****NO SPOILERS BECAUSE THERE ARE ENOUGH REVIEWS WITH THAT ALREADY SO NO WORRIES ON THAT FRONT.
Solid 4.5 stars.
Okay,onto the review now. So if you are...more****NO SPOILERS BECAUSE THERE ARE ENOUGH REVIEWS WITH THAT ALREADY SO NO WORRIES ON THAT FRONT.
Solid 4.5 stars.
Okay,onto the review now. So if you are reading this book/looking into reading this book/deciding whether or not you want to read this book that someone has reccomended to you, then you have obviously read book one and book two and have fallen in love with Sophie and her family and friends, yes? No? Okay, first go read a brief history of montmaray and then the fitzosbornes in exile and then come back here to read this exciting and satisfying final conclusion to the previous novels.
Because that is what this book is. A conclusion. And yes, things happen. People die, people live, people fall in love, people fall out of love and some is easier to take then others and some is harder but if you love Sophie FitzOsborne, if you adore her, if you think they should build a statue of her in the park for all to see, if you wished Montmaray was real so you could go visit and walk the rocky land Sophie grew up on, if you even once tried attempting your own coded launguage, then this book (and previous novels) are for you. Honestly. This book is long, it's epic and it spans all the years of war. You will laugh, you will cry, you will clutch your chest in shock. But all in all, you will close the last page glad you had a chance to meet Sophie and her eccentric group of family and friends. And honestly, there is no better way I can rec a book, rec a series then that. Also, taken from the author's website, Sophie's motto for pretty much the entire series.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ I see lots of re-reads of this series in my future. ♥ ♥ ♥
This book was really, really good. It's a bit different then the romance novels I usually read. Most, I am not ashamed to it, are full o...moreSolid 4 stars.
This book was really, really good. It's a bit different then the romance novels I usually read. Most, I am not ashamed to it, are full of fluff and consists of attractive men and women meeting, falling in love/lust, conflict occurs that could easily be reminded by a simple conversation they never have, angry words are exchanged, someone is held hostage/or kidnapped/or almost killed by a wayward bullet/crazy madman until both parties realize how much they love each other and ride off happily into the sunset.
Not so with this book. For example, the first time they meet is the day Elizabeth's husband, Jack's childhood best friend, dies. But before he dies, he extracts a promise from the two of them to marry so Elizabeth, an orphan, will have stability and a roof over her head when he dies. Both promise and when Giles dies, they marry. But a day later, Jack leaves to go back to fight in Canada and Elizabeth is left at his home caring for his house and ill mother. For five years she waits for her husband, slowly falling in love with him through his letters and is devastated to hear of his exploits with women in Canada. By the time he returns, she has grown into a strong, confident woman and Jack realizes he might have just been the biggest fool in the world. And thus their story begins.
It's really, really good. This is one of the few romance books I've read where the hero and heroine actually talk. Anytime they have a problem or an issue or they feel a certain way about something -they talk. And, most importantly, they listen to the other person. (view spoiler)[For example, I really liked when Elizabeth asked Jack to tell her of the women he had slept with since their marriage because it was important for her to know everything, even if it was painful and Jack did and in doing so he realized just how his exploits had reached back to their tiny village to affect her and as such, it affected him (hide spoiler)].Watching these two grow as both individuals into better versions of themselves BECAUSE OF THE OTHER PERSON was my favorite part of this book. Also, the time setting of the book was very real and very true to life which I think is missing from a lot of books set in this time period. The time period INFLUENCED the plot line and the character's life which made it all that more real.
As I said before, this book is really well done. A real, satisfying read for those who enjoy stories with character development.
