Quills and Promises

Quills and Promises is one of the better Heartsong historical novels I've read and truly hard to put down. The story swept me away and carried me back to a time when the French and the British were fighting over the same land before the American Revolution rocked the country. The atrocities were horrific, but thankfully weren't described in detail. The romantic elements in Quills was delightful and had the kind of emotional pull that makes you sigh as you turn the pages. The author did a masterful job with character emotion and showing the longing the hero and heroine had for each other. Their relationship developed beautifully over time and was very believable. Both characters were extremely likeable, too. The majority of their contact was through letters (hence the "quills" in the title) but that didn't take away from the story at all. In fact, I think it made me sigh more. I am definitely going to add Amber Miller to my favorites list for historical fiction Heartsong Presents titles.

Quills and Promises by Amber Miller is the sequel to Promises, Promises and picks up with Raelene and Gustav's daughter Elanna who starts up a correspondence with a soldier, Madison Scott, who is fighting in the French and Indian War. Madison and Elanna had an instant connection when they first met, and that connection grows as they write to each other other the three years Madison is at war. But three years is a long time to be away from the one you love, so when a newspaper reporter tells Elanna that Madison has been involved in some wartime atrocities, she's not sure who to believe. Miller's writing captures the little details about the Colonial era with accuracy and really help set the stage for this sweet love story. Elanna evolves from an innocent 15 year old girl to a mature, intelligent 18 year old girl by story's end, and Madison grows up as well as he faces the harshness of war. It's an enjoyable, quick, romantic read.

Quills and Promises is everything a historical romance should be! Amber Miller has once again created a believable look back to the time when the French and Indian War was raging, and colonists had to learn a better and more successful way to fight. Just before the battle really begins to wage hot, Major Madison Scott is introduced to his cousin's friend Elanna Hanssen. The two begin a series of letters, and throughout the war both Madison and Elanna come to care a great deal for each other. But separation has its disadvantages, and Elanna must battle conflicting reports regarding her Major's role in the developing war. Continuously concerned for his safety and having to primarily depend on others for her news, Elanna finds herself facing some uncomfortable decisions. Encouraged by her mother, she turns to the Lord for wisdom, and as always, His answer is always right and timely! Both Elanna and Major Scott are characters that you learn to care a great deal about as you follow them through a very tumultuous time in our country. I really appreciate Amber's accuracy as she portrays this fascinating time in our country's history! I think it is wise for all of us to look back and remember the trials our country faced in its early years. Although Elanna and Madison's story is fictional, I feel it is an accurate portrayal of those whose lives were affected by this war. Quills and Promises is the second book of the Delaware Dawning trilogy. Please, pick up your copy today!

Amber Miller has again written a powerful love story in a small book. In Quills and Promises, readers return to New Castle, Delaware, which at that time was a part of Pennsylvania, at the beginning of the French and Indian Wars. Elanna Hanssen, a beautiful, inquisitive young woman meets Major Madison Scott before he leaves to serve in the war. They strike an instant friendship and begin a tender correspondence through the war. Elanna's insatiable desire for knowledge and understanding of the war and her love for the writing process draw her to contact with a local newspaperman. His intentions to woo her include posing questions about Major Scott's true loyalties. Elanna must learn to trust her heart and her faith as two men vie for her affections. One promises adventure and one promises his heart. Amber Miller takes the reader on an historical journey into our fledgling nation and its struggles. In the midst of the history, she weaves a love story that warms the heart and touches the soul. Grab a cup of tea and curl up on your best reading chair; you won't want to put the book down until you finish it.

A tender mixing of inspirational romance, historical figures and memorable fictional characters come together for an enjoyable read in "Quills & Promises" by Amber Miller. This is the second book in Miller's Delaware Brides series. Set during the French and Indian War, young Elanna Hanssen unexpectedly meets up with Major Madison Scott, a visiting cousin of her best friend. Both Madison and Elanna are taken with each other, but he is soon called away to war. They must depend upon their correspondence to carry on their relationship and to learn more about each other, ever careful not to reveal too much, lest their letters fall into the wrong hands. An unusual interest in the war puts Elanna in contact with Mr. Witherspoon, a young journalist for the Wilmington Journal. When he shares war reports that question Major Scott's integrity, Elanna must depend upon her initial meetings with Madison and her faith in God to help her decide if she should follow her heart. As I read through "Quills & Promises", I thought Elanna could have been Anne Shirley from Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic "Anne of Green Gables". Elanna, like Anne, is constantly trying to reconcile what she would like to do with what is proper in society and for her age. This makes her a sympathetic character from the start. That sympathy increases when she is separated from Madison so quickly and later discovers he may not be the man she thought him to be. The reader is as eager to uncover the truth as Elanna is. The strength of this book is definitely its characters. Madison is torn between his duty, his hatred of war, and his desire to see Elanna again. The comraderie between Madison and the men in his regiment is something I very much enjoyed. Edric, Elanna's twin brother, is both protector and supporter of his twin, and ends up being crucial in Elanna getting information about the war. Mama understands Elanna's battle between her desires and what society allows, as well as, provides great insight into what Elanna must do in order to decide if she should follow her head or her heart. And Mr. Witherspoon, whose motives Elanna is not quite sure of, makes the perfect antagonist. Fans of inspirational romance and historical fiction will certainly want to read "Quills and Promises" by Amber Miller.