Remember the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s? Well, their feud has nothing on the feud between the families of the Panetta’s and Calarco’s. These two Italian American families have hated each other for many decades, going all the way back to Italy and a mule. I know that doesn’t make sense to you now, but it will when you read the book.

Isabella Panetta and Orlando Calarco have fallen desperately in love. Yet the father’s of both families are totally against it and forbid them from seeing each other. They enlist their older siblings, Chantel Panetta and Dante Calarco to help them. Chantel is much more receptive to them, because she has a deep love for the Lord and hates the feud between the families. While, Dante is not quite so willing. But the beautiful Chantel is slowly wearing him down.

There’s so much I want to say, but to say anything will give away some of the story and you just have to go into this story open to God’s workings and be ready to be swept away with emotion after emotion after several tragedies occur. But God has not left them to deal with these things alone. He is forever working in their lives and we get the privilege to read this story and watch the lives of these families unfold. I laughed some, I cried a lot. It’s an excellent story of God’s redemption and grace.

Although this is Book 3 in the series, it does not have to be read in order. Each story is totally separate with the characters, but the setting is always in Minnesota. This is Christian fiction, yet the characters faith is so entwined in their lives, that the book does not come across as preachy. Anyone who loves historical, romantic suspense will love this book. ( )

"The Miner's Lady", Book Three in author Tracie Peterson's "Land of Shining Waters" series, tells an emotional tale of two feuding Italian families who work the iron ore mines of late nineteenth-century Minnesota. The Panettas and the Calarcos brought their decades old dispute with them from the Old Country to the United States. When young Isabella Panetta falls in love with Orlando Calarco, she turns to her older sister, Chantel, for guidance. Isabella needs Chantel to run interference and prevent Orlando's older brother, Dante, from keeping the young sweethearts apart. Dante is determined to carry out his father's edict that a Calarco can have nothing to do with a Panetta, and Chantel is offended by his abrupt, insulting manner. As Chantel and Dante continue to cross paths and be at cross purposes, an attraction between them grows. Neither of them expected to be so drawn to the other, and their admiration for each other only adds to the complexity of a very problematic situation. However, Isabella and Orlando are determined to be together, and there is as much assistance from Chantel as there is resistance from Dante. After surviving an accident at the mine, Chantel's father begins to make overtures of peace to Dante's father, who is highly opposed to ending the long-standing feud. When tragedy strikes, and strikes again, can faith pull together hearts and lives and allow love to conquer all? A very enjoyable and recommended series from author Tracie Peterson.

Book Copy Gratis Bethany House Books ( )

Tracie Peterson’s The Miner’s Lady was a delight. I felt like I was right there, in the cold dirty mining town of Ely, walking beside Chantel and Dante. The drama is intense, the romance sweet and the underlying messing of forgiveness poignant and meaningful.
The feud between the two families has gone on so long, most don’t even recall the cause. Nevertheless, it burns deep in the hearts of the family patriarchs whose Italian heritage will allow nothing to stand in the way of family loyalty. Nothing short of a miracle can melt the icy hearts of Dante and Chantel’s fathers and that is just what God has planned. An accident serves to help the Panetta family find forgiveness of their lifelong enemies and rejoice in the marriage of Isabella and Orlando to unite the feuding sectors.
But the Calarcos aren’t so quick to forgive and forget. Dante’s father will disown his own sons in the name of family loyalty, accepting the loss of his family rather than make peace with the Panettas. And where does this leave Dante who has fallen in love with Chantel? Can he risk his father’s anger to join his life with hers or must he resign himself to loneliness and loss to prove his respect and loyalty to his father?
But tragedy strikes when a senseless act of violence shatters the Panetta family bringing Chantel’s plans for her future to an abrupt halt. Where is God’s hand in this? And when disaster finds her yet again, will it rob her of her dream of love or be the catalyst for mercy to replace the hatred of feuding hearts?
Go with Chantel as she relinquishes her heart to love despite the obstacles surrounding it. Follow Dante as he struggles against the call of heritage and family loyalty he must put aside to open his heart to all God has planned for his life. This is a story not only of romance against the odds. It is the deeper drama of hearts called to the higher purpose of dissolving the sins of the past into absolution for the future following the example of Christ.
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion.
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Chantel Panetta returns home from a year in Italy to find her sister Isabella has fallen in love with Orlando, a Calarco and a generations-long enemy of the Panettas. She soon finds herself in the thick of the feud when Issy asks her to cover for her and Orlando during their tryst, should Dante, Orlando’s older brother, come in search of him. Of course he does.

The mining town of Ely, Minnesota is the setting of this historical romance by Tracie Peterson. It is peopled by colorful Italian immigrant families who move in contrasting social circles of the church and the gambling den. Their men folk risk life and limb in the iron ore mine while their women make lace, succulent pastas and pastries, and are generous with the coffee.

Perhaps not surprisingly Chantel and Dante become the real romantic subjects of this tale, with Dante’s father determined to keep their families apart. The love scenes are not what I would call edgy, though there are a few that might be considered PG 13.

Peterson deals in an outspokenly pro-Christian way with themes of forgiveness, family, and the need to trust God when trouble hits.

I found it hard to get into the book when I came across several early passages that felt like they needed more editing (e.g. Dante’s thoughts more detailed than natural thoughts would be, seemingly to give the reader background; an information dump about the particular kind of iron mined in the region that felt unrelated to the plot; and several passages that told instead of showed). However, once past those, the plot and characters captured me and I got carried away by the tale.

The Miner’s Lady is a romantic—and tasty—bit of Americana. The strong message of forgiveness adds value and a happy ending to this story with its shades of Romeo and Juliet.

I received The Miner’s Lady as a gift from the publisher, Bethany House (via Netgalley), for the purpose of writing a review. (Again, I struggled with the absence of all 'ff's in my Netgalley Kindle copy. It would be wonderful if they figured out how to fix this!)

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In October of 1890, after a year in Italy, Chantel Panetta has returned home to the mining town of Ely, Minnesota to learn that her younger sister, Isabella, intends to marry Orlando Calarco. The problem with their engagement is that the Panettas and Calarcos have been feuding for years, supposedly over the death of a mule. The young couple is certain that with time both families will accept their union. The Miner's Lady, by Tracie Peterson, is the story of the repercussions of the feud and its effect on the families. To further complicate their lives, Chantel finds herself attracted to another Calarco son.
As the result of a tragedy at the mine, hope surfaces that the two families can put the past behind them and find a way to make peace. The story takes several twists and turns. As the reader follows the characters through their struggles and hardship, it is apparent how important faith is to them.
This is a thoughtfully written novel which carefully examines what is defined as family. The Calarcos and Panettas each have their perceptions of loyalty, tolerance and respect. There is a lot at stake for the families and their story is beautifully written.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House and I give this review of my own free will. ( )