I hate to review an up and coming author who probably has a great career ahead of her negatively, but this story just wasn't for mJust not my favorite
I hate to review an up and coming author who probably has a great career ahead of her negatively, but this story just wasn't for me. Reasons below, but if you loved the story, I'd just skip my review!
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I felt like the main characters had an odd, unhealthy relationship (I mean, why is she always apologizing for reasonable concerns? Does he not care about her? Not just her heart, soul, and mind, but her body?), there was little development of said characters, and the plot seemed pretty pointless and then easily resolved. My biggest problem, however, was with the male lead who was stubborn and holding onto the past in an unhealthy way. I kept thinking that was the point of the book, and his wife would smack some sense into him or at least he'd find God's healing and move on (he was just ... interesting lol), but I guess that wasn't what this story was about. Still, I find I couldn't condone his behavior, attitude, or actions....more
**spoiler alert** I debated for a long time whether I should write a full review of this. I liked it, and loved what the author was trying to do, but **spoiler alert** I debated for a long time whether I should write a full review of this. I liked it, and loved what the author was trying to do, but there were some serious issues I had with a few things. That said, I don't want to just be negative for negativity's sake when I know this is only the author's second novel.
Anyways, my full thoughts are below, but I honestly do think this was a great book that shows amazing promise. I'm omitting a rating as I won't be posting this anywhere else, and I'd like to avoid dragging down the author's overall score.
A few overall notes:
The writing needed a developmental and line edit just to smooth some things over. There were no obvious mistakes, but the book contained a lot of telling, even of the details which could have been brought out/described. Again, given that this is the author's second novel ever, that's not too surprising and really shouldn't be held against her. I do think there were some genuinely heart-wrenching moments that were very well-portrayed.
I really loved that the author took time to show realistic physical attraction without dragging your mind into the gutter. It was clean but also really sweet. Further, I feel like the author did a great job introducing some character development devices, themes, etc., and I was impressed by how easy it was to keep track of the five kiddos along with the other minor characters. Plus, the kids were super sweet and fairly well-developed!
It was a very easy, enjoyable read. Other than some frustrations listed below, there was nothing that took away from my enjoyment of the book. Technically speaking, it was free of errors or poor writing. As noted, it was simply the prose and other techniques that are specific to writing novels, not general writing, that could use a little work.
One minor setup issue that bugged me: several times, the book mentions that Lisa has no experience with kids, yet she is an utter natural at taking care of them in reality. Which is confusing. However, she does really struggle with cooking, which was ... not set up at all? Anyways, I just thought that was a little weird, despite the fact that it could totally be that she just discovered that she is great with kids after all. However, in general, as someone who's worked in childcare all my life, has a ton of nieces and nephews, etc., it's not that easy. And if you're good with kids naturally ... usually you know it. However, I am prone to wrongness, so that was just a personal pet peeve as someone who adores kiddos and would cut off my left hand (I'm a leftie) to spend time with 'em. ;)
My Mentioned Issues:
In my personal opinion, which is not the law of the land for sure and should not be regarded as such by potential readers of this novel, there were some major character development holes.
Let's start with Lisa. The whole book, I kept thinking she was going to be revealed to have a past of at least verbal/emotional abuse if not physical abuse, despite the fact that I knew with my head that that wasn't a thing. She showed a lot of textbook signs of emotional abuse, and it would have made the book make more sense. As it was, she comes across as constantly overreacting to the (admittedly, irritating) rejection and other issues she experiences throughout the book.
This confused me because ... what has she experienced in her life other than love, affirmation, et cetera? She came from a secure home, which you'd think would grow her into a secure person or at least give this little 29-year-old the skills to cope a little better than a hormonal teenager.
I would just have liked to know more about her backstory, as there seemed to be a lot to it. I feel if her behavior was just a little more grounded, and there were a heavier focus on her having, for instance, been an old maid before the war (not that she had much time in which to be an old maid before the war, but you know), that would've made sense. As it was, her behaviors were not those of someone who has lost a lot of loved ones to grief but rather of someone dealing with other issues that indeed are serious. I do think the author did a decent job portraying the issues of needing to move beyond grief, at least on the surface-level, so I want to give credit where credit is due for that! It just ... felt like Lisa was going through A LOT more than that.
My biggest issue with Lisa? She left the kids. And I'll never be able to forgive her for that. I honestly think Eli should have abandoned her after she did that. I mean, not really, as that wouldn't have been a godly thing to do, but if any spouse of mine left, regardless of the issues we were having, abandoning our children (because they are practically her children at that point)? I would not be able to forgive them. (And yes, she's somehow worked it into her mind that she was unworthy, that they'd be better off with a hired woman of some sort, etc., but that DOESN'T FORGIVE HER LEAVING HER OWN CHILDREN - because yes, they were her children by then; they were her children as soon as she married Eli - WITHOUT EVEN SAYING GOODBYE.) Now, I'm not really that mad, but it just seemed like a baffling decision to me.
