Rebecca's Legacy review and giveaway!

What will it take to teach a spoiled heiress that the greatest legacy is love?
Nancy and Robert Emerson’s daughter Amy Juliana is doing her best to follow in Mom’s rebellious footsteps.
Her desperate attempt to escape Dad’s control comes at the worst possible time. A threat against their family and Sanderson Industries has Robert Emerson taking extra steps to guarantee his family’s safety. He sends Amy, an heiress and a debutante, to the country to work on a produce farm run by Aunt Rebecca. Humiliated and angry, Amy contemplates a path that will lead her even farther from home, away from Dad’s protection.
Will Aunt Rebecca’s quiet strength and unconditional love be enough to still the prodigal daughter’s rebellious ways, and open her heart to the plight of others around her?
Matt Wordsworth is the man Robert calls upon to help keep his daughter in line. She thinks the guy is an old fuddy-duddy. By the time her ideas about him begin to change, it may be too late. When an old friend tests her loyalty, she is forced to face her past to overcome a guilty conscience. But, is she playing into the hands of the enemy?

My thoughts: This is a charming story that pulled me in from the get go, with it's unique characters, multiple POV, and historical background. I thought that Betty did a fabulous job of bringing the characters to life from the very beginning, writing a solid story with a thought provoking story line. I enjoyed this book tremendously and look forward to reading more by Betty!
I received this book from Celebrate Lit. My review is my honest opinion of the book.

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About the Author
Betty Thomason Owens has been writing for almost thirty years. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and serves on the planning committee of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. Her writing credits include Amelia’s Legacy and Carlotta’s Legacy, in the Legacy Series, Annabelle’s Ruth and Sutter’s Landing, in the southern historical Kinsman Redeemer Series. When she’s not writing, Owens is a part-time bookkeeper, who loves to travel and spend time with her family.

Guest Post from Betty
Amy Juliana Emerson’s birth occurred about halfway through book one of the Legacy series, Amelia’s Legacy. I knew even then—this girl was going to be special. She had inherited her father’s smile with a dimple in her cheek. Amy Julianna was destined to be a daddy’s girl.
In Book 3, Rebecca’s Legacy, Amy comes of age. It’s 1947, and she’s graduating high school—barely—her grades took a nosedive during her senior year. In typical teenage fashion, she chafes against her parents’ authority and decides that Amy knows best how Amy should live. Those of you who read Amelia’s Legacy may think that sounds familiar. Yes, she’s a lot like her mother.
Amy submits to Dad’s orders while she devises a plan for a complete break from the famous Emerson clan. One that will end with her freedom, once for all. Her plan might have succeeded, if it hadn’t been rudely interrupted by a—oh, wait, I can’t tell you that—it would spoil the story!
I love this book. I was captivated by its young heroine from the moment she began her self-motivational chanting that ends with, “be a queen.” She uses it to reset after a troubling circumstance. She also uses it when she needs to make the best possible first impression.
Matthew Wordsworth caught on right away. This girl is a princess who needs a “set-down”. And Matt has no doubt it will happen at some point.
Amy is an American princess, very much in the limelight. All of Springfield has witnessed her humiliation and near failure. Now, they watch as she submits to her dad’s authority. What will happen to this willful girl with the sullied reputation?
Amy is waiting for her chance to break free. She may be down, but don’t count her out. She may be on the wrong person’s radar in imminent trouble, but the Emersons have a backup plan.
I loved writing Amy’s story. She’s unpredictable and a bit of a firecracker, but she’s vulnerable, too. Her character surprised me at times. She had a goodness that worked its way to the top and finally won.
That’s one of my favorite things about writing by the seat of your pants—the unpredictability—it ignites my interest as I write, and keeps me moving ahead, even when I don’t know where the story will take me.

Gert’s Diner’s English Chess Pie*
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ butter, melted
1 cup chopped English walnuts
1 unbaked 9-inch pastry shell
Whipped cream (optional)
Combine sugars and flour in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, milk, vanilla and butter, beating well. Stir in nuts. Pour filling into unbaked pastry shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until set. Cool slightly (best when served warm). Serve with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

*Gert’s Diner is the fictional café where Matt and Amy stop for lunch en route to Perry’s Landing.

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