Did you know it was hard to find time to read when you’re finishing a manuscript? I’m a little past 80,000 words and about to type The End… well, not really. I’ve finished the first draft and it’s mostly good words, but now I have 19 days to polish and add another 10,000 words. 🙂
Today I want to tell you about a book I read last month. I don’t usually read historicals but this one had a mystery and was about the Natchez Trace. That combination. along with the author being Pam Hillman, will tempt me anytime. And isn’t that a beautiful cover!
Here’s the back cover copy:
The Promise of Breeze Hill
Natchez, MS; 1791
Anxious for his brothers to join him on the rugged frontier along the Mississippi River, Connor O’Shea has no choice but to indenture himself as a carpenter in exchange for their passage from Ireland. But when he’s sold to Isabella Bartholomew of Breeze Hill Plantation, Connor fears he’ll repeat past mistakes and vows not to be tempted by the lovely lady.
The responsibilities of running Breeze Hill have fallen on Isabella’s shoulders after her brother was found dead in the swamps along the Natchez Trace and a suspicious fire devastated their crops, almost destroyed their home, and left her father seriously injured. Even with Connor’s help, Isabella fears she’ll lose her family’s plantation. Despite her growing feelings for the handsome Irish carpenter, she seriously considers accepting her wealthy and influential neighbor’s proposal of marriage.
Soon, though, Connor realizes someone is out to eliminate the Bartholomew family. Can he set aside his own feelings to keep Isabella safe?
My take on the story:
Conner’s Irish brogue drew me in with the first sentence! He is a swoon-worthy hero–strong, honorable and his own man. Something he needed when he indentured himself to Miss Isabella Bartholomew of Breeze Hill Plantation so that he could bring his brothers over from Ireland. She is headstrong and he is stubborn, but when the outside forces from a den of thieves on the Natchez Trace threatened Breeze Hill, their differences were put aside and they worked together against the evil forces.
The Promise of Breeze Hill offers a nice mystery, a family you will care about, plenty of villains–and you’re not certain just who’s who, and a look at Mississippi history in the late 1700s.
Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a drawing for one of the books in my library (including this one). How do you feel about historicals?
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]Robbers, thieves, the Natchez Trace in the late 1700s–it’s all in The Promise of Breeze Hill by Pam Hillman.[/tweet_box]
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Comments 50
I love…no make that devour….historical fiction! I don’t know what it is about them that draws me really? Maybe it’s the history lesson wrapped up in the ficitonal telling of a time period long gone. Maybe it’s the characters themselves, or perhaps the setting? Whatever it is, I find myself choosing to read more historicals than anything 🙂
This one by Pam blew me away too! It was the first I had read of hers and it certainly won’t be the last. I’m looking forward to the rest of the O’ Shea’s brothers stories. I also reviewed this on Goodreads and my first line is vastly similar to yours…I’ll share it here with you Patricia!
“I have to say the first meet with Connor O’ Shea up on the auction block; I knew my heart was in trouble! As soon as I heard his Irish lilt, I was in deep waters and didn’t care if I drowned.” Now what do you think of that? 😉
Author
Trixi, you have to read Stealing Jake by Pam. It’s the first one of hers that I read and I loved it. Love your line from your review!
Trixi, your opening review of TPoBH mades me smile! Love it! 🙂
I love historical and this book is on my list to read .Would love to win a copy.Thank you for the giveaway
Author
Hi Elma! I don’t usually read historicals, but I found this one fascinating. Pam really knows how to draw you in. Thanks for stopping by!
Elma, I’m so happy to be on your LIST. Whoot!
You had me drawn in with Natchez Trace and 1700’s!!! Since part of the Natchez Trace runs through our county, this is definitely a must-read!!
Author
Jan, so good to see you here! Yes, and I’ve traveled that stretch of the Natchez Trace quite often!
That’s so cool, Jan! What part of the country do you live in? I love the Natchez Trace and all the history that comes with it.
I love historical fiction. I have read this book as well and can’t wait for the next one.
Author
I’m looking forward to Pam’s next book as well! She is such a sweetheart in addition to being a great writer.
Dana, thank you for stopping by. The O’Shea brothers have been a joy to get to know… well, it took some doing as they are the strong, silent types, but I knocked some sense into them. I had a little help from Isabella, Kiera, and Alanah! 😉
I love and write historicals. They teach us so much, and I can’t wait for them to return to public interest and favor.
Author
I agree, Delores! It’s funny how genres ebb and flow in the marketplace. Right now suspense and romantic suspense as well as cozies are popular–which is good for me. 🙂
Delores, I hear you. I remember 10-15 years ago when publishers weren’t looking for historicals. But it’s a genre that’s withstood the test of time, and even if demand is down at different times, it’ll rise again. Keep writing!
My favorite genre is historical fiction but a close second is mystery/suspense. All the better if they are in the same book! I won and read this book last summer and was just captivated by the whole thing! Thanks for a lovely post!
Author
Thanks for stopping in, Paula. I turning more to historicals than in the past. It’s just that I have so little time to read and I usually read in the genre I’m writing in. When I wrote for Heartwarming, I read more romance. 🙂
Yeah, Paula, I like a good historical with a healthy dose of suspense. 🙂 I mean, what western worth it’s sand isn’t suspenseful to the hilt? 🙂
Historicals is one of my favorite genres. Absolutely love it. I recently finished A Refuge Assured, which was incredible. Thanks for the giveaway! This book has been on my TBR list for some time now.
