First Impressions: An Honest Review

                                                                              

                                                       First Impressions   

                      A Contemporary Retelling of Pride & Prejudice 

                                                                           ~ 5 stars ~ 

 

Author: Debra White Smith

 

Title: First Impressions: A Contemporary Retelling of Pride & Prejudice 

 

Series: The Jane Austen Series

 

Genre: Contemporary/Romance

 

Audience: Young adult/Adult 

Synopsis: 

In an attempt to get to know the people of London, Texas - the small town that lawyer Eddi Boswick now calls home - she tries out for a local theater group's production of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. She's thrilled to get the role of lively Elizabeth Bennet...until she meets the arrogant - and eligible - rancher player her leading man. 

 

Dave Davidsom chose London, Texas, as the perfect place to live under the radar. Here, no one knows his past, and he can live a quiet, peaceful life with his elderly aunt, who also happens to own the local theater. Dave doesn't even try out for the play, but suddenly he is thrust into the role of Mr. Darcy and forced to spend the entire summer with Eddi, who clearly despises him. 

 

Sparks fly when every time Eddi and Dave meet, whether on the stage or of. But when Eddi discovers Dave's secret, she has to admit there might be more to him than she thought. Maybe even enough to change her mind...and win her heart. 

 

Review: 

Wow, where do I begin to describe this incredible work of literature? I would like to point out that this my first time reading a contemporary novel and this was the first of Debra White Smith's book that I have had the pleasure of reading. But I was not in the least disappointed. It is a very talented and confident writer who would take it upon themselves to retell one of Jane Austen's novels - let alone this particular classic that seems to shine a little more brightly than the others.  

 

To start, I loved Eddi Boswick's character, and I marvel at how a writer can so accurately retell Elizabeth Bennet's iconic traits of laughter, boldness, and a loving elder sister. Eddi is independent, extroverted, and tends to rely on her first impressions 😉 I like how Smith balanced out her flaws and worthy attributes, which not only made her a modern replica of Elizabeth Bennet but also her own person - a very difficult task indeed. 

Dave Davidson's personality is exactly like that of a modern Mr. Darcy. It was very interesting to see his character development and how his real personality inched bit by bit to the surface as the book progressed. His longing to find true love and not be chased after just for his wealth really makes you bond with the character. I loved how Dave gradually fell for Eddie - despite his best efforts.

Also, I feel I should mention that hearing things from Linda's standpoint - the modern Lydia - was something sweet and unexpected. And also sobering. This book does deal with the subjects of sex before marriage, abortion, and some other adult themes. It added the proper balance of reality and humor to the book to hear Linda's point of view and showed the struggles that a rebellious young woman might face when she decides to take the broad road in today's culture.

 

One thing that I loved particularly was that the book began with someone reading the words that started the real novel by Jane Austen. Genius! The Bennet family was superb. I don't think anyone could have done better copying Mr. and Mrs. Bennet as well as their other daughters, into a contemporary setting. From Connor Boswick (representing the notorious Mr. Collins) to Mr. Darcy's first and failed proposal, this novel was on point. I laughed, cried, and jumped up and down when the book reached a very satisfying ending. 

 

I highly recommend this novel. It has a nice amount of faith in it, thought it is by no means "deep" in the spiritual sense, nor is it secular. Debra White Smith certainly outdid herself with this, and I look forward to reading more of her work!

 

 

 

 

  

The Lightkeeper's Ball: An Honest Review

 

  The LightKeeper's Ball  

                                                                    ~ 4.5 stars ~

 

 

 

Author: Colleen Coble

 

Title: The Lightkeeper's Ball

 

Series: Mercy Falls (Book #3)

 

Genre: FICTION/ Christian/ Romance

 

Audience: Young Adult/Adult

 

 

Synopsis:

Olivia seems to have it all, but her heart yearns for more.

Olivia Stewart's family is one of the Four Hundred-the highest echelon of society in 1910. When her sister dies under mysterious circumstances, Olivia leaves their New York City home for Mercy Falls, California, to determine what befell Eleanor. She suspects Harrison Bennett, the man Eleanor planned to marry. But the more Olivia gets to know him, the more she doubts his guilt-and the more she is drawn to him herself.

When several attempts are made on her life, Olivia turns to Harrison for help. He takes her on a ride in his aeroplane, but then crashes, and they're forced to spend two days alone together. With her reputation hanging by a thread, Harrison offers to marry her to make the situation right. As a charity ball to rebuild the Mercy Falls lighthouse draws near, she realizes she wants more than a sham engagement-she wants Harrison in her life forever. But her enemy plans to shatter the happiness she is ready to grasp. If Olivia dares to drop her masquerade, she just might see the path to true happiness.  

