The Carpenter’s Inheritance / A Love So Tender

by Laurie Alice Eakes, Tracey Victoria Bateman

Join Lucinda Bell in 1893 as she leaves behind her family and fiancé to buy a dying law practice in Massachusetts, determined to prove herself in a male dominated profession. Matthew Templin, a local carpenter with a questionable past, is in need of a lawyer but knows hidden truths could destroy her ambitions and endanger their lives. When faced with a choice, will Lucinda choose career over love? Also includes a bonus historical romance, A Love So Tender by Tracey V. Bateman.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Novella

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2016

About the author

Laurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories withothers; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, four books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that has taken her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.
Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.

You can learn more about her and her work at http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com

Reviews

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I selected it because I am a fan of Laurie Alice Eakes.

The Carpenter's Inheritance by Laurie Alice Eakes and A Love So Tender by Tracey Victoria Bateman are together in this 2016 volume published by Barbour Books. Note that the cover says Tracey V. Bateman, but there doesn't seem to be a Goodreads author page for the author under that name. There is an author page for her under the name Tracey Bateman, as well as Tracey Cross, and Victoria Bateman. I'm extremely curious about all these names! Are there any more?

The Carpenter's Inheritance (2012) and A Love So Tender (2005) are re-releases of two previous Heartsong Presents books. I thoroughly enjoyed both stories, and will review them separately below.

The Carpenters Inheritance by Laurie Alice Eakes, set in 1893 Loveland, Massachusetts

5 stars

Lucinda Bell, a "lady lawyer" fresh out of law school, is new in town. Women are not yet widely accepted as lawyers, and it's only legal in some states. Lucinda would rather be near her family, but she's very committed to being a lawyer, particularly to represent "ladies' plights," and so has settled in Loveland. However, as a newcomer and as a woman, Lucinda is finding it a challenge to fit in, and is concerned about her ability to get enough cases to make a living.

Lucinda's office space is shockingly in need of cleaning and a bit of carpentry. She finds a very talented carpenter, tall and confident Matthew Templin, by crashing into the man. Matt, 26, is lonely and is very drawn to Lucie, noting that she "was kind, appreciative, [and] beautiful." Lucie frequently notices Matt's kindness and likes him very much.

What I liked:

*Matt is one of the sweetest heroes ever, and both Lucie and Matt are extremely likable characters. Watching their relationship grow early in the story was so pleasing. There were no huge misunderstandings to deal with, and the romance felt natural. I was truly delighted.

*The secondary characters (as well as the main ones) were awesome!

What I didn't like:

After finishing the story, I realized that I had a lingering question about a minor detail in the conclusion and had to go back and re-read a section. That's as close to a dislike as I came.

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A Love So Tender by Tracey Victoria Bateman, set in 1875 in Oregon City, Oregon

5 stars

Aimee Riley has had an unrequited love for her cousin Greg for years, and everyone knows it. Once he makes it clear that he wishes to court another lady, she feels that she needs to leave town. Aimee leaves her family's home without warning to anyone and appears at her aunt and uncle's house unannounced. She decides to give them much needed help in caring for their home full of orphans. On the very night of her arrival, Aimee is entrusted with the care of a new orphan: an infant whose mother died in childbirth. The baby's mother has named him Georgie, and Aimee becomes his foster mother. However, it turns out the child is not a true orphan. Georgie's father, Rex Donnelly, was away from his wife when the tragedy occurred. He is searching for Georgie and is determined to be reunited with him.

This story is a romance, so I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Aimee and Rex gradually transition from an antagonistic relationship to a caring one. The subject matter is dear to my heart as a foster and adoptive parent, and I think the feelings and concerns portrayed in both parents are written realistically. Georgie's reaction to Rex seemed true-to-life, as well.

What I liked:

*The gradual change in Rex and Aimee's relationship was written so skillfully. It happened over time, time enough for each to understand the other's viewpoints and to start to truly know one another.

What I disliked:

*This book is a bit more angsty than I prefer, but I didn't feel overwhelmed, so Bateman must have done a good job!

I'd recommend this book to fans of sweet historical Christian romances. I was already a fan of Eakes, and now another Bateman book will definitely be on my to-read list.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the chance to review this book Netgalley.
I loved all the historical aspects of it and I couldn't put it down until I finished.
These 2 ladies are awesome authors and I love their books very much!
Each story was a delight to read and each held their own charm!
I recommend this book. NO compensations were received. All opinions are my own.

[Janka H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection contains two novelettes: The Carpenter's Inheritance by Laurie Alice Eakes and A Love So Tender by Tracey V. Bateman.

I very much love the second novelette, A Love So Tender. It has everything - spunky and believable heroine, rugged hero and a little boy torn between his real, biological father and a woman who had raised him. The main characters fight like cat and dog and the sparkles flying around are as real as the fights are. Good, fresh and romantic read this is!

But, unfortunately, I can not get my heart getting warmed towards Matt, the hero of the first novel. No amount of lovely pets can save him from behaving like coward in the case of his first young love. One can understand him, yet his moping ways are simply not attractive.
But this might be just me - read for yourself!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Carpenter’s Inheritance
I loved this story about Lucinda and Matt. There was romance and mystery. I loved the surprises in the last chapter and how everything turned out.

