A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen

 

I've been a fan of Klassen for years, but I've never had one of her stories capture my interest and heart as quickly as A Castaway in Cornwall. I feel like Klassen took many lessons from her recent foray into series writing with The Inn on Ivy Hill to provide readers one of her richest stories yet.

First, I couldn't help but fall in love with her world. A Castaway in Cornwall uses the rugged shores of 1813 Cornwall filled to the brim with interesting characters for it's home. I felt like this book definitely makes great use of its setting and cast of characters as there are so many with moments to shine. From Eseld to Jago and Miss Chegwin (who honestly could handle a prequel of their own) the characters draw you in through their well written personalities and story. Klassen also used the characters to explore the interactions between poverty, smuggling, and wreck picking which happened on the coast in a way that highlights the ups and downs of that trade. I've always loved how Klassen uses history to build a solid, inviting world and this effort is no different.

Klassen also stays true to her routes by giving readers some solid leads to fall in love with thanks to the characters of Laura and Alexander. Laura's got the sweet, searching stubbornness that seems quite common to a lead in this genre yet at the same time Klassen brings a different twist. Laura's theme of rescue and redeeming the flotsam adds an interesting dynamic to her character, her struggles for home, and her relationship with Alexander. Alexander's story was delightful in that I honestly had no idea which way the twists and turns were going to land which made for a delightful page turner (until 3 am, oops, don't regret it). 

Again, I'm not terribly surprised as Klassen's research and characters have always been solidly drawing me in novel after novel and have only strengthened with experience. The big surprise, for me, in this book was the plot itself.

Klassen manages to keep a quick pace weaving in shipwrecks and war, romance and grief, old rivals and new beginnings. I loved the faster pace and the depth of her plot. 

On one side the historical aspect was exciting. Alexander's connection to the war and unrest kept me guessing throughout. The inclusion of the smuggling was an aspect I had read some on before but through her characters Klassen added a human element. I was also intrigued by the island of Jersey of which I was unfamiliar. It's Klassen's ability to take that historical framework and breathe story into through the emotion, dreams, and sorrows of her characters that makes her work so memorable. Themes of loss and regret were very present within her characters yet not heavy handed and the way that Klassen constantly wove in hope and restoration makes for a very satisfying read at the end of a very long year. 

Honestly, if you only read one of Klassen's books make it this one.

5 out of 5 stars

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Where I've been

So you may have noticed there haven't been as many posts this year.

Can I just say pandemics suck?

As a family with disabilities, the pandemic has meant lots of time in isolation, lots of adjustment, and lots of creative flexibility to meet our kids unique needs in a time where no one really knows what's going on.

Thankfully, we're hitting our groove and the addition this week of Christmas decorations, cookies, and music has made us a much jollier bunch.

Oh and cookie decorating totally counts as art class, right?

I'm still reading, I'm still reviewing, however, there will probably be a few more posts in the future about our lives homeschooling because that takes up a huge part of our lives at the moment.

We may also have a surprise in our family that I may write about in the New Year, depending on how things fall into place.

Either way, I hope to write more and not fall into a blogging self isolation. 

See you soon (promise this time)

Nothing Short of Wondrous by Regina Scott

 

Regina Scott has once again invited readers to journey with her to the early days of the national parks. This time it's the Geyser Gateway hotel, lead by the widowed Kate Tremaine who serves as the readers (and Calvary's) guide to Yellowstone.

As far as lead characters go, I enjoyed Kate as a main character. Scott gives readers a well balanced character in Kate between her determination, her humour, and even her trauma. Scott gives a character who is both quick wittedly able and equally capable of evoking empathy as readers are drawn in to root for Kate, Danny and the hotel.

Scott provides an equally capable counter in the character of Lt. Prescott. I appreciated how Scott teased out his backstory and how completely the character felt to act within his motives.

