BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 04 August 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – KATHERINE’S ARRANGEMENT by BLOSSOM TURNER

BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 04 August 2020 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – KATHERINE’S ARRANGEMENT by BLOSSOM TURNER
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TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – KATHERINE’S ARRANGEMENT by BLOSSOM TURNER
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THE BLURB

Marrying him is her only choice to save her family, but Josiah Richardson isn’t at all the man she expected.

Katherine Williams’s family was left destitute when their home was burned to the ground by Yankee soldiers, so the ready solution presented by the prominent Mr. Josiah Richardson seems almost too good to believe. He’ll provide a home, work for her pa, and a new beginning for her family…if only Katherine will accept his proposal. A marriage of convenience is the last thing she wants, but there doesn’t seem to be a better option for her family or herself. Setting aside her dreams of love, Katherine agrees to the arrangement.

The gentleman in Josiah Richardson can no more force his frightened bride into his bed, than he can force her into loving him, so he sets out to gently woo her. He works hard to befriend her, to earn her trust and win her love.

Katherine is pleasantly surprised to find herself drawn to the man she thought she would never love, until an unexpected friendship tears apart all they’ve worked for. Where once the promise of love had budded between Josiah and Katherine, now they wonder what to do with their so-called marriage. Is love strong enough to weave its healing power through two broken hearts?

 

THE AUTHOR

[image error]Blossom Turner is a free-lance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, former newspaper columnist on health and fitness, an avid blogger, and published novelist. Her authentic understanding of the power of forgiveness through life experience has inspired this compelling novel, Anna’s Secret, where failure, God’s love, and romance collide. She and her husband, David, have two grown children and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Read more at blossomturner.com.

 

MY REVIEW

The realities of war escape most of us. Certainly the up close and personal cruelties of Yankee soldiers and the total and utter loss of everything familiar.

Add to that, the ancient practice of an arranged marriage left Katherine feeling like a pawn in some grim game.

The premise of this story offers much with the veiled similarity to the Biblical story of Ruth. But sadly I found I could not connect with the characters. At first, I felt Katherine’s dismay, but when it turned to bitterness she lost me. Josiah was a delight at first, his morals and honor the badge of a gentleman. But the repeated mention of his physical desire for Katherine and his struggle to control himself got old fast.

The make-it-or-break-it for this reviewer, the dialogue, did not ring true to the era.

Ms. Blossom builds the tension, then eases it, then jerks it taut again as Katherine and Josiah dance around their situation and their marriage. And not only did she toss in one secret, but two—one of them with a surprise twist—with hints smattered throughout the pages until each secret was revealed.

The Spiritual struggle, though, was evident. Unbelievers surrounded with praying folk—and resenting any mention of the Bible of prayer. And yet, each of them felt the stirring, burning within, the longing for God, even if they didn’t recognize He was their answer.

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

[image error]THREE FEATHERS

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Katherine’s Arrangement, Blossom Turner