Pictures from the past may be the key to uncover decades of family secrets in the present.

Dani Sango has lived under the shadow of her father's reputation her whole life, and her journey to understand her father leads her to compelling discoveries. A present day mystery of sorts with roots in the past, I loved uncovering the secrets with Dani and Brad as they got to know each other through their struggles and their search. Belle is a sweet child, and I liked how Brad works hard to make sure that she feels safe in her new home. I also enjoyed Sally Jo and Luke's story set in 1875, their love for each other and dreams of sharing Christ with others.

There is a lot going on in this book and it took a while for me to start putting the pieces together, but it grew on me a lot as it built into a powerful and poignant conclusion. It was fun to learn the history of Native American ledger art, and see all the pieces of the story come together.

Overall, this was a well written book that blends the present day with the past in a beautiful and meaningful way, rich in history, with strong faith, and admirable characters that I could cheer for all the way through. Well worth the read.

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

The Doors to the Past Series has truly been an enjoyable one. This book is another great example of how great this series is. I love dual time lines so this was right up my alley. The characters were engaging and the historical key points were definitely interesting. The author weaves faith in a beautiful way.

If you enjoy Christian Historical Fiction I definitely grab this one and the rest in the series. They don't have to be read in any order as they are written by different authors and do not relate to each other.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I thought I already had a favorite book in the Doors to the Past series, but Love's Fortress is running hard to take over that prize position. I loved the way the mystery of the ledger art wove through the timelines. As the reader, I had inklings of what might be coming next, but the writing skill and masterful storytelling kept me entranced to the last page. I found I constantly wanted to know more. I wanted more pages, more story. I needed every detail about the lives of the characters created and living in this story world. Dani, Matty, Brad, Broken Bow, Sally Jo, and Luke were part of something extraordinary, and this tale allowed me to see events from a historical time that I'd never heard of before. I love the theme I found winding its way through the pages. Even when all seems lost, God is there. If you have not read this book yet, I encourage you to do so. I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is a dual timeline historical fiction book that focused on an aspect of history of which I was not aware. It was interesting to learn about the Native Americans who were transported to St. Augustine, Florida. The author does a great job of allowing you to feel the angst and discomfort these individuals felt. As for the present day aspect of the book, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters … Dani, Brad, Matty Joie, and especially Brynn. This was an interesting read an a good addition to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Fiction for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Love’s Fortress is written by Jennifer Uhlarik. This is part of the Doors to the Past series which flashes back and forth between current day and a historical time period. The series is written by multiple authors and are all stand alone books. However, they are all amazing.

Our main character in this book is Dani. Her father has passed away and she inherited his entire estate. There are several art pieces that she does not have any idea about, so she enlists a local curator, Brad to assist. At first, Brad is not thrilled to have to go through all of it. Then he becomes intrigued by Dani. The two of them start to uncover a story. They find the story of Broken Bow. He is a Plain Indian that was transported to Florida and incarcerated. He develops a friendship with Sally Jo who has been serving as a missionary. While the friendship grows they face a lot of obstacles. This was such a violent time period. It's post Civil War Reconstruction and the hatred for Indians/Native Americans is strong.

Can Dani and Brad uncover the tie between Broken Bow and Sally Jo to why her father would have such artwork. The author has done some great research to bring this story to life. It's well written, and well portrayed. The dual timeline is woven together seamlessly. It's a beautiful Story.



Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I have been greatly enjoying the Doors to the Past series published by Barbour Books. This particular novel piqued my interest because although I read a lot of historical fiction, I have not yet read much of Native American struggles. This story does a great job of detailing some of the historical aspects of their culture while portraying the influence of white people, giving both the good and the bad of both sides. I appreciated the author’s note at the end as well. One of my favorite parts of split time fiction is the way the two timelines intersect and this novel does a great job of bringing them together by the end. I also really liked the way the spiritual truths are woven into the story. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I am excited to read more in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I enjoyed Jennifer Uhlarik’s contribution to the Doors to the Past series by Barbour. Each book is a stand-alone novel that presents as an intriguing dual-timeline. Love’s Fortress connects present-day Florida to St. Augustine, FL, in the 1870s.

