Well. What to say about this book? Prior to downloading this book to my Kindle, I had read some reviews of the author's work on the Amazon US site (an...moreWell. What to say about this book? Prior to downloading this book to my Kindle, I had read some reviews of the author's work on the Amazon US site (and I should mention that she sometimes writes under the name Sicily Yoder) and had discovered most of them to be incredibly negative. When this book popped up free on Kindle, I actually wanted to read something for myself to see whether the reviews were justified. Unfortunately, they are.
This is advertised as a short story, but confusingly, it has a prologue, then chapter one...then nothing else. I think all of the book fell under the Chapter One heading. I kind of want to say that the storyline had promise, but needed to be developed over the course of an entire novel, not a 48-page story, but given the way the story developed, I'm not sure if there really is any possibility of improving it.
From what I could tell (and this story is confusing, so it was difficult to figure out what was going on at times), the story centres around an Amish girl named Amy who is planning to visit the English world during her rumspringa, because her beau, Nelson, was caught kissing another girl and she wants to make him jealous or impress him or somehow win him back by leaving their community. Her reasoning was unclear. The start of the story is incredibly confusing, a mixture of Amy daydreaming about becoming a model and meeting a pop star (I think?) and the some flashbacks about pushing her rival into a watering hole. I'm also not sure how she managed to buy the pink VW Beetle that she plans to drive when she leaves the Amish.
Anyway, then she's informed by the bishop - personally, not with all the other teens - that the church has decided to stop rumspringa. She tells him about Nelson kissing another girl and he says something like "These things happen", which made no sense - what kind of Amish bishop brushes away infidelity like that? Even if Amy and Nelson aren't married or promised, I highly doubt a bishop would treat the situation like that.
There's a bizarre scene where Amy is watching Nelson and other kids play baseball. People are cheering them on when they win, which doesn't sit well with what I've heard about the Amish playing games for fun and not encouraging pride in any particular skill. She also has a twisted ankle that lasts for the remainder of the story, but with no indication of where it came from. The most confusing part of this scene was that it seemed like Amy and Nelson were still attending school, when they're meant to be 16. The Amish don't attend school past 8th grade, so this made no sense at all.
There's some confusing sub-plot about Amy's mother having lung cancer, brought on from smoking, but then it seems to be suggested that she made up the cancer in order to stop Amy leaving? This was never concluded. I was surprised that a) no one in the church had discovered Amy's mum smoked and reported her to the bishop and b) she was so comfortable with Nelson seeing her smoking. But then again, this story isn't exactly an accurate depiction of the Amish.
In case you do decide to read this story, I won't spoil the twist in the plot, but it did seem to have some sort of vague possibility of actually being interesting, except for the confusing part about how Amy's mum managed to convince everyone she was Amish and about the children she left behind in the English world for 16 years? It seemed like the author had a good idea but didn't have time to develop it into something realistic.
There's something confusing about how Sally (an Amish woman whose place in the story will make sense if you read it) pretends to be dead in Amy's car so that Amy won't leave the Amish, and this wasn't developed very well either. It also seemed like the bishop - who discovered Sally - lived very close to Amy's house, but then she drives there on another occasion, so I wasn't sure. Maybe they just drove because of her ankle? That would be an unusual case of continuity.
In the end, Nelson is impressed by Amy's decision to go to the English world even though rumpsringa has been banned, and he chooses her over the other girl. Amy is happy with this and decides to donate her VW to some sort of charity. I'm not even going to bother analysing how bizarre it is that Nelson chooses the girl who wants to leave the Amish, and this makes her want to stay, and they're both happy with this.
I also need to comment on the number of spelling mistakes in this book, and the confusing switches between the present day, some flashbacks (I think?) and Amy's daydreams. Even if the plot had made more sense, these still detracted from the reading of the story and made it difficult to understand.
I'm going to be positive, and give this book 1* rather than 0.5*, because I think the plot about Amy and her mother and their past did have the possibility to be interesting, if it had been developed properly. But I wouldn't recommend this story, unless the author completely rewrote it, developed the story further and invited outside editors and proof-readers to help her make it into something more appropriate for publication. (less)
This was a really sweet story, if a bit contrived in places. I actually ended up walking a partially-blind friend home last night (his sight is affect...moreThis was a really sweet story, if a bit contrived in places. I actually ended up walking a partially-blind friend home last night (his sight is affected by light, so he can see well in daylight but not at all at nighttime) and I think this book gave me a better appreciation for what it means to be blind. I definitely preferred this book to the other one I've read by this author, An Amish Christmas, but I still found it a bit predictable in places. But I did like reading about all the secondary characters who had appeared in previous books and would like to go back and get to know the other characters better someday. All in all, a sweet book if you don't mind a bit of predictability. 3.5*(less)
I think I need some time to properly process my thoughts on this book, but ultimately, it's one of the best books I've read in recent years. This isn'...moreI think I need some time to properly process my thoughts on this book, but ultimately, it's one of the best books I've read in recent years. This isn't a feminist rant attempting to destroy Christianity; it's an honest attempt by a Christian woman who wants to truly understand what God's intentions are for female believers. I cannot empathise how honest Rachel is about her flaws, failures, misconceptions and personal prejudices, not to mention her difficulties at carrying out certain aspects of her year of biblical womanhood. And despite these prejudices, she's surprisingly unbiased when interviewing or talking about women involved in more conservative or unusual Christian groups, such as polygamists or the patriarchy movement. I know there are those women who will never pick up this book because they think it will offend them, but as a woman who intends to be a housewife and stay-at-home mother for hopefully the rest of my life, I can confidently say that Rachel's writing both challenged my assumptions about what the Bible has to say to women and reaffirmed the way I'm living out my marriage and my life. It was also just a general encouragement to my faith and the way I read the Bible, so this isn't only a book for married women. Seriously, give this book a try. Rachel Held Evans might be a famous author and blogger, but she's a Christian woman, struggling to understand the Bible and apply it to her life, just like us. Definitely being awarded 5*. (less)
I've not read a ton of Marta Perry's novels, but those that I have read I've thoroughly enjoyed. Her characters are always engaging and her conflicts...moreI've not read a ton of Marta Perry's novels, but those that I have read I've thoroughly enjoyed. Her characters are always engaging and her conflicts are always realistic, which can definitely be said for this book.
I loved the setting, and although the novel was fairly short, I came to care about the inhabitants of Button Gap and the visitors to the free clinic. I felt like I connected better with Maggie than I did with Grant, but that often happens with romance novels. And the children were adorable! But more than that, they functioned as a way of bringing Maggie and Grant together. I know there are some romance readers who get fed up with children appearing in books just to make the reader say "Aww" but most of the time, I find that the children are the catalyst for the hero and heroine forming a relationship.
I did wish that Grant's backstory had been explored a bit more. I think the secret about his brother might have been held back to make Grant seem more mysterious, but ultimately, it kind of seemed like the author had just forgot to explore it initially so it made it seem a little bit thrown-in at the end. I also found the conclusion to the book to be rather rushed. Although obviously I wanted Maggie and Grant to get together, I still felt like they had a long way to come in their relationship in the last few chapters, then suddenly, all of their problems were thrown out the window and they were jumping into a bit commitment together? Christian romance novels don't always have to end in a wedding! It just didn't seem entirely realistic, considering that they'd only known each other for a month and had struggled to trust each other for that entire time.
