Michelle Griep always creates strong characters that are a joy getting to know. Rich historic settings make this book a pleasure to dive into. Picking up a Griep-book is a garantuee for an original and joyful read!

I do believe that I have found my favorite book by this author, this one. Maggie and Oliver are both excellent characters, and the connection to wish we can delve deep into many questions that are brought up and examined in this book. Not unlike a rare diamond, Griep unearthed and polished so many major issues in this story. Demons, both real and "imagined" that must be fought. Forgiveness, how far do you really know that forgiveness goes? The yearning for one's soul to be of profound value, the calling that is placed upon each life, there is so much depth to this book. The prose is lovely and does a good job of taking us back in time, while still covering timeless issues. So much faith, hope, and love have been poured into this book, while the fight between light and dark was never lost amidst the story. I can't imagine how this author can top this book, but I will be reading to see.

(Thank you, Net Galley, and to the publisher, for my copy of this book!)

I’m not sure why I’ve waited so long to read a Michelle Griep book. Worst decision ever! She is a spectacular storyteller creating a rich depth to her characters, their emotional and spiritual journeys and, well, everything! There wasn’t a single thing I disliked about The House at the End of the Moor. I drank up every word starting on the very first page.
The House at the End of the Moor is a thrilling mystery. The pieces of the puzzle come together with such hair-raising satisfaction that once you get a taste of Maggie and Oliver’s secrets, you will hunger for the full truth.
It was effortless to grow close to Maggie. Her sweet and generous heart was a magnet. Despite all she had endured in her life, she was brave, faithful and optimistic--qualities that serve her well for her dangerous journey outside the moor. Oliver, at his core, is a perfect gentleman with a servant’s heart, although the injustices he has endured have hardened him to a degree. I think his story of justice and the true freedom found in forgiveness is one many readers can empathize with.
Maggie and Oliver make for a humorous team as they flee the moor and plot how to serve justice to those who have wronged them. I adored the witty banter between them and the gentle progression of their relationship. It is here Maggie’s honesty shines and softens the harder edges of Oliver’s pride. Sigh. They complement each other so well.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any reader of historical Christian fiction, especially if you like the Gothic-feel.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it! I thought it was adventurous, unique, and exciting. The story really sweeps you away to another place and time. I also appreciated the fact that it is a clean and inspirational read.

What a page turner! The House at the End of the Moor is so good, that I couldn't put it down and read it in about 24 hours. Where to begin?

I loved the main characters, Maggie and Oliver, who are very good and devout people. Fate brought them together to save each other, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Their relationship was a slow burn, built on respect, mutual admiration, and humor.
I loved Oliver, the falsely accused prisoner, whose goodness was revealed in the small acts of kindness he performed throughout the book. Even though he suffered greatly in the cruel prison, it did not turn him bitter. Maggie who was beautiful inside and out was strong and gracious. If they sound like stock characters--they were not. They were romantic, inspirational, and swoon worthy.

The mystery is fascinating and unfolded slowly, but it did not cause me to want to rush to the end to see how it read the outcome. I was able to savor it and patiently waited for the HEA which I was sure would come (and it did).

There were so many beautiful themes: love, understanding and forgiveness between parents and children; the ability to forgive those who have wronged us; and the question of whether money alone makes a person evil. This quote from the book exemplifies this:

“I appreciate your compassion for the poor, Oliver. I really do. But I fear you judge the wealthy too harshly. Not all who are rich are self-centered money-mongers, just as not all who are poor are virtuous. Having lived amongst both the rich and the needy, I find it is the heart of the person that makes the man, not the amount of coin in his pocket.”

I was absolutely enthralled by this book and was sorry it ended. I have always planned on reading more of Michelle Griep's books in the future, but now I can't wait to read her books.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #TheHouseattheEndoftheMoor #NetGalley

Jen Turano's latest book, Storing Up Trouble, is a tale full of activity as you follow Beatrix and Norman around the city of Chicago!

After winding up in jail several times for supporting suffragette causes, debutante Miss Beatrix Waterbury finds herself on a train bound for Chicago to visit her aunt. When the train is suddenly held up by masked men, Beatrix finds herself in a tricky situation!

Mr. Norman Nesbit is a man of science, so he does not know what to do with the high-spirited Miss Waterbury. Norman slowly turns his focus from the research papers that he is sure the men are after to this beautiful young woman who has entered his world!

Watch and see how Beatrix and Norman get acquainted and then work together to solve the mystery of why they were originally attacked on the train!

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK 

Finding a half dead body that was really, in the middle of nowhere. No one around. Not quite sure what I would do. Call the police probably. But that wasn’t really a choice here in this story. The only choice was to bring him home, and take care if him.

