A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell*A Review*

ABOUT A HEART MOST WORTHY

Each day Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana enter the world of the upper class, working on society's finest clothing at Madame Fortier's elite gown shop. Yet the three beauties long to break free of their obligations and embrace the American dream--and their chance for love. But the ways of the heart are difficult to discern at times, and as their destinies intertwine, each girl harbors a secret, wondering if she will be found worthy of the love she seeks.

Paperback: 379 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780764207952
ISBN-13: 978-0764207952
ASIN: 0764207954
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When I'm listening to a speaker and I'm taking notes, chances are, I've just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If I'm nodding my head in response to a really profound statement, I'm probably thinking, 'Yes. Right. That's exactly what my character needs to hear.'
When I'm editing my manuscripts, I laugh at the funny parts. And I cry at the sad parts.
Sometimes I even talk to my characters. 'Okay, Joe. Talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking here.' And yes, the characters answer me. I actually hear them talking in my head.
Half the time, I think I'm an okay writer. The other half, I'm tempted to take a magnet to the hard drive.
The easy part is writing. The hardest part is editing. The worst part is wondering if the books are going to sell.
I have plenty of ideas for books; the thing I lack is the time to write them. I write by the word. Other writers write by the page. However you want to tally it, 85,000 words is a lot of pages.
In the world of writing I have done nothing right. I wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before I signed with a publisher. And then I had to write a fifth book so that they could publish it. In the process, I saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry's than I care to admit. I vowed never to write another word again. Ever. I went on writing strikes and I even stooped to threatening my manuscripts with the shredder.
However. Here I am, nine books into the process, writing my tenth!
Learn more about me on the web at http://sirimitchell.com

MY REVIEW
This is the second book I’ve read of Siri Mitchell's. I love the way it ended. A Heart Most Worthy had a number of different storylines and it was really easy for me to follow along. . It was set in Madame Fortier's dress shop in 1918 Boston, with her three assistants - Italian immigrants. All four of these ladies with men in each of their lives made it lots to keep up with, but really moved the story along. You will find many different things in this book. Sadness, death, poverty, friends, joy, happiness and always family. I love how close the families are.
  In A Heart Most Worthy the narrator sometimes speaks directly to the reader, the omniscient POV. I really don’t like this POV. A lot of people through find this quite interesting.
The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful, the front and back both. So many interesting things happen in this dress shop and out in the world for these special ladies. I would recommend this book if you don’t mind the omniscient POV. It is a quick, interesting read.

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Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell~a review~

ABOUT THE BOOK:
During New York City's Gilded Age...
The game is played amid banquets and balls.
The prize is a lifetime of wealth and privilege.
The rules will test friendships and
the desires of a young woman's heart.
Clara Carter is the social season's brightest star...
but at what cost?
For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city's most eligible bachelor. Debuting means plenty of work--there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect. Her training soon pays off, however, as celebrity's spotlight turns Clara into a society-page darling.

Yet Clara soon wonders if this is the life she really wants. Especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries. When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it's not just her marriage at stake--the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

Publisher: Bethany House
Price: $14.99
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0433-3
ISBN-10: 0-7642-0433-5
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.375
Number of pages: 400
Formats: Paperback

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area. Visit www.sirimitchell.com

MY REVIEW:
Clara dreamed of studies and travel, but when she is only 17 years old her aunt decides she will debut and be out into society in just 2 months. She is told she must get a certain very rich, young man to marry her. Clara is wondering why she can't marry for love. This book talks about how she must be in a corset tightly laced which causes her from breathing well and she can't eat much because it causes pain and discomfort. You learn about the dances, unique utensils, etiquette and games and appliances used in this era of time. One neat part of the book tells about how Clara’s friend makes Skeleton leaves. Below is a picture of how they look. Thought that was sweet.
She walks in Beauty tells of the Gilded Age the splendor, beauty, and greatness of the wonderful dinners, beautiful balls, and fancy gowns.
Clara and her best friend are both suppose to get the same man to marry them. You meet that young man Franklin and his brother Harry.
Clara wants to be loved for who she is not for who she pretends to be. She finds out the God loves her just the way she is, she doesn't have to change in order for the love of God.
You will read about the rich and affluent as well as the unkempt and deprived. How Clara finds out about them and what she does with them. I really, really loved this book and read it in a few days. If you love Christian fiction you need this for your library. I highly recommend She Walks in Beauty!

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Thanks to Jim Hart from Bethany House Publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.