Although a few sections of this book felt a bit rushed or skipped-over, this was a truly sweet Christmas read. The characters were realistically flawed and the setting was wonderful. If Marta has written any other books set in Button Gap, I'll definitely be looking out for them. 4*(less)
PROS: Realistic emotions displayed as characters come to terms with their new lives
CONS: Christmas is barely featured; plot...moreRATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 - GOOD
PROS: Realistic emotions displayed as characters come to terms with their new lives
CONS: Christmas is barely featured; plot is a little contrived
A Plain and Fancy Christmas has a similar balance of Amish and English characters, but I doubt that many readers will be able to relate to the characters in this novella as much as they did with An Amish Christmas. The story centres around two young women, one Amish and one English, who discover that they were accidentally swapped at birth in the hospital where they were born. Rachel Yoder has always felt slightly out of place in her Amish family, but she decides not to act upon the letter that informs her of her true parentage. Following the death of her husband, her eleven-year-old daughter, Katie, is the most important thing in her life, and she doesn’t plan to uproot Katie from the community she was raised in. Ellie Lawrence, on the other hand, can’t help but be curious about her real parents, and leaves her home and high-flying career in New York to visit Lancaster County. What follows is an exploration of the emotions each family faces upon the news that their daughters are not really their own, and how they go about integrating their newfound family member into their lives. Ellie finds relief away from the stress of her city life, but knows that she couldn’t ever become Amish. Rachel’s family is worried that visiting her biological parents in New York might provide dangerous temptations, and as much as she comes to care for her new family, she doesn’t know if she’s doing the right thing by exposing Katie to such a different world from the one she knows. Ultimately, Ellie and Rachel have a lot of soul-searching to do in order to figure out who they truly are.
A Plain and Fancy Christmas is far more fanciful than An Amish Christmas, and although I’m sure this storyline has been attempted before in many other genres, this was my first experience of the switched-at-birth plot. I was pleasantly surprised at how the author handled the emotions of Rachel and Ellie, and their respective families. I felt like I got more insight into Rachel’s family members than Ellie’s, but there was a lot of exploration into Ellie finding out who she really was, and that made up for the lack of development of her family members. Naturally, I have no experience of how to deal with the sudden realisation that someone who has been part of your family for twenty-eight years isn’t related to you, and that you have another child you never knew about. But I did feel that the emotions displayed by each family seemed realistic, considering the circumstances. They still considered the child they raised to be their own, but they wanted to welcome the other child into their family, despite how awkward it might feel. I could understand Rachel’s jealousy at how well her mother got on with Ellie, and Ellie’s parents desire to show Rachel all the exciting things about their life, without realising how many of the things they wanted to share conflicted with her beliefs.
I will admit that some of the situations in the novella felt rather contrived, but in a way, they seemed necessary in order for the story to progress. This simply wouldn’t have been a terribly interesting novella if Ellie hadn’t been struggling with her fast-paced city life and been in need of an escape, as was provided by her family in Lancaster County. How much fun would it have been to read about an English woman who was bemused by her Amish relatives and retreated to her life in New York, having no contact with her other family besides the occasional Christmas card? Although Amish novels that feature Englishers getting respite on an Amish farm could be said to project the image that fast-paced city life is bad, and everyone should leave it all behind and become Amish, there simply wouldn’t be these novels if authors didn’t write about characters who are struggling with life in the English world. And I’m sure there are plenty of young women, like Ellie, who are struggling to keep up with the pressures of today’s society. Although my life is very different from Ellie’s, I imagine that there will be some readers who can relate to her desire to escape their fast-paced careers and attempt something different, without becoming Amish. The situations presented in this book may be entirely implausible and a little contrived, but the emotions displayed by the characters made me care about the outcome of their difficult situations. Although not as relatable to the general reader as An Amish Christmas, A Plain and Fancy Christmas was an enjoyable, escapist read. Although I must warn potential readers that very little of this novella takes place in winter, unlike An Amish Christmas, but it does conclude with a Christmas scene.
GENRE: AMISH ROMANCE PUBLISHER: THOMAS NELSON PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 2, 2012 RATING: 5 OUT OF 5 – NEAR PERFECT
PROS: Realistic portrayal of the Amish;...moreGENRE: AMISH ROMANCE PUBLISHER: THOMAS NELSON PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 2, 2012 RATING: 5 OUT OF 5 – NEAR PERFECT
PROS: Realistic portrayal of the Amish; continues the series’ exploration of more taboo topics; progression of Danielle’s faith was believable; loved the way Vera’s character evolved; good presentation of a young couple making marriage work
CONS: None!
Danielle Kent has had a difficult life, but it seems like things are looking up for now that she’s found a new family, got a job at a local restaurant and dating a handsome Amish man who has made plans to become English. Matthew Lapp has assured Danielle that he loves her, so when she discovers that she’s pregnant, she assumes that he’ll leave his family and settle down with her, even if it is sooner than they’d planned. What she doesn’t expect is for him to break her heart and leave behind both his Amish family and his unborn child. How can she raise this baby, alone and at the age of eighteen?
Levi Detweiler has been Danielle’s best friend ever since she moved to Canaan and began attending Amish church services with her new family. His heart also breaks when he hears that Matthew refuses to take responsibility for his child. Although he’s never considered leaving the Amish faith, he finds himself inexplicably called to marry Danielle and raise the child as his own, through a series of dreams and signs that he can only assume have come from God.
Not everyone is happy about Danielle and Levi’s decision to marry, least not Levi’s Amish family, who are convinced that he’s ruining his life by leaving the faith. Levi is sure that he can keep his faith while being married to an outsider, but even Danielle feels uncomfortable with all that Levi is giving up to be with her. Can they really make this marriage work? And is it truly the best thing for Danielle’s unborn child?
Out-of-wedlock pregnancy isn’t a topic I’ve seen explored in many Amish novels, particularly when the mother herself isn’t Amish. But if anyone can tackle this sort of topic, it’s Beth Wiseman. Although I enjoyed the slow-moving, rather conventional romantic plots of her Daughters of the Promise series, I appreciate that she’s delving into more serious topics (rape, adultery, out-of-wedlock pregnancy) in the Land of Canaan series. While it’s nice to escape into an idealised, simplistic view of Amish life, some novels portray the Amish as being a little bit too perfect, so I’m glad that Beth is here to remind us the Amish struggle with the same issues as the rest of the world.
That said, I don’t want to scare typical Amish readers into thinking this series may be too serious or heavy compared to other books in the genre. His Love Endures Forever may examine the ramifications of premarital sex and the difficulties the Amish face when they leave the faith, but it also contains many of the typical features of Amish fiction. There’s still the overwhelming sense of community, even in a small settlement like Canaan. I loved the way that, despite their disapproval of Levi and Danielle’s relationship, Levi’s family rallied around Danielle when she had pregnancy complications, and how Emily and Martha helped Danielle to improve her housekeeping and cooking skills. The importance of forgiveness, always associated with the Amish, also resonated throughout the story.
I wasn’t sure how the spiritual aspect of the novel was going to pan out, considering how little faith Danielle had at the start of the book, but I felt that her beliefs progressed in a realistic manner. Christian novels tend to shy away from exploring relationships in which one person has little or no faith, or they present such a relationship as doomed from the start. Occasionally, they avoid this awkward topic by having the faithless character suddenly turn to God just before the wedding. Life isn’t like that; and I would know, since my husband didn’t truly develop his own faith in God until six months before we got married. I appreciated that Beth chose to show how Levi and his family gently guided Danielle in her faith without being too pushy or overbearing.
The progression of Danielle’s faith also made a previously unlikable character all the more relatable. Initially, I found Levi’s mother, Vera, to be rather caricatured in her disapproval of Levi’s relationship with Danielle. But as she helped Danielle throughout the latter stages of her pregnancy and unintentionally guided her along her faith journey, I came to appreciate Vera’s personal worries about her grown son and the decisions he was making. By the end of the novel, I’d come to care for Vera just as much as I did Danielle, in spite of her previously unkind and narrow-minded treatment of Levi and Danielle’s relationship. Her turnaround in character never felt sudden or forced, and even I was quite surprised that Beth was able to show such different sides of a person in one single book.
