Kristi Ann Hunter has once again written a regency novel with memorable characters and a story that is more than meets the eye as the details unfold.  Daphne and William seem to be at odds most of the time, however half truths and miscommunication between these characters keeps them from truly understanding each other.  Daphne in particular had to overcome a lot of personal obstacles and really allow her defenses to crumble in order to move forward with her life.  Daphne seemed to be equal parts fascinating and frustrating for William.  I definitely think that she kept him on his toes and perhaps brought a little bit of his snobbery down a few notches.  My absolute favorite thing about this book was the interactions with Jess.  She literally steals each scene she appears in with her humor and blunt manner.  She is so matter of fact and confident and was the perfect juxtaposition to Daphne.  While Daphne is a sensitive day dreamer, Jess is a matter of fact realist and I felt that Jess brought a bit of balance to Daphne's whimsical manner.  This book had a few surprises along the way and I was satisfied with the conclusion of Daphne's story.  No spoilers!  I cannot wait for the last book in the Haven Manner series!  Jess's story!  You can count on me diving in as soon as it hits the shelves!

As a new marquis, William heads to a small holding to retreat from the world for a little bit and find some peace as he renovates the house and takes on his new responsibilities. However, after arriving at the estate, he finds peace might not come so easily, as his bewildering housekeeper, Mrs. Brightmoor, alternates seems simple-minded and devious. He realizes she's hiding something, but getting her to tell him what is going on proves to be no easy task.
Daphne Blakemoor left London society, unwed and pregnant, more than a decade earlier. She made a nice life for herself, taking in the children of other women in similar situations, rearing them, and preparing for a life in service or trade. She quite enjoyed her life, but now that the estate is being inhabited by its owner, her meaningful work has come to an end and she has to adjust to being a housekeeper, which doesn't come easily to her for many reasons--not the least of which is the handsome, intriguing man who is now her employer and the fact that she needs to keep him from finding out about how she used his family's house twelve years and that her own illegitimate son is his spitting image.

Daphne's story was so captivating and she's a very interesting character--endearing and occasionally exasperating and very well-developed. William was slower to grow on me--but that's just because he was frustrated with Daphne so often early on! He's a good guy and I knew things would turn out well, and it's totally realistic that it took him a while to appreciate Daphne for who she is--because she took so long to let him see who she was. The plot is really interesting, and the dialogue was awesome--there were so many zingers that I just loved. There are so many heart-stealing secondary characters, and there are good (but not preachy) messages about forgiving oneself and finding oneself. Another great book from Kristi Ann Hunter.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Conundrum. Bewilderment. Touched on the head.
Those are the words William, Marquis of Chemsford, chooses to describe his housekeeper. From the moment she bangs the door of his house on his face to when she acts as she owns his house, not to mention when she acts as she owns him - bossing him around, corraling him in his own house-, he knows something about the entire situation is absurd. And his dream of a secluded country life might just be unfulfilled if he doesn't get rid of her. Soon.

We've known Daphne for a while, we know her story, we know she's not touched in the head but loves fiercely. We also know part of her life has been shadowed by lies. Despite good intentions and the blessings that have come from hers and Kit's endeavors, the thick layer of lies is undeniable. She hopes the new owner of the house might ignore a few scratches on the wall and not raise too many questions about the number of goats and chickens in his property enough to feed an entire band of soldiers (or children). But, she didn't expect that one person could bring all she's built in the past fourteen years crashing down and take her back to where she found herself in that fateful day: alone to deal with the consequences.

Funny how meeting someone can change our lives. Practicality might not be the answer anymore when feelings and personal stories start to interplay. But, most important of all, through this equation, refinement comes, and who you are and want to be in the end takes the biggest toll.


In a Return of Devotion, Kristi Ann Hunter brings a story filled with her usual humor, but also timeless truth delineating the characters' stories and tugging your heart big time. I love how through this series we're reminded that we've never "overgrown" the process of learning and maturing. As life happens and our lives intertwined, we're always impacting and sharing stories with one another, consequently, expanding each other's worldview. It's our choice to let this be for the best or to turn a blind eye to what we now know.

