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"Count your nights by stars, not shadows. Count your life with smiles, not tears. 1961. After a longtime resident at Nashville's historic Maxwell House Hotel suffers a debilitating stroke, Audrey Whitfield is tasked with cleaning out the reclusive woman's room. There, she discovers an elaborate scrapbook filled with memorabilia from the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Love notes on the backs of unmailed postcards inside capture Audrey's imagination with hints of a forbidden romance...and troubling revelations about the disappearance of young women at the exposition. Audrey enlists the help of a handsome hotel guest as she tracks down clues and information about the mysterious "Peaches" and her regrets over one fateful day, nearly sixty-five years earlier. 1897. Outspoken and forward-thinking Priscilla Nichols isn't willing to settle for just any man. She's still holding out hope for love when she meets Luca Moretti on the eve of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Charmed by the Italian immigrant's boldness, Priscilla spends time exploring the wondrous sights of the expo with Luca--until a darkness overshadows the months long event. Haunted by a terrible truth, Priscilla and Luca are sent down separate paths as the night's stars fade into dawn."--… (more)
User reviews
This is a beautifully crafted Christian read, that will quickly have you page turning! We get to attend the Tennessee Centennial
We are given some sweet romance, a look at those whom were born with the silver spoon, and also a dark side of human trafficking, along with a past meeting present in this great book!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.
This is an easy to read story that is actually two romance stories in one. It is wonderfully written and kept me reading it to find out what happened in 1897.
This is a fun to read story that is based on actually places in our history. It is evident the author has done research to write this wonderful story. I enjoyed the similarities between Priscilla and Audrey with the strength they each had and how they devoted their time to helping others in need. They both lost someone important to them, but went on to help others. It was sad to read of the declining conditions of such an important hotel, yet they continued important events like the Christmas dinner. This story does touch on prostitution and human trafficking.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story from Tyndale Publishing through NetGalley, this is my honest review.
I fell in love with the characters and the storyline. It was so interesting and kept my attention until the end. I just wish the novel could have gone on for another 100 pages!
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
She walked over and handed the Bible to me. “But what I am certain of is if we believe what this book says about God and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, then death isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning of something so wonderful we can’t fully understand it.”
“That is our mission, dear. To see people for who they are beneath the pain. Beneath the sin. To see them as God sees them: a beautiful creation, with plans and purposes only he knows.”
“Is there an answer?”
Dad turned to me, a soft smile on his lips. “Not one that we humans want to hear. The book of Isaiah says God’s ways are not our ways, that his ways are much higher. I think what that means is we aren’t meant to understand the whys of everything. We’re simply asked to trust in the One who does.”
I enjoyed both Audrey's and Priscilla's stories and found both women inspiring. I liked that the novel was seeped into history, from the excitement of the Centennial and the grandeur of the Maxwell House hotel to the decay of the same hotel decades later.
What I didn't realise was that in its heyday the Maxwell was famous for its coffee which led to the Maxwell House coffee brand.
Overall, "Count the Night by Stars" had very likeable characters (except for Kenton who I abhorred), suspense, mystery, tender moments and a sweet romance. A lovely read.