Oooohhhhh not to be unoriginal, but really the perfect word to describe this book is “enchanting�.
My word was this good.OKAY, LET THE GUSHING BEGIN.
Oooohhhhh not to be unoriginal, but really the perfect word to describe this book is “enchanting�.
My word was this good.
There’s something about certain classics written in the 1920s/1930s that is simply so charming. The simple yet eloquent sentences, the glorious fashions, the tea-drinking in gardens and letter-writing in drawing-rooms.
Oh, what I wouldn’t give for an escape to San Salvatore right about now!
Although I doubt going there would be as good as reading the book itself. Unless I had a Lotty Wilkins to accompany me and a husband to summon, I doubt my stay could be as delightful as this was. The Enchanted April was as unrealistic a novel as they come, but what an escape!
What a perfectly blissful, gloriously romantic journey. Elizabeth von Arnim has such a way with words, this book simply oozes with beauty, from Lady Caroline to the flowering gardens, and the last, sublime moonlit scene. The epitome of romantic charm, my friends. Love itself, with a capital L. Heaven, as Lotty would say.
I will admit, it started slowly. It was a great, promising beginning, but it was a bit slow (I also got very busy after I started it and went for a while without reading it, so maybe that’s why). It was very relatable, however.
Two women, on a rainy English day, find an ad in a newspaper about a castle in Italy to be let for the month of April. It seems too extraordinary to even consider it, especially since neither woman plans on telling her husband.
But just think � the ad promises wisteria and sunshine! How does one resist?
Besides, life is so suffocatingly dull in Hampstead. For Lotty Wilkins, it’s lonely and miserable; her days consist of feeling shy and awkward and getting her husband’s fish for dinner. It rains and it’s depressing. And for Rose Arbuthnot, life consists in burying her unhappiness by helping the poor every second of the day, trying her best to forget that her husband doesn’t love her anymore. So then, why not? Why not seize this marvelous chance and escape for a month? Just one glorious, delicious month amid the wisteria and sunshine, living in a castle in Italy.
Husbands can be left alone for a month, can’t they? They need never find out.
So Rose and Lotty decide in their turn to advertise and see if a couple more women would like to join to help reduce the cost. Their only two applicants are Lady Caroline Dester, an incomparable beauty in desperate need of solitude, and the elderly Mrs. Fisher, also in desperate need of a change of scenery.
These four incredibly different women therefore journey to San Salvatore to Escape Life for a month.
But Life, of course, has other plans, and coupled with Love, manages to intervene in unforeseen yet amazing ways. For the endless charms of San Salvatore work on everyone like a magical spell. The reader not the least of whom will be most affected.
If The Enchanted April doesn’t make you sigh with happiness, melt at the impossibly satisfactory ending, and dream of undying, passionate romance, I don’t know what will. What an utterly, thoroughly moving and transformative self-discovering journey. Filled with humour, beautiful flowers, luscious landscapes, and perfectly wonderful characters, The Enchanted April is escapism at its best. With just enough common sense to compensate for its sweet, unrealistic romantic elements, this book is quite the delight.
And if you happen to love flowers and are interested in hand embroidery, head on over to my blog , to see my latest project inspired from this book! I explore some flower meanings based on the Victorian Language of Flowers and stitch happy flowers....more
It's hard to actively dislike any book about Audrey Hepburn, and How to Be Lovely is no exception.
Not only does it boast glossy paper and beautiful bIt's hard to actively dislike any book about Audrey Hepburn, and How to Be Lovely is no exception.
Not only does it boast glossy paper and beautiful black and white photographs, but it's easy and fun to read, the bulk of each chapter consisting mostly of quotes from Audrey herself, and from the people who knew her well. It was great for learning a bunch of little tidbits about this beloved actress.
I would have liked a bit more substance, a bit more of the author's own interpretation and suggestions on how to be more "Audrey" (as the title suggests) other than "be kind" and "help others", which aren't unique to Audrey Hepburn - though she was acknowledged by pretty much everyone as very kind and selfless.
A few of the chapters were also a little repetitive in their description of her life and personality. It was understood early on that she preferred home life and family to stardom and city living, but it was repeated often without really adding anything new. I think more time could have been spent on tips on how to imitate Audrey in our own lives, but then again I thought the book would be more of a "how-to" than a sort of biography told through interview bits and a some analysis.
Nevertheless, I spent a lovely afternoon reading this book, imagining myself living in the mid-20th century, going to a fancy dinner-party in a Givenchy dress, elegantly smoking cigarette after cigarette. (I don't smoke, but in my mid-20th century dreams I do :P)
I always end up having a pleasant time when I read a book about Audrey Hepburn, or watch one of her movies. Must be her timeless grace and charm, her certain je-ne-sais-quoi that still makes her such a fabulous icon today!
<3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because pictures. ;) And it really is a nice little summary of her life and accomplishments with enough inspiration to render it perfect for those times when you need a quick lil' AH fix. ...more
Looking for a sweet, heartwarming little novella, full of compassion and true love and Christmas-time feelz and forgiveness?
Look no further than thisLooking for a sweet, heartwarming little novella, full of compassion and true love and Christmas-time feelz and forgiveness?
Look no further than this wonderful gem - a perfect addition to the Frontier Vows series, and the continuation of the story between Leah and Bryant that we all wanted.
Depending on You was short and poignant, and filled with the richness of a true God-inspired message, reminding us of the true meaning of forgiveness. If you've read the rest of the series (which you really should!), then you know what happened between Leah and Bryant to drive them apart. This novella sees a repentant Bryant returning to his home and his wife in order to make amends, but after such a betrayal as Leah suffered, how will she be able to forgive him?