Still amazing the second time around. Although I will admit, the wrap up love scene could have been better. I'm not saying train scene better (though,...moreStill amazing the second time around. Although I will admit, the wrap up love scene could have been better. I'm not saying train scene better (though, that was epic and I'm not ashamed of all the re-winds I've done of it) but two pages? REALLY? When we had entire chapters dedicated to strikes and railroads she couldn't give us more then two pages??????? MY GAWDDDDD. I will say that, one of the main reasons I love this book so much is that it gives us a chance to see inside the head of the hero and his mother which is something I don't see a lot of in classics like this. Also Nicholas Higgins will always remain my favorite character of any literary book. That man. ♥ Oh, and my annoyance aside at the lack of the final love scene, we were still given this at the very end:
(view spoiler)["How shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?" she whispered, after some time of delicious silence.
"Let me speak to her."
"Oh, no! I owe to her,—but what will she say?"
"I can guess. Her first exclamation will be, "That man!"
"Hush!" said Margaret, "or I shall try and show you your mother's indignant tones as she says, "That woman!"
I had really been looking forward to this book since I met 16yr old Bane in The Lady of Bolton Hill but I found myself disappointed with this. It was...moreI had really been looking forward to this book since I met 16yr old Bane in The Lady of Bolton Hill but I found myself disappointed with this. It was good and full of action and I liked learning about how opium was such a big deal of American culture back then without ppl really noticing it but....I didnt love this story. Not like I did with her two previous novels.
Also, if you are escaping from a crazed madman who, in your own words, has connections all over the world, WHY DIDN'T YOU CHANGE YOUR NAME? I didn't understand that part. Bane is such a uncommon name that of course it is going to stand out. For such a smart guy, that was just stupid on Bane's behalf. Don't keep your nickname. FIRST RULE OF HIDING.(less)
I read this book three years ago and picked it up the other day, not realizing I had previously read it until I got home but I decided to give a re-re...moreI read this book three years ago and picked it up the other day, not realizing I had previously read it until I got home but I decided to give a re-read anyways and see what I thought the second time around and actually, I really enjoyed it.
The bare bones of this novel is that Lady Constance Morrow goes to the docks to say goodbye to the uncle that raised her (he's being deported to the colonies instead of killed for his crime), only to have the captain kidnap her and take her to the colonies as one of the tobacco brides.
She is mad, of course, but figures she can explain what happened when they get to the colonies and explain her situation and they will send her back home to England on the next ship. However, by the time the ship arrives in Virginia, her uncle is dead, the captain lies about how he got her and no one believes that she is a daughter of a earl so she is sold to a nasty man for 200 pounds of tobacco. Lucky for her, Drew O'Connor comes to save her (he won her in a games of cards) and takes her back to his house as a servant. Unfortunetly for him, however, unmarried women are not allowed to live in the house of a bachelor, never mind their wishes or wants and so before the next day is out, Drew and Constance are husband and wife. And thus the story begins.
It was good, for the most part. I haven't read many books about the colonies in the early 1600's and it was interesting to see how their daily lives were run in terms of sleeping, cooking, eating, working etc and their dealings with the native americans and their celebrations at Christmas. Drew's fear about the climate being really harsh on women, children and indentured servants proved true and the line he said about being originally one of nine children that was now done to four orphans really touched my heart.
I liked Constance and I liked that she stood up to both herself and others and that she tried hard to fit in the colony even though she failed at all the simple tasks in the beg. I liked Drew for the most part although sometimes his male pride and stubbornness made me want to smack him with something hard but he was a depiction of men at that time. There were certain times I grew annoyed with the pair of them (Really? Drew didn't speak/interact with his wife for four months even though they lived in a one room dwelling? I find that hard to believe), but for the most part, it was and intriguing and well written read. Glad I re-read it. (less)
Goodreads told me to read this like six months ago. And having read others by Karen Witemeyer before and enjoyed them (I really loved To Win Her Heart...moreGoodreads told me to read this like six months ago. And having read others by Karen Witemeyer before and enjoyed them (I really loved To Win Her Heart especially), I was excited to read this so when I saw it on the shelf at my little library, I grabbed it without question.
Unfortunetly, I wasn't impressed by this book. It was well written and overall I liked most of the characters but I kept finding my attention span drifting and I had to force myself to finish it. I just wasn't gripped by it. Was good but not going to re-read it again. (less)
Officially my favorite of the series. I already loved Winter from the three previous novels just because he was so quite and so reserved...more4 solid stars.