In this book, Kristin Ann Hunter has given us the very sweet and unusual regency character of Daphne. Daphne is a jewel. She’s fiercely loyal, loving, and quite protective of those in her care. She’s very shy and has a hard time with the social niceties of the day; and views herself as the ultimate wallflower at any gathering. She’s a dreamer and uses her daydreams to soften the sometimes harsh realities of her life. She’s made a good life for herself and the illegitimate children who have been left in her care. When Daphne’s world is turned upside down by the return of the owner of the run-down manor house where she and the children reside, Daphne must find a way to continue to care for those she loves as well as protect her own heart. When William first meets her, he wonders if she’s going to be able to learn to function as his housekeeper. The charm of this story is in the way Daphne lovingly fumbles her way from one situation to the other, yet makes a profound difference in the lives of all of those around her. William finds that he can’t help but love her, but will Daphne find the courage to accept his love?

This is a completely charming, yet different, regency story. Daphne made me laugh, sigh, and smile. There’s a whole supporting cast of wonderful characters that make this storyline complete. This is clean, sweet regency and it’s a book that I’ll read again. It would be helpful to have read the first book in this series before reading this one, but it’s easy to quickly catch up with all the characters and the things that have gone on before. I love Kristi Ann Hunter’s books, and this one gave me a reason to look forward to her next one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

"A Return of Devotion" is a Christian romance set in 1816 in England. This is the second book in a series. It can be read as a standalone, but reading the previous story will help you to better understand the situation that Daphne is in. This book does not spoil much of the previous story.

When Daphne was young, she let her imagination carry her away into a romantic fantasy which misled her into becoming pregnant with no chance of marriage. She has raised her son at Haven Manor, a remote house that was essentially abandoned by the owner. However, William, the new owner, has sent word that he's coming to stay and look the manor over. He looks exactly like Daphne's nearly teenaged son even though he is not the father. She tries to prevent the two from meeting, leaving her in a mess when answers are demanded both by her son and William.

William was a kind and very patient hero who tried to make things better for Daphne, partly because a family member hurt her in the past and partly because he comes to love her. Daphne still felt guilt over getting pregnant out of wedlock. Seeing no better option, she tried to overcome her extreme shyness and learn how to be a housekeeper for William. But she's miserable without a special purpose--something she can do to help other people. William helps her to find that purpose.

Daphne learns to accept the forgiveness that she knows God has extended to her. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.

Daphne is not a character I commonly read about. She is a dreamer- quiet, a little fearful, easily intimidated, regularly lost in her own thoughts. It's not hard to imagine how someone like her would get paired up with someone like Jess. Or how she might have gotten swept up into letting her life be decided for her. She had many introspective moments that led to personal growth: questioning her escape tactics, ability to be alone with herself, and whether or not she had forgiven herself just to name a few. Strength comes in unexpected ways and I really enjoyed this story.

Now fingers crossed that Jess, my favorite, finally gets her story told!

A Return of Devotion – Haven Manor Book 2 - by Kristi Ann Hunter

***Another Superb Regency Era Read by Kristi Ann Hunter!***
We return to Haven House following book 1, A Defense of Honor, with preparations having been made for the owner to take up residence. (It will be important to read book 1 prior to this one).
Daphne Blakemoor, by all accounts, seems to be a daft, incapable housekeeper upon the arrival of Lord William Oswald, the new Marquis of Chemsford. However, the Marquis bears so striking a resemblance to one of the children Daphne cares for that she is immediately struck dumb when she sees him.
The two have many questions they are able unable to voice or are not quite sure how to and various moments of hilarity, covert operations, and deep thoughts ensue.
Ch. 1 “It might be worth keeping Mrs. Brightmoor around simply for the plethora of surprises that came along with her.”
At times Daphne’s thoughts are so moving I felt them deeply and even cried for or with her.
Ch. 11 “She would never possess the ability or courage to guide anyone anywhere, but she could raise up a Joshua just as Moses had done. These children…were her next generation. They were the ones God was preparing to go forth into the world and live for Him.
Daphne has a huge imagination! Ch. 11 “… leaving Daphne to go into her own pre-sleep routine. The one where she drifted away to a life other than the one she had.” Ok, that right there shook me! I have done that since I was a very young girl and never expected to read about someone else (even fictional) doing it too. I think it’s why my dream life is extremely crazy! ((smile))
I love the supporting character, Jess. We know she was a spy, but not much beyond that. She has mad knife and culinary skills and she makes me laugh a lot! Her sarcasm is on point. Ch. 19 “I could put a bit of foxglove in xxx’s breakfast,” Jess murmured. (xxx to avoid spoiler). She also genuinely cares for the people around her, giving wise counsel and fierce devotion as needed.
William has wonderful strength of character. I really liked him. Ch. 34 “Forgiveness is an interesting thing. Unlike a lot of other things in life, it’s easy to ask for and hard to accept.”