Matty is my favorite character in the present-day scenarios. He is so big, tough, and scary looking, but he has a heart of gold. He loves Jesus and he loves those around him. He sees people without any discrimination. “Everyone’s welcome in God’s kingdom, darlin’. Doesn’t matter what you wear or how you fix your hair. It’s what’s in here.” He is loyal to a fault and can be surprisingly gentle.

Broken Bow is my favorite character in the historical sections. I love how Uhlarik shows the Native American’s probable way of thinking in keeping with their tribal customs. While there are some clashes between the Native Americans and the white peoples, Uhlarik tries to present the good and bad of both sides, never saying one is better than the other. My heart wanted to cry at the injustices that Broken Bow and others like him endured simply because he was not white.

Uhlarik includes historical notes and fact vs. fiction at the end, always a welcome addition to any book that draws a historical picture for us.
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. All opinions are my own, and no positive review was required.

Notable Quotables:

Oh, sweet heavenly Father, thank You! You do have a plan!

“Me? I’m just a mixed-up little girl in a grown-up girl’s body.”

“We may never see the. . .impact we make when we follow God’s leading.”

I loved this fabulous story! This dual timeline novel is a gift, with beautiful messages of faith and redemption woven throughout. Featuring historical and contemporary fiction that highlights events of certain Native Americans in the late 1800’s, we see tragedies and joys and how people face them with faith in the Lord. I was impressed with how well the author put herself in the position of the characters to see, hear, and smell their surroundings. This is particularly notable when the Native Americans tried to make sense of Fort Marion.

Dani knew little about her biological father except that he had been in prison for art forgery. He had not been in her life since she was two, and she believed he didn’t want her. She was contacted by his attorney when he died in an auto accident, and she learned he left her his house. Instead of Frank’s love, she had the key to his house while she awaited the reading of the will.

One of the items Dani found in the nondescript house was ledger art, an old ledger of pencil drawings by Native Americans, depicting various events. Dani got in touch with Brad, a museum curator her father had communicated with about the ledger, even as she wonders if Frank had forged that, also. Brad was trying to get emergency custody of Brynn, his four-year-old niece, whose parents were in jail facing serious charges. While awaiting their respective legal appointments, they became friends, and Dani was a big help with Brynn.

Dani met Matty, a long-time friend of her father, and their friends from church. She had a hard time believing Frank belonged to a church after what she had heard. She wasn’t raised around anyone who believed in God or attended church, so Matty and his friends were quite a surprise to her. Brad had been a believer but had been struggling for a while. Dani, Brad, and Brynn spent time with Matty, trying to make sense of what Matty and his friends learned from her father about the “wild goose chase”. Since reading about it in this novel, I am intrigued at the sound of it!

The more Brad and Dani read about ledger art, they became able to identify the artist of and events depicted in the ledger. The lives of the 73 Native Americans who were held at Fort Marion and the local people who came to teach them about the Lord and how to read and write in the 1870’s was fascinating. Despite the tragedies, I enjoyed that part of the novel even more than the present-day story. I appreciated seeing the points of view of the Native Americans, those who taught them, and “White Chief” Lt. Pratt.

There is much, much more to this novel than I can say. While I love historical portion more than the current events, I have been blessed and encouraged by the spiritual practices in the contemporary story. A couple things were somewhat predictable, but many things were complete surprises. I was stunned and saddened a few times by the way things worked out. I highly recommend this novel to women of all ages who appreciate Christian historical fiction and struggles of the Native Americans in the 1870’s, contemporary family drama, healing and forgiveness, and practicing a living, active faith in the Lord.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Sometimes faith can be hard to find...

