My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley

I’ve really been enjoying all the books in the My Heart Belongs series. The stories are written by various authors, evoke many emotions, are easy to sink into, and are fast reads.

My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley: Lily’s Dilemma takes place during the 1800s (as do the others in the series.) It is a neatly crafted story, dealing with life’s challenges, unexpected romance, and making consequential choices.

Lily Laughlin’s world is turned upside down when she discovers what her father’s wagering ends up costing her. She finds herself in quite a dilemma (as the title suggests) shortly after Captain Mac spies her bathing in a creek. Her entire life begins washing away before her eyes. Her future is at stake and she ultimately has to choose between financial security and the refuge of love.

The author’s writing style is smooth and the imagery she creates is vivid. The historical ‘feel’ is palpable, and there isn’t a single element of the story that drags. I love an inspiring, easy read that makes me wish the story could continue.

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

My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley by Andrea Boeshaar is a Christian novel that integrates historical events as well as romance. It is set in the year 1816.
Captain Mac Albright has returned after the war and branded a traitor even though his ship was overtaken and he was forced to work for the British. He and his friend Blake were the only survivors from their ship. Like the prodigal son he asks his father for his inheritance and relocates to the Shenandoah Valley where he purchases an orchard and grain fields. He plans to ship the harvest by working with his father’s shipping company. His new neighbor, Lily, is shocked to find that her family’s land has been sold without her knowledge. Her father has recently passed away and everything is being handled by the court appointed executor, Mr. Everett, since there seemed to be no will. Lilly is sure there is a will and has been searching for it diligently while caring for her two teenage brothers- Jed and Jonah. Her aunt, Hilda also lives with them. Mr. Everett, a friend of Lily’s late father, wants to control her and eventually make her so dependent on him that she will marry him and then he will own the house and remaining land. Will he get his wish or will romance develop between the Mac and Lily? Is there a missing will and can it be found?
I found this story to be very engaging. There are lots of twists and turns throughout the story line. I did not understand why the older aunt wouldn’t have been the logical one to be the guardian for Lily and her siblings. Perhaps women weren’t allowed that role in those days; it wasn’t explained. Of course, Mr. Everett made it a much more interesting story; he was an unlikeable villain, in my opinion. The other characters were all very likeable and seemed to act in ways that would be expected. The author’s style of writing keeps the story line moving along at a good pace; nothing boring in this book. I give it a solid 5 of 5 stars and recommend it to everyone who likes to read Christian romance novels.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another enjoyable story in this fun historical romance series!
A young woman finds herself in a difficult posiotion of dependency after her father dies, leaving her to care for her younger brothers and farm. Things get worse when her land is sold without her knowledge by her father's friend. The new owner may be friend or foe, a former sea captain returned home from the war.

Set in the lovely Shenandoah Valley on a large plantation just after the War of 1812, a perfect setting for a romance. I enjoyed the banter and romantic tension between Captain Mac and sweet Lily, starting out from their awkward meeting up to the exciting ending. He was a study in conflict, warring with himself over redeeming his name, and not giving in to his affections. Poor confused Lily had to be brave and patient, holding her own against the dastardly Mr. Everett. There are two romances in this one, developing slowly, but sizzling in the end. A few discussions of faith added some depth and inspiration to the characters' struggles.

Recommend for readers who enjoy historical romances with some faith elements.

I enjoyed reading Lily’s story, it is the perfect mix of tart and sweet, it kept me engaged and turning pages to find out what would happen next. Andrea Boeshaar has penned a story abundant with historical detail, and characters so rich with emotion and descriptive detail you feel as if you were right there living the story along with Lily and Mac.

This sweeping story takes place in 1816, Virginia. The Virginia colony was dominated primarily by rich planters. But what do you do when your father dies and your younger brothers are too young to shoulder the heavy lifting?

