1. While Love Stirs, Gregory Sisters Series #2
    Lorna Seilstad
    Revell / 2014 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$14.06 Retail Price$15.00 Save 6% ($0.94)
    4.3 out of 5 stars for While Love Stirs, Gregory Sisters Series #2. View reviews of this product. 30 Reviews
    Availability: In Stock
    Stock No: WW721820
4.3 Stars Out Of 5
4.3 out of 5
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Displaying items 21-25 of 30
  1. randomamb
    TX
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    May 28, 2014
    randomamb
    TX
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 4
    While Love Stirs is the second book in Seilstad's Gregory Sisters series. The main character is Charlotte Gregory, the middle of the 3 sisters. Charlotte is strong willed, outspoken, and a bit calloused as a result of a prior relationship. While Love Stirs begins as a story about Charlotte's attempt to get a job as a cook, but it gradually turns into a story of love—both family and romantic. It's really a story of Charlotte's internal battle in deciding if she should settle for a safe choice or take a risk on someone who makes her feel everything.

    I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I enjoyed While Love Stirs. Seilstad's writing is easy to fall into, and I never had to reread a sentence for clarification. Charlotte's character is believable and shows realistic change throughout the story. While Love Stirs offers romance and suspense, though the suspense mainly shows up in the last few chapters. Everything is resolved by the end of the book, which makes me happy! Seilstad uses cooking terms as symbolism throughout the book, and it never seems forced. It was one of my favorite things about the story! My criticisms are minor—a few times throughout the book I noticed a lack of vocabulary (the same word was used two or three times in a paragraph), and I don't think the back cover blurb accurately portrays the book. After reading the back cover, I thought this would be a story of one girl and the two guys chasing after her. It's really not like that at all. There are 2 men in the story who want to be with Charlotte, but the story is much more about Charlotte's internal struggle, her desire to cook and teach nurses at the hospital, and her relationships with family members. There was never a point where I thought she might end up with 'the other guy.' Ultimately, this book will be a hit for fans of Historical Christian Fiction Romance. If you're like me and usually stick to Contemporary Romance, there's still a good chance you'll enjoy this book. The author doesn't get bogged down in historical information, and she allows the story to flow naturally. I'm looking forward to the next book in The Gregory Sisters series!
  2. JStra
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    A Fantastic Period Piece
    May 27, 2014
    JStra
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    While Love Stirs is the second book in the Gregory Sisters series. Lorna Seilstad does an amazing job of capturing a period in history that we do not commonly see in books. Her 1910 period details were so engrossing that it drew me through the book even though I had a hard time with the heroine. I found her to be so abrasive that she was a bit tough to read. However, she was perfectly nuanced to fit with the time period. Women were just finding their voice in society and often had to go to the extreme just to end up in the middle. I found myself giving her grace and I started liking her by about mid-book.

    The peripheral characters were fun and interesting. Even the sub-villain of the piece was nuanced in such a way that they were sympathetic as well. The real bad-y of the story popped up out of nowhere for me, perhaps they were referenced in the first book. Overall it is a stand-alone book, but to really understand where the main character is coming from, I would start at the beginning of the series.

    This one in the series is focused on Charlotte, a graduate of Fanny Farmer's School of Cookery. She is trying to find a position in a restaurant and has the skills and the necessary qualifications; all except one, her gender is the wrong one. She does find a niche position and meets two very different, but equally determined young men along the way.

    I enjoyed the book for the incredible attention to period details and would recommend it based on that piece alone. I want to thank Revell Group who gave me this book in exchange for an honest review.
  3. Fitzysmom
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    May 27, 2014
    Fitzysmom
    I'm not a great cook, but I sure do enjoy the tastes and smells of a delectable dinner. I also enjoy a great historical romance. While Love Stirs combines those two elements to make you salivate over the delicious food and swoon over the budding romances.

    Charlotte has finished her culinary education but is finding it next to impossible to secure a job with a restaurant. The year is 1910 and it is still very much a man's world. Not one of the chefs she has applied with will even consider employing her because she is a woman.

    Meanwhile, Charlotte's older sister Hannah has given birth to a beautiful baby girl. During a visit to the hospital Charlotte meets the very handsome but very set in his ways Dr. Joel Brooks. When they clash over the hospital's menu sparks begin to fly. How can she find such an irritating man to be so appealing?