The Doors To The Past series has been one of the most interesting... Featuring diverse historical places around the USA, each of them with a mystery that spans decades and even centuries. Each story has been different and each of the storytellers have brought their own unique style to this series of dual timeline novels. Honestly, I look forward to each new Doors To The Past release with a great deal of anticipation and curiosity as to where I'll be 'going' next.

The where was Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine as fascinated since I was a little kid reading about its 16th century founding decades before Jamestown, etc. Needless to say I was more than intrigued to learn about a part of the city's history that I was completely unfamiliar with.

The incarceration of Native Americans at Fort Marion is a ticklish topic so when I started Love's Fortress it was with a mixed feeling or two. However, Jennifer Uhlarik pleasantly surprised me by her portrayal of the historical thread in her story. I really don't want to give anything away so I will simply say that there are caring people on both sides and there is well earned distrust on both sides.

The present day thread was actually my favorite in Love's Fortress. That was where the past and present intertwined and the mystery elements got their chance to shine. Plus two of my favorite characters in the story were present day; the very unexpected Matty Joie and the adorable Brynn with her sidekick Peanut. But it was also here that Jennifer Uhlarik introduced a fascinating concept, the Goose Chase. That kind of trust and faith really appeals to me, though, I am still trying to wrap my mind around it.

Whether you have read any of the Doors To The Past or are new to the series, Jennifer Uhlarik's contribution to it should not be skipped. Love's Fortress was an enjoyable, sometimes thought provoking, read and a good addition to the series...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Love’s Fortress by author Jennifer Uhlarik is a Christian dual time romance novel. It is part of the Doors to the Past Series by Barbour Publishing. Each of these books are stand alone books, and I loved them!

This installment in the series was about historical characters Sally Jo Harris, Luke Worthington, and Broken Bow. Set in St. Augustine in 1875 it tells the heartbreaking story of some Native Americans who were captured and imprisoned. It also is about Dani Sango and Brad Osgood, the present day characters.

The author did a beautiful job weaving the two different time period stories into one heart-stirring novel. Her style of writing is inviting and easy to understand. I was invested in the characters and captivated by their moving stories. This was a page turner with some twists and surprises. I learned some things, too.

Author Uhlarik did a nice job presenting that both sides had good and bad things. She did not lift up on side over the other. For me, it was hard to read about the injustices that Broken Bow and others like him endured simply because of the color of their skin.

This is a story of unconditional love, truth, hope, trust, prejudice, and serving others. The spiritual message is inspiring and well done. This book contains so many different things that anyone should enjoy it. It is historical and contemporary, mystery, adventure, Native American, Artwork, and Christian fiction. The author has interesting notes at the end. Reading groups would enjoy this as a selection and find much to discuss.

I highly recommend this fabulous book. It receives 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

This was a new to me author. I enjoyed the book. I liked that it was a dual-time story. The romance felt rushed which was a shame. It was a nice and easy read though.

There is a lot to love about Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik. I love that this novel deals with a history we don’t see in Historical Romances — the Native American incarceration at Fort Marion in Florida. I wrote my master thesis on Native American images in Children’s picture books so the fact that Love’s Fortress showcases a part of American history that gets swept under the rug made me really excited to read this book. I was not disappointed. I found the historical detail to be spot on. In fact, the historical storyline is my favorite part of this excellent story. I very much loved all of the characters in this story. I appreciate how diverse and unique each character is. There’s a tough-looking biker giant with a heart the size of Texas, a sweet little girl in need of some serious help, a troubled young woman reeling from the unexpected death of her father, a strong-in-his-faith man who is a tad overwhelmed by some serious family dysfunction, a captive Native American who deals with a new life forced on him, a genuinely warm-hearted and conscientious hero with a speech-impediment, and a beautiful young woman who sees the heart of an individual and loves God with her whole heart. I love how Uhlarik crafts such uniquely wonderful and endearing characters who all feel relatable and realistic. And I really love the many timely and thought-provoking themes discussed in this story. My one and only complaint with this novel is that it ends. I really loved this story, and I am sad my time with these characters is over.