Lillyanna Laughlin had good reason to feel discouraged and angry, but she didn’t. She was kindness and graciousness all wrapped in one. Her father died, leaving her responsible for her two younger brothers. She struggles to do her best to bring in the harvest and keep food on their table. Then a court appointed guardian, one who is supposed to be her father’s closest friend, sells a majority of the property claiming that her father left them “penniless”. I appreciated the strong faith in God that is evident in Lily. Even when things look bleak, she continues to have faith.

Captain McAlister “Mac” arrives in the Shenandoah valley looking for a quiet life on the farm, with hard work and the solid earth beneath his boots instead of the rolling sea. He is determined to start fresh in this new town and leave behind the baggage of old. However, baggage seems to have a habit of not getting lost when we want it, and old issues left un-resolved creep back demanding attention. Can Mac let go of his need for control and give it all to God?

If you enjoy reading historical stories with richly developed characters and a story full of emotion, you won’t want to miss out on this book.

(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

I've found another place that I want to go visit. Anybody up for a road trip? I've been to Virginia before but once was when I was little driving through on my way elsewhere and not really seeing any sights and the other was when I went to visit my sister who just had a baby. She lived in D.C. so I did a little exploring but mostly just explored within the walls of her home with little kiddos and a baby. So I'm ready to go back and visit some plantations, tour the beautiful homes, let's go.

McAlister or "Mac" has just purchased himself a beautiful piece of land with an orchard and gardens. He can't wait to build his sprawling home and make a living and love having the freedom of being his own master. All his dreams are ready to set sail, especially since he doesn't have to set sail again as a seaman, he can be a landlubber now.

Lily is still struggling from her father's death and trying to balance life with a large orchard and two younger brothers who are constantly finding trouble, and Mr. Everett's belittling and demanding views as their guardian. If only she could find the Will her father left naming her as their heir then she could breath easier and feel safe and secure.

This story was a fun historical fiction. I enjoyed the characters a lot. There was some back and forth on their feelings. Not necessarily just for each other, but for their circumstances and the changes and struggles those circumstances brought with them. I thought the author did a good job at keeping the story flowing and building up to the climax of the angst of the story.

Anybody want a snake bite? I honestly wouldn't. Yuck, yuck, yucky yuck!!!!! I HATE snakes! Sorry to you snake lovers but after years and years of nightmares of snakes it just is one of those things that I can't think about kindly. Too many bad memories. Yuck! As much as I hate snakes, I did like the scene, or I should say scenes leading up to and after the snake bite in this story. Now I don't wish a snake bite on anybody but yeah I'm glad the bite happened. You'll have to read it to understand why I am saying that.

I loved Mac's quick mind. His ingenious thinking saved many a bad situation. Lily and her aunt are pretty spunky and quick on their feet too and had me cheering them on in their moments of spunk and quick thinking. Everett had me cringing every time he came on the scene. I wanted to slap him or punch him or something. Grrrrr!!! I think you'll feel the same way as you read this one. He did make a good bad guy though.

I loved the descriptions of the area, the culture, the formalities, the homes, the clothing, the orchard, the swimming hole. This is definitely a book I would recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, christian fiction or just a good ol' love story full of peril, humor, and lots of angst.

The Christian aspect wasn't overly preachy. There were a few spots that the author spoke more than others about redemption and Christ but I felt that amount was just right and fit in with these characters and their lives and most especially with what it would have been in that time period.

Content: Clean. Some mild innuendos, a character is caught bathing in the pond, some kisses. Remembrances of a few war time moments of peril.

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

Happy Reading!!!

This was an enjoyable historical romance. I went through so many different emotions over the course of the story. I loved most of the characters, but couldn’t stand Mr. Everett (but he was meant to be disliked). I loved how Lily was strong and able to hold her own against Mr. Everett, he deserved to have to face the consequences for the things he did to her and her family. The Aunt and Blake were such a sweet couple it was fun to watch this relationship bloom. But the relationship between Mac and Lily was the reason I was unable to put the book down. I loved their banter and sweet moments, I really liked both these characters and so badly wanted them together, I had to know what was going to happen and if my wishes were going to come true. The addition of other elements throughout kept the story compelling and engaging. Topics such as dealing with deception, overcoming fear and building trust were integrated into the story. The descriptions of the setting were wonderfully done and I could very easily picture the orchids and swimming hole. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to those who enjoy stepping back in.