Danielle and Levi’s relationship didn’t take the form of a conventional romance, since they were friends long before the start of the book and are essentially thrown into a romantic relationship when Danielle discovers that she’s pregnant. I expected their marriage to come across as one of convenience, almost like a historical mail-order bride story or another similar plot device. It’s hard to describe how their relationship truly did progress, other than to say that it’s clear that Danielle and Levi had always had feelings for each other, but didn’t realise it until they were catapulted into a romantic relationship. I appreciated that, despite their unconventional situation, they were able to make their relationship work with relatively little difficulty. A lot of Christian novels fall into the stereotype of portraying the first year of marriage, in any situation, as being ridiculously hard, so it was a nice change to see a young couple making their relationship work and not letting the little things (Danielle’s poor cooking abilities, the work still needing to be completed on their house) bother them.
Although I loved the conclusion to His Love Endures Forever, I truly hope this isn’t the final Land of Canaan novel. There were some hints about members of Levi’s family returning to Pennsylvania, and I did wonder if Sarah (an Amish girl that Levi courted before he married Danielle) might someday get a story of her own. Either way, I’m sure I’ll be reading Beth’s next Amish novel, regardless of the setting or characters. As His Love Endures Forever demonstrates, Beth never fails to produce realistic stories with believable characters whose struggles truly resonate with the reader.
I debating between whether to give this book a 4 or a 4.5, but as much as I enjoyed it, it hasn't really stuck in my head a few weeks after finishing...moreI debating between whether to give this book a 4 or a 4.5, but as much as I enjoyed it, it hasn't really stuck in my head a few weeks after finishing it, so I think I'm going to give it 4*. As it is, it was the perfect, easy book to read while I was working on a rather stressful piece of coursework. I'll probably get around to reading the rest of the series at some point. (less)
This is an amazing resource for educating yourself on the history of the Christian Fiction genre. Particularly useful for someone like me, who only re...moreThis is an amazing resource for educating yourself on the history of the Christian Fiction genre. Particularly useful for someone like me, who only really discovered the genre in 2010 and has a lot of catching up to do. Mort divides his book into chapters defined by genre (Biblical, Historical, Romance, Mystery, etc) and also devotes some chapters to Mormon, Quaker, Catholic and Amish fiction - the latter is rather lacking as this book was published in 2002, long before the genre became what it is today.
This book is mainly aimed at librarians, but I'm using it to brush up my knowledge of certain genres and authors prior to writing my MA thesis on changing attitudes towards Christian fiction in the US from the 1960s to the present day. The only real difficulty with this book being aimed at librarians is that occasionally he lists the date of the most recent publication of the book, not the original, and he skips the publisher altogether if the book is out of print, which means I'll have to do extra research if I want to refer to an older book.
It doesn't seem like this book has ever been updated or rereleased since its publication in 2002, which is a pity as this could be an amazing resource if it were updated every five years or so. As such, this book is missing out on some genres that have appeared in the last few years: paranormal fiction (yes, it does exist within the Christian market), Amish/Mennonite/Shaker fiction, cozy mysteries, etc.
If you're a librarian or teacher, I'd definitely recommend this book for developing your knowledge of the Christian market. It's also useful for newcomers to the genre (either readers or writers) who need to educate themselves. It's very easy to skim through the book, picking out genres or authors of particular interest. Mort uses symbols to point out which books won awards, can be read by teenagers, contributed something special to the genre, or are good for bookclubs. He also gives a brief overview of "classic" Christian fiction (pre-1960) and links in authors who write with a Christian worldview or about Christian characters but aren't linked to the CBA or ECPA. Likewise, he also references Christian authors who write for the mainstream market, either exclusively or alongside the CBA.
Overall, great resource, but I imagine it's normally rather expensive. I got an ex-library copy from Amazon Marketplace for something ridiculous like £4 including P&P from the States, for which I'm very grateful! 4*(less)
This book wasn't quite as useful as I expected it to be, but the chapters that specifically focused on religion in the US and how it affected literatu...moreThis book wasn't quite as useful as I expected it to be, but the chapters that specifically focused on religion in the US and how it affected literature were particularly interesting. Some of the information about Christian Fiction was helpful to my Honours Project, but ultimately I felt that Gandolfo hadn't done as much research as Mort and Blodgett. This almost read like an outsider's perspective on the market, considering some of the conclusions Gondolfo made. I wished she'd picked more interesting examples for her study, rather than going with genre standards like Rivers and Kingsbury (although I was glad that she shared my opinion on Kingsbury!), but this book is relatively short so I imagine she was limited in what she could cover, given the word limit. I think if I were to give this book a rating based on what I read, I'd give it 3.5*. The chapters that were relevant to my topic were, for the most part, useful, and she did make some excellent conclusions and statements about the genre and its relation to the current state of religion in the US, but at other times she to have examined Christian Fiction to a much lesser extent than other historians of the genre (and there aren't many!) and she did make some sweeping statements that almost classed her as an outsider to the genre. Plus, devoting a whole chapter to Dan Brown and barely dipping into the topic of the controversy it caused among Christians? Not to mention lumping Catholic fiction in with Christian Fiction in several places. Definitely not as well-researched as Blodgett or Mort, but it did provide some interesting information for my project.(less)
Read the following poems for EN4341 Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660: * The Nymph complaining for the Death of her Faun * Young...moreRead the following poems for EN4341 Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660: * The Nymph complaining for the Death of her Faun * Young Love * To his Coy Mistress * The Unfortunate Lover * The Picture of Little TC in a Prospect of Flowers * Damon the Mower * Upon a Eunuch: a Poet
I enjoyed most of these poems, although I didn't really "get" Damon the Mower. Will have to wait until Tuesday's lecture to see if that sheds any more light on it. 4*(less)
GENRE: HISTORICAL ROMANCE PUBLISHER: REVELL PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 01, 2012 RATING: 2 OUT OF 5 – BELOW AVERAGE
PROS: Intriguing concept of two mail-or...moreGENRE: HISTORICAL ROMANCE PUBLISHER: REVELL PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 01, 2012 RATING: 2 OUT OF 5 – BELOW AVERAGE
PROS: Intriguing concept of two mail-order brides being ordered by the groom’s brother; setting and secondary characters are interesting
CONS: Too many points of view mean that the reader never connects with any of the characters fully; dialogue and situations feel forced at times; conversations about God and the Bible sometimes seem unrealistic; characters fall in love too quickly and too early in the book; conflict revolves around a lack of communication and misunderstandings
Following the tragic death of her fiancé, Greta Olsen doesn’t believe she can ever find love again. Witnessing how successful her own sister’s mail-order marriage has become, Greta decides to answer an advertisement from a mercantile owner in Central City, Colorado. But when she arrives at her destination, she’s surprised to learn that another woman, Cora Johnson, has also made her way to Central City to be Jess Gifford’s wife! The plot thickens when it becomes apparent that it was Jess’s brother, Zach, who wrote letters to both women, and that he intended Jess to pick whichever woman he preferred once they both arrived. Jess turns the tables on Zach and informs him that he’ll have to take a bride as well, since the two women have taken the time to travel all the way out to Colorado. But will the men be able to make the right choice, with two such lovely brides to choose from?
I read Maggie Brendan’s debut novel, No Place for a Lady, last year, and while I wasn’t in love with it, I did enjoy it. I struggled with her head-hopping and the fact that the main conflict in the novel revolved around a lack of communication between the hero and heroine, but at the time, I conceded that this was Maggie’s first novel and that her writing was sure to mature with time. Now that I’ve read her most recent novel, I’m wondering if perhaps she just isn’t the author for me. I’ve read many positive, enthusiastic reviews of Twice Promised, so it’s clear that her style of writing does suit the reading tastes of many Christian historical romance fans, but I’m afraid that I’m not one of them.