Love’s Fortress is a really well-written, highly engaging story that I highly recommend. If you are a fan of delightful Historical Romances steeped in historical detail and full of sweet romance and genuine friendships, then definitely check out Love’s Fortress today!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author, Jennifer Uhlarik, via Celebrate Lit in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was first interested about this book due to the cover and the location. I love St. Augustine and have visited the fort before. So it made it easier to be part of the story as I could visually see the location.

The author wrote the book in two timelines. I appreciated how she introduced the chapter so you knew when you were in the past or current time. I was more of a fan of the 1800 storyline. The story of Sally Jo and Broken Bow.

Dani Sago was ashamed of her past and was disappointed by her father. Sally Jo was also very disappointed by her father's actions. Could they get over their disappointment and move on?

I was surprised at the ending. Author Jennifer Uhlarik did a great job tying the timelines together.

I received this ebook for free to review from Celebrate Lit.

I really like this series so much with dual time periods. It is always exciting to see how the author will tie the two together. The author in this story has done an excellent job of not only giving us a look at what the Native Americans went through but how paintings bring the past to life.

I’ll begin with a look at the past in the story. It really hurts to read how Native Americans were treated. They were forced to give up their land, cut their hair, learn English and wear white man’s clothes. Broken Bow is a special character to me. He didn’t want to give up his heritage and forget about his ancestors. His life was hard and at times unbearable. He also felt the unfair treatment that soldiers delivered to his people. Broken Bow is someone I wanted to sit beside and tell him that not everyone was against him. When Broken Bow talks about what happened when he was younger it is at times more than I could handle . His people getting slaughtered by soldiers is unthinkable. Now he is suppose to trust these white people who say they want to help?

I loved Sally Jo and Luke because they wanted to help others and knew that God had called them to be missionaries. Her father was a mean spirited man who held secrets that could harm Sally Jo. He was so overprotective of her that it causes a fracture in their relationship. I loved how the author weaved a friendship between Sally Jo, Luke and Broken Bow. There are some very emotional moments with the three which shows how faithful Sally Jo and Luke were. I have to say that I loved this part of the book so much that I wanted to stay with them and not go to the present.

Dani has come to her father’s home to find answers. She has always been told that her father was a criminal and went to prison. They never had a relationship so she has no idea why he would put her in his will. Matty is a wonderful character who not only is a pastor but rides motorcycles and goes on goose chases. Now I won’t say what goose chases are because that is part of a wonderful faith filled experience that you must read for yourselves.

The present day is filled with a mystery that is surrounded by artwork dating back to a time when Native Americans were forced to live in a place where soldiers guarded them. Brad is gifted in the field of art and helps Dani on her quest to find answers about art that is at her father’s house. I loved how well they worked together to help each other out. There are moments that Dani isn’t sure why she is there but God has a purpose for her. She is not there by accident and will uncover some information that may help her see her father in a different way.

The author does a great job of bringing these two stories together in a way that shares history of a brave Native American but also of a man who loved his daughter unconditionally. The faith message in the story is good but not overdone. The characters find God in their own way which leads to forgiveness and hope. It is a beautifully written story that will stay with me for a very long time.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

4.5 Stars

A couple chapters into Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik, I was certain the modern-day timeline was the one I’d enjoy the most in the book. So, imagine my surprise when I reached the end of the book and Broken Bow was the character that most impacted me.

The author wrote both timelines in a way that connected so well throughout the book. As Dani and Brad try to figure out the connection to Dani’s father and the artwork, they each face their own hardships. The same with Sally Jo, Luke, and Broken Bow. I loved how Sally Jo and Luke saw beyond Broken Bow’s skin color. They saw his heart. They formed a bond of friendship, and they championed each other when life threw darts their way.