Middletown, Virginia - 1816

Captain McAlister Albright (Mac) had left his life on the waters some years ago and now is looking forward to growing fruit trees and other crops in the Shenandoah Valley. Along with him, he has brought his good friend, John Blake.

As Mac is walking around the land he has just purchased, he happens upon Miss Lillyanna Laughlin. She disputes that he owns the land claiming that it is hers. But when she examines the deed that Mac has, she sees that the seller is Silas Everett, a friend of her father’s who had promised to care for her and her family after he father died. Her family members are her aunt, Hilda, and her two younger brothers. How could this man sell property that he doesn't own? As her father died without a will, the magistrate appointed Everett as executor and he sold their land. But as their manor home was not included in the sale, they can remain in their home.

Everett has become very bossy and is trying to squeeze Lilly and her family so that she will agree to marry him. He tells them that their father left no money and that they are at his mercy. The man shows up for dinner every night acting like he is the head of their family. When Lilly invites Mac and John to have dinner with them, Everett is furious. But Mac is kind to the family and willing for them to stay where they are.

Lilly and Mac soon become friends. Mac is smitten by her and soon Blake and Hilda find an attraction as well.

Mac is trying to prove to his family back in Alexandria that he is a strong man and can make his own way in life and do well.

Will Mac be able to do what he wants? Will Lilly be able to get away from Everett?

There are a lot of events in this book that will surely be of interest to readers. I think the author did a good job with keeping the food, clothes, crops, etc. to the time period. I’m sure readers will enjoy this clean, Christian novel.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was really drawn into this story from the beginning and enjoyed each twist and turn as they played out. It had both my emotions and imagination held captive and the characters were ones I could see my self meeting. I connected with each one differently and there was one I loved to despise. But even he added his own layer to the story! Rich, lush scenery made me want to visit the Shenadoah Valley and especially Haus am Bach (house by the creek), walking it's grounds, smelling the sweet fruit trees in summer and enjoying dangling my feet in the water on a hot day. This was the first book I've read by Andrea Boeshaar and I'll definitely be looking for more by her. I loved the historical details, vivid scenery, emotion and depth of character she evokes in this novel. Let's not forget the sweet romance between Lily and Captain Mac and the journey it took to get them to their happily-ever-after! Sweet inspirational historical I highly recommend along with all the other My Heart Belongs books.

The best part of this book for me was that it didn’t follow the usual “guy meets girl, they don’t like each other, then they fall in love” formula. Lily and Mac were hesitant of each other but there is definitely an attraction there that made the characters come to life and the story fun to read.

I liked Lily right off the bat and I liked Mac just as much. Mac’s friend Blake was a nice addition to the story with his friendship and humor. I really liked that Lily was bold and wasn’t afraid to tell Mac what she thought and how she felt. I’m sure this was unusual for the time but she did it in a way that was tactful so it didn’t seem unrealistic. I also liked Lily’s intelligence and spirit. She was young but mature enough to care for her two younger brothers who were a bit of a handful. Aunt Hilda lent a feeling of home to the story. Mr. Everett seemed sneaky and slimy from the beginning and I was glad to see that Mac was on to him and also Lily wasn’t easy to pull one over on.

Mac and Lily had personalities that both matched and balanced each other. I liked their (not quite a) friendship from the beginning. I enjoyed reading about their friendship and perhaps budding love for each other. The author did a great job in creating characters that were dimensional and easy to like. I enjoyed getting to know them and spending time with them in the pages of the book.

I also liked the author’s writing style and her use of words to paint descriptions of the setting of the book. Whether in the Shenandoah Valley or Alexandria I felt like I was there right along with the characters. The pace of the book is good as well as the story is constantly progressing and never stalls or becomes boring.

This story is a great addition to the My Heart Belongs series. It fits the series well with a strong female lead character and a man who is the perfect match for her. I think this will be an enjoyable read for fans of historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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