Moving on to Eli. I assumed throughout 90% of the book that he had been emotionally abused by his wife, or at least majorly manipulated. It does seem at the end that his wife was at least mildly manipulative, but not enough that it would create the violent reactions and the life changes that this woman wrought on his life. It sounds like he was MISERABLE with her, despite his continued insistence that they were super happy. I couldn't help but wonder if he just thinks he was happy with her because he loves his kids. Like, you lived with a woman who didn't care about your feelings at all for ten years? That's ... that's a lot to deal with, Eli.
My other big problem with Eli is that he has worked for many years as a pastor, and been married for 10 years, but has absolutely no idea what love or marriage are all about from a biblical standpoint. Love is a choice you make. Marriage is about choosing to love your wife. The Bible clearly states that a husband must love his wife, and yet Eli seems to think he can just keep Lisa on as a hired hand. The funny thing is that, in some ways, all of Lisa's wildest fears are true because Eli spends 90% of the book treating her as built-in childcare, and though they do have a friendship of sorts, they have no real conversations, and the real conversations they do have at the very end do not even come close to addressing all their issues. I guess the lack of conversations really bothered me. I mean, who marries a woman, after you've been married ten years yourself, and yet fails to discuss whether or not you'll expect to have sex, raise children with her, and so on? Like, even in the rush, surely this grown man and this grown women could manage to discuss this? I can forgive Lisa because she is inexperienced (despite the fact that, again, she's a full grown adult, not an eighteen-year-old or something), but Eli? ELI. What were you thinking? (The answer: he wasn't thinking because he was having constant trauma responses but IGNORE MY HEADCANON.)
Another small irritation: throughout the book, both Eli and Lisa refuse to seek out mentorship for their obvious issues, or discuss it with anyone of spiritual maturity. This book is a little lighter on the spiritual content, so I get that, but even when they're offered mentorship, they both turn it away as being "too private to discuss." Okay, so just let your marital struggles destroy your marriage while you refuse to seek counsel!
One final thing I found amusing: the author mentions in her author note that there's a common trope where the widower swiftly moves on from the wife he loved, but then just turned around and instead wrote a story where the widower was unhealthily obsessed with his deceased wife and yet still finds that the new lady in his life is better (more beautiful, more suited to him, in every way the love of his life) as opposed to the deceased wife who no longer compared. Which is the stereotype I see more often - that the second love has to be "better" to make the romance valid. However, in real life, people can love more than one person intensely without needing another person to be less than.
Anyways, that's my ranty review that you probably didn't mean. I really do think there were a lot of excellent things about this book, but I did want to address these issues just because if my three or four friends who actually read my reviews see that I've read this book, I feel like I'd want to tell them about what bothered me about it. :) That said, I do think the author is amazing and worth watching and all that stuff. It seems like she's got loads of talent and is writing the most amazing kinds of books - that kinds that actually matter. I just think there's perhaps a need for a little more research or just some more people-watching!...more
I read it way too fast, because I was enjoying it way too much, so I need to reread it. But I do remember it all pretty clearly, so let'sThis book. <3
I read it way too fast, because I was enjoying it way too much, so I need to reread it. But I do remember it all pretty clearly, so let's go.
Luke has always been my favorite. Being in his POV was a bit different than I expected (I definitely got a different impression of him from other stories), but still enjoyable. I loved his story of forgiving himself and moving on, and his loyalty and determination were so great. Him helping Damaris's nephew was super touching.
Damaris, meanwhile, well, I don't know how this chick stayed invisible for so long, because she was being pretty courageous by the time we got to her. :P But that was good. I was glad that instead of relying on Luke to "make up for" her lack of courage and such, she actually grew as a character, which was great. Men don't make up for our weaknesses like that ... that's not what you're supposed to do.
I really enjoyed watching these two get together - and watching Damaris's relationship with her nephew grow as well as Luke's relationship with him was great. It reminded me a lot of my mom and brother, actually - I think my little brother is ABOUT that unmanageable. xD
But the way Luke and Damaris lean on each other ... like, thank goodness for a healthy relationship. That was so sweet.
The real question, though, is NOW WHAT?! What do I do with my life now without the Horsemen in it?...more
The writing didn't improve from the last book, nor did the development that much, but I do feel like it was a slightly tighter story. Mich4.5/5 again.
The writing didn't improve from the last book, nor did the development that much, but I do feel like it was a slightly tighter story. Michelle seemed more developed than Laura to me - though I was a bit confused about how she feels about the company?
I mean, to be fair, there were probably quite a few points I was confused because I started skim-reading because I really just am interested in the plot and characters, and you can get that without ... reading. If you're a homeschooler who has learned to work smart and not hard, anywho.