Author
Thanks for stopping by Mindy. I’ll have to check out A Refuge Assured.
Oh, MH, hope you get a chance to read TPoBH soon. 🙂 Tyndale has an amazing deal going on right now. $5.00 for the print version. I’ll add the link below in a separate comment.
I enjoy historical novels, particularly those set in the Old West. This one sounds like an interesting one.
Author
Every once in a while I think about writing a western mystery. Maybe one day, Edward! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks Edward. I have several male readers who are faithful to read all my books. There’s this one guy and his wife who have a booth at my little hometown festival and every year, he comes over to my booth to see what’s new. They’ve become great friends, and the first year, I laughed and told him that every time somebody came by my booth, but didn’t seem sure… I’d point to him sitting under his tent and tell them that he’d bought one of my books and had read half of it already. I tell him to just sit and read. lol Blessings, friend!
Oh dear, I think I’m an outsider. I usually DON’T love historical fiction. My favorite books are mystery cozies, science fiction in the vein of John Scalzi, classics (Wharton, Potok, Melville, books that wrench one’s heart), Zane Grey and Erle Stanley Gardner pulp fiction, good ol’ horror that makes me cling to my faith, and Star Trek fan fiction because who didn’t have a crush on Captain Kirk back in the day?!
Good luck with polishing up your MS and getting in your final 10k words!
Author
Thanks, Priscilla and welcome to my blog! My favorites are any type of mystery. I haven’t read John Scalzi, so I’ll have to check him out. Thanks for dropping in and commenting!
Oh, Priscilla, it’s all good. 🙂 (I think I’ve got some Erle Stanley Gardner pulp fiction on my shelves from years ago. If he wrote the one about the hitchhiker, the big ol’ Cadillac, the older man and the woman, then… yep, that was scary!) But I have to say that the Natchez Trace novel series is pretty scary. The highwaymen that preyed on the Natchez Trace during that time period were some of the roughest, meanest creatures alive. Just google “Big Harpe” and “Little Harpe”. Some Scary dudes and my series is set smack dab in the middle of that madness.
Oh my goodness, the Harpe brothers ARE scary! Madness indeed. Thanks for telling me more about your series!
Patricia, thank you so much for the great review! And, wow, I can’t believe you took the time out to read while on such a tight deadline. Book #3 in the Natchez Trace Novel series is due at the same time your novel is, and sounds like we’re both at about the same place in writing. Praying HARD for your deadline!
Author
Thanks, Pam! And I’ll be praying for your deadline, too. I’m almost finished with the first draft. 🙂 And I really enjoyed The Promise of Breeze Hill and can’t wait for the rest of the series.
I love historical! I have Pam’s book on my Kindle and need to get into it very soon! Have heard so many good comments about the book!
Author
Yes, Jackie, you really do need to read it! And then you’ll be like me, hardly able to wait for the next one. 🙂
Whoot, Jackie’s gonna read TPoBH. Another sleepless night for a reader. Bwahahaha! lol And… the good news is you only have to wait until June 5th for The Road to Magnolia Glen. Nice, huh?
Author
June 5??? that’s when Justice Betrayed releases! We should do a road tour. 🙂
I mentioned Tyndale’s special in a comment above,… Tyndale has SIXTEEN softcover PRINT novels, including The Promised of Breeze Hill for $5.00 each. And… if you purchase 7 books, shipping is free. Yes, I checked. 🙂
This is a Sweetheart of a Deal! But hurry! This offer ends February 12th!
Here’s the link. I’m not sure if I can use html here to create a clickable link, so I’ll just post it. Just copy/paste it in the search bar:
https://www.tyndale.com/l/romance-fiction-sale
I love history and fiction so I love historicals. Since you said you were reading this one it’s on my list
Author
It is a good one, Phyllis! I love history, too. Thanks for stopping by,
I also read and love the Promise of Breeze Hill. I have read all of Pam’s books and loved them all. I have pre-ordered The Road to Magnolia Glen. I have always been impatient to read the next one in a series. Some might say that I am OCD about books. They would be right! I like historical fiction and romantic/suspense .
Author
Hi Suzy! Sure miss seeing you and congrats on your book! Can’t wait to read it…and I will review it here! Wish you could come to the MidSouth Christian Writers Conference March 16-17. Brandylynn Collins is our keynote. 🙂
I am not sure who you think I am, but I am not an author. Sorry for the confusion.
Author
Oh, Sue, I am so sorry! I have a friend, Suzy Parrish, who writes mysteries! We went on a writing retreat a few years ago and I thought she may have decided to change from Suzy to Sue. Thanks for letting me know!
I used to read mostly historicals but these days I really enjoy contemporary suspense, mysteries and cozy mysteries. I do still enjoy a good historical.
Author
I’m getting there, Gloria since so many of my friends write historicals! Thanks for stopping by.
This book sounds amazing! I have added it to my list and look forward to reading it!
Author
You won’t regret it, Diane! Thanks for stopping by!
I love historical romance since it makes the past come alive! I really enjoyed The Promise of Breeze Hill and learned some new fascinating history!
Author
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and stopped by to let everyone know, Heidi!
I love historical romance! Being swept away to another time is bliss!
Hope you enjoy seeing all the places you read about ! I LOVE historical fiction and this one sounds really great.
Author
It is, Deb! And you’re entered in the drawing! Thanks for stopping by!