This was the first book I read from Kelly.. It won’t be the last.

Henrietta and Leo are the perfect pair. They ate thrown together when a tragedy struck a the local shoe factory. They work together to figure out the cause of the disaster and along the way they fall in love in the process. This is a great Fall story.

Kelly Goshorn is a new-to-me author; I certainly look forward to reading more of her works!

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton is the second book of a series, but each story is a stand-alone. It is based on a true event, the real disaster at the Grover Shoe Factory in Brockton, Massachusetts, in 1905, It is a well researched story.

Leo Eriksson, a firefighter in Brockton, and the heiress, Henrietta Maxwell (who disguised herself as the reporter, Henry Mason) are both endearing and delightful. I enjoyed watching their attraction and relationship grow throughout the story.

If you enjoy historical fiction, based on true events, with a touch of romance and a dose of faith, be sure to grab yourself a copy of The Undercover Heiress.

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton offers a captivating story featuring a brave heroine determined to establish herself as a journalist—(taking the bold and unconventional step of posing as a male reporter!) Etta is wonderfully relatable, and her compassion for others truly stands out and is admirable.

Leo, the male protagonist, is equally compassionate. After discovering Etta’s secret, he encourages her to broaden her perspective, which ultimately benefits her writing. Watching Etta and Leo’s relationship develop was delightful, especially because they both openly express their deep faith.

Combining history, mystery, and unmistakable chemistry, this novel cleverly incorporates the real-life “Shoe City explosion,” which adds so much depth and taught me something new. The mystery is gentle, the romance is charming, and the element of faith is incredibly fulfilling.

First Line: Henrietta Maxwell shoved her spectacles higher on the bridge of her nose and summoned her courage as she stared at the giant silver maple towering above her.
Series: Enduring Hope, book 2
Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Mystery & Suspense
Author: Kelly J. Goshorn
Page Count: 256

#CoverLoverBookReview received a review copy of this book. Opinions are 100% my own.
❤❤❤❤❤

This story is set in 1905 in Brockton, Massachusetts; a time where women’s occupations were limited. That’s where down to earth Heiress Henrietta (Etta) Maxwell comes in as an undercover journalist dressed as a man under the pseudonym name of Henry Mason. Now how in the world does Etta pull it off for so long is a mystery in itself, but it’s an interesting tale because I knew it was only a matter of time when it would all unravel. Much of the story centres on an actual historic explosion that tragically claimed many lives. I kind of had an inkling of the steps that Etta would eventually make towards the end without giving anything away. The other main element in the story is the romance that comes about between Etta and Leo Eriksson, the firefighter. He agrees to keep her secret as well as work with her to share information in regards to possible arson. I enjoyed reading the ribbing between Leo and his siblings. This had a fairy-tale ending. It was an entertaining read and I’m sure you will enjoy it over a nice cup of coffee. I received this e-book for free from Celebrate Lit Tour and the opinions I express are honest and my own.

“God gave you a heart to fight injustice and an amazing ability to persuade others with your pen to stand up for what is right. Don’t hide your talent. Embrace who He has made you to be so your gifts can glorify the Giver.”

I just finished The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn. A historical romance, it is the second in the Barbour series, Enduring Hope. The series features brave, unconventional women who face a tragedy, whether natural or human- caused, and work to give hope to those affected by it. Along the way, they find hope for their own happily-ever-after romances, but with as many glitches in the romance department as in their fight for human or female equality.

I loved the conflicted (and very flawed!)characters of both Leo, a hunky firefighter and Etta, an heiress who poses as a man to keep her coveted job of top writer for one of Brockton’s newspapers!

Etta, handed anything she could desire on a silver platter, wants desperately to earn something in her own right, under her own name. While “Henry Mason” is the best-respected newspaper reporter in Brockton, Etta wants to his byline under her own name. (“It’s very hard to pretend to be someone else most of the time when all you want to be is yourself.” ) When arson and insurance company irregularities crop up in the city, she starts investigating. Then she is drawn into a shoe factory explosion that happens before her eyes. How far will Etta go, ethically and as one who professes to care for others in Christ’s name, to get her own byline?

Leo can’t help but be attracted to the independent, unconventional, intelligent Etta. But, as things progress in the romance department, he has a problem:
“the only thing stopping him from taking her in his arms and kissing her soundly was that bushy mustache.” So hilarious!! Leo has agreed to help Etta in her undercover investigation, but discovers Etta not only in disguise half the time, but how can he reconcile the two separate personalities that emerge, not always lining up with what he expects out of a faith perspective? “How could a woman as compassionate as Etta Maxwell write articles devoid of any feeling about a tragedy on the scale of the Grover Shoe Factory?”