One thing that can't be overlooked in this series is the setting Scott paints an amazing picture of the beauty of Yellowstone on every page. There are few authors I can think of that capture the wonder and awe of creation like Scott consistently has and this national park series is the perfect vehicle for her skill.

Plot wise, I was engaged with the story of Kate, Will, and the Geyser Gateway. The romance was fairly straightforward and I was pleased that the characters trauma was acknowledged in the plot allowing for richer interactions amid the heart and adventure.

I did have two points that detracted slightly from my overall perception of the story.

First. Private Smith was definitely written as a well balanced contrast to Lt. Prescott but his story left me feeling unsatisfied. Scott does an excellent job building up his past and dropping hints without giving a full picture as to his motivation or a satisfying conclusion. After all the build up I was eager to find out what was driving this character only to be left dangling. Now, I do realize this is part of a series and Private Smith's story may come out in a different section of the American Wonders series, one of the tensions in an ongoing series.

Secondly, and this is completely personal preference, but the book felt more romance first historical fiction second which was a reverse of what I expected. The book is well written it just felt the historical aspect was more to build up the romantic tension. Readers going in for a more historical story should be aware of this.

Regina Scott has provided a unique series with her exploration of love and life against the backdrop of the beauty of the national parks in their early days.

4 out of 5 stars 

This book was provided as part of the #RevellReadsBookTour, all thoughts are my own.

Line by Line by Jennifer Delamere

Alice McNeil is determined to remain a spinster pursuing a life of purpose through career and hobbies despite her mother and society's expectations. Douglas Shaw is equally determined to use his intelligence and ambition to rise above a childhood of poverty regardless of what his heart may be saying to the contrary.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jennifer Delamere is a solid writer. She paints her world well, she's easily established a trilogy here with characters like Emma, Rose or even Mavis poised to take their own time in center stage. I even thoroughly enjoyed her little forays into the scientific advancement of the day and age showing the importance and procedures of the telegraph and the new found promises of the telephone.

That said, I struggled with this book. I did not connect with Alice or Douglas at all as story leads until the very last pages of the novel. Alice's character seems so focused on her spinsterhood it's hard to see the character underneath.It also makes the expected ending feel more jarring as Alice's character has to 

undergo a complete inner shift in a very short time to reach the anticipated conclusion (while well written, the format did feel very familiar to the genre). Douglas' ambition also leaves out a lot of his personality until his acquaintance with Carnegie.  I felt like I spent more time searching for a character to lead me into the story over enjoying the story itself.

Honestly I feel like this is still an enjoyable book just not a match for me.

3 out of 5 stars

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes

After reading Dykes latest book Set the Stars Alight I am convinced she is not a story teller but a story weaver, combining plot threads and ideas into a wondrous narrative that draws readers into a world of her creation.

Dykes starts weaving her threads by introducing two stories, that of Lucy Claremont and Dashel Greene as well as that of  Frederick, Juliette, and Elias two hundred years prior. I've seen these alternating time periods done badly, I've seen them transition well but, again, Sykes weaves the time periods together in an almost dance as each shift in era doesn't leave you jarred but simply reveals the next step in the story (and yes this does make it ridiculously hard to keep the one more chapter promise before bed).

I'll admit, it took me awhile to get into the pacing and narrative that Dykes creates at first. It was hard to connect the two stories in my mind. 

On one hand we had Dash and Lucy, one looking to the stars, the other to the past grieving the loss of Lucy's father and reuniting after years apart to chase down The Jubilee, a long unsolved naval mystery. On the other, you have Fredrick a privileged son weighed down by guilt, Elias the peasant he was press ganged into naval service with, and the young woman who connects them Juliette.  However, slowly but surely, Dykes weaves her connectors bringing past and present into light to create a rich, engaging story.

Dykes doesn't shy from deeper themes within her work, in fact, she uses the different eras and their context to further hone in on them. Here readers are invited to explore grief, identity, and restoration with a wide range of characters who feel fully fleshed, making readers feel invited into their world. Honestly, the little details like the dove, the star parties, or even the ball just added so many honest elements which made the book better.