I found it very refreshing and honestly just really nice reading a romance between an "older" couple, already married and with grown children and a grandbaby. It added a layer of depth that is sometimes lacking in this genre, when everything is just floofy-romance-focused. The romance here is incredibly believable, yet no less exciting than if the main characters had just met. The romantic bits were really-well executed, and the chemistry was real and perfect.
I also really appreciated that there were other little conflicts and plotlines interwoven in the main plot - something that's rather impressive to pull off in a novella, but it worked! The length was perfect, nothing felt rushed, everything had a satisfactory ending, and there was even a sweet little epilogue! <3
You'll definitely want to keep your eye out on this one as it releases soon! I definitely recommend reading the previous books in the series first though - the main issue between Bryant and Leah will be so much clearer, and the context of everything will make their reunion all the sweeter. ...more
I loved every single minute of it. From the famous opening line to the very last sentence, this book had my complete aThis book is so impossibly good.
I loved every single minute of it. From the famous opening line to the very last sentence, this book had my complete attention, holding me captive under its enchanting spell.
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It's so well-written. Under the hand of anybody else, Rebecca would probably get really boring really quickly. But du Maurier's writing style is so beautiful, so poignant, so charged with tension and emotion that she could have gone on describing the morning-room and its vibrant flowers and the desk with the pigeon-holes and the slanted handwriting, and I wouldn't have cared. It would still have been interesting. I would have gobbled it up.
Every single sentence in this novel is gorgeous. It's lush and lyrical, full of adjectives and entrancing descriptions. You can hear the sea from that room in the West wing. You can smell the fragrance of the crushed white azaleas. You can taste the bitter melancholy of the great Manderley, feel the impending sense of tragic doom at every turn.
"You could stoop down and pick a fallen petal, crush it between your fingers, and you had there, in the hollow of your hand, the essence of a thousand scents, unbearable and sweet. All from a curled and crumpled petal."
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But most of all. The haunting.
Rebecca, Rebecca, Rebecca, always Rebecca.
"Rebecca" 'til you're utterly sick of the name, sick with the oppressive sensation of feeling her on every page, in every room, every object, underlying every conversation. Rebecca, always Rebecca, only Rebecca.
Oh, how it works! How well du Maurier holds you under her spell!
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I'm so thankful that I was able to read it for the first time without any spoilers, knowing nothing about it. It was infinitely more suspenseful that way. I highly recommend, if you get the chance to read the book before seeing any film adaptations, do it! Read it! It's just so good.
The attention to detail, too, is absolutely astounding. So much thought goes into everything. Every detail is important. Thoughts, memories, feelings, emotions, all intermingled to bring you this masterpiece of a psychological thriller.
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"'If only there could be an invention,' I said impulsively, 'that bottled up memory, like scent. And it never faded, and it never got stale. And then, when one wanted it, the bottle could be uncorked, and would be like living the moment all over again.'"
Reading this book was like eating a rich chocolate cake; its darker qualities only served to enhance it.
Often compared to Jane Eyre for its gothic qualities and similar twists, Rebecca is set sometime in the 1930's against the backdrop of an imposing Cornish estate called Manderley. It features a nameless young woman as the main character and narrator, her older, enigmatic husband Mr. de Winter, his kind agent Mr. Crawley, and the chilling housekeeper Mrs. Danvers. It features dark rooms, dark moods, and dark secrets. Flaming red rhododendrons, moonlight mysteries, candlelit dinners.
All your favourite gothic-English-mansion-vibes.
I can't recommend it enough.
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"Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind."...more
3.5 stars because I rather liked the ending and the period details are amazing
Not Our Kind was a library pick-up whim, the pretty cover catching my ey3.5 stars because I rather liked the ending and the period details are amazing
Not Our Kind was a library pick-up whim, the pretty cover catching my eye as I was getting ready to leave. The blurb was convincing enough that I brought it home with me. For the most part, I really did enjoy this nicely written snippet of historical fiction that offers us what feels like quite a realistic portrayal of Life in 1947 New York.
I was sucked right in from the first few pages, and although the middle was a little stagnant, the last quarter or so started moving quickly again and I felt satisfied once I reached the end and put it down.
Not Our Kind features two heroines: Jewish girl Eleanor, who needs to work for a living, and Gentile woman Patricia, who does not need to work for a living. Eleanor and Patricia meet by chance, and Eleanor is soon hired by Patricia to work as her daughter's private tutor. Ensues a fairly interesting and riveting - if a little slow at times - tale bringing to light how easily life can change, and change you and those around you, and how chance meetings are sometimes the catalyst for things you never thought would happen to you.
It's a good tale. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I was really invested in any of the characters, but as an outsider looking in, I quite enjoyed following the story. Eleanor was a good character. So was Patricia. They were both very well-developed and three-dimensional, having their ups and downs, their successes and failures, mistakes and accomplishments. It's definitely a book that made me think, about how society has changed since then, how it's still the same, and how different/similar some of the challenges presented are dealt with today.
I related to Eleanor in many ways and I appreciated that her story wasn't turned into a typical romance. I think that would have derived from the main point a lot, and yet, as I mentioned at the start, the ending is still very satisfactory. It was realistic and matched the rest of the book, even if it was perhaps just a tad abrupt.
What elevated this book in my opinion and definitely earned it at least a half star were the glowing period details and lavish fashion descriptions. I live for those now, and have taken to keeping a journal full of notes in the hopes of one day recreating some of the fabulous outfits. Oh they sounded so beautiful! And Eleanor's mother was a milliner, with gorgeous hat references dropped throughout, making me long for the days when hats were just part of everyone's daily outfits. LET'S BRING THEM BACK.
"Let the glorious period details wash all over you - the glamour of New York, circa 1947. But the most remarkable achievement is the complex relationship between women from two different worlds." - Melanie Benjamin
The review critics aren't lying on the cover of this one. The immersion into 1947 New York is felt from page 1, and the complex relationship between the two women and carried through until the very last sentences.