I do love Zane still. And his sisters are honestly pretty cute, too. (Michelle, you're lucky because Zane is <3 <3 <3 #mangoals)
Like I said, it does take away my eagerness to share this story that it's not super developed, and it all just reads as one continued story, so reading individual volumes is not going to work, in my opinion.
And now I'm so curious about Jilly. I have an idea, but ... I also have an idea that this genre isn't necessarily going to ... do that idea? That would be super heavy. How could they take that on in one book? Anyways, we'll see, because let me tell you, I cannot not finish this story....more
4.5/5 because I feel like it wasn't super well written, but I still deeply enjoyed it. It's an excellent story!
Michelle, Jilly, and Laura all stand ou4.5/5 because I feel like it wasn't super well written, but I still deeply enjoyed it. It's an excellent story!
Michelle, Jilly, and Laura all stand out as unique and interesting characters (I want to write siblings like this!), their knowledge is extensive and believable, and the plot is interesting. Pleased how clean it was, too, as the author made the decision to keep us out of the bedroom but still be realistic about the situation the characters were in, which I don't see enough of. I feel like this is one of the few situations where a rushed marriage can work well! (I really like Zane! I mean, I also like Caleb, but ZANE!)
But again ... not well-written, the themes weren't well-developed, and I honestly feel like I haven't seen much growth in terms of the author's writing style, etc., over the years. However, maybe that's just me. I feel like there was so much more editing and general development that could've gone into this story to make it excellent - and more likable to people who, unlike me, weren't just pleased with the characters.
However, I'm not in charge of writing other peoples' stories - just to enjoy them or not and report my impressions. Therefore, I shall remember the parts of this book I loved and be a little ashamed of my recommendation....more
DNF at 38%. I just decided it wasn't for me - I was bored with the characters, situations, and writing styles. It felt quite basic. However, this is nDNF at 38%. I just decided it wasn't for me - I was bored with the characters, situations, and writing styles. It felt quite basic. However, this is no reflection on the book - which is why I decided to stop reading....more
Don't let the cheesy title fool you - this is a really good book! Also, why is book 2 not out yet? *quiet weeping* I may die.
So a bunch of random likeDon't let the cheesy title fool you - this is a really good book! Also, why is book 2 not out yet? *quiet weeping* I may die.
So a bunch of random likes in no particular order:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Jonah. Oh. My. Gosh. What an awesome team! And they're so great together. I remember them all distinctly even though it's been a while since I read the book - they really stuck with me! (I CAN'T WAIT FOR THEIR STORIES!)
Also, Josephine is now officially the Only Type Of Offended Feminist I will accept. Patent pending. That is a trope in historical romance that I HATE HATE HATE, but the author took that hated trope and made it work so. dang. well.
Like, Josephine is STRONG but she also has relatable flaws and weaknesses but she also IS WILLING TO STAND UP FOR HER STRENGTHS (e.g. she's like, "dudes, I am a doctor whether you like it or not, so I'm GOING to be HELPING this PERSON") - but she also admits she needs help and is respectful to people REGARDLESS OF THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT HER.
She's just so great. If every woman was like her, we'd have been voting ... whenever this novel was set. *checks book* We'd have been voting in 1893. So there.
She just has sooo much gumption, but it's not Scarlett-O'Hara-in-your-face-I-do-what-I-want gumption. It's good gumption. It's actual strength - not just "I'm a feminist - watch me fly" (followed by a jump into the swoony hero's arms) gumption. She's actually a powerful woman. How often do we see that?
Matthew also contributed to this by being legitimately respectful and strong in his own right. He was surprised at first - who wouldn't be? - and protective - who wouldn't be? - but he was never overbearing or cruel. And, again, I really respected Josephine's acceptance of his protection. (I am so dang sick of heroines who are like, "I DON'T NEED HELP!" and then immediately get kidnapped. It did not play out like that.)
Anyways. I'm a fan. Karen Witemeyer, you may add me to the list of "people who are a bit tooo obsessed with my books" because I loved this story!
5/5 stars - and much excitement for book 2!
Edited to Add (08/04/2021):
This book is very open and honest about all the characters' regrets on their involvement in the army. The people who are trying to cancel it are clearly people who didn't read the full book! The author is a historian who knows her stuff, and she honestly portrays the events of the characters' pasts as horrific, highlighting a sad period of American history in a tasteful way. (Note: I will also add that this is just a small portion of the book.)
The people pushing down this book are actually ridding the world of a book that is honest about the evils that occurred. How can we ever heal unless guilt is first admitted? How can we ever move on from the past unless we first speak openly and honestly about it? Not enough books are written where the treatment of Native American people is shown as unpardonable genocide, which it was. Not enough historical fiction will take on these tough topics because of inability of modern day audiences to be made uncomfortable. To read about how horrible these things are and be able to see where, in some ways, we are still ignoring things - still arguing only our own side - still failing to stand up for the people who need us. Americans need this awareness.