All the characters in Love’s Fortress are well-rounded, and I felt an emotional connection to each of them throughout this story. This is a story of healing throughout, and the world can always use more of that.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

At first, this book Love's Fortress started off slow. Eventually, I was unable to put this book down. It is a real page-turner with some interesting characters that takes place during the present time and to the past (1870s), which than intertwines together to make it an enjoyable story to read. If you love reading inspirational stories than this book will be a wonderful fit for you. I look forward to reading other books by Jennifer Uhlarik as well!


*Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

I was so excited to find a dual time line novel set in Florida-where I currently live. I'd never heard all about the fighting between natives and settlers until I moved here a couple years ago, so I really enjoyed learning more. The modern art forgery storyline was also intriguing. I loved Matty and his wild goose chases-like treasure hunting-so fun.

When Dani inherits her fathers estate she finds paintings that look like he was still forging artwork. The characters are colorful and interesting. The history she discovers in her families past is full of mystery and secrets that will shape her future. I loved the idea of the goose chase and how it tied in with how she researched her fathers history as a forger and the research into a notebook of Native American drawings. I really liked this story of history, mystery and a little romance. I received a copy through the publisher and NetGalley. No review was required, my opinion and review is voluntary.

Love’s Fortress, written by Jennifer Uhlarik is one book in the series Doors to the Past. Dani Sango’s father passes away and she inherits his home in St. Augustine, Florida. She goes there with the intent to clean out his house. While there she finds a Native American ledger art notebook. She is not sure if it is real or a forgery because her father spent time in jail as a forger of fine art.

Brad Osgood is a museum curator. Brad is trying to take care of his four-year-old niece whose parents are in jail for drugs. Brynn has been brought up in a very dysfunctional and filthy environment and Brad is determined to take care of her.

Dani tries to find out just what this ledger is about and contacts Brad. They determine that the ledger art book is authentic and was made around the time that some Plains Indians were transported to Florida in 1875.

The story takes off from there by telling the story of Broken Bow, one of those incarcerated and his friendship with a young missionary, Sally Jo Harris. Their story intrigues Dani and Brad.

Although I liked the book, I was confused during most of the book trying to find out who the characters really were. It was an interesting read and brought up stories that I’d never heard before about the incarceration of Plains Indians in Florida. I also felt that the ending of the book left much to be desired. Though I might be wrong in my judgment, but I thought the ending was too abrupt. I was also confused by what “ledger art” is. I had to investigate further than what was explained in the book.

Love's Fortress has a dual time plotline that alternates between 1875 and present-day Florida, and it's especially appealing to history and mystery lovers. Author Jennifer Uhlarik shares the mixed emotions of Dani Sango as she deals with her late father being labeled an art forger, and her determined efforts to reconcile what he did or didn't do. Dani soon discovers friendship with a museum curator who is willing to help her sort through her inheritance, but Brad Osgood has his own family issues. Is it possible that these two hurting individuals will be able to help each other? Is there a special significance to the ledger art that was in Franklin Sango's possession?

In the 1875 story, there is a friendship that turns into romance for Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing. Their desire to spread God's Word as missionaries seems futile until they take it upon themselves to help the group of Plains Indians who have been incarcerated at Fort Marion. One of them, Broken Arrow, becomes their friend and his conversion story is truly inspiring. Sally Jo's compassion and her strong faith make her a very special heroine, and I loved that she and Dani share a surprising connection!

This book is a great addition to the Doors to the Past series. I've learned so much about the 73 Native Americans who were taken to Fort Marion in the 1870s and the ledger art that evolved during their time there. I was also introduced to the Spanish fort, Castillo de San Marcos, that was later renamed Fort Marion, and I found myself searching online for more information as I read this book! I've enjoyed Uhlarik's books before and I now have a new favorite. Fact, fiction, romance, and a strong faith message are woven into a story that is both entertaining and enlightening. I highly recommend Love's Fortress to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction.

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