I’m a big fan of mail-order bride plots, and what initially appealed to me about Twice Promised was that it tweaked the traditional storyline in having two brides arrive on the groom’s doorstep, and both for a groom who wasn’t expecting them. This plot had the potential for some humour and a lot of confusion. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right mood when I started reading this book, but the humour never really came to the surface, and I felt that the initial confusion over both Greta and Cora arriving to marry Jess, and the revelation that it was his brother who had been writing to them all along, was resolved far too quickly. Despite the fact that they’re both competing for Jess’s affections, Greta and Cora become fast friends. Perhaps this is just my personal taste, but a bit of rivalry at the start of the novel might have made the story more interesting.
I really did want to love this story, not just because the storyline intrigued me, but also because it’s evident from the Author’s Note at the end of the book that Maggie did a lot of research into the location where the novel is set. The author also made an effort to create some entertaining and endearing secondary characters, and while I liked Granny’s role in the story, I’m afraid that I never really warmed up to Caleb or Cole. Agnes was amusing, if a bit caricatured. All of these elements should have conspired to create an enjoyable novel, but something just didn’t mesh them together properly.
One of my biggest issues with Twice Promised was simply just that I never felt like I connected with any of the characters. The novel is written in third-person, but switches between each of the four main characters: Greta, Cora, Jess and Zach. Although we’re told about Zach’s desire to build his own home and stop working for his brother’s mercantile, I never really felt like I got any insight into his motivations, besides his attraction to Cora. While Cora’s background was interesting – her parents cut her off financially when she found faith in God – her constant talk of God, reading the Bible, praying and doing good deeds didn’t always ring true, and given that this constituted the majority of the spiritual element of the novel, it felt forced or unrealistic at times. I did feel like I got to know Greta and Jess a little better, and I honestly think that the novel could have worked just from their perspectives, given how little Zach and Cora’s insight added to the novel. I’m not sure if cutting Cora and Zach’s point-of-view out of the novel would have made it easier to relate to the other characters, or if their sections needed to be expanded, but either way, I finished this novel not feeling like I’d ever made an emotional connection to any of the principal characters.
When it comes to the conflict in this novel, my issues may simply be a matter of personal taste. If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you’ll know that I simply can’t stand it when the main conflict in a novel revolves around a lack of communication or big misunderstanding between the hero and heroine. I want something more concrete to separate the characters, even if it’s just a secret that they can’t bear to share or shame from a past mistake, not the simple fact that Character A won’t confront Character B about something they’re upset about. I know that there are probably plenty of women who have trouble confronting their husbands/boyfriends about a problem, but I’m not one of them, so I struggle to relate to the situations like this.
Ultimately, all of the characters in the novel realise who they’re truly in love with around 60% of the way into Twice Promised. I won’t give away which brother falls for which bride, so as not to spoil the novel for potential readers. Pushing aside any thoughts about how unrealistic it is for them to all fall in love so quickly, especially considering how little time they’ve had to spend together alone, I almost felt like the first 60% of the novel could have been stretched out to the full-length of the novel (or maybe even shortened into a novella?), wrapping the conflict of “Which brother will marry which bride?” up in the last few pages. Instead, the characters spend the next 40% of the novel misinterpreting situations and refusing to communicate their true feelings to each other, until the novel comes to a rather unexciting climax. I’m sure that the final confrontation between Jess and Zach could have been climatic, if it weren’t for the fact that the reader knew how each of them already felt. All in all, the conflict felt like it was unnecessarily drawn out, and it was a bit frustrating for the reader who knows exactly how all the characters feel, and wishes that they’d just sit down and talk about it.
It’s evident from many reviews on GoodReads and Amazon that the majority of Christian historical romance readers enjoyed this novel. I honestly wish that I was one of them, given that I’m normally a huge fan of mail-order bride stories. I believe that, with some stronger character development and a quicker resolution to the Big Misunderstanding/Lack of Communication conflict, I might have enjoyed Twice Promised a lot more. As it is, this obviously isn’t the novel for me, but if you aren’t usually bothered by these issues, it might be worth checking out some alternative viewpoints to see if Twice Promised fits your reading tastes.
I read several sections of this book as research for my Honours Project and found the sections on the development of the Christian publishing industry...moreI read several sections of this book as research for my Honours Project and found the sections on the development of the Christian publishing industry in the 20th century tremendously helpful and insightful. I especially appreciated the chapter where the author took ten key books from each genre in the Christian Fiction market and used them to come to conclusions about the development and evolution of the market, and the individual genres. Blodgett has obviously put a lot of effort into this book, and I'm only sorry I didn't have time to read more of it! (less)
Read the first few chapters for research for my Honours Project before deciding to focus on publishing and literature in the twentieth century. Very e...moreRead the first few chapters for research for my Honours Project before deciding to focus on publishing and literature in the twentieth century. Very easy to read and informative if you're interested in the topic. I'm a little sad I'm not going to be able to write about this time period, actually, as it was a truly fascinating read. (less)
Read the first couple of chapters as preliminary research for my Honours Project before deciding to focus on literature of the 20th century. Interesti...moreRead the first couple of chapters as preliminary research for my Honours Project before deciding to focus on literature of the 20th century. Interesting, but rather dry and the descriptions of the entire plot of each novel can get rather tedious after a while. Useful if you need extensive details of literature from this time period, and I'm honestly quite surprised that my university library is in possession of this book, considering that it is rather an obscure subject, at least in the UK where religious literature isn't a topic much talked about or studied. (less)
This was the first book I read when starting research for my Honours Project examining the evolution of the Christian publishing industry in North Ame...moreThis was the first book I read when starting research for my Honours Project examining the evolution of the Christian publishing industry in North America. Although not every chapter focused on Christianity in relation to media and and the marketplace, it's still a fascinating book. I skim-read the chapters that weren't particularly relevant to my project, but when I have more time, I'd definitely like to go back and read them in more depth.
The chapters that I found particularly useful were: * Introduction: Identity, Belonging, and Religious Lifestyle Branding (Fashion Bibles, Bhangra Parties, and Muslim Pop) by Lynn Schofield Clark * Free Grace, Free Books, Free Riders: The Economics of Religious Publishing in Early Nineteenth-Century America by David Nord * Making Money, Saving Souls: Christian Bookstores and the Commodification of Christianity by Ann L. Borden
The afterword by Stewart M. Hoover was also pretty interesting, as was Phyllis E. Alsdurf's chapter on evangelicalism and the election of 1960, and Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu's article on Pentecostalism and Ghanian/Nigerian films. The last two weren't terribly relevant to my project, but they were still enlightening.