Even now we are the active participants in various human rights infringements around the world. And we do nothing. And yet, the imaginary hero of this story (based on and accurately recounting negative historical events in a negative light), who left the military because of the evils he encountered, is getting a lot of hate because he did take actionable steps and he did at least acknowledge and express his blame.
Instead of ranting on Twitter and posting negative reviews of a book we've never read, perhaps we should take actionable steps to make a difference in eliminating the social issues we're still facing. But that would be too hard. Ranting online about something we fail completely to understand is a lot easier....more
I was a *bit* disappointed by this one. I liked it, but I would have liked to see a bit of a flash-forward to see how everything turned out, and I alsI was a *bit* disappointed by this one. I liked it, but I would have liked to see a bit of a flash-forward to see how everything turned out, and I also felt like the ending was rushed. That said, overall, I still really enjoyed it!
Caroline is a great character, Frisco was a lot better than I thought he'd be (I totally thought he'd be obnoxious but then I'd only seen Caroline's dad's POV of him, sooo?), and I loved their romance! Also, all the claim information was interesting. The situation they got themselves in was fantastic.
Also, these stories are always such a great combination of insane and realistic, funny and serious, etc....more
I have ... very mixed ratings about this book. My initial impression was to rate it 4 stars, briefly mention my problems, and praise the auth2/5 stars
I have ... very mixed ratings about this book. My initial impression was to rate it 4 stars, briefly mention my problems, and praise the author for her portrayal of recovery from domestic abuse.
Buttttt ... ugh. It wouldn't leave me alone! And the more I thought about it, the madder I got. And I know this is kinda a personal opinion so let me start with:
This is a 4-star book for most people. Just not for Kell. So keep that in mind if you loved the book and are likely to get offended. (Though I think a LOT of people will agree with me!)
Seriously, though, the characters and plot were pretty well developed except toward the end, but it got put together after that pretty well. I also feel like the author was trying to be mysterious even though we already knew All The Stuff so it was confusing what was going on ...
But I was trying to be positive for a minute.
Let me see ...
Positives: -It kept my interest. -I liked Aunt Henny. She's stupid cliche, but I don't care. Love her. Perfection. -The Quilting Circle Gals were very cool. Love that community environment kinda thing. -Like I said, all the portrayal of domestic abuse PTSD was very well done (based on my research ... I have done way too much research), and I'm glad to see realistic portrayals in fiction. -Overall, it was a sweet little romance with deeper themes.
But now ... on to the negatives. And I'm going to take this in sections, so I'll start with little things I didn't care for.
Little Things I Didn't Care For:
-EDRIC! OMW! I did appreciate SOME things about him (if I'd really hated him, I would have stopped reading), but ... ugggghhhhh. What a wishy-washy, beaten-in-to-the-ground, undecided, weak, WEAK man masquerading as a dashing hero! Ugggghh! C'mon, man! He can't stand up to anyone, and he acts like a petty teen when he does stand up to anyone (which is just the bad guys, not people in her personal life like his father or children).
I was sooooo mad about the way he constantly pandered to his daughters! GROW A PAIR! GROW A PAIR, EDRIC, AND MAYBE I'LL LIKE YOU. (Except I won't 'cause later when he was decisive he was a decisive boar.)
I'm sorry, but the most annoying thing in the world is someone who doesn't stick up for himself. I know, I know, he was supposed to be in a manipulative relationship, buttttt ... given that it's been 2 years, supposedly he's also the Sheriff (being Sheriff is a very easy job in this town, though, I guess, AS HE NEVER SHERIFFS, AND I AT TIMES FORGOT HE WAS A SHERIFF), and he's supposed to be recovering ...?
It was just underplayed, and his "anxiety" was overdone. I don't know, I just really hated him. He didn't strike me as real. Lily did, he didn't.
I just was waiting for the author to show the girls acting petty or misbehaving or SOMETHING, and Edric going, "Wait, no, being a parent isn't pampering. Love isn't overindulgence." And yet it's "would you like some more candy?" and "I cannot, literally cannot, turn you down if you want to go on a picnic ..." WHAT!? Noooo!
I just really am mad right now at him. Ughhhh. And I'll talk later about his BIGGGESSSTTT fault which my 73% of my reason for the poor rating. I just can't stand this guy.
I guess this wasn't a little thing. But still.
Pa. Remind me of his point again? Is he just there to be super annoying and judgemental and boss Edric around and show how Edric sucks as a man and is basically just a fourteen-year-old boy with a squeaky voice and illusions of manhood? (Having a deep voice and being tall and handsome does not a man make, btw.) But yeah, I didn't like Pa.
The children. Toby, Nancy, and Estella were all too sugar sweet for my taste - except that they constantly manipulate their parents. And their parents ignore this manipulation because their respective spouses were manipulative. (Makes sense. Continue the cycle. Cycles are nice. xD)
Now, I get that at the start it would be realistic for the parents to constantly give into these sugar sweet children AND for the children to be sugar sweet (overly so, goopy distasteful sugar sweet) because of the abuse and all that ...