Officially my favorite of the series. I already loved Winter from the three previous novels just because he was so quite and so reserved so you knew his story had to be good and it totally was. Isabel was awesome as well and it was nice (view spoiler)[to see a heroine who had more sexual experience then the hero for once (hide spoiler)].
Will probably read the next one because I want to see what happens with Margaret but I doubt I will love it as much as I did this one. (less)
Now I get why, for the past two or three years everyone and their mother has been telling me to read this book. It was funny, heart wrenching and horr...moreNow I get why, for the past two or three years everyone and their mother has been telling me to read this book. It was funny, heart wrenching and horrific all at the same time. Also, in love with this author's way with words. Certain lines just GOT to me. (less)
Forget I read this at work during two lunch hours this week. It was a good stories. Like the two main characters and all the family members t...more3.5 stars
Forget I read this at work during two lunch hours this week. It was a good stories. Like the two main characters and all the family members that surrounded them. It was enjoyable.(less)
So this book was most excellent. I forgo-ed watching tv last night in order to finish it (which, if you know me is a big deal). The setting was fantas...moreSo this book was most excellent. I forgo-ed watching tv last night in order to finish it (which, if you know me is a big deal). The setting was fantastic and intriguing (now I want to read a book about Belmont Mansion and Adelicia Acklen!) and I loved all the characters. Really, really good read. I'd read it again. (less)
So I have a confession to make, I like religious books. Not like, religious, tiny text lot's of words religious books but I like ficti...moreSolid 3/5 stars.
So I have a confession to make, I like religious books. Not like, religious, tiny text lot's of words religious books but I like fictional books about different religions in different times of the world with their different belief's and different cultures -for some reason, they all fascinate me. And this book about Shakers in America in the mid 1800's was no different. I really liked Jessamine and her struggles with conforming with the Shaker's belief's. In fact, she was probably my favorite character, she was just so relateable. I liked the contrast between all the different Sister's (you had nice ones, mean ones, etc) and the action and adventure sequence at the end while unexpected, was very engaging. I like it.
This was good. This was really, really good. The whole theme of this book was dealing with pasts and how that affects how people treat you in your pre...moreThis was good. This was really, really good. The whole theme of this book was dealing with pasts and how that affects how people treat you in your present. I really love both Levi and Eden and I was rooting for them the whole time. I like how they both stood strong to their beliefs and though it took time and a lot of inwardly conversations, I believe those two grew and learned together and in the end, I was so glad they got their happy ending.
And can I just say, the fact that they letter wrote to each other in the earlier stages of their relationship and hid the letters in books that Levi checked out and returned daily was adorable? Honestly. Favorite part of the book. (less)
I picked this book up at work on a whim because the premise was intriguing. A woman switchboard operator, an undercover Texas Ranger -...moreSolid 3.5 stars.
I picked this book up at work on a whim because the premise was intriguing. A woman switchboard operator, an undercover Texas Ranger -what's not to enjoy? And for the most part, I really did like this book. Gist did her research well and it showed. I loved learning about the way switchboards and telephone wires worked back then and the way she pulled characteristics from real life Texan Rangers to give to Luke was really enjoyable. The whole romance between Luke and Georgie was sweet and PG-like. I didn't even mind all the bird talk that Georgie did -she liked birds and she didn't like them being murdered just to simply go onto hats as ornaments, I get it.
What I wished however, is more back story to both Georgie and Luke. I feel like we got a bit of Luke's but not enough of Georgie's (and honestly, not enough of Luke's too). I wanted to know more about her, her childhood, how she came to be one of the few woman switchboard etc. I wanted more of her character shown. And the ending was a bit rushed for me. And the epilogue was too far in the future for me to really enjoy. So hence the knocking down of a star. But all in all, a really interesting and different read. I'd read more by this author. Especially if she wrote a book on Bettina. I'd like to read her story. (less)
I feel awful for giving a book such a low grade (I don't think I've done that before) but to be honest, that is how I felt when I finished this story....moreI feel awful for giving a book such a low grade (I don't think I've done that before) but to be honest, that is how I felt when I finished this story. I really, really tried to read and enjoy this book, I truly did, but at the end of the day, I just did not like it.