I had never heard of the Brockton shoe factory fire. What an education I got! And to see the persistence of a woman who wants to break through what had been considered a man’s world, and the lengths one might go to, in order to obtain that! Wowzers!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also purchased my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Loving someone means embracing the person God has made them to be. If we hold on to them too tightly, we risk suffocating them and crushing their spirit. I think it best to love fully, with our entire being for a short time, rather than safely, and bear the pain of regret for our entire lives.”

“He’d promised himself not to pursue her, but somehow, spending time with her shattered that pledge into a hundred little pieces, each sharp enough to pierce his heart.”

“There was no creed, no color line, no hostility of capital and labor; the common strifes of men were forgotten, and all were brought closer together in the beautiful harmony of the universal brotherhood. Sorrow, the great leveler, the great arbiter, had done its work.”

“She needed to learn to quit striving, quit trying to make her life turn out just as she hoped, and put more trust in God’s plan for her life.”

This was an interesting historical taking place during the year 1905. It is a fictional story set around the real-life tragedy of the explosion of a shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts. The author takes us through romance and danger, especially when several fires look like they were deliberately set.

Henrietta Maxwell, Etta for short is an heiress who really wants to be a reporter. She is only allowed if she goes by a man's name and no one finds out. She was a unique character on a quest for a story, dressing up like a man the best she could to fulfill her lifelong dream. In one of her investigations, she literally falls onto firefighter Leo Erickson. Together they decide to work to find out the truth of the fires.

Firefighting is in Leo's blood, and he doesn't mind helping out Etta either. This was a unique setting with equally unique characters. This is the first time I have read about firefighters in the past, usually they have been contemporary reads. I always enjoy a historical that teaches about something in the past. This one did that while delivering just the right amount of romance to keep me hooked.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Etta Maxwell is an investigative reporter for the Brockton Enterprise, a local newspaper and will stop at nothing to get a story. This includes posing as Henry Maxwell and going into dangerous situations. The way she meets fireman, Leo Eriksson, is very funny and quite embarrassing for Etta. As Etta and Leo team up to check into arson cases throughout the city, it’s not without its dangers and risks. I admired Etta’s spunk and determination to write stories and get to the bottom of what was happening in Brockton. I also thought she had a big heart, wanting to help people when tragedy strikes.

If you enjoy historical romances that have a faith thread throughout the story, you’ll enjoy reading this story. It also has historical notes at the end of that the author describes an event that took place that was similar to that in the book. I found to be informative and interesting.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

This book is a fascinating historical read that had me engrossed from the very beginning. The characters are fun, especially Etta who has the ambition to do a job that women in the early 1900s weren't allowed to do. Then there's Leo who loves doing his job and helping his new friend "Henry" with a special mission. The Undercover Heiress of Brockton is a romantic and mysterious book that you need to pick up today to read for yourself how captivating it is!

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed here are only my honest opinion.

Riveting. Etta is a wealthy heiress and disguises herself as a man to be an outstanding newspaper reporter. Centered around a true explosion and disaster, it's a great story of how people come together to survive a tragedy in their town, an investigation to determine what happened, and two people coming together in a non-traditional society role. Wonderful characters.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and CelebrateLit book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheUndercoverHeiress #KellyJGoshorn #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #ChristianHistorcalRomance #BarbourFiction

realistic, informative, page-turner, easy-to-read, romantic

There is something that really intrigued me about this time period. It may be that the main character is from a wealthy family or perhaps she is trying to work in a field where women are not accepted. I love how Etta is compassionate about her dream of being a journalist. She doesn’t want to write stories about galas and such. No, she wants to be an investigative reporter. Her disguise proves to be a great deterrent and as she becomes Henry to the newspaper world.

Let’s bring in our other main character Leo. He loves being a firefighter and enjoys helping others. I like how he befriends Etta and teams up to uncover the suspicious fires being set. This gives the author an opportunity to give an historic account of the explosion that brought tragedy to many. I understand the details were important to include but it was unsettling for me to read.

I appreciate the strong faith element presented in the book and the nice romance between Etta and Leo. The book is very realistic and kept my attention easily. Overall good book that shares the importance of trust and bringing truth to the surface.

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

Welp... I wasn't expecting to cry during this one. But I did. More than I'm willing to admit...

Henrietta wants to use the blessings God has given her to bless those in her community. She uses her talents for writing to fight injustice and her wealth to see to the financial needs of those around her. She also blesses people with her sweet nature. I love how Etta uses her ingenuity to fight her battles. I also enjoy seeing how she allows her softer side to come out when needed. It was beautiful how she learns to refine her talents to use them to best serve those around her.