    After winning a cooking competition Charlotte is offered a job doing cooking demonstrations and selling gas stoves to women in the Saint Paul, Minnesota area. The gas company has also hired Lewis Mathis to provide entertainment during the cooking demonstrations. Lewis is a kind, talented and mild mannered man. Charlotte isn't as attracted to him as the irritating Dr. Brooks, but should she discount such a nice guy?

    This second installment of the Gregory sister's story is a fun and romantic story with a bit of a mystery thrown in. Although it is the second book in the series it is entirely possible to read it as a stand-alone book. If you are reading it with your book club there is a Reading Group Guide that you can download.

    I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
  4. Britt98
    Grand Prairie, TX
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    Enjoyable Story Full of Strong Characters
    May 26, 2014
    Britt98
    Grand Prairie, TX
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    While Love Stirs is the second book in The Gregory Sisters series, but can stand alone if you have not yet read When Love Calls. I have read both of these books and they are enjoyable stories.

    I had a little bit of trouble connecting with Charlotte and Joel in the beginning of the story, but that quickly changed and I found myself very interested in this book. The characters are well-written and following their journey is entertaining. As is true in real life, the events of our past influence the way we look at and react to the situations we find ourselves in. This is definitely true with Charlotte and Joel. Charlotte was once in a relationship with a very controlling young man. She has vowed never to allow herself to be tied to someone who might try to control her. Joel was once betrayed by an unfaithful fiancé and has trouble with the idea of putting his heart on the line with another woman. Putting their pasts behind them will be a very real challenge to these two strong-willed characters.

    I found this story to be full of very interesting details and I really enjoyed all of the cooking tidbits that are added into the book. The secondary characters are interesting, as well, and I look forward to reading the final book in the series when it releases.

    I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
  5. An Old Fashioned Girl
    Minnesota
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    Cute and Fun
    May 24, 2014
    An Old Fashioned Girl
    Minnesota
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 4
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 4
    Focusing on Charlotte, the middle Gregory sister, Lorna Seilstad continues her series set in the the early 1900's. Upon Graduating from Fanny Farmer's School of Cookery, Charlotte attempts to find a job in a restaurant in St. Paul, but chefs do not seem to want a female cook in their kitchens. However, she does get a job traveling around the state offering cooking demonstrations on a new gas stove, with a sweet chaperone and a young musician with a gorgeous voice to keep her company. On her weeks at home, though, she keeps running into the bossy, order-obsessed young doctor Joel Brooks, who does not care for her suggestions about improving the hospital fare. Badgered into planning a charity ball with the handsome doctor, the two frequently clash, but they grow to be friends as well. Can Charlotte set aside her fears for a strong, forceful man, or will she settle for the sweet?

    I liked Charlotte a lot. Though she learned previously not to bend over backwards or change herself to please a man, she is still something of a people pleaser - she hates to be disliked or to disappoint others. I can be that way myself - maybe it's a middle child thing? As such, I could relate to her well. I was glad to see her make friendly overtures to those who do not necessarily respond in kind, yet still stand up for herself and others when she needs to. She makes a strong heroine - not perfect, but someone to root for.

    Following dreams seems to be a theme of the series - in the first book Hannah's dream of completing law school eventually came to pass in spite of impossible circumstances. Though it isn't precisely what Charlotte was planning for herself, God makes a way for her to share her love of cooking, both in goods and knowledge. I enjoyed becoming better acquainted with Tessa, the youngest sister, whose dream changes with the wind - it will be fun to read her story and find out where her heart truly lies!

    Like usual for Seilstad, the time period and place are well researched and written, and I enjoyed being able to picture some of the places described, having been there myself! Through the subplot about Tessa, the author is able to insert a bit of intrigue: a pair of mystery initials are given, and though it took a while for me to pick up on it, Seilstad does a great job of sneaking in red herrings to keep the reader guessing. While sprinkled with the author's characteristic humor, the spiritual message is not as strong as in her other novels, but the story is most enjoyable. 4 out of 5 stars!

    Thank you Revell for a free copy of the book for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.
Displaying items 21-25 of 30