 

 

 Review:

    Oh my, where to start? Well, I really loved how both Addie and Katie from books #1 & #2 played significant roles in the final book of the trilogy. This book could be read as a stand-alone but it's an extra bonus if you have read the other two books prior. 

 

    I loved Olivia's character. She was very stubborn, and also confused about life itself and who to trust. She had been brought up in such a rigid society where people only cared about the outer appearance and was surprised when she was told that God wanted to have a personal relationship with her. Back home, church was just a social gathering. I liked the chance I had to see her draw nearer to the Lord and see her character develop in general. Olivia was also a skeptic, which I relate to. As she investigates her sister's death she makes up her mind right away that Harrison is the murderer or at least had some hand in her sister's death. *spoiler alert* It took her a while to realize that he was genuine and didn't have any hand in her Elanor's death and after that she started to slowly fall for him. It didn't  take long before she realized her heart had been taken captive. 

 

    Harrison is very likeable right from the start. I surmised him to be a city slicker but I was proven wrong. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty and I loved how he wanted to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot and making aeroplanes the new main source of transportation. As I mentioned in the previous book review, seeing the characters engrossed in turn-of-the-century ideas or inventions always excites me. Even though his father was against it, Harrison didn't let his family's love for money consume him. Harrison is a total gentleman, and I feel like if you could earn his trust, he would do any- thing to protect you. By the way, he fell for Olivia very quickly, and it was nice to see a male character who was sincere and honest in his feelings with being overly charming or flattering. 

 

    And the thriller in this! There was so much mystery, and of course yet again *spoilers* people that I thought were in on the scheme weren't the main villains and the seemingly "good" characters were the ones plotting evil. Coble gave away little tidbits of mystery one at a time, which made you want to keep reading to find out what the next clue was. 

 

    I felt like while there was still a moderate amount of faith in it, there was less faith than in the other novels, just because of Olivia's personal relationship with God I think. The most faith-filled out of the three is undoubtedly The Lightkeeper's Daughter. But all that aside this book was yet another keeper. Once again it's ties with Addie and Katie from the other two novels is a bonus, as we get to see just what the lady's and their families are up to by the third book. 

 

    I couldn't stop reading it until I found out the truth and was on pins and needles to see how Olivia and Harrison's romance would blossom. If you love romance and mystery - with faith mingled in - then this is the book for you! 

 

    Happy reading and don't forget to hit that "Follow" button for more!  

The Lightkeeper's Wife: An Honest Review

 The Light Keeper's Bride

                                                                        ~ 5 stars ~

 

 

 Author: Colleen Coble

 

Title: The Lightkeeper's Bride

 

Series: Mercy Falls (Book #2)

 

Genre: FICTION/Christian/ Romance 

 

Audience: Young Adult/ Adult  

 

 

Synopsis:

When Katie answers the call of duty, she awakens the call of her heart.

Katie Russell loves working as a telephone operator in Mercy Falls, California. But since childhood she has been expected to marry well. Her family presses for an engagement to wealthy bachelor Bartholomew Foster and though he doesn't stir her heart, their engagement promises a secure financial future.

Working the phone lines one evening, Katie overhears a chilling exchange between her friend Eliza and a familiar male voice. Katie soon learns that Eliza has disappeared, and the crime may be linked to another investigation by handsome new lighthouse keeper, Will Jesperson. Katie and Will soon form an alliance. An alliance that slowly blossoms into something more.

Despite the danger surrounding her, Katie is powerfully drawn to Will. But she is not at liberty to marry for love. And though society forbids their growing affection, Katie can't help but notice Will's sense of peace. It's a peace that rests on his trust in God—a trust that Katie has never had to depend on, with her future so clearly mapped out before her.

But the more Katie uncovers of the mystery, the more she discovers about herself, her past, and the brilliant future that could be hers if only she has the courage to trust in God and follow where her heart so fearlessly leads.

 

Review: 

    Oh goodness, where do I start? Well, to begin, I loved how we got to learn a little bit about Katie in the first book The Lightkeeper's Daughter and I was very eager to see how she would play the heroine in The Lightkeeper's Bride. 

     

    I not the least bit disappointed. Katie seemed a little more on the modern side and I liked her personality: stubborn yet a little shy, realistic, and fiercely dedicated to those she loves and to the truth. Compared to the former novel it was refreshing to find that her relationship with God was on the edge as I love reading about people who are drawn back to the Lord. Katie was having trouble surrendering to God's will as she chose to like the predictable and control over things. Not in a possessive way, but in a way that tells us she wasn't eager to show her weakness and having control seemed to help her overcome the inadequacies she was feeling.  