Tea Moment: Ch. 2 “In the new woman’s hands was a tray. Steam rose from the teapot that sat in the center, surrounded by a cup, saucer, and an assortment of small sandwiches and biscuits.” … “As he bit into a biscuit, an explosion of flavors he couldn’t identify but refused to live the rest of his life without filled his mouth.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series.

Thank you to Bethany House, the author and NetGalley for a copy My opinion is my own and given freely. Keep updated on the author’s website, Kristi Ann Hunter dot com

Haven Manor Series:
“The Haven Manor series follows a group of women who take what could have been a life-crushing circumstance and turned it into an opportunity to help desperate women and their children from the same fate. Their pasts may have brought these women here, but God has an amazing future in store for them.” -Author’s Website
Book 0.5 A Search for Refuge (Margaretta’s Story) 03/2018 FREE eNovella (available in print 2019 in the 3 author collection Love At Last)
Book 1 A Defense of Honor (Kit’s Story) 06/05/2018
Book 1.5 Legacy of Love (Sarah’s Story) 10/2018 Novella in The Christmas Heirloom Collection featuring 4 different authors
Book 2 A Return of Devotion – Daphne’s Story - coming Feb. 5, 2019
Coming Soon – Jess’s Story

A Return of Devotion is an excellent book! I couldn't put it down! This is the second book in the Haven Manor series, with excellent, believable characters! Set in 1816, the main character, Daphne, is a woman that sometimes avoids reality by daydreaming. William is very much a no nonsense kind of man that faces whatever troubles come head on. I absolutely loved this story. I truly want to go back and read the first book and hopefully there will be a third book! Highly recommend!
#AreturnOfDevotion #NetGalley

Daphne Blakemoor is terrified about the impending arrival of the new owner of Haven Manor. How can she and her friend Jess conceal that his estate has been used to house a dozen illegitimate children? When William, the Marquis of Chemsford, arrives, her terror grows to new heights. He is the exact image of her son Benedict, and who will believe her that she's never met the man before in her life?

William is confused by the strange behavior of the housekeeper on his new home. Not only does she stare strangely and try to manage all of his movements around the estate, she also seems singularly unqualified to be a domestic. But as the secrets of Haven Manor begin to unfold, William's opinion of Daphne begins to change.

In this sequel to A Defense of Honor, shy and retiring Daphne must overcome her fears of re-entering Regency society if she's to find love with a man who takes his public duty seriously. She must decide how to break the news to Benedict of who his mother and father truly are. And she must come to terms with her own past, overcoming the shame of previous actions through the forgiveness that Christ offers.

This book was an interesting continuation to the first book in the Haven Manor series, but I found it a little long in parts. Both William's initial opinion of Daphne and her recurring daydreams made her seem somewhat dimwitted. All in all, I preferred the prequel to this one, but I anticipate that the third book in this series (Jess' story) should be a good tale.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publisher’s, for the read of Kristi Ann Hunter’s, A Return of Devotion.

What a joy it was to have read this book. I did not put it down until it was done!

I love Kristi Ann Hunter’s books, and The Haven Manor series has become one of my favourites. Her characters, especially William and Daphne are both engaging and genuine.

I am a fan of historical fiction. Reading how women facing adversity, making sacrifices, yet managing to prevail despite the era of the old classes; superior and inferior, so typical of the 1800’s. It always makes me stop and realize how truly hard it must have been.

The message threaded throughout of how God’s hand is in every aspect of life, was inspiring.

A Return of Devotion is a definite must-read.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publisher’s through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in my review are my very own.

I am consistently impressed by the intricate details Kristi Ann Hunter weaves into her books! I hadn't had a chance to read the first book in the series, so I was a bit worried I wouldn't be able to fully appreciate this book. However, I was able to easily catch up and have a good idea of the different characters' histories. And there were many! Some authors will introduce many characters, and my mind has a hard time keeping track of who's who. That was not a problem here, as I easily remembered who everyone was and their unique personalities. Some of the secondary characters in this story were really entertaining and deserving of their own stories, like Jess and Mr. Thornbury. I don't suppose they will end up together, but I am shipping them so hard.