Michelle Griep is just amazing in telling her stories! In this interesting and intriguing story, we meet Maggie, who is hiding from a life as a opera singer. Imagine her surprise when a half dead man shows up near her home. Oliver Ward is running as an escape convict. As these two characters come together to tell the truth of Oliver’s story, this truly took me on a journey that would keep me turning the pages, and one the edge if my seat. I didn’t want to put this book down because I couldn’t wait to find out the ending!

To me, these characters had to grow on me. It took me a little while to figure out who they were and what their purpose was. I found it heart wrentching the way prisoners were treated back in that era. Officer Barrow really showed his evil self as he ran the trail looking for Ward, and he was definitely a character I didn’t like at all. But in saying that, I will say that Ms. Griep so professionally crafts gripping characters that develops so well as the story unfolds. There is so much in this story, so many dangerous secrets to surface, so many emotions flying everywhere. I appreciate the faith and forgiveness, as well as all of the references to the Lord in this story. This author does this so tastefully, not sounding do pushy and preachy to someone who doesn’t know the Lord. And in the end, Michelle Griep weaves all the different

The House at the End of the Moor, by Michelle Griep, is a good story of redemption, forgiveness, and starting over. Maggie Lee was a beautiful, talented opera singer who fled from her agent and started a new life. Her helper found an unconscious man, Oliver Ward, and they took him home to help him. Oliver was falsely accused and imprisoned of stealing the necklace Maggie wore at her last performance, which she still has. Together the two try to make those responsible pay for their crimes against them.

I enjoyed reading this story. This is a fast paced story with many twists and turns. Maggie and Oliver both have father issues from their youth. They both strive to help the less fortunate. The thing that I liked most about this story is when Maggie finds out it is to late for her and her father, she makes Oliver promise he will try to mend the relationship he has with his father. One of the things that stands out to me in this story is the prison guard feels he is helping God by tracking down criminals to pay for their crimes, yet he misinterprets the Bible.

I received an ebook of this story from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley, this is my honest review.

I’ve read books by Michelle Griep that I have enjoyed before and I’m a huge regency novelist fan. With those two things combined. I definitely wanted to read this book. My thoughts:

What I liked

Maggie’s prose. In regards to Maggie, this book starts off very gothic–and I love gothic novels. In typical gothic fashion, the setting is just as important as the characters themselves. And the Moors does not disappoint. The Moors are so beautifully described that it becomes almost a character in and of itself. Unfortunately, the book only takes place in the Moors for a short time (I was sad when we let the Moors). But there’s an eeriness in the beginning that was luring to me as a reader because you have the mute maid, the secrets of the past, the woman in hiding. It was really set up nicely for an intriguing tale.

The mystery duo. I did like the way that Maggie is dealing with one piece of the mystery and Oliver is dealing with a separate piece, and even though they’re such strange pieces, it all comes together in one solid nucleus.

Spiritually, there are some interesting ideas of justice and how it relates to forgiveness and how you can’t really have one without the other.

What I Didn’t Like

Oliver. He was a very, very whiny hero. Don’t get me wrong, life had treated him rough. But he read like a little boy throwing a tantrum instead of a man making the most out of a situation. If he was a little bit funny, it could have worked. But he was not funny.

Suspension of Disbelief. When it came to Oliver Ward, I understand what the author was trying to do. That said, I’ve read so many regency novels that I could not suspend my disbelief that a man with his background and his “voice” would have been imprisoned in the first place—at least not without some big to-do.

On the Run. Oliver and Maggie are really horrible at being on the run. Sometimes, with the mistakes they made, it felt like they wanted to be caught.

The villain. There is a specific villain in this book who made no sense to me whatsoever. The author tried to explain the villain’s motivation to be the way he was, but it just read weird to me.

Romantic scale: 6.5

Overall, if you can suspend your disbelief, you might enjoy this book. There’s action, adventure, mystery, and romance. But for me, there were so many odd things that kept pulling me out of the story that I never fully immersed myself in it and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would have liked.

**I received a copy from Barbour Publishing via Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in any way.**

Thank you to Barbour Publishing Inc. for access to this NetGalley ARC. A man desperately seeking justice for his wrongful imprisonment and a talented opera singer on the run cross paths in this breathtaking historical fiction book! When Oliver Ward is imprisoned for a theft he didn't commit, he finds a way to escape, and winds up severely injured. Maggie Lee, a woman living in seclusion on the moor, brings Oliver into her home, never suspecting the perilous adventure ahead of them. The pair discover their stories are more entwined than they could have ever imagined, and so they set off with bravery and faith to face their demons, slowly succumbing to their growing feelings for one another along the way. This book was so well written and atmospheric! The pacing moved along beautifully with lots of moments of suspense and action, as well as quiet moments of tenderness. If you enjoy a good underdog tale full of excitement and romance, this is the book for you!

