❝ Life is more interesting if you allow yourself to get lost every now and then. How else do you discover things? ❞
this was a wonderful conclusion! it❝ Life is more interesting if you allow yourself to get lost every now and then. How else do you discover things? ❞
this was a wonderful conclusion! it has just as much swoony romance as the other two in the series, and lots more danger and action regarding the Fire Eyes. They were more of a subplot in the first two, but in this book they were the main focus of the characters.
my favorite thing about this entire series is just how realistic the characters are. They aren't just young, perfect, untested young people falling in love with no strings attached. They're broken. They have messy pasts. Their sins are glaringly obvious. But they learn to love each other and the Lord despite it all, and it's beautiful.
I especially loved the romance in this one. Ella was one of my favorite characters in the first two books and I loved how her sunny personality compared with Cayton's grumpy one. They made for an adorable couple and definitely one of my favorites of Roseanna's so far!
╰› if you love Christian fiction, historical fiction, regency, romance, or all four, I highly recommend this series! it's well worth your time <3
❝ The rest of the world is filled to bursting with ill-tempered people. It is my solemn duty not to be one of them. ❞
—content and trigger warnings (minor spoilers!): this series dealt with a lot of heavy topics. In the second installment, the main character was a victim of sexual assault. there's nothing quite as drastic in this one, though it does mention sexual assault a few times, but everything else is kept to a minimum. one of the characters with a mini pov was a mistress, but it never shows or directly mentions anything remotely explicit. a woman suffers from losing an infant to a crib death. a woman dies in childbirth. One of the men is revealed to be a bloodthirsty psychopath who has an obsession with injuring people. The main character is kidnapped by a man who believes himself to be in love with her (he never inappropriately touches her). Basically, if you've had any past experiences with sexual assault or losing a child or mother in childbirth, I'd say tread carefully with this series. stay safe and ily all!! ...more
❝Perhaps they were none of them more than what their darkest moments made them...and how they emerged from it when day came again.❞
This is not a 4.5 ⭐
❝Perhaps they were none of them more than what their darkest moments made them...and how they emerged from it when day came again.❞
This is not a fun, swoony romance. This book is heavy. It's rough at times. It deals with some uncomfortable things that most people don't like to read about, but nonetheless something that needs to be addressed. It isn't the deepest and most excruciating book with this topic I've ever read, but I didn't expect much depth in this form at all from this author, so it deeply impacted me.
This book talks about love in a way you don't hear it discussed too often, but it's the reality. Love isn't just an emotion you feel. Love is a choice. Love is a sacrifice. Brice chooses to love Rowena and obey the Lord, and slowly he helps her heal from her brokenness and trauma and learn to love him back and, more importantly, love the Lord.
In the first book, Brice was a bit of a more lighthearted character. Kind of a shameless flirt. But he is given loads more character and depth. He was a flawed man, like everyone, but he had a deep longing to do what the Lord was calling him to do. I loved his character arc and I think he's my favorite Roseanna love interest so far ...more
I now know what premeditation means, from some very helpful friends in the comments section. And it definitely fits the book. If you’re smarter 3.5 ⭐️
I now know what premeditation means, from some very helpful friends in the comments section. And it definitely fits the book. If you’re smarter than me (which, let’s be honest, you probably are) and already know the meaning of the word, then it will be no big surprise to you that this is a murder mystery.
And, based on the cover and title, you have probably already guessed that it is also a Pride and Prejudice retelling.
A murder mystery Pride and Prejudice retelling.
BOOM.
This had an absolute heck ton of potential and it… mostly lived up to it. It wasn’t phenomenal, show-stopping, amazing, but it was fun. And cute. And really not super bloody. All pros!
I’ve had time to ponder it since I read it though, and upon further examination… it is quite forgettable.