I wouldn't say that Not Our Kind is a must-read or anything, but it was a pretty good book. If you happen to chance upon it, give it a go. If not, you're not missing anything groundbreaking.
Unless you're really into hats. Then yes, you must read this.
**Content warning: I wouldn't call this book clean, definitely 18+ for nudity and sexual activity, nothing overly explicit, but clear enough. ...more
3.5 stars rounded up for the book's ability to make me Think Things.
"We called Paris the great good place, then, and it was. We invented it after all.3.5 stars rounded up for the book's ability to make me Think Things.
"We called Paris the great good place, then, and it was. We invented it after all. [...] Together we made everything and then we busted it apart again."
There's no disputing that The Paris Wife is a good novel. Well-written, deep, moving, it gives a voice to an otherwise subdued and oft relegated to the background character. It shows us the hidden depths and quiet resilience of a rather conservative woman who gets swept up into the craziness that was Jazz Age Paris in spite of everything, and realizes she doesn't quite fit in.
What do you do, then, when you realize that such a life isn't for you? How do you reconcile being a loving and devoted wife and doing what's best for you? How do you keep your head above the ground, amidst all these artists and writers and deep thoughts and too much champagne? And worse, when do you know to walk away?
Well, Hadley Hemingway, I certainly have a lot of admiration for you. Your lot was definitely not enviable, despite the surface glamour that living in Paris in the 1920's, married to one of the driving writers of the day, traveling all over Europe on month-long vacations, might make it seem.
It sounds so exciting and adventurous, but the harsh, brutal reality is there. The poverty. The long hours apart. The sense of helplessness, of loss, of drifting away. The awful betrayal, the heart-wrenching pain, the tears. The Paris Wife lays it all bare. It's not the sparkling, glamourous novel you might think it is.
Ernest Hemingway famously wrote of Hadley that he "wished he had died before [he] ever loved anyone but her." Well, Hemingway, so do we all. After finishing The Paris Wife, we all wish you'd given Hadley her due. She deserved your eternal love and commitment, but in the end, she made a good life for herself. Because she was like that, Hadley. Made the best of a situation and tried her best to create happiness even when her world was in shambles.
That happiness could've been you. It was you, and it could have gone on being you. But no.
I really loved the first quarter of the book, when Hadley and Ernest meet in Chicago - that bit is actually quite glamorous and fun, but the major bulk of the story is pretty much A Moveable Feast told through Hadley's perspective. Which isn't at all a bad thing, but having just finished A Moveable Feast right before this one, some of it felt a little repetitive to me. There was also wayyyyyy too much about bull-fighting, which I'm 0/10 interested in, so I skimmed a lot of those bits and wished it would hurry on. I shall definitely pass on The Sun Also Rises.
I considered giving the book three stars since I lost interest in a few parts and the spark seemed gone out of the story, but the last few chapters redeemed it a lot for me, because they were just so heartbreakingly real and seemed to put the more lagging parts of the book in a different perspective - like the lull before the break-up - and I appreciated that. I finished the book late at night, my heart wrenching as I put it down. Oh yes, minus the bull-fighting and the horse-racing, it really was a good book!
I like to be challenged when I read sometimes, and The Paris Wife found me thinking a lot about love. Not in the way that escapist romance novels do, but in a much more real and grounded way. About what things like marriage and soulmates and sacrifices and compromises and compatibility mean to me. You know, just to occupy my mind while I sit at work for long hours on end without seeing anyone (gotta love working in tourism during Covid times).
Hemingway says it quite matter-of-factly in A Moveable Feast. Drinking wine, for them, was like drinking water. Why bother with anything else when you could have wine?
Anyways, I applaud the author's writing skills for giving me a literary hangover, as well as feeling the drudgery and the tired and the I-can't-do-this-anymore of the characters' lives. Sometimes I thought it was because the book was boring, but when I reached the end I realized it wasn't quite that. It was that I'd been made to feel exactly how Hadley felt, right before her marriage disintegrated. And for that, great job Paula McLain. The Paris Wifewas Hadley.
Definitely recommend if you're in need of a good dose of the Lost Generation disillusionment, and you're interested in meeting a truly worthy woman....more
I really enjoyed this sweet and cozy second installment of the Tea Shop Mystery series, and being reunited with Theodosia, Haley, and Drayton to solveI really enjoyed this sweet and cozy second installment of the Tea Shop Mystery series, and being reunited with Theodosia, Haley, and Drayton to solve yet another "accidental death" that turns out to be murder.
Light and breezy, Gunpowder Green reads much like its predecessor: you'll want a good cup of steaming tea and a scone while you read and eliminate the suspects one by one. I found this one easy to solve, but I enjoyed it a lot nonetheless. There's something about Childs' writing style that is very soothing, even though she writes mysteries.
There's still some suspense and anticipation in all the right spots, but overall this is as cozy as cozy gets!
I love it though, and those recipes tacked on at the end are such a wonderful bonus. ...more
I've listened to this one probably about ten million times, it's one of my favourite go-to's during long studio hours and I just LOVE it ASIDE FROM THI've listened to this one probably about ten million times, it's one of my favourite go-to's during long studio hours and I just LOVE it ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT IT'S ABRIDGED.
How dare they cut even a sentence of this wonderful story?!
Richard Armitage does a stellar job as usual, his impersonation of Sylvester was per-fection and I just can't tire of listening to it.
Hahahahaha oohhhhhh this book!!! Where do I start?!
I have just finished it, and am still busy wiping the tears from my eyes, born equally from laughtHahahahaha oohhhhhh this book!!! Where do I start?!
I have just finished it, and am still busy wiping the tears from my eyes, born equally from laughter and adorable feelz. I have absolutely no idea how Anya Wylde managed to write one of the most adorable Regency romances I've ever read, where half the book literally makes no sense and the other half consists of the H/h yelling insults at each other.