I'm also glad to say this was one of the most satisfying conclusions I've encountered in a novel this summer (and honestly this is the year where I crave a satisfying ending). Dykes ability to weave her narrative meant that the characters plots were well resolved with a few twists at the end that made it extra sweet.

4.5 out of 5 stars

 "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

A Dazzle of Diamonds by Liz Johnson

 

I generally love Liz Johnson's books  (for a sweet contemporary series go check out her Red Door Inn!) but A Dazzle of Diamonds felt like a mixed bag for me.

As usual, Johnson focuses readers through the primary female character, in this case, Penelope Hunter an event planner with more than she could have planned for. Her job is in trouble as she attempts to plan her ex fiances wedding while helping best friend Tucker Westbrook run for Sheriff. The problem is that Tucker's family has been accused of being traitors in the war and now Penelope's only route to clear his name is helping him find the missing treasure from centuries past.

All in all, this novel had all the components I like in a summer romance. Old friends who don't realize they're in love (I'm a sucker for those as it mirrors my own romance), missing treasure, ties to the past, and an absolutely amazing supporting character.

So, why the mixed feelings, looking at the cover Penelope looks like ever other female lead, pretty and young. Tucker's inner monologue more than once appreciates her legs, her lips, and her curves. However, there was extra attention to mention Penelope's eating her feelings in brownies or wedding cake, the way her corset dug into her ribs, the special ordered size for her wedding gown. The dialogue in the book was written as a woman uncomfortable with her weight but the cover contrasted that greatly. The way her appearance and weight was addressed just felt uncomfortable and out of place in the way it was addressed and how Penelope was portrayed in the art.

Now that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy part of the book. Honestly I'm a firm, firm believer Aunt Shirley needs her own book. Honestly she was wise, intelligent, and loads of fun. Her sections of the book shone and I want more Aunt Shirley!

I also quickly found myself more engrossed in Caroline and Josiah's story. The way Johnson unraveled their tale with the old letters gave their story a great sense of pacing and I quickly became more invested in their story than the main characters. I actually confessed to my husband I would read the whole book just for their Civil War romance and intrigue.

3 stars out of 5

I received this book as part of the #RevellReads summer tour, all opinions are my own.

A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham

Aggie Pratt has a secret that has shaped her adult life, pushing her to the frontier, and away from those she loves. I thoroughly enjoyed A Life Once Dreamed and was even more impressed at how Fordham not only wove Aggie, James, and the town of Penance into life but also managed to keep me guessing on Aggie's secret until half way through the book.

I appreciated how well Fordham wrote Aggie as part of her small town. As some one who also moved out west to a small town for a time, her interactions brought back so many memories. From the neighbours who seem to nose into the details of life, to the community that grows, to the beauty of the landscape Penance and Aggie's experience of it read true. Additionally, Aggie's growth and struggles as a young woman felt real and believable as Fordham built up the small details within the character and her environment.

Fordham's writing feels so inviting, in part, due to her attention to detail. While I would put her novels as more character centered over world building she doesn't ignore Penance as merely setting but makes it its own character. The people themselves have quirks and personality (McHenry was a particular favourite in Penance for myself).Fans of her work with keen eyes will notice a shout out to her previous novels adding some continuity within her library that brought a smile to my face.

Let's not forget the plot. While the romance one expects from this genre was definitely front and center, Fordham also took the time to explore other more serious issues. Illness, fire, child loss, class divide, and illegitimacy are all touched upon in varying degrees. The handling always feels gentle (honestly the whole book including the epilogue does to a point but after the way 2020's been I kind of need/like that) which did leave me wishing for more depth at times but I overall I felt that Fordham stayed true to he writing style and the story's feel.

4 out of 5 stars.

I received this book as part of the #RevellReads book tour. All opinions are my own.