BUT the author never showed or even addressed the fact that this was going on. Uhhh ... I guess it's okay for children to be manipulative and get away with it? Just not adults? Okay. Fine. Whatever.
Secrets??? I felt that the author was deliberately leaving out details that would simply clarify things and which made it confusing even to the end what exactly was going on. And that's okay, if you ... hadn't already given those details ... and were acting like the reader doesn't know them or at least suspect them ...?
I was just a bit confused throughout about what I was supposed to know, what I wasn't supposed to know, who people were, how their lives worked, etc.
Assumptions...??? This is just one random thing, but Henny randomly is like, "Oh, Lily could be pregnant." And then ... Edric takes this as gospel fact? Like it wasn't just a random supposition which Lily herself has never alluded to? Going as far as to (view spoiler)[repeatedly be like "oh she can't do that in her condition!" (hide spoiler)] and (view spoiler)[INCLUDING IT IN HIS PROPOSAL? And that's when she's like, "... dude, I'm not pregnant." I really wanted her to be like, "Do I look pregnant to you???" Or to at least question why he thought she was pregnant. But instead she's like, "Yay proposal!" (hide spoiler)] That was succcchhhh a weird convo?? Completely blew me out of the "romanticness" of the moment.
Has ... Edric not been around a pregnant woman before? Like ... his wife? Remember her? She existed. (Also, I'm so sick of widowers who are like, "Ooh, what's a woman? I have never been acquainted with one before! How strange and unheard of!" Dude ... you were married???)
Anddddd... now the biggies.
The Biggest Problem kinda ties into everything, but it is also a spoiler. But I feel like it just completely unravels the book and my desire to love the book, so I'll post it below.
(view spoiler)[I'm an author. I know a lot about plot structures, therefore. I even teach writing, so I go over it a million times a year with different students.
So basically, at ~75% of a book, we hit our third plot point, which is a major low point for the protagonists before they head on to the final battle (climax) and defeat the antagonist (noting that an antagonist isn't always a supervillain - in this case it was like ... oh, I don't want to pick this apart, but Lily's ... life ... was the antagonist? Kinda?).
Anywaysss, at that 75% mark (it was about 73% or 76% depending on what you want to count as the exact moment - it's not specific - and yes, I remembered - I'm a writer, give me a break), there is a COMMON romance cliche that I just ... hate. Hate, hate, hate. I can't stand it!
What is it? Well, at 75%, in a romance novel, sometimes something huge and trust-rendering will happen to our lovely couple causing them to split up. And though it's important for something big and bright to happen at the third plot point, I dislike it when the main characters don't trust each other.
My rule for my couples (in my romances) is that if you can't trust each other (even if you struggle to find that trust at first) by the 75% mark, you shouldn't be getting married at the 100% mark. Nope, nope, nope.
Here's how it goes:
Lily's brother-in-law comes into town to get some info out of her. After he leaves, because Lily believes she killed her husband (he was strangling her son, and she hit him, knocking him unconscious, and ran), she is afraid her brother-in-law will call the police on her now that he knows her location (though this was never well-clarified until the end). So she runs.
All natural. I would've run, too. All the way to the Pacific and on to China. (Although I also would've checked for a pulse. But whatever. Checking for a pulse is unladylike, I guess.) (Note to self: if you ever knock someone unconscious, they might not be dead. Do not assume death.)
But my problem is not with Lily but rather with Edric. Again. Edric, Edric, Edric, man of a thousand mysteries! The most mysterious being ... why are you like you are?
So imagine this: a woman shows up in your town. She has been badly abused and so has her son. Both show serious signs of PTSD. You get to know them. She proves to be a gentle woman who cares for your children, is a great mom, and is always very kind and seems to be working through her PTSD is a pretty healthy manner. You go through a lot together and learn to trust. Then a mysterious man arrives in town, and shortly after, she runs, leaving a note that said she killed her husband, accidentally, and she's very sorry.
What would your reaction be? Knowing her past, seeing her care for her son, knowing that she just was seriously blackmailed by her brother-in-law, and having learned to TRUST her, wouldn't you be like, "Well, there's more to it than that. It was probably self-defense, given that they both have choke-marks among other things ALL OVER THEIR BODIES. I'm going to save her and help sort this out!"
But noooooo, Edric doesn't react like that! He shows the Typical I Don't Trust You At The Third Plot Point reaction and goes the complete opposite direction.
His repetitive, annoying, unbelievably hateful thoughts are along these lines: "I can't believe I let such a wicked woman get close to me. I can't believe she's a cold-blooded murderer. She killed her husband, and she probably planned to kill me and my girls! Actually, her son probably isn't hers because the resemblance isn't striking. He's probably the son of another marriage, and she probably killed her husband and kidnapped him. She was probably planning to do the same to me and my girls."