A Love so Tender
I loved this book. Neither Aimee nor Rex wanted to give up the boy that they both loved. This story had me in tears a good lot of the time, but there was a happy ending.

[Joleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

(For my records, see The Carpenter's Inheritance, two novellas in one book.)
Link to The Carpenter's Inheritance review

[Frances Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stories

Both of the stories in this book were well-written and good clean entertainment. Characters were believable, and the humor here and there was delightful.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful Touching Story


I was captured from beginntng to end of this touching story
Highly recommend to all readers who cherish family journeys to happiness

[booksthrubifocals · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of sweet, historical romances and a reader somewhat familiar with both authors, I really enjoyed this combo of stories by Eakes and Bateman, released now as one book. Eakes gives us a look into the struggles of a young woman tearing down the barriers for women entering into the legal profession, previously solely a man's domain, as well as dealing with class issues as affection grows between her and a carpenter hired to renovate her office. He ruefully finds himself taking on the role of her protector which soon develops into stronger feelings. The characters are interesting and the plot holds the reader's attention although there did seem to be at least one loose thread in the end. The second story by Bates will appeal to those who empathize with an underdog. A young woman goes to live with relatives who run an orphanage after years of suffering unrequited love. She pours out all the unclaimed love in her heart to the orphans, especially one baby boy who she was responsible for rescuing. His mother died in childbirth and his father's whereabouts are unknown. She adopts Georgie and takes him back to her hometown. The father returns soon after the birth only to find the boarding house where he left his wife and child in ashes, and was told the only survivor was the woman who owned it. He continues to look for her to verify news of his wife and child, still hoping for their survival. He finds her six years later, learning his son was left at the orphanage. After locating his son and adoptive mother, the struggle begins. As in the first story, there is conflict and growing respect between classes, despite society's disapproval and their own preconceived ideas. The plot was believable without overwhelming love at first sight, not to say there was no attraction at all, but the underlying mood was somewhat sad through most of the book. My thanks to Netgalley, the author's and Barbour publishing for allowing me to read a prepublished copy of "The Carpenter's Inheritance" in exchange for my honest assessment.

[writer... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a charmer, Ms Eakes keeps historical fiction readers captivated with this unique story. Protagonist, Lucinda, arrives in Loveland, Massachusetts to take over the law office of a friend of her lawyer father who has actually been run out of town by the unfriendly residents. Walking into a shell of an office stripped bare and needing to furnish it to begin her practice brings arrival of the attractive and skilled carpenter Matthew. Carrying his own history into their connection provides an element of mystery that needs further exploring and capable legal counsel to free him from his past .
Lucie's career dilemma, romantic relational struggles, and some high tension suspense kept me involved in discovering The Carpenter's Inheritance.

* * *

A delightful story of the self-giving love required to raise a child. Aimee , who had raised Georgie, delivered to the orphanage as a baby, to a child of six and Rex, his father who had searched to find the son his wife had borne before dying in childbirth. Pursuing his son with the law on his side as birth father didn't earn Rex the access to Georgie he expected. Years of mothering and established family ties with the Rileys formed Georgie's life and he wasn't interested in giving those up for a stranger. Neither was Aimee.
Good humour as Aimee and Rex wrangle their way through personal issues and conflicts enroute to becoming who Georgie needs most. And, definitely enjoyed, the development of A Love So Tender!




*Appreciation to Barbour Books for providing an ecopy for reading and review without cost or obligation.

[Dana Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love historical books and this one has two in it. I enjoyed both! The first book is a bit of a romance and a mystery. I loved reading about a lady lawyer trying to make it in the days when it wasn't acceptable for a female to be in that vocation. This was an easy read and I highly recommend it. The second book was a precious story about a woman who adopts a baby only to find out that the baby's father has been searching for him for six years. The sparks fly and it was fun to see the romance build between the boy's father and his adoptive mom. It too was an easy read and a sweet story. I highly recommend it. I was given this book for an honest review.

[Eloise White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love historical romances, loved the book well writen. keep up good work. looking forward to your next book.

[Pat Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free Ebook

He's a carpenter, she's a lawyer in a time when female lawyers are rare. Someone wants her out of town and the carpenter is her knight in shining armor

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely enjoyable read

This review is for "The Carpenter's Inheritance". Looking for a nice story that tugs the heart strings a bit? One that doesn't involve sexual content yet speaks of love. I wanted such a story and got one with this book.

[Robyn Echols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two in One

This book offered two stories, both enjoyable and both well-written. They both offered characters of faith without dwelling heavily on Christian themes. The Carpenter's Inheritance was quite suspenseful with a theme of how difficult women in the 1890s had being accepted in traditional male occupations. Add to that characters that had ulterior motives for the heroine to not succeed over and beyond her being female. I definitely recommend this.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Lucinda's struggles establishing herself in a male-dominated world, and Matthew Templin is a wonderful love-interest--just the kind of guy you want to see in a sweet romance. I felt that the attitudes of some of the characters were too modern, so they seemed out of place. There was plenty of excitement, but sometimes the inner musings of Lucinda and Matthew didn't make sense to me. They both seemed to jump to conclusions, which, of course, kept the reader engaged but didn't always mesh with the personality of the character. The storyline also seemed to jump rather abruptly at times rather than smoothly transitioning to the next scene.
Even with these minor flaws, I liked the story and would be glad to read more about these characters.