Definitely worth a read if you're interesting in the ways that religion (particularly Christianity) has become a prominent part of the modern marketplace. My only complaint would probably be that the afterword, while excellent at summing up many points made in previous chapters, didn't make a lot of conclusions. (less)
Loved this! Brilliant series. I find that listening to a book on audio makes it rather hard to write a full review as it took me about a month to get...moreLoved this! Brilliant series. I find that listening to a book on audio makes it rather hard to write a full review as it took me about a month to get through this book, but Rosalind Lauer's Amish novels are simply the perfect comfort reads (or listens). I get attached to her characters and really care about them. I think my only complaint about this book would be that it didn't have a conventional story arc, and I did wonder at times when the story would get going or what direction it would head in. Very much looking forward to reading the third book in the series! 4.5*(less)
Read "The Bird in the Cage" and "The Convent of Pleasure" for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
Mildly amusing plays th...moreRead "The Bird in the Cage" and "The Convent of Pleasure" for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
Mildly amusing plays that provide some interesting discussion on gender and performance in the Renaissance period, but I can't say that I'd find them that enjoyable if I'd chosen to read them for pleasure. 3*(less)
Read the first twenty-one sonnets for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
Shakespeare always ends up being a bit hit or...moreRead the first twenty-one sonnets for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
Shakespeare always ends up being a bit hit or miss for me. I've really enjoyed some of his plays, like Othello and Anthony and Cleopatra, but just not clicked with others, like King Lear and As You Like It. His sonnets are nice, and maybe I would have enjoyed them more if our tutor hadn't made us scrutinise them for gender references to determine whether Shakespeare was addressing a man or a woman in each of them. Perhaps it's just that the sonnets seem overdone by the time you're finishing an English Lit. degree (much like Burns feels overdone when you live in Scotland and hear the same poems repeated every Burns' Day). Either way, I probably prefer Shakespeare's plays, and I probably would have appreciated his poetry a little more if it weren't for the scrutiny they were forced under in my module this semester. And then there's also the fact that he obviously stole a lot from Erasmus in these first few poems, and I honestly found Erasmus's "In Praise of Marriage" a lot more interesting and compelling than the sonnets convincing a young man to marry. Maybe someday, when I'm not a student, I'll go back and read some more poems and actually end up loving them. We'll see. 3*(less)
Read for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
This one is really difficult to rate as, as interesting as this book was, i...moreRead for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
This one is really difficult to rate as, as interesting as this book was, it was very difficult to read because of how dense the text was. It had a tendency to go off on tangents that, while apparently being essential to the text (if what I learned in my tutorials was true), almost put me to sleep at times. I have a feeling that my lecturer never expected any of us to finish this book as she gave a very detailed description of each section of the book before our second lecture, then gave us a handout describing the order of events in the novel. It is difficult to read, so bravo if you do manage to finish this book. I'm afraid this isn't even going on my "someday I will finish" shelf as I don't think it's worth the effort. It was interesting to study, I'll give it that, and parts of the book did hold my attention, just not very often. 2*(less)
Finally, a book on this course that I've actually enjoyed reading! It dragged on in places and the characters were all horribly cruel to each other, b...moreFinally, a book on this course that I've actually enjoyed reading! It dragged on in places and the characters were all horribly cruel to each other, but otherwise this play was rather amusing. Let's just see if I enjoy it as much once I've written an essay on it... 4*(less)
Read "Gallathea" for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
I can see that this is going to be a pretty interesting text to...moreRead "Gallathea" for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
I can see that this is going to be a pretty interesting text to study, but that didn't make it the most interesting to read. Perhaps it would make more of an impact on stage? There was one amusing moment that made me smile, when the two women (dressed as boys) meet for the first time and try to perceive how men act from the way the other is behaving, but other than that, this wasn't the most entertaining of reads. Perhaps I'll enjoy it more after my classes this coming week. For now, it's getting 3*.(less)
Read "Hero and Leander" for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
My rating is based upon the poem "Hero and Leander", so...moreRead "Hero and Leander" for EN4341: Renaissance Sexualities: Rhetoric and the Body 1580-1660.
My rating is based upon the poem "Hero and Leander", so perhaps it would be higher if I read some of the other poems in this collection. As it stands, I didn't find "Hero and Leander" terribly interesting, even after hearing a lecture on it and meeting with my study group. Often studying a text can give the reader a deeper appreciation of it, but that wasn't the case for this poem. I enjoyed Marlowe's "Dr Faustus" when I read it a couple of years ago, but I think this poem would be better enjoyed by someone who has a stronger understanding of classical literature. My study group spent a lot of time looking up Greek myths in the hope it would help us understand this poem better, and although it made slightly more sense in the end, I didn't like the poem any better. 2*(less)
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE PUBLISHER: LOVE INSPIRED BOOKS PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 24, 2012 RATING: 5 OUT OF 5 – NEAR PERFECT
PROS: Flawless execution of...moreGENRE: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE PUBLISHER: LOVE INSPIRED BOOKS PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 24, 2012 RATING: 5 OUT OF 5 – NEAR PERFECT
PROS: Flawless execution of what could have been a predictable plot; consistent feeling of a tight-knit community; fleshed-out secondary characters that didn’t overpower the main storyline; Cheyenne’s emotions were very relatable; realistic portrayal of being blind; didn’t glorify war when describing Reese’s time in action
CONS: None!
When Reese Cooper ran into Cheyenne Jones in Las Vegas, she was alone and scared, and he was about to ship out to Afghanistan. Offering to marry the pregnant waitress and dancer might not have been the most sensible option for either of them, but Reese never regretted his decision, knowing that he’d be supporting Cheyenne and her baby and allowing them a ticket out of Las Vegas and Cheyenne’s dead-end job.
Cheyenne never expected to see Reese again, although she was very grateful for the money he provided her with, which allowed her to study to become a hairdresser and enter a respectable career. But as Reese’s legal wife, she’s informed when he’s discharged from the army after being badly injured in the line of duty. After having exchanged several letters with Reese while he was overseas, Cheyenne can’t help but worry about her “husband”. So she sets off for Dawson, Oklahoma to visit Reese and his family.
Reese’s family are more than surprised to find a heavily pregnant woman on their doorstep, but it doesn’t take them long to figure out the truth of her situation. Although Reese and Cheyenne are determined that their “marriage” isn’t going to turn into anything real, Reese’s family are welcoming and make it clear that they want to support Cheyenne, even going as far as helping her set up a hairdressing business in Dawson.
Reese is still struggling to come to terms with his blindness, and doesn’t believe he can support a wife and family. But when Cheyenne starts to experience pregnancy complications, he can’t ignore the desire to be by her side. Will their marriage of convenience turn into something more tangible, despite their best efforts to ignore their true feelings?
I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience stories, even ones that have slightly cheesy titles. But despite their sometimes overly simplistic titles, I’ve developed quite an appreciation for Love Inspired Books, and their authors, over the past few years. Not only does Brenda Minton manage to put a new spin on the marriage of convenience story in The Rancher’s Secret Wife, she also puts across her incredibly compelling story in a 224-page novel.
The Rancher’s Secret Wife is technically the third book in the Cooper Creek series, which I didn’t realise when I picked it up. But as all Love Inspired books are designed to be read as standalone novels, I was able to ease into the town of Dawson and the Cooper family with no difficulty at all. I’ve never lived in such a tight-knit community, even though I’ve spent most of my life in small, country towns, but I like to believe that places like Dawson still exist, where neighbours look out for each other and you know all your local storeowners by name. Dawson had a lovely nostalgic feel to it, making me understand why Cheyenne would want to settle there and raise her baby, and it thankfully managed to void seeming too perfect or unrealistic.
I also loved all of the secondary characters in The Rancher’s Secret Wife. I’ll reiterate: you can read this book as a standalone novel, but you’ll probably end up wanting to read the rest of the books in the series once you get to know Reese’s family and friends. Although each of the characters had their flaws and problems, they never overpowered the main storyline, and I think I got a few inklings of a future book featuring Reese’s younger brother.
As I said, I love marriage of convenience stories. I’m not sure what the appeal is, but I’m obviously not alone in my feelings, as these stories crop up in every romantic genre – contemporary, historical, even Amish! It’s difficult to manage a marriage of convenience story in a contemporary setting without it feeling too contrived, and I did wonder how the story would pan out in The Rancher’s Secret Wife. Although the idea of a soon-to-be deployed soldier spontaneously marrying a woman simply because she was alone and pregnant seemed a little unrealistic, as I got to know Reese, I could tell that he was a man of character and integrity who would do what he thought was right, even if it demanded a lot of him.
There were a few times when I got a little annoyed at Cheyenne for not admitting her true feelings for Reese, and continually pushing him away when he offered to help her, but when I stepped back and examined her situation, I could see why she acted the way she did. I can be a pretty emotional person at times – and goodness knows how heightened my emotions would be if I were pregnant, like Cheyenne – and I could see a bit of myself in Cheyenne’s insecurity and worries. I imagine this is something a lot of readers will be able to relate to.