This historical mystery was interesting. I could feel the moor. The sense of drama was high, perhaps for me a bit too high- making it not as believable as some stories this author writes. But her writing was well done and I liked it.

“Unforgiving moorland stretched farther than the eye could see. Desolate. Dangerous. Whoever thought to put a prison in the middle of this godforsaken terrain was a genius.”

Running from her past as an opera singer and hiding under an alias in the moors of Southern England seems to be working out for Maggie—that is, until she discovers a critically injured man not so far from her home. Taking him in may well save his life, but will it endanger hers?

Oliver Ward is an escaped convict, by the grace of God. Wrongfully accused and framed by a political rival, he has suffered nine months of torment at the hands of a brutal gaol guard and the English prison system. Now he is a hunted man. Taken in by mysteriously familiar woman and her maid, he discovers the very jewels he was convicted of stealing in her home.

Oliver and Maggie hatch a dangerous plan to return the jewels to their rightful owner and clear Oliver’s name, but both are being pursued relentlessly, Oliver by a cruel constable who thinks he is offering a service to God with each criminal he captures, and Maggie by her sadistic former manager. Is vengeance a worthy goal? Is any kind of redemption even possible?

Author Michelle Griep writes with wit and skill. Her blend of nail-biting suspense, heart-warming romance, and dangerous adventure kept me at the edge of my seat throughout this book. Surprising twists and turns made it anything but predictable. Realistic and gritty, sparkling and sharp, the book’s overarching theme of forgiveness and redemption infuses hope and truth while telling a story that ranges from England’s desolate moors to the city of Bath. The House at the End of the Moor is a read you won’t want to miss.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I read the ARC of The House at the End of the Moor, by Michelle Griep, courtesy of Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. Ms. Griep has woven a solid mystery with unexpected twists and turns, a unique cast of characters, and, of course, a little romance.

Conspiring with her dishonest manager, a powerful member of the British Parliament, Ambrose Corbin, sets up a beloved opera singer for the crime of jewel theft. Fearful for her life, she flees and hides out in an old house at the end of the moor, knowing her life may never be the same. Margaret (Maggie) Lee, known by her stage name of Daisy Lee, takes her mother’s maiden name, and becomes Margaret Dosett.

Out for a walk with her dog, Maggie comes upon a man, Oliver Ward, near death. She and her mute maid, Nora, take him in and nurse him back to health, only to learn he is an escaped convict who has also been framed for the same crime by the same politician.

Oliver, also a member of Parliament, has escaped from Dartmoor Prison, and its vicious Officer Barrow who spouts Biblical scripture, but adds his own version of it. He is a devout Christian when it suits his needs.

Together Margaret and Oliver devise a plan to expose the corrupt Corbin. They will return the jewels to their rightful owner, Corbin’s abused wife.

Throughout repeated difficulties, Maggie and Oliver never lose their faith or their trust in God to see them through. Finally Corbin is exposed to another member of parliament, and gets his due.

The House at the End of the Moor is a griping tale of fear and courage, love and loss, sadness and joy, injustice, and at last, justice and happiness. It is also an exceptionally good work of Christian fiction.

What made The Grumpy Book Reviewer grumpy?

Very little, actually: referring to people as “that” instead of “who”, and a couple of split infinitives. That’s about it.

The imagery of this book was incredible. Another book from this author that I couldn't put down. From the opening scenes to the end of the book, I felt as if I was there with these characters experiencing their fear and sorrow and heartaches and hope. I felt as I was racing across the moors with Oliver, or enjoying a leisurely stroll along them with Maggie.

There were several moments in this book that I felt the intensity pulsing with my heartbeat and I was almost holding my breath in anticipation of what was to come. Or what the outcome of a particular scene would be. The mystery and unfolding of the story and history of these two characters was well paced. I couldn't pull my attention away from the story.

I thought for sure that there were several moments when Oliver or Maggie, or both would be captured and all hope would be lost. Of course there were some moments of capture and escape as they played a very intricate and dangerous game of cat and mouse. Just be warned that when you think you have it figured out, it will change. A new surprise will have you wondering what is to come and how you could have thought freedom was in sight.

Amid the mystery and suspense, the love story was very captivating as well. I couldn't help but cheer *inside my head of course* for Maggie and Oliver. These two characters were very adept at moving among the different social settings and creating friendships easily. Several of the secondary characters were fun and just as many were ones I was rooting to get their comeuppance. I felt like this was a good mix of a Charles Dickens and Bronte sisters' novels. Some Jane Eyre and some Great Expectations feel. I loved it!

