Grace's Pictures, Ellis Island Series #1 -eBook

I loved this book! It was so much better then I was expecting it to be. Cindy was a new author to me and I am always a little nervous when it comes to new authors but I was not disappointed here.

She did a great job balancing all the different parts of the story. I really liked that it was not a romance.

This was an interesting story about a young woman embarking on a new life away from her beloved Ireland. Having been sent to America by her mother and stepfather who hope for better things for her and a new start for the future. I enjoyed the historical details the author includes and life in New York in a new century. Anything from the tenements where the very poor live to the hills where the very rich live and anywhere in-between. You get a glimpse of it all through Grace's eyes and the lenses of her new Brownie camera. I also enjoyed getting to know Mrs. Hawkins, a widow who runs the Irish immigrant charity house Grace lives in. She is wise and kind and helps guide Grace and the other girls to make a new life for themselves. She was probably my favorite character!

Owen was a police officer who is always striving to be above board and break the stereotypical mold for his profession. He vows to protect Grace when she accidentally takes a picture of the gang leader the police force has been after. Having some bad dealings with peelers, Grace is distrustful and wary of him. I wished there would have been more of a romantic feel between these two, but it never really developed like I had hoped! Owen is a good man, someone Grace can count on and learn to overcome her past with. I just imagined in the end that they eventually got together and had their happily-ever-after!

While not a bad story, it wasn't all together what I expected either. Like I said, I wished there was more of a romantic feel between Owen and Grace. And I also would have liked Grace's character to be more developed when it came to her settling down in her new role in life. Where she was more comfortable in her own skin, I guess is what I'm trying to say. She had so much more potential and opportunity to really shine!

All in all, it was a good story that I think any fan of historical reads would like. I did learn a lot about life in early 1900's and the author threaded a great spiritual theme within the pages. There's two other stories in the Ellis Island series that I'm interested in reading. I'd like to find out more about Annie, the other young lady staying at Mrs. Hawkins house.

*I received an advanced readers copy from the author and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. *

Interesting story of a young Irish immigrant who comes to New York to begin a new life. Although she's not looking for adventure she ends up in the middle of some dangerous situations. I like the way Christianity is woven into the story. Sometimes God seems far away but our lives are so much better when we trust him and let him lead.

Grace is living in a poorhouse in Ireland when she learns she's been sponsored to come to America. She has no skills and must rely on the kindness of her benefactors to make a living. But when she comes in contact with a photographer and a policeman, her life is changed forever.

The book had an incredibly slow start for me. I was almost half way through before I became engaged enough with the main characters to step into the story. It picked up after that and the characters came more alive. The main female character was a bit dark and depressing for most of the book. I actually enjoyed some of the back ground characters more. The author did a great job of portraying history and the lives of the immigrants, but failed at engaging me with the plot or characters. The romantic aspect of the story was almost non-existent for me. It felt very forced and rushed at the end. So overall this book was only an okay story for me.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

The title, and the cover, of this book drew me in because I, like Grace, love to take pictures and I once had a Brownie, only it was at least 50 years newer than Grace's. I really enjoyed the story and Cindy gave a look into the future with it. The idea of a photo being taken and then used to identify a crook or to use as evidence against someone was a stepping stone to where we are now with phone's that will take pictures, record voices and even movies that can be used for the same thing and even to manipulate people into doing things they don't want to do or to keep a secret you don't want anyone to find out about.