Reese’s disability added an extra dimension to the romance, holding him back from admitting how he felt to Cheyenne out of fear that he couldn’t be a real husband to her. This turns out to be the third Love Inspired novel I’ve read this year that contains a blind character, and the descriptions of how Reese learned to move around and understand his surroundings appeared to be the most realistic I’ve come across in a novel. I also appreciated that the book was able to address Reese’s time in combat and the affect it had on his life, without glorifying war. Stories featuring war heroes, particularly romance novels, sometimes seem as if they’re verging on glorifying war rather than simply acknowledging the sacrifices servicemen and women make, which can often sit uncomfortably with a pacifist like myself.
I picked this book up thinking it would be an easy, relaxing read for a stressful period in my university semester. I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, or to become so emotionally connected with the characters and the setting of Dawson, Oklahoma. This has to be my favourite contemporary Love Inspired novel and I highly recommend it to readers of this line. This definitely won’t be the last of Brenda Minton’s novels that I read.
Review title provided by Love Inspired Books. (less)
Polygamy both fascinates and disturbs me. My first real insight into the polygamous lifestyle was through the TLC TV show, Sister Wives, which apparen...morePolygamy both fascinates and disturbs me. My first real insight into the polygamous lifestyle was through the TLC TV show, Sister Wives, which apparently portrays four grown women who are content to share one husband between them. As much as the idea of sharing my husband with anyone disgusts me, I felt rather conflicted while I watched this television show. If these are consenting adults and they really feel so strongly about polygamy, who are they hurting with their actions? This is an entirely different situation from the lifestyle presented in "Hidden Wives", in which girls as young as thirteen are forced into arranged marriages, often with close relatives.
"Hidden Wives" gripped me from the start, and I ploughed through most of the book in just a couple of hours. The more disturbing Sara and Rachel's lives got, the more I wanted to keep reading, in the hope that they could escape from the horrible futures they were fated to live in their polygamous community. Even though I never felt like I completely connected to either of the principal characters, the author painted the community in such vivid colours that it was hard not to care about the girls' fates.
If there's one flaw that's present in the book right from the start, it's Rachel's beauty. I struggled with the idea that her beauty alone - she wasn't the kind of girl who flirted, even accidentally - could inflame the lusts of so many men, including her own relatives. Perhaps the inbreeding in their community means that few women are born without physical abnormalities, which made Rachel seem so especially beautiful, but this is the only explanation I can come up with.
My library had this book shelved in the "Thriller" section, and while it isn't a Thriller in the traditional sense, there is a fair amount of suspense in this book, particularly when Rachel's future husband is announced and Sara and Luke start conspiring to get themselves out of the community before it's too late. The pace of the first two-thirds of the novel is pretty heated, but it seemed to peter out after Sara and Rachel had escaped. The girls drove around for a while, trying to figure out where to settle, before ultimately being forced to live in LA and find jobs and accommodation. Some of the scenes at this point in the novel didn't seem entirely realistic, such as them visiting Las Vegas for what seemed like all of ten minutes, before being shocked by the prostitutes and deciding to go to LA instead. Then when they're in LA, Sara gets a job in a library far too easily considering that she's a homeless fifteen-year-old. I won't spoil the end of the book too much, but the fact that they quickly find a loving home and make serious decisions about their futures and educations didn't sit right with me. It all felt too "happily ever after". I didn't totally buy Rachel's personality turnaround, and Sara's voice was lacking from the latter stages of the novel.
I'm really torn on how to rate this book. It was incredibly compelling and impossible to put down for the first two-thirds, and the polygamous community was painted so well that it seemed almost real. Claire Avery made me care about her characters, despite their serious flaws, and I was pleased in the end that they were able to get justice over the wrongs their father had committed. But the last third of the book fell a bit flat for me. I'd expected this book to have a vaguely optimistic ending, with hints of a possibly happy future for Rachel and Sara. Instead, everything seemed to be neatly tied up and the future seemed unrealistically positive for the sisters, considering all the grief they'd had to wade through with their abusive upbringing. The end of the book jumped around a lot, so it was hard to tell how much time had passed between leaving their family and the end of the novel, but it didn't seem long enough, considering how much the girls had changed and adapted to life in the real world.
Most of the time, I appreciate happy endings. If I'm reading a romance novel, I expect one. But although "Hidden Wives" had a romantic element to it, the seriousness of the subject (polygamy, forced under-age marriages, abuse, incest) made the ending feel forced and unnatural. I felt a bit cheated by the last third of the book, considering how consistently compelling and engaging the rest of the book was. The way the last third jumped from place to place and rushed through Rachel and Sara adjusting to normal life didn't sit right with the tone of the rest of the book. Although they deal with the trauma of Rachel's father abusing her, she seems to get over this far too fast.
I'd love to give this book 4* because of how compelling and engaging it is, at least for the first two-thirds of the book, but the last third really lets it down, so I'm going to have to give "Hidden Wives " 3.5*. I think it had some real potential, but lost its way in trying to wrap up all the lose ends and give its characters a happy ending. It's not that I don't think that happy endings are possible to victims of such a society as the one depicted in this book, it's just that I think it can take years, maybe even decades, before such people are able to truly move on with their lives, especially those who have had experiences as traumatic as Rachel's.(less)
To be honest, as the final book in the series, this was a bit of a let-down. It didn't seem fair to see the series end this way, but I guess that's be...moreTo be honest, as the final book in the series, this was a bit of a let-down. It didn't seem fair to see the series end this way, but I guess that's because the publisher wanted to hook us into reading the spin-off series about the original characters. The book on its own dealt with the topic of the house fire very well, and the sub-plot about writing an essay on babysitting for a competition was pretty touching, but considering this was the last ever "real" BSC book, I feel a bit let down. Not sure whether to give this a 3.5 or 4. (less)
GENRE: AMISH ROMANCE PUBLISHER: BALLANTINE BOOKS PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2012 RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD
PROS: Good conclusion to the series; char...moreGENRE: AMISH ROMANCE PUBLISHER: BALLANTINE BOOKS PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2012 RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD
PROS: Good conclusion to the series; characters displayed realistic emotions; relaxing, easy read; accurate depiction of the Amish and of Lancaster County
CONS: Gabe’s conflict seemed to be wrapped up too quickly; plot not as compelling as previous two books in series; readers will appreciate this book more having read the rest of the series
With their older brother and sister making preparations to get married this autumn, this makes Jonah and Gabe the oldest unmarried children still living on the King family farm. Jonah is well beyond the typical age for settling down, and starting to wonder if he’ll ever have a family of his own. He’s long had his eye on Annie Stoltzfus, who won’t even look his way after being spurned by Jonah’s brother, Adam. But Jonah isn’t ready to give up yet. When it becomes clear that Annie’s father needs extra help on his farm, Jonah volunteers his services in the hope that he can spend more time with Annie.
But is Annie too concerned with her own problems to notice Jonah’s attentions? With one sister moving to New York, and another turning eighteen and worrying about her lack of beau, Annie is too focused on the changes in her life and trying to find someone for Hannah to court to notice the new young man in her life. When Annie starts talking about moving to New York to live with her older sister, Jonah realises time is running out. Will he ever be confident enough to tell Annie how he truly feels?
Gabe is not so focused on joining the church and starting a family, although he has no intention to become English, like his sister, Sadie. He’s secretly courting the schoolteacher, Emma Lapp, and can’t help but wish she’d allow their relationship to become public, at least with their family and friends.
But Emma is determined to make a good impression on her students and is worried about Gabe’s dabbling in the English world. Even if he claims he doesn’t want to leave the faith, he’s yet to get baptised and enjoys trying things that he knows are forbidden under the Ordnung. The final straw comes for Emma when Gabe chooses riding motorcycles with his English friend over having dinner with her parents. Is their relationship truly over? Or will Gabe realise that he gave up something lasting for a temporary fix?