I don't know how it's possible, but it just happened, and I absolutely LOVED it.
As pretty much every single review will tell you, Penelope is a madcap Regency comedy. And by madcap, we mean literally impossible. Penelope (our dear heroine) has a pet goat, befriends highwaymen, and spends the night unchaperoned at a lord's residence. There is a cross-dressing modiste, an old butler who dances in the drawing-room, and an old grand-father who believes in mustaches.
The adventures of the Season include accidentally ripping a hostess's gown to the point where she is uncovered, being chased out of a mansion by a cheetah, and falling out of orange trees into the arms of unsuspecting gentlemen.
The historical inaccuracies range from these improbable and impossible plot lines, to women wearing bloomers (not a thing during the Regency era) and men wearing just a shirt (scandal!).
The hero repeatedly calls the heroine an imbecile, an idiot, a nuisance, a doxie, a country wench, and a thousand other vile names besides. He point-blank tells her at least three times, "I do not like you", and refers to her as a fruit fly or a mosquito for half the book.
The heroine naturally despises the hateful, arrogant, conceited, pompous, overbearing, domineering, impatient, horrible, blasted hero and spends 90% of the story boiling his temper.
Their romance was founded on insults and dislike.
Hottest thing I've ever read.
I genuinely don't understand how their chemistry was that good, but my GOODNESS, IT WAS SIZZLING OFF THE PAGES. I don't know how, but it WORKED. I loved them!! Such squabbling! Such heated repartee! Such passionate rejoinders! Such love!
I honestly can't explain this book. It makes no sense. But it's hilariously contrived and delightfully humorous. The characters are all gems, and somehow, somehow, it just...works.
This was kinda like Georgette Heyer meets Jen Turano, and I'm here for this. I didn't realize how much I needed a lighthearted, funny book until I started reading Penelope. I knew what I was getting into, having been warned by the reviews that it was a very silly, madcap story, so I was fully prepared to disregard logical plot points, and I had a fantastic time. I laughed out loud several times (in public) and didn't care.
It was such good fun, and I absolutely adored Penelope.
Gaaahhhhhh I loved it!! I'm an incoherent mess! <3 <3
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*A huge thank you to the author for giving me a copy of this book, I enjoyed it immensely, and all opinions expressed here are my own....more
"Words make delightful playthings. They cost nothing, they never wear out, and no one can ever take them away from you."
What a rich and eventful story"Words make delightful playthings. They cost nothing, they never wear out, and no one can ever take them away from you."
What a rich and eventful story!
An excellent conclusion to the tale of the Paxton brothers as they each stand out during D-day and are reunited at last. We had calm, gentle Wyatt at sea, fun and outgoing Adler in the air, and now we have resourceful and caring Clay on land.
It sounds a bit grim, but it did make sense in the context of the story. It is WWII after all and Clay is a Ranger training for D-day, which isn’t exactly the safest job in the world. Anyone could have vivid dreams about dying! He believes his dream to be a sign from God, but he hasn’t altogether given up on life in the sense that his dream doesn’t fill him with despair, but with hope. So he tries his best to be the best version of himself he can be while he still lives, and is presented as such a loveable hero that you simply cannot imagine him dying for real.
Things turn even more adorable when he meets and rescues the heroine, Leah Jones. Leah is a wide-eyed, innocent young librarian, whose appeal rests in her genuine personality. An orphan in search of her sisters, she always sees the best in everyone and every situation, without necessarily being disillusioned. She just understands how to see the world and take things in stride, and it was refreshing.
She was, of course, perfect for Clay, and their repeated attempts to out-nice each other made my heart melt. I will also add that I didn’t know until this book that it was possible to have such a well-developed romance between two characters on separate continents and who are only together in the beginning and ending chapters, literally separated by an ocean for the entire middle section WHILE BEING MARRIED.
If you are confused, fear not, it actually all makes sense in the story! My one little gripe is that a certain major event did not seem to have enough impact on the main characters as it should have. (view spoiler)[ Being attacked is one thing, being raped is another. While I really appreciated how Leah wanted to keep her baby and love her and care for her, the trauma of being raped seemed pushed aside and wasn’t alluded to as much as it should have. Without accusing the author of making light of rape (which she doesn’t), it seems that that event should have had a bit more of a lasting scar on Leah. Since it happens fairly early on in the plot, I expected it to drive the story more than it did, and I was a little surprised at how “easy� it seemed for Leah to move past it. I loved the way she always saw the good in everything and I’m so glad she wanted to keep her baby and love her and care for her, but it did feel like she “got over� being raped a little too quickly. And, might I add, she wasn’t just raped, but also stabbed in the chest. You don’t get over a night like that this quickly. I wouldn’t say the whole thing was badly portrayed, but it was a little lacking and felt unrealistic at times. (hide spoiler)]
As always, there are fabulous descriptions that bring you right there at the heart of all the action, and, AND�.THE FAMILY REUNION IS EVERYTHING YOUR HEART COULD POSSIBLY DESIRE. After three whole books filled with regrets and remorse and endless apologies, where you’re basically screaming at everyone to just get together and make up already, THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER AND ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL (this isn’t a spoiler, because you better expect a happy, cutesy-cute ending from a Sarah Sundin novel! Never mind that it’s WWII and not everyone survives! Never you mind, with Sarah Sundin you are in good hands!).
The Land Beneath Us was an excellent conclusion to the Paxton brothers� saga, and I enjoyed it immensely. I eagerly await her next release!!! ...more
I loved Sir Elias to bits in the previous books and was dying for him to get his own story, and I sure wasn't disappoioKAY THIS WAS AMAZING. 4.5 stars
I loved Sir Elias to bits in the previous books and was dying for him to get his own story, and I sure wasn't disappointed. <3 <3
I have nothing of import to say except gush about it like some kind of crazy obsessed fangirl!