Let's start off with the good parts:
-The premise. I initially liked twenty five year old Jeanne. I liked that she worked as a chamber maid and she supported her six year old daughter by herself. And yes, they lived in a shanty town and they didn't have much in the way of money or food or clothes but she loved her daughter and was, as everyone could clearly see, a respectable widow and good mother and I liked her for that. I liked that both she and Clint jointly inherited the riverboat from a cousin four times removed, I liked that Jeanne was the Captain and was able to pilot it from her childhood on her parents riverboat. It was a interesting and unusual premise. -The little girl, Marvel. Sometimes authors have a hard time writing children. They write them too old sounding or too young or they stick them in the background and only bring them out when they remember. Not the case on this one. If fact, Marvel was the only character I constantly enjoyed throughout this whole novel and part of the reason I continued reading into the end. Even though I ended up regretting it. -The background characters: Vince, Ezra, Roberty. They all breathed life into their characters and as a result, breathed life into the main characters which, was dearly needed. .
Now the bad: -Clint Hardin, the main male lead. I did not get this man. At all. And I read through his scenes quite a few times. Apparently, he had "lots" of female friends (that we never saw) and was a real ladies man (again, that we never saw) yet never bragged about his conquests (though apparently everyone in the book minus the heroine knew) and yet, somehow, was redeemed by Christ during this book (again, that we never really saw) and was determined to turn his life around and be a better person for Jeanne and her daughter. I have to admit though, I struggled to picture this character, he was too all over the place and it was hard to pin down his motives and reasons and by halfway through, I had given up on him. Which brings me to my next point... -Jeanne. I swear, this woman was the definition of hot and cold. One minute she's yelling at people for no reason, the next she's apologizing to them. She was constantly changing her mind, changing her thoughts, changing her wants and desires to the point that it was hard for me, the reader, to identify with her. She spends 70% of this book being courted by a wealthy man and then suddenly changed her mind one night and decides she loves Clint and goes and tells him so (Not even exaggerating on that one. She literally changes her mind in one evening and then goes and tells Clint). It's just really hard to like a character, to root for a couple, when you can't even understand their motives, when you can't understand what makes them tick. The main characters were too flat for me. I tried, I really tried but I could not figure them out. Which severely hampered my enjoyment of this novel. -There's a plot twist about 75% of the way through that I thought was unnecessary and just added drama where there didn't need to be (view spoiler)[her thought-to-be-dead-husband came back and got on board the boat and attempted to rape her and was accidently shot during the scuffle and they ended up going to court over it and it turned into this long, drawn out process that ultimately ended well... (hide spoiler)]. It just didn't fit the earlier part of the story. At all. In my opinion, it should have ended 150 pages sooner. The last bit was hard(er) then usually to get through then the first half.
In conclusion I suppose if you are a fan of Christian fiction or a fan of this particular author or if you want a story about a woman piloting a river boat, feel free to pick it up. Other then that, don't bother. It's not worth your time.
Okay, confession here. I didn't want to read this book. Honestly. After reading a few books of this series earlier last year and other then...more4.5 stars.
Okay, confession here. I didn't want to read this book. Honestly. After reading a few books of this series earlier last year and other then book four (which I LOVED LOVED LOVED), I didn't want to read more of this series if she hadn't even started on Lyon and Olivia book. Why would I put myself through all that? Why read random relatives/acquaintances if she hadn't even set a date for L&O? But then I saw this on the new shelf when I was in my little neighborhood library last week and like a moth to a flame, I checked it out.
AND I'M SO GLAD I DID.