The ending (ok not the very end but close to it) I was somewhat expecting but then I found myself yelling, "No!!!!" So maybe I didn't expect it as much as I thought. There are plenty of moments that I felt like yelling that as well but I didn't. I just kept reading and continued to fall in love with this story and characters. One of my favorites by this author. If you're a fan of Michelle Griep you're in for a treat. If you haven't read anything by her yet, I highly recommend you take the chance!

Content: Clean. This is a book with suspense and contains scenes with characters who attack other characters but does not do so graphically. It is also a Christian fiction novel so there are moments when the characters think of God and pray to him. I felt like it was very appropriate for the time period and how these characters would have been and that it didn't distract from the story but enhanced it.

I received a copy from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

I can always count on Michelle Griep to give me all the feels in a book and this did not disappoint. I felt the love, hate, fear, humor, longing, mystery, and chemistry. Loved it!

The story is about opera singer Maggie Lee, who has disappeared from social life after a disastrous falling out with - let's say it like it is, a real high society jerk - and is now wanted by her manager for breach of contract. Oliver Ward works for the underprivileged in Parliment, but is accused of stealing heirloom rubies from said society jerk's wife. Their meeting in the remote moor and how they constructed to clear both of their names, was funny, witty, and you could feel the attraction between the two in the air.

I enjoyed this book very much, as I do with many of Ms. Griep's books. I especially liked the chemistry between Maggie Lee and Oliver and how well they worked together from the very beginning, despite secrets that may set each of them free. I will definitely recommend this to other readers.

I received this from Netgally and Barbour Publishing for an honest review.

Wow! I started this book late one night and finished it the next day. I was that captivated by the story and the characters. Oliver Ward is an innocent man, who escaped a brutal jail to prove another guilty. Opera star Maggie Lee is living incognito with just a mute maid, a manservant, and her protective dog. When Oliver is discovered hurt and unconscious on the moor, Maggie brings him home to heal. Danger is now at her door with a brutal constable Barrow on the hunt for Oliver. This will set Oliver and Maggie on the run for answers one step ahead of Barrow. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is a book that I didn't want to put down. Luckily, I had time to do that. The main characters are well drawn and we gradually get to know them on a deeper basis. I love how the book alternates between Oliver’s, Maggie’s, and Barrow’s point of view. Maggie is a strong resourceful woman. I love the Christian theme that runs through the book with their prayers for guidance and help from God. This book is well written and a very suspenseful book. I have enjoyed reading every book that I have read by Michelle Griep. I love this book.

The House at the End of the Moor is a historical fiction novel, and was written by Michelle Griep.

Summary: There is a reason Maggie Lee is hiding out in a remote house at the edge of the moor under an assumed name. The last thing she needs is for someone to recognize her, and have the truth coming spilling out.

But when her servant discovers a half-dead man abandoned by the side of the road, she has to help-even if it means placing her on a path that might ruin her-for good.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book so much. The characters are well-developed, the bad guys are extra sinister, the intrigue and mystery are fascinating, and I am not ashamed to say I basically just gobbled this one up in less than 24 hours. So, so good!

This book gets top marks from me, and is one of my favorites of the year so far. I would definitely buy it-which is the highest praise I give a book.

If you enjoy historical fiction/romance-this is a good one-pick it up!

I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, Inc. for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Received this book from Net Gallery! This story by"Michelle Griep" is a historical romance where you have good research done for the time that this story took place in the 1800's. The characters in this story have all sorts of problems and personality that comes out throughout the book where you start to know who they really are. If you like some mystery,drama crime and on the run of hiding,you have this and so much more in this book! I really enjoyed this story and I think you will. I got a little confused at the beginning cause it started out different,at least for me but I caught on fast. Very well written and the plot of the story you will so enjoy! It is a "very much of a read"!! Enjoy!!

The House at the End of the Moor was my first Michelle Griep book, and I will be looking for more! Michelle has a talent for bringing her characters to life, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Estranged from his father, Oliver Ward has been imprisoned in an isolated prison for a crime he never committed. Maggie Lee has fled from her life as an opera singer to the safety of the Morden Hall. With only an elderly manservant, a mute maid, and a rescued dog, she has been content living in the middle of nowhere. A chance (or is it God-ordained?) meeting changes everything.

I really enjoyed the spiritual aspects of this book, and that God was so real to several of the characters.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

This book starts with one of the main characters, Oliver, is in prison. We quickly learn that he's a man of compassion, which really helped me to root for this character. Oliver is able to escape from prison. Maggie, an opera singer on the run, finds him nearly lifeless on the side of the road. They decide to help each other and the story blossoms from there. This book got off to a slow start. The prison escape wasn't as dramatic as I had expected and the book starts when Maggie is already in hiding. So there's less drama than I was expecting. But the book got better and better until I was really enjoying it.