Wait, WHAT!?!?!?!!?!? I WAS SOOOO FURIOUS! I don't care about his reasoning. I literally DON'T. He is a hateful, suspicious, WRONG man. I was hoping he would just randomly die. DIE DIE DIE EDRIC!
Ughhhh can I even begin to express my disgust and hatred for this man at this point? But no, it gets worse.
I would have had a lot more respect for the author if she had chosen to NOT make Tobias (Lily's husband) die in a different way. Let Lily have killed him in self-defense! Let Edric stand up for her! Let them have to show the courts that it was an act of self-defense with no malicious intent! ANYTHING!
But instead the author shoehorned a thingy in which the brother-in-law shot the husband? What? Okay, if that's true and the law had proof of it and was pursuing him, then why was he just wandering around using his real name and telling everyone what he was doing? Is he stupid? Why would he just wander back into the city where he was known for killing a man? If he's stupid, then how did he come up with the whole plan ...? It makes no sense!
I was mad, all right? I was just plain mad! This all makes no sense!
So basically, EVENTUALLY Edric hears that the brother-in-law killed the husband not her and forgives her. Like ... what? Noooooo noooooooooooo! At this point I was furious. So apparently if a man is killing your son and you hit him over the heat and knock him out (and think you killed him), you are unforgivable?
NO! Lily had no other choice, and whether he dies or not doesn't matter! She did the right thing. SHE DID THE RIGHT THING. Edric, I hate you. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. What if Lily gets in that situation again somehow? What if she hesitates this time, and her son dies? DO YOU WANT THAT EDRIC???
I don't care if he didn't know the circumstances. He should have trusted her! Knowing her character inside and out as he did, he should have TRUSTED her. And that's why this whole book just fell apart for me. Because at that Third Plot Point, the trust issues were so bad that these characters ... literally should never be together. Ever. (Beside the fact that they make a very poor parenting team, but eh. The trust issues are worse. You can work through the parenting, probably.)
And you know what makes me even madder? Lily is like, "Well, yeah, that's justified."
She should have turned him down for doubting her. I wouldn't be with a dude who believed those things about me! Imagine if you're married and you ... I don't know ... go for a walk ... and he comes home and is like, "She's left us! She's never coming back! She's probably kidnapped our children! She's a serial killer! She's not even a woman!" It's just as outlandish, and it's the kind of whining manipulative people use to manipulate their victims! So they're trapped in a cycle, really. Uggghhh, I hate this so much!
Now, there's this movie called High Society. It was released in 1956, and is like a comedy romance with a lot of great songs. But anyways, there's one part of it where a fiance believes the worst of the woman he's going to marry (thinking she slept with another man "ON THE VERY EVE OF OUR WEDDING," as he puts it). This proves to be untrue, but she turns him down like so:
Him: Well, since nothing really happened perhaps we just better drop the whole subject. Her: George, I don't want you to marry me because you think I'm now worthy of you. It would've meant much more if you had married me because I was unworthy.
She says that the only reason she DIDN'T end up sleeping with the guy was because he was honorable (she was drunk) and didn't try anything, so this is a different circumstance, but still.
He goes on to say: In spite of the circumstances, I'm big enough to overlook a single indiscretion. [George is kinda being a jerk here 'cause he's literally just talking about a kiss but you know whatever George you do you.] Her: No, you're too good for me, George. I couldn't bear a perfect man.
Since he's kind of a pompous jerk, this is semi-sarcastic, but y'know. It reminded me of this because ... like ... just don't hang out with a guy who believes the worst of you like that. Even when he knows you're better than that.
And ... that's it. Wow. That got ranty. But you know what? I just ... ugh. I'm sorry. The spoiler tag contains one of my biggest pet peeves, but the other stuff was bad, too. Especially Edric. *growls*
Sooooooo ... yep. I shall leave now. Those are my honest thoughts on this messed-up book!
Another DNF! My fault not the book's. I got to about 18% then grew tired of the constant, heavy preaching from Akira. I also kindaJust not in the mood
Another DNF! My fault not the book's. I got to about 18% then grew tired of the constant, heavy preaching from Akira. I also kinda knew how the plot was gonna go.
I liked Akira somewhat. And Gabe didn't seem like a bad sort. And the setting was intriguing. But ... eh. I'm just so not in the mood for the spiritual content. Will return to this later!...more
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts are Read the review on my blog.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Title: Live Without You
Author: Sarah Grace Grzy
Genre: Christian romance (contemporary)
Era: contemporary
Setting: United States
Publisher: Sarah Grace Grzy
Source: from the publisher
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Live Without You was a nice, quick read for me on a winter afternoon. I finished it in a couple hours, which is one of the best things about novellas—they almost never drag!