Daphne Blakemoor is hiding a big secret and her past is catching up with her. Hidden away for 12 years in a rural village, with very little contact with London society, Daphne has finally become content with her role in life. She has been running a home for unwanted children of elite families, and almost every child has a family of their own now. The only trouble is that the home is run in a house owned by a negligent lord, and he has no idea what is going on under his roof. When the owner's son inherits the property, he comes to settle in, and Daphne comes face-to-face with her past. With her future in jeopardy and her new boss unaware of her true identity, things are about to get complicated at Haven Manor.

Daphne was a hoot in this book! Poor thing had no idea how to handle the situation she found herself in, and her fear of new people came out in the funniest of ways. She was a deer in the headlights for much of the book, constantly trying to hide her secret and act the housekeeper to a lord who looked a lot like her son's father. I found it interesting how similar she ended up being to WIlliam, as they were both very introverted. At first, I had a difficult time understanding William's personality - he seemed aloof and impersonal. But then it eventually came out how much he just wanted peace and quiet, and his aversion to society was evident. Daphne was the same way, although given her history, she was even more jumpy about it. Any time she thought she might have to deal with new people in the house, she was worried not just for her safety but also her peace of mind. Ultimately her love for the children shone through, and her inner strength grew as the story progressed. I was so proud of how she handled herself around William as their relationship grew stronger. Her character development was amazing and inspiring.

My hope is that we get to see more of Jess and/or Mr. Thornbury in future books! I have a feeling Jess will have her book next, so I am excited to learn more of her background.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

My daughter and my niece (16 year olds!) have a penchant for watching sad movies. They actually seek them out just so that they can have a cry fest at their sleepovers. My daughter is always asking me to join her for a good sad movie, but life has enough sad moments, and I'd much rather watch something that will lift my spirits.

After the loss of a beautiful friend this week, I was looking for something to read and in my library found the first book in Kristi Ann Hunter's Haven Manor series, Defense of Honor, a book I recently picked up at a yard sale around the corner. I was quickly wrapped up in the story, though I had already read it (I don't know when!). I was so excited to find the next book in the series in my Bethany House review list and decided to read it today. Return of Devotion does not disappoint!

The Haven Manor series is about two best friends, Kit and Daphne, who are ousted from 'society' after an indiscretion caused in part by mistaken identity that leaves one of them pregnant and the other with a ruined reputation. They decide to turn a bad situation into good by helping other women and their ill-begotten children. For over a decade, the women have lived in Haven Manor, an abandoned country estate that is hidden away in the countryside, helping women hide their conditions and then raising their children. Unfortunately, the owner of the home has died and his son unexpectedly decides to actually live in the forgotten estate, which leaves a dozen children and three women (the mysterious, ex-spy Jess has recently joined the group) in quite the quandary!

Fortunately, one of the women, Kit, and her husband, Graham, have decided to take the endeavor to the next level by finding homes for the children so that they can be raised in a real family. (You'll have to read Defense of Honor to hear Kit and Graham's love story and to find out how they decide to work together in this cause!) They find homes for the younger children, leaving five, including Daphne's own son Benedict, on the estate while Kit and Graham embark on their wedding trip. Daphne and Jess pose as the housekeeper and the cook, while the children (aged 9-13!) are given jobs as maids, etc.

Poor William, the new Marquis of Chemsford, has no idea what to think when he arrives on this supposedly abandoned estate and finds a very unconventional arrangement and quite the strange reception. What he doesn't know is that Daphne's son, Benedict, is a mirror image of William. Daphne immediately sets out to keep the two apart to protect the secrets of the manor...and her son. Despite his confusion and annoyance, William finds himself drawn to his 'housekeeper' Daphne and is compelled to uncover her secrets.

As the book unfolds, both Daphne and William must discover who they truly are and decide what they are meant to do. The outcome of an unlikely situation is a beautiful resolution to the story.

I highly enjoyed reading Daphne and William's story. Their unconventional romance has some wonderful laugh-out-loud moments, and readers get an intimate peek at the hearts of these main characters who set out to do some good in the world. I can't wait for the next installment of the series!

