Review: An Elegant Facade

An Elegant Facade by Kristi Ann Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, A Noble Masquerade (Hawthorne House, #1). Hunter points out in the beginning that you don't need to read the first to enjoy the second, and she is absolutely correct. This is a great stand alone book. I enjoyed getting better acquainted with the characters that were in supporting roles in the first book.

Hunter did an excellent job in writing these two books the way she did. It had to be incredibly hard to mingle and entwine them, but to also make them stand-alones. It takes an incredible writer to be able to do this, and Hunter is superb at it.

The characters are fascinating, and the research is spectacular. You'll understand and appreciate that understatement when you get to know Georgina, and Colin, and all the others.

This is an excellent Regency novel with all the fol-de-rols of society that are melded so believably with the characters. No modernisms at all, praise the Lord. And the faith factor is ever so tenderly applied. What I find so wonderful is how masculine Hunter makes Colin's faith, and Griffith's, and the others. No namby-pambies here. It is solid reading pleasure.

Another pleasure is there are no ad nauseum repetitions or character agonizing over some problem. Yes, the problems are agonized over, but in such different ways that it seems so fresh like a fresh, sweet orange peeled--nothing dried out, but fragrance surrounding you--ready to be enjoyed.

Five of five stars. Definitely one of the best reads this year.


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Review: A Haven on Orchard Lane

A Haven on Orchard Lane by Lawana Blackwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW
I have loved every Lawana Blackwell book I've read, and this one is no exception. I could fill this review with all the positive splendepherous words to describe it and it still would not be adequate. This is an amazing slice of life in 1880s rural England. The culture shines. The research is top notch. The care for characters is quite tender. The best read this year.

I love the community, and small town rendition. I think these people already exist somewhere and Blackwell met them, fell in love with them, and wrote about them. They are all 4-dimensional characters (even the supporting roles). Everyone was in character both in actions as well as dialogue. In fact, the dialogue is quite sparkling. The romance reminds me of Jane Austin.

As I get older, I appreciate older characters more and more. Charlotte is a gem, and I can so much empathize with her. Great faith lessons, too. I'm putting this one in the must read column!

I received this book from the publisher at Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

ABOUT THE BOOK
In difficult circumstances, Charlotte Ward, once a famed stage actress, tries to restart her career--only to experience disaster. Against her better judgment, her estranged daughter, Rosalind, comes to her mother's rescue and moves her to a quiet English coastal village.

Charlotte is grateful to get to know Rosalind after years apart. As one who has regrets about her own romantic past, it's a joy for Charlotte to see love blossom for her daughter. For Rosalind, however, it's time away from teaching--and now she must care for the mother who wasn't there for her. And what could be more complicated than romance?

Together, mother and daughter discover that healing is best accomplished when they focus less on themselves and more on the needs of others.

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