"A Refuge at Highland Hall" by Carrie Turansky

About this book:

  “The Great War shakes the world of a spirited young woman and the brave British pilot she loves, taking her from London to her family’s magnificent country estate, and sending him into the war-torn skies over France.
  Penny Ramsey has always considered Highland Hall her home, but when Britain becomes involved in World War One she travels to London to assist her sister Kate with the eight orphan children she and her husband Jon have taken into their home. Doing her part for the war effort takes priority over Penny’s dreams of romance until she meets Alex Goodwin, a Royal Naval Air Service pilot in training.
  Alex is determined to prove his worth and do his part to defend his country. Knowing he is heading off for the dangerous assignment of chasing Zeppelins across the front line in France, he feels it’s unwise to form any romantic attachments. But he can’t help admiring the pretty, warmhearted Penny and wondering what it would be like to find her waiting when he returns home from the war.
  As Penny writes to Alex, their friendship blossoms, and she becomes his tie to home and normalcy as he faces the hardships war. But being an RNAS pilot means confronting the enemy, and the fallout from those experiences push Alex beyond Penny’s reach. Can God mend the brokenness left by the losses of war? Will faith and forgiveness bring them together again?”


Series: Book #3 in the “Edwardian Brides” series. Review of book #1 Here!(Old Review), Review of book #2 Here! {Recommend to read in order.}

Spiritual Content- Isaiah 40:30-31 at the beginning (and later mentioned, written, discussed & memorized in the story); Many, many, many Prayers & blessings over food; Lots & lots of strong faiths; Scriptures are read; Many, many, many Talks about God, praying, & trusting; ‘H’s are capital; A couple mentions of Jesus’ seat at the table; Mentions of Bible reading; Mentions of those in the Bible & Saints; Many mentions of missionaries; Siegfried is mad at God & Alex gets a bit mad as well.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast it all’, a ‘blimey’, a ‘drat’; Mentions of cures said not written; All about the war, bombing, soldiers, injuries, flying & crashing (up to semi-detailed); Pain, blood & a knife (up to semi-detailed); Many Mentions of bombs, killing & injuries (semi-detailed); Many mentions of Germans, unfairness & prisoners; Alex’s parents didn’t have a happy marriage; Mentions of cheating; Mentions of blood, fist fighting & teen boys (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a horse accident where a lady died; A mention of #2’s murder; A couple mentions of drunks.

Sexual Content- four cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss; Remembering a kiss (semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; A few mention of #2’s affair (no details); A couple mentions of Helen’s situation (has a daughter, but no husband; Book #2); Mentions of flirting & suggestive smiles; Mentions of reputations; Mentions of miscarriages, trying again & love (no-details); Marius says he’d never take advantage of a woman; A man wants a kiss from Lydia & tightens his grip on her arm (nothing happens); Love, falling in love & the emotions (x2);

         *Note: A mention of being the butt of a joke; A mention of a kick in the pants.

-Penny Ramsey, age 19

-Alex Goodwin, age 23 (?)
               P.O.V. switches between them, Lydia, Julia (4x), Marius (3x), William (2x) & Jon (2x)

                                              Set in 1915 (Epilogue in 1919)
                                                        334 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

{Add ½ a star for girls who enjoyed the previous books in the series.}

I didn’t think it was possible, but author Carrie Turansky topped the previous books in this series. “A Refuge at Highland Hall” was fantastic. I adored the other books in the series due to the caring for orphans plot & all the Spiritual Content, but this third and final book did so much of those it was incredible. I completely fell in love with the main characters in “The Governess of Highland Hall” and “The Daughter of Highland Hall”, so I was fangirling seeing everyone again! And they’re major characters in this book as well, so I definitely recommend reading this series in order. The epilogue was just perfect. ;)

There was so much wonderful Spiritual Content, I can’t even began to say how many prayers & talks about God there were. Excellent, just excellent! Also, Penny & Alex were so sweet (--I can’t even--) praying over each other and writing to each other, swoon! Their relationship is cuter than this puppy. Not. Even. Kidding.

I’m still so blown away by how clean this novel was. I love how the author keeps teen girls in mind when writing her “adult” books.

Carrie Turansky just moved up in my favorite authors group. :)

 

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Multnomah Books) for this honest review.