I've spent the last week or so buried in academic articles and books trying to write my Honours paper, and it seems I've used all my words up because I literally cannot think of any good ones to describe my feelings for this book. But also, I read this book a year ago and although I loved it, I don't remember it quite so well.
BUT THE ROMANCE WAS SO ROMANTIC (I have no words left, I tell you)!!!! The heroine was wonderful, and the the story line was delightful, and as usual with any Tamara Leigh book, I spent many wondrous hours lost in her epically enthralling medieval world.
Pro tip: these books are even much better if you blast some Two Steps From Hell while you're reading. ;) Then it REALLY feels like a movie.
This review is awful y'all, I'm so sorry, I have no brain cells left, but I was reminded of this book today and thought I should try to write a review for it (even though I failed miserably). IT WAS SO GOOD. ...more
I LOVE this book. And I also LOVE the film adaptation of this book.
It's such an inspiring, beautiful story that is equal parts entertaining,4.5 stars
I LOVE this book. And I also LOVE the film adaptation of this book.
It's such an inspiring, beautiful story that is equal parts entertaining, romantic, and touching, and I absolutely loved the way it was written. (I'm sorry for my serious overuse of the word "love", BUT THERE IS SO MUCH I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK, I CAN'T HELP IT) The epistolary form, the humour, the characterization that just came alive through the letters and stories, the literary love and references, the sense of unity...there are just so many aspects that are done right, so many things that just work in this novel.
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The book is divided into two parts, the first focusing on writer Juliet Ashton in post-WWII England, and the second focusing on Elizabeth McKenna, founder of the actual Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society during the war on the island of Guernsey.
Juliet is inspired to write Elizabeth's story after she receives a letter from a Mr. Dawsey Lawson from Guernsey, who came in possession of a book that used to belong to her. Her address was written inside the front cover, so he decided to write her and thank her, and their correspondence sparks a series of war stories about the German occupation on the island, and the power of books and literature in bonding people together.
Tell me that doesn't sound amazing.
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I cannot stress just how wonderful the whole story is, how cleverly the book is written, and how amazing all the little details are.
I don't want to spoil anything because the experience is so much better if you don't know too much about the story, but it's so worth it. The only reason it doesn't get a full 5 stars was because I enjoyed the second half just a little bit less. It was still really good, but not quite as engaging as the first part, and although I loved the romance, it fell a little flat for me in the end, and I was much happier with it in the movie ;)
I highly, highly recommend both; the movie is incredibly satisfying to watch after reading the book since it's fairly accurate and provides a beautiful visual.
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When I finished the book, I was inspired to write. And when I finished the movie, I was inspired to do all the sewing.
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I absolutely adore this yellow dress, AND I WANT IT!!! ...more
I think this one just may be my favourite Sarah Sundin novel so far.
It's so good.
Everything is there: romance, suspense, character growth, romance, I think this one just may be my favourite Sarah Sundin novel so far.
It's so good.
Everything is there: romance, suspense, character growth, romance, well-developed themes, romance, amazing WII history, ROMANCE, DID I MENTION ROMANCE?!?!
Oh but Dan and Tess were just perfection.
I've enjoyed every single Sundin novel I've read thus far, and the romances have all been really good so far, but this one was on a higher level than the others. This one was just really, really well done, so cute and chemistry-filled I just wanted to keep on reading.
I've noticed that I often really enjoy the last book in Sundin's trilogies a lot because it usually features an H/h we've already met and got to know in the previous two books, so there's room for even greater character development, and they just feel so real and it's overall just so well-done.
I'm also a really huge fan of the starched-hero-gets-unstarched, and I lost my heart to Dan within the first few chapters. Who doesn't want to witness the tireless workaholic's carefully built armour crumble through his blossoming relationship with the courageous, energetic and fun-loving beauty?
I tell you, it's good. I wanted more. I wanted another book in this series.
The rest of the plot was amazing as well, When Tides Turn is not just a romance (although that was definitely my favourite aspect of it) and had so much more to offer!
I highly, highlyyyyyyyy recommend this book, this series, this author. IT'S AMAZING. ...more
THIS BOOK IS AWESOME Y'ALL. I am so behind on reviews it's ridiculous, and I feel awful because this one was actua4.5 solid stars of excellent quality
THIS BOOK IS AWESOME Y'ALL. I am so behind on reviews it's ridiculous, and I feel awful because this one was actually a review request, so, until I get all my wits together once again, I just wanted to say that I loved this book. It was deep, intriguing and highly interesting, and I strongly recommend it. This is not your typical light-tea-party romance, ooooohh noooooo! It's way more intricate, and superbly written.
If author Melissa Jagears isn't already on your radar of authors-I-need-to-watch-because-their-books-are-so-awesome, add her to your list RIGHT NOW! You will not regret it. I have loved everything I've read by this author so far, and this book took it even a step further because it was so deep. As much as I love Christian historical romance, the big majority of them qualify only as fluffy escapism, and most are not even well-written. A Heart Most Certain, I guarantee you, is not one of those at all.
I wouldn't recommend to younger readers however, this is certainly a tougher book dealing with mature subject matters. The romance isn't the focus of the story (although it was beautifully done too!), and despite the divinely gorgeous cover that hints at a sweet novel of moonlit moments and walks around beautiful gardens, it is not the case!! It's absolutely wonderful, but be prepared for something challenging ;)
Melissa Jagears, bravo! You have accomplished a true Christian fiction novel, something I'm sure many aspire to but fail to deliver. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!!
A huge thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review, and all apologies that my full review is so late, and that I stupidly forgot to give it a rating when I first reviewed it. I LOVED IT!!!...more
I'm really sad that I never reviewed all the books in this series, because it's one of my favourites and it's just so AWESOME.
