Review + Giveaway: My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Summary

Journey now to Mackinac Island where...A Tangled Gilded Age Love Story Unfolds.

Although the Winds of Mackinac Inn has been in her mother’s family for generations, Maude Welling’s father refuses to let her run it without the guidance of a husband. So she seeks to prove her worth and independence by working incognito as a maid at the Grand Hotel.

Undercover journalist Ben Steffans, posing as a wealthy industrialist, pursues a story about impoverished men chasing heiresses at the famed hotel.  While undercover, he becomes attracted to an intriguing maid. By an act of heroism Ben endears himself to the closed-mouthed islanders—including Maude—and he digs deep for his story.

But when scandal threatens, will the growing love between Maude and Ben be scuttled when truths are revealed?

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My Review

Five Stars

After her fiance arrives back on the island married to another woman, Maude Welling's dream of running her family's inn are dashed when her father tells her that without a husband he will not allow it. So she comes up with a plan to go undercover at the rival inn that will surely change his mind and show him that she doesn't need a man to help her run the inn. Journalist Ben Steffans has come to Mackinac Island undercover to work on a story about impoverished men who visit the island looking for wealthy women to wed.  Ben and Maude keep crossing paths and begin to develop a sweet friendship, but will all their deceptions get in the way of their blossoming relationship?

I'm a big fan of Carrie Fancett Pagels, so when I first heard about this book I got super excited. And I've gotta say that it did not disappoint! It's my new favorite book of hers. She is a master at creating memorable and genuine characters and settings that leave a lasting impression. All the historical details lent this novel an authentic feel and made it truly come to life. The descriptions really leaped off the page, transporting me back in time to 1895 Mackinac Island, right there with these fascinating characters.

One thing that I absolutely loved were all the German words and phrases sprinkled here and there throughout the novel. I took four years of German in high school, so it's always fun to see how much of it I actually remember.

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island is a wonderful novel that is sure to delight any fan of historical romance! Highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and comments are my own honest opinion.

To learn more about Carrie Fancett Pagels, visit her website, blogs Overcoming with God, and Colonial Quills, and Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest.

Giveaway Info

If there are 10 or more unique commenters on this post, Carrie Fancett Pagels has generously offered to giveaway a copy of this fantastic book! So, if you'd like to enter, just leave a comment below and be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner! Good luck!