Karen

PS I received a free e-copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

The Haven Manor books may be one of my favorite series ever. The initial premise is unique. The women have to overcome extreme adversity and do so with amazing sacrifices and grace. Both the worst and the best of men are shown. The books are poignant and funny. It’s a wonderful combination.
When the new owner of Haven Manor shows up to take residence there, Daphne knows he can never be allowed to see one of the children in the house. She goes to great lengths to keep William and Benedict apart. Her antics completely befuddle William who can’t figure out why this woman is so strange and bizarre. William and Daphne are both amazing characters. William is surprising in his understanding while Daphne is incredibly focused on the well-being of her charges.
While this book could be read as a standalone, it is best read in its place in the series. It’s a delight and I can’t wait to learn more about Jess’ story. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with an e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Haven Manor series:
Prequel Novella: A Search for Refuge
Book 1: A Defense of Honor
Book 2: A Return of Devotion

A RETURN OF DEVOTION is the sequel to A DEFENCE of HONOR by KRISTY ANN HUNTER, and I am really glad to have read and reviewed them both. In this book we carry on with Daphne's story, although it can be read as a stand alone.
I particularly like the way the author speaks about important matters with sensitivity and some humour, threaded through with solid biblical truth. The characters are very real and it is an emotional read as we are made to feel what they are feeling. This book has a bit of everything - romance, intrigue and interesting characters.
Haven Manor has been run as a loving home for illegitimate children for twelve years when William, Marquis of Chemsford, comes to take possession of the property which his father won in a card game. Whilst Daphne, Jess, and the three children who are left, do their best to act like servants and cover up their past activities, things get really out of hand!
The story takes place in the early 1800's where class distinction was rife and where unmarried mothers and their children often had nowhere to go but the workhouse.
The story is well worked out and leaves one with a great deal of food for thought. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This was again a winner from Kristi Ann hunter! I was wondering after finishing the book previous in this series, how the series would continue since one person had gotten married and left. And the new owner was coming to take over the house. Well those questions were answered in this book, in quite the entertaining fashion! I love how she mixes humor with real life and always shows Gods grace is bigger than our sin.

So, this book had an interesting and unique twist to it. An empty manor that has been used to refuge illegitimate children, only to have a young lord move in sending the "housekeeper" aka mother of one the children and sponsor of the entire ordeal, into a panic. Especially as this young lord bears a striking (shocking) resemblance to one of the children. The household is most unconventional, being run by a clumsy housekeeper, three children, and a rather interesting cook ( mentioned in Kristi's earlier series ). Along the way, Lord Chemsford discovers the reality of Daphne's doings in the manor, and they of course fall in love and live happily ever after.

A Return of Devotion is a well written thoughtful story. I enjoyed the characters, and the plot was engaging and entertaining. I recommend this one.

Daphne's story is poignant and one that needs to be told. William, the hero, grows personally as Daphne works her way beneath his defenses. His journey beneath hers is much more challenging, but her story is told so well. Loved every page.

So good I had to wait until 2019 to mark it as read so I could count it in my "Top 2019 Books." xP

Review to come - but how shall I write it? It shall just be incoherent squealing. I have no negatives. I loved this book half to death - I stayed up until 5 AM reading it, after all, finishing it in about 7 hours. (Which is pretty good; I'm not a fast reader, haha!)

Anyway, yes, I shall try to review this soon, but I really don't know what to say!

FAVORITE THINGS --

-WILLIAM, who is honestly super sweet idek
-DAPHNE, who is the best motherly creature every and she's also super brave and her imagination is amazing (I cannot not be aware of my surroundings so I found it super interesting) and she's just the sweetest girl ever -- but without a doubt the worst housekeeper.
-BENNEDICT. OMW. Sweet dear boy. <3 I feel bad for him, but still ... #STRENGTH
-Daphne's dad, actually. He was a sweet gent.
-Seeing Kit and Graham again, even briefly. Argggg, these two! Also, Graham cracks me up. Like, "Oh, dear, everyone's fainting. *glances about* Better stop William from killing his cousin ..."
-THAT WHOLE LAST SCENE WAS OVERWHELMINGLY AWESOME. I mean, it wasn't the last scene, bUt LeGiT EvEryOne SHOweD uP anD wAs AwEsOmE!

Okay, I'm done.

I don't like ... Jess? Is her name Jess? Or something like that? Anyway, I don't like her - and I don't know why because you'd think that'd be JUST my kind of character, but she rubs me wrong??? I don't know why! She's even a lot like me! But maybe she's just like ... Idek! Anyone else with me on this? I JUST DISLIKE HER.