Now, this book isn’t at all my genre. I really struggle to read most contemporary novels … in fact, I can only think of one or two that I didn’t put down two or three chapters in, bored to death!
However, this didn’t happen to me with Live Without You. I actually got through the whole story—and fast! So I was thrilled as, though I love the author very much and knew I wanted to adore the book, I was rather afraid it might drag for me!
It didn’t. It was a quick read the starts out with a bang (*winces at the bad joke*) and didn’t drag once. I was never like, “Well, I absolutely need to put this down …” Instead, I wanted to finish it!
Gotta love the characters …
I especially liked how Piper and Ezra would just hang out—getting coffee (haha) or pizza—and how he went out of his way to take care of her! Good job, Ez. Good job.
I personally didn’t much care for the main character, Piper Redding, though I loved her name. But that’s just because we’re very different in personality and tastes and all, so I was just like, “Ehh …” It wasn’t the characters’ fault; she was quite real!
I did find myself like Ezra a lot! (And again, that name!) His relationship with his dad was awesome, and I liked his friend a lot, too. I feel like more delving into his backstory could’ve been done, mostly because he got me interested! (e.g. what? There wasn’t MORE? 😝)
What a fantastic debut!
Honestly, I was hugely impressed with this book! Debuts are often good, and even show a lot of promise, but it’s rarely that you go, “Well, this didn’t even have to be a debut.” The author writes like she’s a lot more experienced than I know her to be … this could be her fifth book! Or more.
But yeah, that was an awkward way of saying … the author did an amazing job, and I am so proud of her, and I want to give her a big hug and a pat on the back and a cookie!
Now, the setting—I was thrilled with this! Northwest, y’all! That’s good to see. I feel like I need to read more books set close to me.
Ah, the cover …
On a random side note: that cover! I can’t stop looking at it. It’s absolutely gorgeous! I love the font choices and all … it looks great. *applauds SG* (By the way, we’re working on Reveries a bit together … she’s such a delight to work with!)
So, mostly, this book wasn’t for me in genre or themes, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves sweet contemporary romances with serious themes and medical details!
Mostly, I’m just so, so impressed with the quality, content, and themes of this adorable story. Wow. It was great.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
4/5 for the quality of the book (which was overall excellent!) and 3/5 for my personal enjoyment + how well I related to it = 3.5 stars. RTC.
New Revie4/5 for the quality of the book (which was overall excellent!) and 3/5 for my personal enjoyment + how well I related to it = 3.5 stars. RTC.
New Review, December 2020:
I'm ashamed to say I don't remember the plot of this book that I read in September 2018! It was a while back. I think I'll leave my rating and review as is, for that reason....more
In this book, Margaret develops a friendship with a neighbor – a male neighbor – and it’s treated likAdultery is okay, but having a male friend isn’t.
In this book, Margaret develops a friendship with a neighbor – a male neighbor – and it’s treated like she committed adultery. However, men who actually commit adultery are forgiven and the women who don’t immediately forgive them are judged and reprimanded. Uh, excuse me??? It was terribly mixed up. In addition, there was just too much unnecessary drama between Margaret and her husband – not even related to the adultery incident – and the content SOARED in this one.
Content: 4/5. Multiple mentions of marital relations/when and how a married couple had sex/etc. A character commits adultery and then talks about it when his wife, giving her a complete account of the event. It’s glossed over. Meanwhile, Margaret’s friendship with a man which resulted in no inappropriate behavior is blown out of proportion, and this is what causes the break in their marriage. Um, excuse me?...more
We all knew the love interest wasn’t going to die.
Okay, but honestly, didn’t we all know that going in?! ;) In this book, Molly is perfect, Bridget is nonexistent, Colleen is constantly guilted by everyone even though she doesn’t deserved it, and Margaret worries. And the mother is still stupid. So.
Content: 2/5. Romance, war stuff, no outright negative content....more
Second bluest skies host heated romance for a Christian novel.
This was actually a pretty amusing novel, but there Actual Review: July 21st, 2018.
2.5/5
Second bluest skies host heated romance for a Christian novel.
This was actually a pretty amusing novel, but there was a ton of physical attraction between the leads. Basically, Anna is drooling over Joe’s superior muscles and whatnot, and it was soooo annoying – and then there were several almost-sex-scenes between the characters (who eventually married, of course)! Also, it rains a lot more in Seattle than in this book.
Content: 4/5 for multiple references of marital relationships and a ton of lusting.
Note: the bluest skies you'll ever see are in The Dalles, OR. Get that right. ;) Or over Trillium Lake under Mt. Hood on a sunny day.
Also, real life Seattle rains even more than in this story. And that's saying something.
Okay, I'm done.