The Kindling is definitI'm really sad that I never reviewed all the books in this series, because it's one of my favourites and it's just so AWESOME.
The Kindling is definitely in the top three of all eight books in the Age of Faith series. I loved everything about it.
I was interested in Abel from the moment we met him in The Unveiling, and couldn't wait to read his story. He might just be my favourite Wulfrith (although I quite like the mighty Lord Wulfrith himself...). And Helen was a fantastic heroine!
I read this ages ago, but I remember an exciting and suspenseful plot and an absolutely thrilling romance. I remember a scarred hero who pushed everyone away and a gentle but firm healer who was accused of being a witch...I remember tender, firelit scenes, I remember a breathless chase, I remember a swoon-worthy kissing scene, and I remember being just as delighted at the mention of any of the previous characters.
It's quite fun, actually, to review a book a few years after reading it and seeing all the wonderful things you remember about it, and the beautiful feelings it still evokes.
Such a great story, such a great series!! (I'm still going through withdrawal lol)...more
Sooooooo. Last year I read The Unveiling, which I loved, but for some reason I didn't read the rest of the series right away. Last January I decided iSooooooo. Last year I read The Unveiling, which I loved, but for some reason I didn't read the rest of the series right away. Last January I decided it was past time I remedy this, and devoured all four consecutive books one after the other. Me got busy with school then and me didn't have time to review them, but now that book 6 has just been released and I'm taking my sweet time savouring every page, I thought I could come back here and try to piece a little something of a review, because reading The Vexing is reminding me HOW MUCH I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS AND THIS FAMILY. <3
Leigh has an undeniable talent for creating sweeping medieval stories filled with lovable and swoon-worthy characters, and I remember this book especially as being one of the most adventurous and suspenseful of the series, and I was spellbound the whole time (and wondering why the heck I waited so long to read it!). This book was just so good.
In The Unveiling, we were introduced to Baron Wulfrith, head of that most formidable family, and in The Yielding his youngest sister Lady Beatrix is the heroine. If I remember correctly she is helping her sister Lady Gaenor into hiding to escape an unwanted marriage, but an accident en route has Beatrix believed to be dead at the bottom of a ravine.
Ensues a highly exciting tale filled with danger and tension, a most enthralling romance, and a very suspenseful last few chapters. I loved every minute of The Yielding and overall enjoyed it even more than its predecessor. This series is turning out to be one of my favourites in Christian fiction, and I cannot recommend it enough!! The hero might not be a Wulfrith man, but he was most definitely worthy of Lady Beatrix, and although he isn't my favourite, my romantic heart rejoiced greatly in his dark good looks and brooding attitude ;)
Scratch what I wrote in my review of A Hope Undaunted; I can and I will pick a favourite O’Connor book, and it’s this one. Sweet mother of pearl, it wScratch what I wrote in my review of A Hope Undaunted; I can and I will pick a favourite O’Connor book, and it’s this one. Sweet mother of pearl, it was just wonderful. I was completely swept away from page one, and thoroughly enjoyed myself until the end.
All previous little nitpicky things from the other books magically had no appearance here (except for the earlobe nipping - there seems to be no doing without that). No passionate kissing between the H/h at random/innoportune/inapropriate moments, no fantasizing endlessly about the other, no oh-god-dear-lord-I-have-to-stay-pure-until-marriage-but-it’s-too-hard-I-can’t-do-this, no blatant manipulation to get the hero’s attention, no becoming engaged to another man to try to forget the hero, no hero blinded by stubborn pride, no events or characters left hanging (unless it was major issues that you know will come back in the last book), and no skipping ahead months or years.
A Heart Revealed is definitely Lessman’s masterpiece. It’s her finest book yet, her most rich, complete, and detail-oriented. The romantic leads were older, more mature, and their romance was overall much better developed and presented than all the previous ones. Where all the other romances had been thunderous, madcap and dizzying with myriads of conflicting thoughts and emotions never before felt by the characters, here we have a gentle, slow, honest and delicate love story. It’s akin to reading Persuasion or something equally mature after a streak of YA novels (not that I really read those, but yeah).
Sean O’Connor is probably my favourite hero of the series (although John Brady and Mitch Dennehy come extremely close). Reminiscent of Parker Riley, Luke McGee’s best friend in A Hope Undaunted whom I had admired so much, Sean is remarkable for his quiet humour, his ready laugh, his kindness, and his gentle ways. He’s forever the nice guy, a confirmed bachelor at 34 with no intentions of ever marrying, much to the regret of many ladies. Handsome, athletic and hard-working, Sean is happy just spending his days at work and his evenings playing sports or coaching them. Of all the men in the O’Connor saga, Sean is the only one (save Parker) who could exercise self-control when it came to women. It’s not that he’s not attracted to them, it’s just that, y’know, he’s honourable enough not to assault every female mentioned in the book, unlike his predecessors (ahem CollinMitchBradyLuke).
So, when he realizes he’s had feelings all along for his long-standing friend, Emma Malloy, he freaking respects her wishes for distance and keeps his mouth to himself .Major round of applause for Sean please, he was THE ONLY ONE who was able to do that. Granted, the ring on Emma’s finger probably had a lot to do with it, but still. I can’t even begin to express how refreshing and wonderful it was not to be stumbling upon make-out sessions every 25 pages. I loved all previous books, but seriously, all the smoochiness was really getting on my nerves. So when I started this book, I was fully expecting an accidental kiss to happen at least before page 50, but when I had passed page 300 and they still hadn’t kissed, I knew their story was the best.
Because it was finally focused on something other than the physical aspect of the relationship.
Taking her time to develop a beautiful story between the two leads, Lessman incorporates layer upon layer of interesting details, building her 1931 atmosphere, telling us about the other characters, including domestic scenes with some of the previously married couples, and creating an interesting plot to make Emma and Sean realize they’ve been madly in love all along. If you’ve read the previous books, you know that Sean and Emma have known each other for over ten years, and have been good friends ever since. They both have tons in common, and they are Lessman’s best-matched couple, hands-down.
