall. It seemed like there were a lot of facts laid out quickly compared to the other books, bringing everything to a satisfying conclusion.

Highly recommend the whole series to readers who enjoy a historical mystery with some romance and faith. 4.5 stars