Seriously. This book was so good and so well written and random relatives/acquaintances aside, I fell in love with Evie and Adam. I love that he was the Vicar and he was a really good Victor for the parish and a good man and I adored him and Evie coming together and facing their demons and societies expectations re: a courtesan (because dear god, WHO WOULD EVER BE FRIENDS WITH A FALLEN WOMAN?) and just...ugh. I liked that Evie really wanted to make friends but she didn't change herself to be friends with the women of the parish. And I really liked the few scenes when she was telling the younger women to just be themselves around men in order to get their attention, that was really refreshing for a romance novel. Especially this scene between Adam and one of his young parishioners:
"I fear I will never appeal to anyone." The words were low and choked.
And he knew the admission cost her. For he knew how much she admired him. Which was how he knew she sincerely wanted his help, for her pride was formidable.
"Miss Pitney, why do you suppose Envy is one of the Deadly sins?"
Her head jerked up again, eyes narrowed.
"It's a sin against yourself. It harms you and blinds you to many things, including good intentions. God saw fit to make you perfect the way you are. Not more or less perfect than someone else- perfect as you are. You need to believe it for the right person to see it. And the feeling when you are truly seen for who you are...it simply cannot be mistaken."
It was a different subject mixing religion and God into a romance novel along with a former prostitute I think but it was tackled really well and by the end of the book, I just ADORED IT. JUST ADORED IT. Not as much as I loved book #4 however, but a close second.
(also, if anyone cares, we do get a couple scenes with Adam talking to his cousin Olivia about Lyon so there is that)
So read this. Even if you are burnt out on the series/just want to get to Olivia and Lyon's book already make an attempt and READ THIS. You won't regret it. I didn't.(less)
This was a good read. I love marriage of convenience stories and this one, set as the couple traveled to Oregon was no exception. Both characters felt...moreThis was a good read. I love marriage of convenience stories and this one, set as the couple traveled to Oregon was no exception. Both characters felt real and life like and I enjoyed how they struggled with their growing feelings towards each other admist the long travel west filled with Indians, cholera, little food and water etc. It was well done.
It was interesting read from a history POV because, the 1893 Chicago WORLD FAIR!!! and the stuff about deaf and the battle between lip reading and sig...moreIt was interesting read from a history POV because, the 1893 Chicago WORLD FAIR!!! and the stuff about deaf and the battle between lip reading and sign language was intriguing. But at the same time, I found the two main characters too boring and too down to earth to really hold my interest. I liked both of them but at 400 pages, I needed a bit more drama and internal battle between the pair to make it worth my while to read. Some parts I was just reading just to get through because I wanted to get to the end already.(less)
Ok. Yeah, I think this is my favorite Heyer of the three I've read so far of her. I loved both Serena and Ivo and the situation they are put in due to...moreOk. Yeah, I think this is my favorite Heyer of the three I've read so far of her. I loved both Serena and Ivo and the situation they are put in due to the terms of her father's Trust. I love that, in spite of EVERYTHING, they are such good friends and they just understand each other even when others (even others who love them dearly and want to understand them which was the case of Fanny), just can't. Because the only people who truly understand and see the flaws of Ivo and Serena are Ivo and Serena. I liked the cast of external players in this story as well, they added a lot of amusement and enjoyment to it. It's funny because in 80% of this novel the hero and heroine are apart which in any other romance, regency novel would be a no no for me but Heyer spins such a good and intriguing tale that I just didn't care and actually having them apart added to tale imo because you got a chance to see what the heroine thought of the hero when she talked about him to her mother-in-law, or you got a chance to see the hero's feelings when he was talking to her suitor and I dunno, it just worked for them. IT MADE ME BELIEVE.
Ok. Not the worst book but not the best. I liked the road trip the two characters went on with the male leads sister but I didnt quite feel the love b...moreOk. Not the worst book but not the best. I liked the road trip the two characters went on with the male leads sister but I didnt quite feel the love between the two main characters but the setting was interesting and I liked all the secondary characters. Good book to distract me from my studies though.(less)
"To her, he was the last man; for him, she seemed the only woman. Could fate have fashioned a more perfect twist or held him in any more derision?" -p...more"To her, he was the last man; for him, she seemed the only woman. Could fate have fashioned a more perfect twist or held him in any more derision?" -pg 148.
