This cover is gorgeous! And the one for the next book? *sigh* I can't wait to see it in person! I love the gold tones in this one. The colors are rather understated, but it comes to life and I just enjoy the "feel" of it, if that makes sense. :)
Description:
Brook Eden has never known where she truly belongs. Though raised in the palace of Monaco, she's British by birth and was brought to the Grimaldis under suspicious circumstances as a babe. When Brook's friend Justin uncovers the fact that Brook is likely a missing heiress from Yorkshire, Brook leaves the sun of the Mediterranean to travel to the moors of the North Sea to the estate of her supposed family.
The mystery of her mother's death haunts her, and though her father is quick to accept her, the rest of the family and the servants of Whitby Park are not. Only when Brook's life is threatened do they draw close--but their loyalty may come too late to save Brook from the same threat that led to tragedy for her mother.
As heir to a dukedom, Justin is no stranger to balancing responsibilities. When the matters of his estate force him far from Brook, the distance between them reveals that what began as friendship has grown into something much more. But how can their very different loyalties and responsibilities ever come together?
About the Author:
Roseanna M. White grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, the beauty of which inspired her to begin writing as soon as she learned to pair subjects with verbs. She spent her middle and high school days penning novels in class, and her love of books took her to a school renowned for them.
After graduating from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, she and her husband moved back to the same mountains they equate with home.Roseanna is the author of two biblical novels, A Stray Drop of Blood and Jewel of Persia, the historical romance, Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, and the historical, romantic suspense Culper Ring Series (Ring of Secrets, Whispers from the Shadows, and Circle of Spies). She is also the senior reviewer at the Christian Review of Books, which she and her husband founded, the senior editor at WhiteFire Publishing, and a member of ACFW, HisWriters, and Colonial Christian Fiction Writers.
Side note:
I had no idea that Roseanna was a fellow WV girl!
I knew there was a reason I loved her books! ;)
My Review: 4 stars
I first fell in love with Roseanna’s books when I discovered her Culper Ring series. The books were unique, with unusual characters, who were unafraid to break some of society’s numerous rules if it meant solving a puzzle or protecting others. When I first heard about this one, I was super excited to read it and can happily say that this book is no different from her previous ones and I’m very glad for the opportunity to read it.
Roseanna always does an excellent job with the historical details and descriptions. It’s obvious from the start that an immense amount of research went into this book and I loved that! I appreciate the unique details she adds, little things that might appear frivolous, but that add another layer to the story. The setting for this one is a bit different from her others, with it being in the early 1900s as automobiles became popular and ladies were allowed more freedom. This worked especially well with Brook’s character, because she’s always pushing the boundaries.
I also enjoyed how the story comes from multiple view points, giving a larger picture and building the story to its climax. It also allowed added depth to a mystery that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the mystery immensely, as I tried to guess who the villain was and what they might be after. I loved being surprised at the twists and turns that prodded me to turn pages late into the night. My one negative comment here is that there were a couple moments I became lost in the storyline and I would have to back up and try to figure out what I’d missed. Particularly when the story jumps several months and I’m trying to catch up. Though to be honest, that probably had more to do with my eReader app that kept glitching, than anything.
Brook Eden is the heroine of the story and I adored her! She is lovely and funny, her perspective often causing me to smile at the way she viewed the world. She is a bit impulsive and brash at times, though I did love how “fearless” she was. She gladly discards society’s requirements, determined to be herself regardless of how that may be perceived. She also cares deeply for others, though after being hurt often, we see her begin to harden that part of herself. I loved that during her journey to find her place, she never lost sight of who she was beyond all of the trappings.
Justin is the hero of the story and frankly, I’m at a loss as to what his last name is! I’ve no idea how they kept up with all of the names and titles, and such back then! Or how the author kept everything straight! I definitely appreciated the character list in the front, explaining who everyone was and their titles . . . Anyway. Justin. There are so many things I could say about him, but I’ll try to keep it short. Honestly, I struggled a bit with his character. Though I understood his motivations, I didn’t connect with him until nearing the end, something that made it difficult for me to really like him. Despite that, he is a well drawn character. Most of the story revolves around Brook, making it something of a challenge to focus on Justin’s side of the story.
I also loved the spiritual side of the story, which focuses largely on trust. Not only trusting God, but also one another. Brook struggles with trusting those around her and believing that love is worth the pain. I think there’s a point in each person’s life, where they have to decide whether love is worth the risk. I appreciated the realism and depth Roseanna employed here and the fact that she chose to highlight the point, rather than brushing it off. There were several times I found myself pausing to highlight a quote (definitely appreciate that part of ebooks!) or consider a line that challenged me.
Overall impression: awesome book! I can’t wait for the next one (Brice’s book!)!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it! Also, if you're new to my blog, welcome! Feel free to nose around or leave me a comment saying you've been here.
As always, purchase links are below. And, since I was bragging on the cover for Roseanna's next book, I have to share it! So keep scrolling to see the beautiful job Bethany House's artists did!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book
*drum roll* Ta-da!! Roseanna's next book! Gorgeous, isn't it? Unfortunately, it doesn't come out until March 2016 . . . it seems so far away! But in reality, it's only about 4 months, so I guess I'll survive waiting that long . . . maybe.
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