I know this because from all the time I’ve had to ponder it, I haven’t, really. At all. Nada. Zero. I remember the plot pretty well, and I remember liking, if sometimes being annoying at, Lizzie, and not knowing what the heck was even happening with Mr. Darcy. I remember thinking all the little quotes the author put it from the original novel were cute, if a bit cheesy. I remember some good plot twists and a kind of very convenient climax and some very unrealistic aspects, but the author addressed it in the author’s note so I’m not too peeved about it because at least she’s aware.
Wow, my brain hurts from all this remembering. This book is even more forgettable than I am.
*laughs in humor as a defense mechanism*
Bottom line: I didn’t fall in love with this book, but it was a very pleasant acquaintance to have.
And now I’m going to leave before I start spouting more awful metaphors ...more
”Servants hear everything…. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
This was fun! It was so interesting to see who was really pulling the strings in the ric”Servants hear everything…. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
This was fun! It was so interesting to see who was really pulling the strings in the rich side of society and all that went on in the servants’ world. Julie Klassen filled the book with her trademark character development, intriguing plot, and sweet romance.
The one problem I had with it was the ending was super rushed and poorly done. Half the plot lines were never wrapped up, and the few that were actually finished weren’t satisfying in their finishing at all. It was like Klassen had a 410 page limit, and she spent so long with the plot and climax and angst that she only had a short chapter left to end it with. She at least could’ve had an epilogue.
Aside from that, I do recommend this unique, atmospheric Christian historical fiction that takes a peek into the below stairs of the 19th-century society and all that the rich took for granted.
"We'd fight so much less if everyone would just sit down and read."
Oh my french toast. I loved this so much. It was the perfect amount of quirky, hila"We'd fight so much less if everyone would just sit down and read."
Oh my french toast. I loved this so much. It was the perfect amount of quirky, hilarious, adventurous, and adorable. Show stopping.
One of my favorite things about this book was the characters and their dynamics. They were so delightfully complex that I can't squish them all together in one paragraph. I need to talk about each and every one of them individually ...more
This was so very lovely. Amanda Grange kept true to the voices of the characters and I really did feel like I was reading the original book, just toldThis was so very lovely. Amanda Grange kept true to the voices of the characters and I really did feel like I was reading the original book, just told differently.
I don’t think I could bear a retelling that stole the story and made it its own and therefore less glorious (because nothing like that could ever do P&P justice), but this book didn’t even try to. Instead, it’s more like an add-on to the original book. It gives you a fuller look at Darcy’a backstory and the behind the scenes surrounding the events of Pride and Prejudice. It does nothing but give to the original and for that I love it.
My one complaint was the little bits that mentioned the war going on with France during the events of the story. They felt quite out of place as obviously the story has nothing to do with the war. But besides that, it was really entertaining and -dare I say it- almost as witty as Jane Austen herself.
Can’t compete with the classic Pride and Prejudice, but it doesn’t try to. It’s just a fun book and if you’re a P&P fan like me I recommend it as a cute little side dish to accompany the masterpiece itself!
"God is speaking to you every day. You might return the favor."
This was really good! I love books about bookworms, although I feel there are hard3.5 ⭐
"God is speaking to you every day. You might return the favor."
This was really good! I love books about bookworms, although I feel there are hardly enough. And when it's about bookworms in this certain time period, it reminds me that I should be glad I was born into a generation where book loving females are not considered 'bluestockings' and die old maids.
Because heheehehe um I would be one of them.
I really liked the protagonist, Emma, who was labeled a 'bluestocking' yet said "pffft" and still pursued reading and smarts. Goals! Something I've noticed repeatedly in Julie Klassen's novels is that her characters always have amazing development. It's very well done. Although I feel like Emma's trope, girl wants to be in control of everything in her life yet learns she can trust God and doesn't have to do everything on her own is overused in Christian fiction, it was at least well executed.
Also, the romance dynamic. They were cute but why does eVeRy Christian fiction have the guy be strong in his faith and the girl be resistant to surrendering her life to God? I don't think I've read a single book that switches it around. I really want to read a book where the girl helps the guy.
