Anna Jacobs

Bright Day Dawning by Anna Jacobs is the third book in her Preston Family series. This book picks up immediately after the last book, and with only one more book in the series, a number of story lines were finished with this volume.

Carrie and Eli are rebuilding their music hall which was burnt down at the end of the last book but their inexperience in business finds them hiring a con-man instead of a respectable architect. We also follow the misadventures of another young couple as Gwynna & Lucas must fight to escape the clutches of an evil land-owner who is trying to control Lucas and punish Gwynna for her past. We also follow the story of Maria, the widow of Athol Stott and see her beginning to reclaim her life.

While the plot-lines follow a familiar path of evil men doing nasty things to good people, I still enjoyed the read. There is a comfort in these books, knowing that although bad things are going to happen, you can rely on good triumphing in the end. Although offering nothing particularly new or different, Bright Day Dawning was a comfortable escape read.… (mere)

Star of the North is the second book in author Anna Jacobs series about the Preston Family. While the first book mostly featured the eldest sister, Carrie, this 2nd book features the second sister, Marjorie. Marjorie is the pretty one of the Preston sisters, but she is a dreamer and dreams of going on the stage and performing. She has no desire to have children or do menial work so she is thrilled when she is asked to assist singer, Denby Sinclair with his act.

When Denby Sinclair moves on, he offers to take Marjorie and, even marries her to reassure her family but unfortunately Denby has a huge secret that will eventually come to light and ruin Marjories’ life. While Marjorie is the main character in the story, we also get caught up with the rest of the family that we got to know in the first book. Unfortunately the cruel mill owner, Athol Stott, is slowly recovering from his many injuries that occurred at the end of the last book, and he has vowed revenge upon the Preston family.

Although the characters are fairly one-dimensional and the plot predictable, I enjoyed escaping into this book. Light, undemanding yet dramatic, I particular enjoyed the setting of the various music halls that Marjorie travelled to. There are two more books in this series and I will be continuing on and reading more about this family.… (mere)

An engrossing tale of new beginnings and second chances from an ever-popular author. Miranda Fox has devoted much of her life to caring for her elderly father. After his tragic death, she starts to make plans for her future, funded by the inheritance she is sure will be coming her way, but it seems her arrogant and domineering half-brother has very different ideas . . . Then a chance encounter with a man who has been given months to live boosts Miranda’s confidence, and as their friendship grows she finally learns to stand up for herself and her dreams. Can Miranda find the happiness that she deserves?… (mere)