I wish I could put into words how much I adore this book. I started reading all the Jane Austen's sequels and AU's and spin off's probably about five or six years ago and haven't stop since. Some of them are good, some are okay and some make you want to stab your eyes out with a fork at the careless regard done to these beloved characters. But this one, dear lord THIS BOOK, remains my all time favorite of the bunch. (And when I say a bunch, I mean it). Told from Darcy's POV from his disastrous proposal at Kent to the redemption at Pemberley to the adventures with Wickham, it follows the story of P&P quite well but fleshes out Darcy's character in the best way possible. I love seeing him grow from that proud haughty man at Rosings to the kind of man that will fish with Mr. Gardiner because he is trying to be a more humble human being to him letting Georginia grow and blossom because she is turning into a young lady to his hopes and dreams with Elizabeth maybe perhaps re-wakening and him not knowing what to do with himself. It is all well done and I love this book more then I ever could have imagined all those years ago when I picked it up. A must read for any P&P fan. Seriously.
*Note, while this is the third in the trilogy please feel free to skip both one and two and just read this one. The second novel is the worst as it takes place that winter Darcy and Elizabeth are apart and involves a murder, Gothic mystery and no Elizabeth in sight -all of which made me stop reading it halfway through and with no desire to go back. The first one is good as it takes place from Darcy joining Bingley at Netherfield to Darcy's& Elizabeth's initial meeting in Hertfordshire to the rest of autumn but it does not have the satisfying redemption and ending that this one has. So if you only wanted to read one, READ THIS ONE.
I picked this book up on a whim because it said "Mail Order Cowboy" and while I've read quite a few stories about mail order brides, I've never read o...moreI picked this book up on a whim because it said "Mail Order Cowboy" and while I've read quite a few stories about mail order brides, I've never read one about mail order grooms so this caught my eye. And was a good enough story to keep my attention span.
It's been less then a year since the Civil War ended and for many of the men in Simpson Creek, they did not come home. So the single ladies of the town decide to band together and form a group and place a ad in the paper inviting men to come out to Simpson Creek and meet them. What I liked the most about the group was that all the girls got along and they all played fair. When they got replies back they drew straws to see who would get the chance to write to the men but at the same time they agreed that when the men came to visit, they could choose any of the women. I liked that. There was a sense of sisterhood with this group which, knowing the Civil War had just happened, felt real and true to life.
The first man to see their add, Nicholas Brookfield, third son of a British viscount comes into town and is immediately taken with Millie Matthews. Add in Comanche Indian attacks, racism against newly released former black slaves and ghosts from Nick's past and you have a really good love story set against the background of what I just mentioned.
Very well done. I kinda want to read the other stories in this series, just to see what else is in store for the brides of Simpson Creek. (less)
This was cute. Albeit predictable at times but still very, very cute and enjoyable. The romance was sweet between the leads and the twins were adorabl...moreThis was cute. Albeit predictable at times but still very, very cute and enjoyable. The romance was sweet between the leads and the twins were adorable seven year old. This series is really well done as a whole. Every book leaves me happy when I close the last page. Its nothing new as far as plot goes, but it has goos writing and lively characters.(less)
It was good and a engaging read once I got all the characters figured out but the ending seemed a bit unbelievable to me. It had a lot, A LO...more3/5 stars.
It was good and a engaging read once I got all the characters figured out but the ending seemed a bit unbelievable to me. It had a lot, A LOT of characters and trying to keep track of them all in the beginning was hard - at one point I made a list just so I knew who was who. It got easier about a quarter of the way in and I really liked seeing all five woman from different walks of life come together and blossom and raise families and marry during wartime. That said, the flashbacks from the present were not enough and I wish we were given more information on the women and their families after the war. But all in all, not a bad read. Just not positive I would want to read it again. (less)
Review to come. But, pleasantly surprised with this novel.