 

    Now for Will. I fell in love with his character from the start. He was very similar to Katie, more on the fun-loving side but showed a determination that I had to admire. It was cool how he was seeking to become one of America's first "weather men", I always find it wonderful when I can read of a character who is involved in some turn-of-the-century occupations or inventions. Will is also very blunt...a little forward but no in an indecent way...and this gives him a very relaxed air. This part of his personality is what I think made a real allowance for a relationship between him and Katie. 

   

 

    The way Katie and Will started out was uhh...rocky. But *spoiler alert* they warmed up to each other once Katie moved into the lighthouse. I liked the way Katie, Will, Jennie, and Lady Carrington acted like one big happy family, forgetting formalities. I believe it gave them both the time to get to know each other in a more personal way, in a way that perhaps a normal courtship would have even offered. 

 

    Oh, and the mystery in this was wonderful! Once again Coble pulled a fast one on me and the bad guys were the good guys and the good guys were...well...if you have read the book you know what I'm talking about and if you haven't well...I hope I've just enticed you to read it😊 I liked how neither Will nor Katie gave up searching for the truth and learned so much along the way. 

 

    Again, a highly-recommended book by Coleen Coble. There was the right balance of faith, romance, and adventure in this novel, and it's even better if you read The Lightkeeper's Daughter beforehand but it can be easily read as a stand-alone, as there is a bit of re-cap in it of the previous book.

 

    Happy reading everyone! Don't forget to hit the "Follow" button for more book reviews and posts! 😄

 

  

The Lightkeeper's Daughter: An Honest Review

 The Lightkeeper's Daughter: Review

                                                                      ~5 stars~

Author: Colleen Coble

Title: The Lightkeeper's Daughter  

Series: Mercy Falls (Book #1)

Genre: FICTION/Christian/ Romance

Audience: Young Adult/ Adult 

Synopsis:

 

With the lies of the past behind her, Addie finds love . . . and discovers her true Father.

Addie Sullivan leads a quiet life in a northern California lighthouse. She mourns the death of her father and endures her mother's bitterness, until the night a storm brings an injured stranger and a dark secret to her home. The man insists she is not who she thinks she is, but rather "Julia Eaton"—the child long lost and feared dead by her wealthy family. Seizing the chance to be reunited with the
Eatons, Addie leaves her lighthouse home but decides to keep her true identity a secret until they can unravel the mystery.

Addie loves the Eatons' palatial home tucked away among the California redwood forests. She feels secure with the jovial family, adores the young boy who is her charge as governess, and finds romance with his father John, a young widower. But sinister shadows overtake Addie's joy. As dusty rooms and secret compartments give up their clues about her past, Addie finds a faith and a love she could never have guessed. To embrace this new world of promise is to risk her life; but to run away is to risk losing the greatest love she's ever known.

 My Review:

     First of all, this was the first book I have read by Colleen Coble. I had heard a lot of good things about her and I picked up the Mercy Falls trilogy for ten dollars, so I thought, even if there was one good story out of the three, it would still be worth it. Well, if you knew Colleen Coble then you know that her books are so worth it. 

     So, this book, the first in the trilogy, I finished the very same day it was delivered. We're talking forty good-length chapters. Forty. Now I have high expectations when it comes to books and this book met every single one. Let me explain a little more fully.

     I really love how I just reached the second or third chapter and I could already see a romance beginning to form. Also, Addie's faith is outstanding. I love how she puts her faith into every decision she makes and her whole love evolves around it. And the fact that she is able to share her Christianity with everyone she meets without shame or timidity is profound. I think Adaline - out of all the books I've read - has the best, most intimate, real, almost tangible, relationship with God that I have ever read. Even when she let the demands of others consume her sometimes she always came to God asking for  forgiveness, though my admiration for her never dimmed. It was good to see a character who had a  wonderful relationship with God while still having to face trials.

 

    

 Now John North...very much like his character development. He starts off as a very wholesome man, though his relationship with the Lord isn't personal, and he has somewhat fallen away. I love how Addie is able to lead him back to Christ, and near the end how John's faith is clearly shown is breath-taking. His love for Addie is just so pure and beautiful. Even though he knows of her innocence when it comes to love he doesn't misuse or manipulate the love she feels for him. Also, something very important for me is respect in the characters relationships. John and Addie had that respect which made you root for their relationship to succeed till the very end. It wasn't based on physical or sexual attraction but on a love for each other for who they were inside.