Deeply scarred by her past, Emma has nonetheless come to terms with her life and is at peace with herself, able to live normally and be happy and fulfilled in what she does. Lessman successfully shows us the caliber of woman that she is through her interactions with others at work, but it’s the little details told about her that make her truly endearing. The way she likes to paint the birds that come on her windowsill, or how she likes to wear lacy nightgowns to feel pretty and feminine, or how her apartment is furnished antique-style and abundantly embellished with flowered accents � carpet, wallpaper, bedspread. Everything about her exudes loveliness, peace, and femininity. She’s a treasure any man would be proud and lucky to call his own, and none knows it better than Sean. Unfortunately, the one man who does have her is ironically the one who couldn’t care less about her � Rory Malloy, her no-good husband whom she left 11 years ago when she moved to Boston with Charity. She’s forgiven him, but when she realizes that Sean O’Connor is the man of her dreams she never thought existed, her carefully built world slowly starts to unravel before her as she tries to keep it together, knowing she can never deserve him, nor have him.
The most heart-warming, beautiful and uplifting romance I’d read in a long time, A Heart Revealed is definitely a top-favourite romance novel of mine, one I will be sure to recommend and re-read over and over again. It was so rich, true, and elevating. It perfectly illustrated what true love is all about; self-renunciation, respect, forgiveness, trust and so much more. The author highlighted all the important points of a relationship and brought them all together to create the kind of romance every girl has always dreamed about.
And as always, it was wonderful seeing all the other family members again: joining Luke and Katie on their wedding day, sympathizing with Marcy who wants to adopt Gabe, laughing at Charity’s dry humour, oooh-ing at all the babies and young cousins, praying with Faith, and wondering who would win at chess. I love the family atmosphere Lessman always creates, it’s definitely one of her best traits. I love how she always has the women baking cookies, sewing hems and necklines, matchmaking and gossiping in the kitchen while the men are outside playing horseshoes or barbecuing. I also love the fact that all the men play sports and try to best each other (it’s totally hilarious), and are all consequently taller, handsomer and more muscular than the other (totally swoon-worthy). It’s just so much fun reading all those family scenes!!
Ah, I don’t know what I’ll do when I finish this series!
*Stand-alone novel, although it will make much more sense if you’ve read the previous books of the saga, especially A Passion Redeemed, in which Emma decides to leave Rory. Also, if you’ve read the other books the family scenes in this book will make a lot more sense. Nevertheless, I assume it’s perfectly enjoyable all on its own as well. Either way, READ IT!! ;) ...more
After my very mixed experiences with After a Fashion and In Good Company, I approached Playing the Part a littl 3.5 stars, my favourite of this series!
After my very mixed experiences with After a Fashion and In Good Company, I approached Playing the Part a little more cautiously, waiting for the right time when I was in the mood for brushing off historical inaccuracies and extreme silliness and just enjoy the comedic romance for the escapist fun it's supposed to be.
I did quite enjoy myself with this one. It's loads of fun, improbable and impossible though it all is, but at this point, that's kind of the point of Jen Turano's novels, isn't it? I don't know if it's just me and my reading preferences evolving a bit, or if her works have gotten even more on the silly and ridiculous side since the Ladies of Distinction series, but it seems as though the wild ride aspect of her novels is decidedly wild now.
I remember a pet pig and a shotgun-wielding-mom-at-a-ball in A Match of Wits, but here we have an actual castle with literal suits of armor walking about, an enraged goat who chases the heroine out of said castle, a crazed lunatic in hot pursuit of the heroine, and endless layers of secrets and bruised family relationships that naturally all get sorted out in typical Turano fashion - that is, with a lot of theatrics, stuttering and sputtering, and ladies in disguise proclaiming they don't need men (and most certainly NOT the hero) to help save the day.
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It's light-hearted and humorous if a bit eye-rolling at times, but the dialogue's razor-sharp wit and the sweet romance were very much worth it. I mean, Bram Haverstein is everything.
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I can't remember the last Christian romance I read where the hero already had feelings for the heroine. Gosh it was SO DARN CUTE. Not only was Bram literal perfection - as in, completely unreal, way to good to be true, yet flawed and human all the same - but his little crush on Lucetta was the most adorable thing ever and it was refreshing to read a romance like that where the hero wasn't automatically prejudiced against the independent, willful heroine. <3 Also, swoon-worthy kisses. Just sayin'.
I found the plot overall a bit odd, there was a weird mix of nonsensical plot points and serious elements that clashed a lot sometimes, especially since so many important "reveal" scenes that should've been dramatic fell rather flat. For some reason, characters in this book liked to have important discussions/arguments in public or in front of several other key characters, which in itself was a bit weird, but what was weirder was that those scenes always played out as though they were alone...Like the bit where Lucetta and her mother have this super-long-overdue unloading of feelings and exposing Nigel's villainy...right in front of Nigel himself, and several other people that really shouldn't be there for that...but no one says anything and the reader all but forgets that they're in a roomful of people.
It could be that it's a deliberate choice on the author's part, since her novels often feel like plays in many ways, and as such she's trying to portray the listening characters as the audience and the main characters as the actors on stage, but I don't know, it feels very off to me, and honestly it made those scenes really anticlimactic. I think it would be much funnier and add a lot to the comedy if those "serious" scenes were interrupted by various interjections from the other characters. I mean, the drama levels in this story are sky-high, so it would make a lot more sense.