Leo is dedicated to doing what he must to serve others. He literally puts his life on the line for his community in his role as a fire fighter. I enjoy seeing his protective nature and how he and his brothers sustain each other. I also enjoyed seeing how he was willing to voice his opinions to Etta and still be considerate of her.

This story was a heartfelt reminder of how God's goodness can shine through even on the darkest of days.

And I know, I *know* it isn't part of the story itself, but that authors note was just INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!! I loved getting to read it!!!!!!!

Overall, I LOVED this book. I could definitely see myself reading it again! If you reading a sweet romance and learning about an interesting historical tragedy, you will LOVE this book.

I received an advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

What a fun novel that explores a time of rapid change in our history! The Undercover Heiress of Brockton deftly weaves the historical facts of the Grover Shoe Factory disaster with a delightful heroine and swoony hero, a little bit of mystery, and a whole lot of gumption. I really enjoyed the balance between the spunk of forward-thinking Henrietta Maxwell and the quiet service and humility of Leo Eriksson. The descriptions of early 1900s firefighting and the newspaper industry were especially intriguing to me as well. What a ways we've come in terms of technology, but oh the lessons we can learn from studying where we've been! This is the kind of historical fiction I really enjoy reading-- something so immersive that you blink and it takes a moment to come back to the present when you put the book down-- it flows so smoothly and the writing naturally draws the reader into the action and time period. I also really appreciated how Henrietta and Leo lived out their faith in their vocations- both the ones they wanted and the ones they tolerated. I loved the way the author brought everything together in the end-- such a sweet ending! Highly recommend!

“The Undercovr Heiress of Brockton” will have readers captivated by a storyline while they learn of a real tragedy in Brockton, MA long ago. This is a wonderful tale of an heiress, Etta, who wishes to be so much more than just a wealthy fashion plate. She has a quick and intelligent mind, and her one desire is to be a newspaper reporter. Of course, no woman can have a job like that, so she must go undercover. Etta also manages a charitable foundation funded by her family wealth, and in order to best utilize the funds, Etta sets out to live in humble quarters amongst the people who need help the most. Leo is a fireman who, along with his father and brothers, works out of the station house in Etta’s new neighborhood. The two of them become reacquainted and an unlikely alliance is formed. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes their small, factory-filled borough, and Etta must utilize all of her skills to help the community and to ensure the truth is revealed. Leo and his family are rescuing people and investigating the situation.
I enjoyed the rich characters and the smoothly flowing plot. The story has some light intrigue and a small bit of romance, of course. I appreciated the elements of faith included in both Etta and Leo’s lives, and how we got to see them both grow and learn and develop into better people. The author includes a nice historical note at the end of the book explaining the history and clarifying which characters or events differed from the real events. I highly recommend this book. I’ve not read anything by Kelly Goshorn before, and this book was a great one to start on.

This is a well written book that holds your attention from the first page until the last. If you enjoy historical fiction that is based on facts, you will love this book. It has a mystery to solve and a sweet clean romance that slowly evolves. This book was a joy to read.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Easily read as a standalone, I highly recommend The Undercover Heiress of Brockton if you enjoy historical fiction based on real events.

Etta is a strong heroine who refuses to be looked down on just because she’s a woman. She has dreams and skills that she wants to use. Leo is wonderful with his passion for helping others.

This story is a heartfelt journey that explores faith, the bonds of family, the healing nature of forgiveness, and the bravery it takes to live as the person God created you to be.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts are my own.

Please note: Thank you to Barbour Fiction for providing this complimentary copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I picked this one up after reading Lindsey from Books for Christian Girls talk about it, and I was so delighted to be able to try out a new Christian fiction author. Honestly, the time period was so unique, and though it was a very interesting story, with a lot of potential for researching (especially about firemen at the turn of the century).
Truth be told, I knew practically nothing about a lot of the topics that we touched on during this story, but it was the newspaper elements that intrigued me the most. I’m not used to seeing such detail in historical books, so I really appreciated that element, and the research that was obviously behind it.
Our characters were not particular favorites of mine, but I did love seeing a tall, glasses-wearing heroine in a historical novel. It was very refreshing, and definitely made me smile. To be honest, I think her double identity was a fair bit unbelievable, especially because she kept having long conversations with the same characters under her two identities, and no one ever caught on.
The historical elements involving the fire were– quite frankly– too difficult and sad for my taste. I appreciated the historical accuracy, but it was just upsetting to read about, and definitely brought down my rating a fair bit. Less sensitive readers would probably find it a lot more enjoyable on that note.
I really did just want to make these characters sit down and talk it out. So little communication… they just needed to be honest and try believing it each other for once– especially since neither of them deceived the other throughout the course of the story. There weren’t really grounds for assuming they were betraying their love interest now.
The romance was very clean, which I appreciated. The descriptions of the fire victims and survivors were hard to read about, so I would definitely recommend caution if you’re sensitive to that in stories. Otherwise, I felt it was very clean, and I was pleased with the overall cleanliness of this book.
In summary, I enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t a new favorite. I would be interested in reading future books by this author, but I don’t think I’ll be picking this one up again. However, there were definitely parts that made me smile, and I learned a lot about this time period and the journalism side of things, which was very enjoyable.