    And the amount of action in this is...wow! *Spoiler Alert!* I love secret identities and this was full of them. It turns out that the bad guy was actually the one good guy and all the people I thought were genuine were actually...well...the villains. I really like it when I think I know what's taking place and then the writer puts a total spin on things! I believe it's really amazing how Coble can weave such intricate plots...trust me I know how hard it is. And most importantly, when you find out the truth it actually all fits into place, no holes in her stories. This tells me that she puts a great amount of care into her books. And there's a very happy, yet realistic ending, which I always love to see!

    Altogether, I think that this book is a must-have. Must have. If you love faith, romance, and historical fiction then this is the book for you! All thoughts and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

    Thank you for reading and don't forget to follow me for more reviews! 😁

    

 

 

 

 

 

         

     

 

The Peasant's Dream: An Honest Review

 

The Peasant's Dream

Book Review

The 11th - and last - book in the Fairy Tale Romance/Hagenheim series, a Cinderella retelling by Melanie Dickerson was released in July of 2020 and I was privileged enough to read it the following month. I can't wait to share my review with you!

                                                                                                     ~

*This review contains spoilers that might ruin a lot of the suspense in the story, so I advise you reading this review after you have either read the book or are okay with knowing the outcome to some extent.*

                                                                                                     ~

Since this is the final book in a series that I have totally fallen in love with, I was curios to see how Dickerson would write it. 

I totally fell in love with the female heroine, Adella almost immediately. She was super sweet and compassionate, and I admired the way Dickerson shaped Adella to be so naive - being the youngest daughter of the royal family - yet had discretion, which makes you instantly root for her from the beginning to the end of the story. Her resilience in believing Friedrich was alive and her loyalty to the love that was growing between them made me ache for her in a way I rarely feel towards a character in a novel. Adella is loyal to her family and making them happy but she also isn't afraid to make her thoughts known. Overall, the character of Adella was shaped so well that I believe any reader is apt to fall in love with her. 

Now For Friedrich. From the start I was lost in his compassionate character and the gentle strength that he demonstrated throughout the book stole my breath away. Dickerson really let her best character building knowledge flow onto the paper while creating the story's male hero. From their first encounter you can see how perfect Frederick's character fits so perfectly with Adella's. From his unjust imprisonment, to the time he proposes to Adella you can't help but feel compassion for him and cheer him on as he tries to win Adella's heart. Also, his abusive and scarred pass really made me ache for him to succeed - and escape unscathed. He is probably my favorite male hero in the entire series now!

What I found particularly fascinating and was really the icing on the cake for this last book was that Dickerson - for the first time - chose to go all out and do five POVs. The most I have ever seen Melanie Dickerson write is three (as seen in The Fairest Beauty) and if that wasn't enough she did two romance plots. Two! 

Frederick's mother, Basina, starts off as a caring mother who had to raise her two daughters and an only son with an abusive husband. Nearing the end of the story, after her husband's  untimely death and Frederick's unjust arrest, she and her daughter's set out to see Frederick'sbiological father - a Duke. At first, I thought it wasn't going to a romance, just an awkward reunion of a Duke and his servant who, years ago, had had an affair. But indeed romance did blossom under Dickerson's pen! I found myself swooning, cheering, and on the edge of my seat as I watched Basina and her former love reunite in a true, pure love and with a reconciliation that melted my heart.

I also got to read Lord Barthold's - Lady Adella's suitor - POV, which was scatter through the book, and I loved the angle, being able to hear the thoughts and feelings of the heroine's suitor. Most of all, I got to see for myself if Barthold was really sincere about marring Adella, through listening to his thoughts.

Lord Conrat's - Lord Barthold's advisor - point of view was interesting, since he was essentially the villain and I could see just who was doing the dirty work. I love it when my heart swells when I read a book but I also find it wonderful when I can burn with anger at the villain - and indeed I did burn hehe.

                                                                                                          ~

Overall this book went far beyond my expectations, I was taken over the moon with Dickerson's writing style, the plot twists, romance, suspense, and of course, a happily-ever-after ending! For those of you who might be debating whether or not this is worth the money, I can say it truly is! 

                                                                                                          ~

This characters of this book have a strong relationship with Christ, and though there is the briefly mentioned topic of having a child out of wedlock, it does not go into detail and the two characters involved look back on their mistakes with great regret. Setting that aside their is not inappropriate mention of sex, course language, or mature themes, though it does talk briefly through the story of abuse. Overall I believe this book truly grasps life in the Medieval times and it's themes are realistic, yet praise worthy to God. 

I highly recommend The Peasant's Dream!

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (five stars)