SPOILERS HERE:
Girl: Oh, no, I have a mysterious illness. Me: You mean that allergic reaction you just had to the only variable in your life - the chloroform? Girl: Argggg, I feel sicker today!! Me: Yeah, chloroform. Girl: Huh, I feel better today. Me: No chloroform. Doctor: You have TB. Move to Texas for your health. Don't pay attention to the fact that you didn't even have symptoms and were perfectly healthy until you started working with chloroform. Girl: Okay! Me: *facepalm* Girl: *moves away making guy leave his lumber company* *feels better* Me: arggggkdjgjakdkssl Girl: Huh, I should get a second opinion. Smart Doctor: You're allergic to chloroform. Go back to Seattle where the air is kinda the same as in The Dalles and is therefore the best air ever. Me: You know that's right.
The best way to describe this novel: Whoa, that was fast!
I’m still not 100% sure about the rating, even now, but I think I’ve settled on 3/4 stars. I The best way to describe this novel: Whoa, that was fast!
I’m still not 100% sure about the rating, even now, but I think I’ve settled on 3/4 stars. I just had a lot of mixed feelings!
Here are my general thoughts:
FIRST: Well, I don’t like to hear about married folks’ bedroom habits. Not a bit.
But if you make a point to say that both groom and bride are nervous about the wedding night and then just stop talking about it … you kinda make a reader curious?
Two problems with this.
Made me think about it more than I wanted to and search the text trying to figure it out. DID THEY OR DIDN’T THEY IT’S DRIVING ME CRAZY BUT I FEEL TERRIBLE EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT HELP HELP! SECOND: WILL SOMEONE PLEASE SPANK THE SNOT OUT OF THOSE TWO KIDS?!? I know they’re only 2 and like eighteen months, but they are super badly behaved and no one is dealing with it.
There’s nothing more frustrated than an undisciplined child, especially if everyone keeps pretending they’re babies when they’re obviously not …
THIRD: Things were not wrapped up. I’m sensing they will be in the next book(s) of the series, so that’s all right.
FOURTH: The pacing – perhaps inspired by the brief writing style – was kinda hectic.
I mainly worried for one thing that the hero and heroine barely knew each other and their relationship moved too fast.
I mean, come on, they went from “absolute strangers” to “lovey dovey feelings” just like that! *snaps fingers*
On the other hand, I was super excited to see a romance without hate, lust, or unnecessary complications involved.
FIFTH: I don’t believe that Trace would have survived for several years in the Sierra Nevadas by himself.
This wasn't a terrible book. I liked the main character, Rose, and many of the minor characters (Fiona, Meg, Amalie, Uli, and Tom were all fa2.5 stars
This wasn't a terrible book. I liked the main character, Rose, and many of the minor characters (Fiona, Meg, Amalie, Uli, and Tom were all favorites; Jan was all right), and the Christian content was pretty awesome. But there were just too many problems for me to give it a higher rating.
First, when I began the book, I truly felt that we were in England. The description of the countryside, the way the character acted and talked, the opinions and thoughts of the main character and her family, the church, the society ... I just felt that we were in England, not America. And I suppose that's my fault for making that assumption, but it was so very English ... not New English. There's a difference. ;)
Second, at first the main character was distraught by the loss of her family ... but she very quickly recovered. I mean, I know she decided to give her life to God and all, but that doesn't mean the grief just disappears after you lose your husband and three children. She never even thinks about it after that. I mean, she does once, but that's all. It's like they simply ceased to exist to her with their death. This didn't feel realistic to what a loving wife/mother would truly feel. Just because God comforts you, just because you shouldn't give in to depression, doesn't mean you should stop grieving and remembering.
Third, though the era for this novel is never given, I assume that it's late 1800s as the Civil War took place far enough away that Charleston is a beach resort. And yet ... it's odd that a woman would do anything by herself? Feminism was starting to take a hold by this time, believe me. It wouldn't be completely unheard of for a woman to do things like go on a trip by train by herself.
Fourth, a woman who wants everything to be 'proper' wouldn't go on a buggy ride with a stranger, especially a strange man interested in courting her who she instantly dislikes. Even if she really wanted to see the town. In fact, she probably would have been completely appalled at the idea.
Fifth, not a fan of all the punctuation errors. Just a little thing, but it was pretty distracting.
Sixth, after about 80%, the story drooped and didn't really have much of a plot. Everything was resolved, but it kept going. I was kept hoping there'd be one last complication, but there wasn't anything.
Seventh, my personal pet peeve: O.K. Dear historical fiction authors. Okay/O.K./OK was not a commonly used word/phrase/whatever you want to call it, especially by 'proper' ladies, in the late 1800s. STOP....more
The author never will write an ending that isn't rushed! She's like, "Well, we went through that slow-paced, sweet romance with lots of different timeThe author never will write an ending that isn't rushed! She's like, "Well, we went through that slow-paced, sweet romance with lots of different timelines and complexity and it wasn't exactly a thriller ... andnowigottawrapitupsofastDONE."
I know, I love Tamera Alexander's books more than anything, but this is a flaw that shows up in most of her stories!! xP...more
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