With the Amish Fiction market as saturated as it is, sometimes it’s hard to keep up with your old favourite authors and still try new ones. But I was prompted to purchase Rosalind’s first novel earlier this year because of how unusual the plot sounded. A Simple Winter focused on a female reporter who ended up falling in love with an Amish man while trying to investigate the murder of his parents. The mystery surrounding the deaths of the King parents intrigued me, and Remy and Adam’s love story wasn’t as predictable as some English-Amish relationships can be in romance novels. A Simple Spring, the second novel in the series, was just as unconventional, focusing on Adam’s younger sister’s decision to become a singer in the English world. I loved how honestly Rosalind displayed a family and community’s reaction to an unbaptized member leaving the faith and Sadie’s conflict over whether she should stay Amish and deny her natural talent for music. Naturally, after loving both of these books, I had to read A Simple Autumn.
As a conclusion to the series, I felt A Simple Autumn wrapped up previous storylines fairly well. Fans of the series will be pleased to finally get the chance to witness Adam and Remy’s wedding and see how Remy has adapted to life in the Amish faith. We get a little glimpse of Sadie when she comes to visit, but are reminded of how difficult it is for her family to adapt to Sadie becoming English. Ultimately, although I appreciated the way that this book wrapped up earlier storylines, I wished the series would continue and tell the stories of the other King siblings. In particular, I’d love to see Leah and Susie’s personalities developed further, particularly with Leah’s desire to learn and Susie’s illness.
As a story in its own right, A Simple Autumn is more of a standard romance novel than previous books in the Seasons of Lancaster series. I don’t think either Jonah or Gabe’s stories could have filled a whole novel, so it was quite interesting to have them pitted against each other. As much as I enjoy sweet, Amish romances, I did find myself wishing for something more like the first two books in the series, either the mystery aspect of A Simple Winter or just the pitting of the Amish and English worlds against each other, as occurred in both the first and second books in the series.
As for the romances themselves, I did enjoy reading about Jonah and Gabe finding love. I got frustrated with how often Jonah was referred to as The Quiet One and how he felt constrained by this personality trait, so I was pleased when he finally decided to talk to both Hannah and Annie about his feelings. The part of the storyline that focused on Annie matchmaking Jonah and Hannah and her being oblivious to Jonah’s attentions was predictable, but amusing. I could see why she’d struggle to imagine a relationship with Jonah, given how much he reminded her of his older brother, who had rejected her previously. When Annie and Jonah did finally talk about their feelings, their conversations were very honest. Their love story might not have been the most exciting one I’ve read, but their emotions felt very realistic. I could empathise with Annie’s yearning to get married and have a family of her own, and feeling left behind when all of her friends were pairing up together. I’m sure a lot of women can understand her desire for love.
Gabe and Emma are the younger of the two couples, and as such, their conflict felt a bit more immature. Initially I was annoyed at Emma for being ashamed of Gabe because of his rebellious nature, but when he chose motorbiking over meeting her parents, I was immediately on Emma’s side. I loved how Rosalind was able to flip my emotions between Emma and Gabe and make me empathise with both sides of their conflict. Ultimately, I was pleased with the outcome of the situation and the growth each character made over the course of the book, but I did feel that their conflict was wrapped up rather quickly. Gabe had a moment in which he experienced a sort of revelation about his life, and this seemed to cause him to completely rethink his love of motorbikes and his relationship with Emma. It didn’t feel terribly realistic to have that sort of change occur so suddenly, and perhaps it could have been drawn out more.
Ultimately, it’s hard to describe my feelings about A Simple Autumn. In its own right, the novel is a relaxing, sweet romance novel that contains plenty of wonderful descriptions of the scenery in Lancaster County and accurate details about Amish life. But as part of the Seasons of Lancaster series, I felt this was the weakest of the three novels. It did provide a satisfying conclusion to the series, with Adam and Remy’s wedding and Sadie’s visit, but the conflicts the characters had to overcome were much smaller by comparison. I did come to care about each of the characters, but I worry that this is the sort of novel that might become buried under numerous other Amish romances, given the conventionality of the story. I do highly recommend the Seasons of Lancaster series to readers of Amish Fiction, but I believe new readers would appreciate this novel more if they started at the beginning of the series.
GENRE: AMISH/CONTEMPORARY PUBLISHER: ZONDERVAN PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 09, 2012 RATING: 2.5 OUT OF 5 – AVERAGE
PROS: Feel-good story; much needed remi...moreGENRE: AMISH/CONTEMPORARY PUBLISHER: ZONDERVAN PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 09, 2012 RATING: 2.5 OUT OF 5 – AVERAGE
PROS: Feel-good story; much needed reminder of what really matters in life and politics; concept will appeal to Amish fans
CONS: Execution was cheesy and contrived; riddled with caricatures; Mark’s character was mostly unexplored; ending felt very unrealistic
Forced to abandon his presidential campaign when he’s alienated by his own party, Mark Stedman decides to leave Washington, DC, and return home to spend time with his wife and children. But his GPS has other ideas, taking him on a convoluted tour through the back roads of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mark couldn’t be more irritated at the directions his device is giving him, particularly when it guides him straight into a ditch. Mark is thankful that a local Amish man, Josiah Stoltzfus, comes along just in time to pull him out of the ditch, and he’s surprised when the man opens his home to him and offers to help patch up his car. As Mark spends time with Josiah and his family, he can’t help but admire the wisdom and old-fashioned common sense that the man possesses. Wouldn’t America be a better place if only it had someone like Josiah at its helm? This thought stays with Mark long after he leaves Lancaster County, and when he’s called upon to give an endorsement for a presidential candidate, the one name that comes to mind is not the one America is expecting: Josiah. But is an Amish man willing to run for president? And even if he does, will anyone support his campaign? Can Josiah really be the answer America is looking for?
When I was asked to review Josiah for President, I nearly turned down the offer, since I knew that I wasn’t exactly the target audience for this novel. Although I’m a massive fan of Amish fiction, I’m not American, and my knowledge of contemporary American politics doesn’t extend terribly far. But as election time grew nearer and my Facebook and Twitter feeds began to explode with political rants, propaganda, second-by-second debate commentaries and badly photo-shopped images of the opposing parties from my American friends, even I felt like I need a break from all of the election hype. Josiah for President seemed to appear on my reading schedule at just the right moment, and for the most part, it did its job well. I appreciated reading about a politician who didn’t insult his competitor to get ahead, and who emphasised the responsibility that the ordinary American citizen had for improving their country, rather than allowing that duty to be lumped on his shoulders alone. But I did have my issues with this book, and unfortunately, there were several factors that hold me back from giving this novel a higher rating.
Josiah for President reminded me a lot of the moralistic Christmas novellas that start appearing on the shelves at this time of year. As much as I enjoy a ludicrously optimistic Christmas novella or two every time December rolls around, I often find that, in their attempt to put across a moral message, they resort to using caricatures. Josiah for President was much the same, and by the time I reached the end of the story, I realised that I never truly got close to any of the characters. With the possible exception of Josiah’s dilemma about running for president despite the disapproval of his Amish community, very few aspects of the main characters’ personalities were really explored. I’m not so concerned about Harley Phillips, Josiah’s political opponent, as the “villain” in any story often becomes a little caricatured, and he was really only in the book to provide a contrast to Josiah’s style of politics. But I truly wished that Mark’s character had been explored more fully. When we’re first introduced to Mark, he’s hoping to return home and make more of an effort with his family life and reconnect with his children. But when he takes up Josiah’s campaign, this strand is dropped and I couldn’t help but wonder how he was continuing to balance his family and his political career. This is an aspect of the storyline that I’m sure a lot of readers would have appreciated being explored further.