An as someone who finds grand romantic gestures and public love declarations extremely cringe, I wasn't a huge fan of the proposal scene, but it was made worse because it was done in front of an apparently stone silent public...were people not at least cheering or wooping when (view spoiler)[Bram literally interrupted the play, the actual play that Lucetta was playing in, to get down on one knee and propose?! I mean he arrives HANGING UPSIDE DOWN and no one says anything?! She accepts his proposal and they kiss and....they weren't alone, it felt so weird not to have anyone say anything! (hide spoiler)].
Cute and fun book, witty veering on the ridiculous, but for what it's worth it's really good, and certainly perfect escapism. Sometimes you just need a book that doesn't really make you think, but just takes you on a good old comedic ride.
I'm not sure how I'm supposed to go about reviewing a book like this one...
What can I say besides the fact that I absolutely LOVED it?
This book was aI'm not sure how I'm supposed to go about reviewing a book like this one...
What can I say besides the fact that I absolutely LOVED it?
This book was amazing. The historical setting was interesting. The romance was heart-melting. The Christian elements uplifting. The epistolary exchanges were just...wonderful. Everything blended together so well in this book, and it was so compelling that I had the hardest time putting it down. With Every Letter is one of those amazing books that you can't wait to reach the end of because you can't wait to see how it will all come together, even though you know it will be over all too soon and this-book-was-so-good-what-do-I-do-now depression phase will be about to begin once you're done. If you're anything like me, you will not be able to resist buying On Distant Shores and In Perfect Time, the next two books in the series, as soon as you finish this one. The characters are so attaching and the historical details so fascinating, that you will not be able to resist wanting to read more.
I learned so much about different aspects of World War II. Thus far, the books about World War II that I've read revolved around the Jews and the Nazis. Those are usually the first things that pop into my head when I think about the second World War. I've read about concentration camps, gas chambers, destruction, torture, inhuman conditions and treatments, and complete loss of hope. It was very refreshing to read a book set in World War II that centered on a different aspect: the entry of the US Army at the heart of battles in North Africa. The hero was an engineer, and the heroine a flight nurse. With Every Letter was so detailed and well written that I learned a lot about those two professions. Silly me had not realized all the work required of engineers to make airfields functional, and the importance of air evacuation.
I loved how both protagonists were in the military and in action. It made things really exciting, and was a change from the usual wife-at-home-waiting-for-her-man-abroad type of plot. I believe that, of all the books about any war I have ever read, With Every Letter is the only one that cannot be considered a "sad" book. There is no moaning and groaning about the war, no heart-wrenching descriptions of bloody battles, and no terrible losses. Never once did the characters say or even think "When will this terrible war be over so we can all go home?" type of lamentation. Not once. I kept waiting for it, waiting for them to lose hope, or get angry at God for allowing the war to happen, but it never came. They were there, and they were determined to help and to their best to succeed in their jobs. No complaints. Never. Wow. This book made the favourite list just because of that.
And...the romance. The beautiful, wonderful, soulful and incredibly touching romance. Both H/h were such incredible persons on their own that together they were breathtaking. I loved seeing the other through their eyes. The point of view kept shifting between them, and it added a lot of depth and understanding to their characters. Mellie and Tom were so well-matched, and each brought to the other so much to complement their personality, that it was truly amazing to witness. I couldn't get enough of them.
Where can I get an anonymous male pen friend as wonderful as Tom, please?! I need him in my life. ;)
I cannot wait to get to the two other books in this series, and to all the other books Sarah Sundin has written. She has undeniable talent, and I cannot wait to lose myself again in the World War II atmosphere. I never thought I would say that quite like this! ...more
I officially just love Sarah Sundin. This book left me breathless.
I loved how it didn't pick up where the previous ended, but started further back soI officially just love Sarah Sundin. This book left me breathless.
I loved how it didn't pick up where the previous ended, but started further back so we could really get in context and know what had happened to the secondary characters of With Every Letter before the end. It was so easy to loose myself again completely in Sarah Sundin's World War II atmosphere, and seeing all the characters again was so much fun!
I looooved Georgie from book 1 and was SO excited to read her story!! It was definitely sadder and more heart-wrenching than I'd bargained for, but overall it was so good, I couldn't put it down. One of the things I love the most about Sundin's characters is how they have to go through personal struggles to help them grow and correct a certain character flaw about themselves.
I found On Distant Shores to be particularly inspiring in that area. The heroine's inner conflicts were incredibly well drawn out, and the way she tried so hard to overcome her fears and be a better person added a whole new dimension to the story. It wasn't just a love story of two people engaged to another (respectively), it was a also a journey of self-discovery. Christian principles were artfully woven throughout and it created a credible, inspiring story.
I loved, loved seeing the characters from book 1 again and having them just keep going with the story. Some moments were definitely harder to bear though, and although this novel was not just "sad", it was undoubtedly the sadder of the three, and had a few scenes where I nearly cried. But overall it was just beautiful, so entrancing, and I dove into book 3 immediately after finishing. The setting is so exciting, so adventurous, so enriching, and just so pleasant to learn about.
I believe that of the three books in this series, On Distant Shores is equal parts the saddest and sweetest, given the tragedies that occur and the gentle love story that developed between the main characters. Every moment spent reading this novel gave me some kind of strong emotion, and it was impossible to put down (and since I was on the road for hours on end, I thankfully didn't really have to). I strongly, strongly recommend it, whether you loved With Every Letter or are just looking for a great WWII book to read. It was full of interesting information about the role of pharmacists in the war, and the setting is so well depicted, you can actually see the set-up tents full of crates and medicine and prescriptions.
Stand-alone novel, as the author replays the last quarter of book 1 from the perspective of different characters in order to let the reader know what happened off stage. I would still recommend reading With Every Letter first though, as it was an amazing read and establishes an even deeper connection with the characters.
My review so doesn't do justice to this amazing book, and I'm really kicking myself for not reviewing it sooner, but regardless, add this book to your shelf now, you surely won't regret it!!...more
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