The romance was still good though. He was totally obsessed with her hahahahaheheheheh
Adam was a really sweet character but it kind of mad me sad what happened to children like him. Julie Klassen portrayed it well but I'm glad our world has improved in that regard.
I liked the plot and mystery and the overall vibe of the book. I love creepy mysteries, except they scare the crap out of me. This was pretty tame, though, nothing like a real mystery thriller.
It's also just the kind of book where you wanna give all the characters a big soft hug! I'd recommend it if you'd like a good Christian romance ...more
Though art gone from my gaze like a beautiful dream, And I seek thee in vain by the meadow and stream.
The Apothecary's Daughter was one of the best ChrThough art gone from my gaze like a beautiful dream, And I seek thee in vain by the meadow and stream.
The Apothecary's Daughter was one of the best Christian, historical fiction I've read in a while. It perfectly blended faith, romance, suspense, and the beauty and tragedy of Lilly's story into this lovely book. If this kind of book is your type of thing, I strongly recommend!
One of the things I appreciated was how in the love square (yes, a love square, and yes, I know, we all usually hate this sort of thing, but bear with me ...more
the "best friends but we each secretly harbor feelings for each other, but we deny it because we're scared it'll ruin our friendship" trope>>>the "best friends but we each secretly harbor feelings for each other, but we deny it because we're scared it'll ruin our friendship" trope>>>...more
”Village life is like an ivy vine climbing a great oak. You cut off the vine at the root, and all the way up the tree, the leaves wither. We’re a2.5 ⭐
”Village life is like an ivy vine climbing a great oak. You cut off the vine at the root, and all the way up the tree, the leaves wither. We’re all connected.”
This book was very nice.
I’ve been trying to find a better way to describe it, but really, it was just very nice. The setting was nice, the characters were nice, the plot was nice, the romance was nice, the writing was nice.
❝ Secrets have power. And that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. ❞
જ⁀➴ the manuscript by taylor swift now and ❝ Secrets have power. And that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. ❞
જ⁀➴ the manuscript by taylor swift now and then I reread the manuscript, but the story isn’t mine anymore
this is the kind of book that you want to live in.
there are lots of different characters and subplots going on throughout the book. The story itself takes place over a span of almost thirty years, so very little time is spent on one scene or the other, giving the effect of a fast-moving plot when in reality it is really quite slow and it takes nearly half of the book for the romance to even begin. Once it does begin, it is slightly underdeveloped. I also would have preferred more time spent on the competition that was the baseline for the entire book and plot yet barely gets pagetime.
the point is, I didn’t love this book as much as I did because of the plot. While it was still good, despite being slow, it was completely overshadowed by the incandescent and magical setting of les cirque des rêves. Pages after pages are spent describing the different elements and performances in the circus. Reading this felt like eating a rich and creamy cheesecake. I couldn’t get enough of it.
the writing, even when not describing the circus, is lovely. It has a quaint and pretty feel to it and narrated the story wonderfully. I loved the characters, also; Celia, Marco, Isobel, Bailey, Poppet, Widget were my favorites but I loved them all. Watching them all grow up, I felt intimately acquainted with them.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent within the pages of the night circus. I’ve been wanting to read it for a long time and it delivered on every front. the perfect book to curl up with and get lost within the pages of! I highly recommend it ...more
❝ so many out-of-the-way things had happened lately that alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible. ❞
₊˚❀.ೃ࿔*:･
this❝ so many out-of-the-way things had happened lately that alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible. ❞
₊˚❀.ೃ࿔*:･
this is a very strange and whimsical collection of a little girl’s almost disjointed interactions with a bunch of mentally ill people and creatures. There’s a certain charm in the weird dialogue and scenery that any author would fail miserably at trying to imitate today. I had a wonderful time reading it, and I’ll always love wonderland and the magic it holds and nostalgia it brings me!...more
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