The concept of a failed politician meeting an Amish man and falling in love with the simplicity of his lifestyle is what most appealed to me about this novel, and I’m sure a lot of readers will feel the same. Considering the recent PBS documentary and TLC reality show, it’s clear that the Amish aren’t just popular amongst Christian romance readers, and everyone wants to grab a snippet of their wisdom and minimalism to apply to their own lives. Mark’s meeting with Josiah and the impact it had on him is probably the most realistic aspect of this otherwise incredibly contrived and fantastical story. I wasn’t entirely sure how Josiah’s political campaign would unfold, but once it got rolling, I kind of had to suspend my disbelief in order to truly enjoy the story. This is definitely a story for those who are unhappy with the current political scene in the US and wish that someone with a good dose of common sense and faith would step up to the challenge of running the country.
For the most part, Josiah for President is a fun, feel-good read. I’m sure that Martha Bolton isn’t suggesting that all America needs to get back on its feet is for Amish man to run for president. But I’m sure it’ll help a lot of readers escape the election mania and remind them of what really matters when it comes to placing their vote. If you’re looking for an easy, light-hearted read, this is the book for you. Since I read a lot of happily-ever-after romance novels, you’d think this would be the perfect novel for me also, but I’m afraid that the ending to Josiah for President upset my reading experience a little. I won’t spoil the ending for anyone, but I will say that I didn’t expect it in the slightest. And once the rather emotional, unexpected event had taken place, the book took on an even more optimistic tone. While I’d found Josiah’s election campaign and journey towards the White House to be rather contrived and unrealistic, I’d not let it bother me too much, but when the book went on to detail Josiah’s impact on American politics, the next president and even the economy, I’m afraid it was just too much for me. It seemed as if Martha Bolton was aiming for a bittersweet ending, with a sad event that had many positive consequences, but I just found it incredibly cheesy. The ending pushed my suspension of disbelief over the edge, I’m afraid.
Josiah for President is not the next, great American novel. It’s not even the next, great Amish novel. But if the concept appeals to you and you’re in need of an escape from the current election hype, you’ll probably end up enjoying it. It’s a feel-good read that verges on the cheesy and the contrived just a little bit too much for me, and it could have added another interesting dimension to the story by exploring how Mark’s career conflicted with his family life. But as it is, Josiah for President is sure to appeal to fans of the genre and serves well as a distraction from the run up to elections.
GENRE: HISTORICAL PUBLISHER: RIVER NORTH PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 1, 2012 RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD
PROS: Well-researched; easy to read; relatively unexp...moreGENRE: HISTORICAL PUBLISHER: RIVER NORTH PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 1, 2012 RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD
PROS: Well-researched; easy to read; relatively unexplored topic in Christian historical fiction
CONS: Historical details often feel dumped rather than woven into story; third love interest feels unnecessary; Ruby’s story feels unfinished; too many perspectives
When the opportunity arises to train as a nurse to aid the Civil War effort, privileged Charlotte Waverly feels called to volunteer. But despite her desire to offer her services, her family and the doctors she works beside are disapproving and unreceptive to her efforts. As her mother and beau continue to be scandalised by her new occupation, Charlotte finds the hospitals where she offers her aid begin to relent and admit that they require the assistance of nurses, even if they are female. But as the war drags on, it becomes apparent that Charlotte will not be returning to her family in New York any time soon. The pressure from her mother and beau piles on, and Charlotte has to consider whether nursing is God’s ultimate plan for her or if she should give up her job in order to marry. But could she really marry someone who is so disapproving of the work she feels called to? When a man from her past reappears, Charlotte feels even more challenged about the direction in which she should take her life.
Meanwhile, Irish immigrant Ruby O’Flannery has waved her husband off to war and is still struggling to make ends meet. Her husband’s military wages have yet to arrive, and Ruby can’t pay her rent with the meagre money she makes from her sewing. As the days turn to weeks, and still no news comes from her husband, she is forced to move out of her apartment and look for other options. Life as a servant appears to be her best option, but after a horrific occurrence, Ruby is forced to leave her place of employment and turn towards a career that only the hopeless choose. When she receives some devastating news, a female doctor takes pity on her and sends her to Washington to aid Charlotte and the other female nurses. Ruby’s life looks like it might take a turn for the better. Could this second chance rekindle her faith in God?
Although I spent my entire senior year of high school studying the US Civil War, I don’t think I’ve actually read many fictional accounts of the war. But Jocelyn Green’s novel appealed to me as I like to read about unconventional woman, and despite how incredibly squeamish I am, my mother has been a nurse for over twenty years. Wedded to War satisfied the historian in me to some extent, and I could tell from the start that the novel had been meticulously researched. This isn’t your typical historical romance novel with a couple of facts hastily thrown in to make it feel authentic. The romance itself isn’t at the forefront of the novel, and I appreciated being able to witness Charlotte’s character development before she ultimately made the decision on whether or not she should marry.
That said, some readers may be frustrated at the way the historical facts are presented in Wedded to War. As a student of history, I could appreciate how much research Jocelyn had done, and enjoyed reading her notes about the inspiration for the story. But even I felt that the historical details were, at times, not as gently woven into the story as they could have been. I enjoyed the extracts from Georgeanna Woolsey’s letters that were interspersed throughout the novel, but there were times when characters quoted from reports and newspapers that felt a bit forced and awkward. I would have preferred to have seen the filth and devastation of some of the hospitals, rather than have a character read a report on the matter. Since I do spend a fair amount of my time reading primary source documents, I like to read a fictional account of history when I pick up a novel, not a regurgitation of a document that I could probably gain access to if I tried. For those who aren’t scholars of history, this might not be so much of an issue, but I do hope that the smoother integration of history and fiction is something that Jocelyn focuses on in her next novel.
In her attempts to present as many perspectives on the US Civil War as possible, Jocelyn introduced far more characters than I expected. As well as Charlotte and Ruby, we also have Phineas, Charlotte’s beau, her sister and her husband, a doctor and a chaplain. While each of these characters did provide details on different elements of the war experience, I did sometimes feel that I connected with certain characters more than others. While I sympathised with Charlotte and Ruby in particular, and grew to hate Phineas, I never truly got to know Caleb, the doctor, or Edward, the chaplain. In fact, Edward’s perspective sometimes felt unnecessary, and I wasn’t entirely sure why he was introduced as a third love-interest for Charlotte.
At times, I almost felt that I enjoyed Ruby’s sections of the story more than Charlotte’s. It was empowering to see Charlotte forcing herself to stay strong despite the horrors she witnessed in her nursing endeavours, but Ruby’s situation was so much more precarious. I appreciated that Jocelyn chose to write about women in Ruby’s position, who were sometimes forced to turn towards disreputable work in order to support themselves and their families. The treatment of one event in particular and Ruby’s guilt and disgrace afterward really evoked sympathy for all the women who were forced to remain silent about the way they’d been treated for fear of social ruin. I was pleased that Ruby’s story had an optimistic ending, but did feel that her story was left unfinished. I would have preferred a more conclusive ending to Ruby’s story.
Despite the amount of research Jocelyn put into her novel, Wedded to War makes for a surprisingly easy read. I sped through it far faster than I expected, and although some details are a little gruesome, I really got a feel for how it was to be a nurse during the Civil War. As a fiction debut, Wedded to War shows a lot of promise, and I hope that Jocelyn’s writing matures as the Heroines Behind the Lines series develops. Wedded to War won’t be joining my list of favourite historical novels due to my gripes with the presentation of historical facts and some story-telling elements, but I’m glad that I had the opportunity to learn about some of the lesser known elements of the Civil War. I’m sure that anyone who reads this novel will come out with a greater respect for the women who fought to become nurses. (less)
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