EMOJI REVIEW!
🕰 historical time period
📰 journalism and newspapers
🎭 disguises and multiple identities
🚒 firefighters
📖 lots of historical research!!!

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton is the first book I have read by Kelly Goshorn but it won't be my last. This book is the second in Barbour's well done Enduring Hope series. I really enjoyed the multifaceted heroine. Etta is strong and independent, spunky and very likeable. The hero Leo and his entire firefighter family were also a joy to get to know, the brother's interactions filled with faith and fun. The book is based on the tragic fire at the Grover Shoe Factory in Brockton, Mass in 1905. Journalist Henry Mason (undercover Etta) finds herself investigating the fire, along with trying to find ways to use her wealth and influence to help the large numbers of people so deeply affected. All this while she and Leo are being drawn together. The elements of mystery kept me turning pages and the engaging characters kept what could have been a sad and heavy story, interesting and enjoyable. The story has great historical detail, beautiful elements of hope and faith, and just the right amount of romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

1905 Brockton, Massachusetts; Henrietta "Etta" Maxwell is a wealthy and busy young woman. She has chosen a career as a journalist but is stuck writing society columns as befitting her gender and status in the city.
Leo Ericksson is a third-generation firefighter along with his brothers. His family, including his father are stationed at Engine Company #1. He is a dedicated man who serves his community. A regular everyday guy. Even though he was chosen to represent local firefighters and share a dance with beautiful heiress, Miss Henrietta Maxwell, at a social event the previous year, he knows his place in society.
Henry Mason is an honest and intense investigative journalist for the Brockton Enterprise. He bravely researches and looks into questionable activities to expose the truth. The somewhat mysterious man has freedom to let his inquisitive mind and boots carry him toward the stories that are getting rising attention from the paper's readership. He just needs to keep his mustache in place.
I want to thank Barbour books for my copy of this the second offering of the Enduring Hope Series. I received the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my own unsolicited opinion of Kelly Goshern's new book. I love it.
The characters and plot are so well planned out. The Ericksson men are devoted to their protect and serve mission in life as firefighters. (Father and brothers are observing that one of the boys has other talents though.)
Brockton, MA. has been a familiar name to me for most of my life as I had relatives there that will always be grandparents in my heart. I also did not know about this horrendous explosion and fire in 1905. I thoroughly enjoy the inclusion of a real historic event in a fictional setting. I generally stop up and search out a bit of the history. In this case I viewed a photo of the mill and a few snippets about the devastating fire. I feel that the author brings it all tastefully to this book. What a story!
For any reader who enjoys learning about the time period, community and the way of life impacted by such a disaster this is a book and series I highly recommend. Combine this with a set of strong characters who find love despite their "stations" in life, a shared faith in God and a bit of a mystery, I found a great story here. It's a 5 star read for sure

This is book#2 in the Enduring Hope series but can be read as a standalone book.

The main character goes undercover as a man to be an investigative reporter as the book takes place in 1905.

She works with Leo who is a fireman to figure out if the explosion at the Grover show factory and other fires are connected.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and NetGalley. The review expressed here is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Barbour Fiction, NetGalley and Kelly J. Goshorn for giving an eARC of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Henrietta Maxwell (Etta) Aka Henry Mason is an heiress pretending to be a man so she can be a news reporter in a time where this is frowned upon. She stumbles upon a major news story in the making, and in the process falls out of a tree on top of the hunky firefighter she has a crush on. Soon there after there is a huge fire at a major shoe factory in the city. They must work together to solve the why of the situation.

This is a sweet story. Truly it is more like 3.5 stars than 4 stars. The romance was cute and the faith was great, but I could have done without some of the unfounded angst in the relationship. Also, I would have liked a tad more intrigue in the story. It’s hinted at but then kind of glossed over. That being said, over all it was an enjoyable read about the history of a city I have actually spent a couple of weeks in.

If you want a book that hints at mystery without going too deep this is your book. Also, if you like faith elements without them being too preachy this book fits that bill! If you are looking for hard core suspense, you might be disappointed in this book.

#TheUndercoverHeiressofBrockton #NetGalley