Okay, so I don't know why but I am hooked on this Simpson Creek series. I tried this one thi...moreReview to come. But, pleasantly surprised with this novel.
Okay, so I don't know why but I am hooked on this Simpson Creek series. I tried this one thinking I wouldn't like it as much as the first and while it took me awhile to get into it, but the end I was flying through.
I had previously liked Sarah from her sister Milly's story but in this book of her own, she just increased tenfold. You got a chance to see her strong and brave and resourceful and I really liked that. I also liked the background of this story. How Dr. Nolan is a Yankee and so Sarah hates him on sight (this is post Civil War Texas after all) but through time they start to open up to each other and see how right they are for the other. Add in a influenza epidemic, return of lost loves, a crazy mad woman and a group of rustlers and this book was just as adventurous as the first.
The only thing I dislike about this series, is I feel you really need to read them in order otherwise you miss out on key details or key emotions that you wouldn't get if you read it out of order. For instance, we had meet Sarah (and Nolan at the end) in the previous book and so while I already knew and liked them, I found myself loving them by the end of this one which I'm not sure would have happened if I had read this as a stand alone. Also the author talks about the other townspeople and throws out names and facts that make more sense, if again you read this series in order. And lastly, she does a good set up for the next novel in each book. For instance, we saw a lot of Prissy and her struggles in this book which make me very excited to soon start her story in book three. So, very smart of the author to make these all connect in a really good way but not good if you read them as standalones. There is just too much going on.(less)
This was pretty good. Even though I knew how they book was going to turn out by the first chapter (view spoiler)[Mary dies before reaching Kansas, Tar...moreThis was pretty good. Even though I knew how they book was going to turn out by the first chapter (view spoiler)[Mary dies before reaching Kansas, Tarsie and Joss marry due to her last wishes, Joss finds God etc (hide spoiler)], it was still really well done and I really enjoy the way this author writes from many different points of view to get the story across. Nor were the POV's preachy or anything like that. I didn't feel like I was forced to except things as GOD'S WAY as is the case with other Christian fiction I've read.
I liked this. I will have to look up more by this author next time I'm in my library.(less)
This book was good. Long with a lot of characters but quite enjoyable. I loved the vivid descriptions of places and the different characters and...more3.5/5
This book was good. Long with a lot of characters but quite enjoyable. I loved the vivid descriptions of places and the different characters and the way they interacted with each other. Percy was a really good and well drawn out character and seeing him come into his own and find his heart content made me happy. The references to God and his works were well done as well, not too heavy handed or all mighty as I've found in some Christian books. Would re-read this book again!
This is good. The year is 1977. Amalise Catoir, a lawyer, is currently recovering from the death of her abusive husband. In love with her be...more3/5 stars.
This is good. The year is 1977. Amalise Catoir, a lawyer, is currently recovering from the death of her abusive husband. In love with her best friend Jude, who is seeing her friend and fellow lawyer Rebecca, she is learning how to move on and cope with her life. On her first day back at work after her time off, she is handed a large project -The Black Diamond. The project is a large, lots of acres resort/hotel that is going to be bring in a lot of revenue and taxes for the city. Only problem is is that where they want to build the homes is where families and churches and neighborhoods live. So Amalise's firm is in charge of helping keep this matter quiet until the head honcho's can buy off all the families in the area before the public catches wind of what is going on. Amalise struggles with this. More so when she meets Luke, a 6 year Cambodian foster child who lives with his foster family smack down in the middle of the proposed project. Suddenly she finds herself having to make a choice, having to make a stand.
The pacing of this story was slow, a lot slower then I am normally accustomed to and there was a lot of lawyer jargon that I am not familiar with but could see someone with a background in law firms understanding. However, this book is character driven and I really enjoyed that. Young Luke is well down (I really enjoyed his flashbacks from 1975, they helped to understand him more and realize the horrors he went through) and both Amalise and Jude and later on, Bingham (the man in charge of the project) are all fleshed out with their flaws and strengths. It showed that not everything is black and white, there are several shades of gray.
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