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tatteredpharey1's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet love story. A reminder that we shouldn't judge someone by their past.
cindysbookcorner's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this book about 5 days ago so it is harder to get my thoughts in order for a proper review. I loved this book. It has jumped into first place for my favorite book by her.
Eden has a lending library that she runs from her home. Levi is a blacksmith with a tarnished past. Will Eden be able to see beyond his past to the man he has become?
Words to describe this book: multilayered.
Sweet.
Tender.
Deep.
Emotional.
Romantic.
Swoon-worthy hero.
It does not have as much humor as her other books, but it has a lot of heart.
This was the first book that I have listened to by this narrator, but she did an incredible job!!
Eden has a lending library that she runs from her home. Levi is a blacksmith with a tarnished past. Will Eden be able to see beyond his past to the man he has become?
Words to describe this book: multilayered.
Sweet.
Tender.
Deep.
Emotional.
Romantic.
Swoon-worthy hero.
It does not have as much humor as her other books, but it has a lot of heart.
This was the first book that I have listened to by this narrator, but she did an incredible job!!
hannah_farnsworth_'s review against another edition
3.0
GRR! This is the second book I've read by Karen Witemeyer. I absolutely LOVED the first book I read by her [b:Short-Straw Bride|12963146|Short-Straw Bride|Karen Witemeyer|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327254843s/12963146.jpg|18120890] which I devoured in one sitting. So of course I had extremely high expectations for this novel as well.
The book started off great, with introductions of main characters Levi Grant and Eden Spencer. Levi has just gotten out of jail and ends up getting a job in Spencer, where Eden lives and operates the library. Levi gets a job as the town's blacksmith and immediately draws Eden's attention. The story progresses and of course. It's not until Eden finds out that . Thankfully everything works out and we're left with a happy ending.
I felt that the book was a bit slow in the progression of the plot and the development of Eden and Levi's relationship thus having hard time getting through it. I enjoyed the fact that Levi and Eden would pass notes back and forth while checking out and returning books. I also liked the fact that Levi had a lisp and had to pause while talking. It was nice because it made him feel more real and not as perfect as so many of today's main male characters.
I will definitely be reading this book again so that I can get a very decent feel for it. I'd also recommend it to people who enjoy the following:
1. Historical Fiction
2. Christian Romance
The book started off great, with introductions of main characters Levi Grant and Eden Spencer. Levi has just gotten out of jail and ends up getting a job in Spencer, where Eden lives and operates the library. Levi gets a job as the town's blacksmith and immediately draws Eden's attention. The story progresses and of course
Spoiler
Eden and Levi fall in love with each otherSpoiler
Levi has spent time in jail that she seriously debates their relationship and pushes Levi awayI felt that the book was a bit slow in the progression of the plot and the development of Eden and Levi's relationship thus having hard time getting through it. I enjoyed the fact that Levi and Eden would pass notes back and forth while checking out and returning books. I also liked the fact that Levi had a lisp and had to pause while talking. It was nice because it made him feel more real and not as perfect as so many of today's main male characters.
I will definitely be reading this book again so that I can get a very decent feel for it. I'd also recommend it to people who enjoy the following:
1. Historical Fiction
2. Christian Romance
bluebell4's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I usually really like Karen Witemeyer’s writing, but I really had a hard time with this book. I found the main character, Eden, very hypocritical, and rude. She was constantly judging people and victimizing herself, it was really frustrating. The love interest, Levi, was an amazing character, wonderfully developed and I really enjoyed his perspective. Otherwise I didn’t enjoy the story.
Karen Witeneyer’s other wiring is really good and I recommend her books, I just didn’t love this one.
Karen Witeneyer’s other wiring is really good and I recommend her books, I just didn’t love this one.
becsbookishdelights's review against another edition
5.0
Such a sweet, sweet story that stole my heart! I love stories with main characters who have the same love of books that I do! Strong, burly Levi won my heart with his vulnerability and gentle giant ways and his love of literature! This book would make a wonderful Hallmark movie!!!
pacific_blue4's review against another edition
1.0
There is one thing that I cannot stand in the romantic side of fiction, and that's a certain type of writing, which tends to dominate the genre. And, yes, this book has it. The purple prose just oozes from the pages of this one, often in the form of ducking chins, bulging biceps, swelling hearts, and misty eyes...Christian fiction should not mirror a Harlequin novel in writing, but this one most certainly does, minus the graphic scenes, but WITH the over-the-top obsession with physical descriptions, the gasps, and glances (eye roll - please, no!). I'm surprised this one has such a high average rating.
The one star is for the writing. I CANNOT stand it in the least. It deeply annoyed me, and at times even embarrassed me. I lost count of the number of times the author described Eden looking up at Levi through her eyelashes and Levi's massive bulk trying to fit in a too-small chair, not to mention his bulging biceps (how many times did the author include the descriptions of those?). I don't often say this, but the writing in this is quite bad.
And if you do not believe me about the purple prose, I tagged some pages. Below are real examples of the writing that permeates every single page of this book. Accompanying the writing were flat characters and a flat storyline. I didn't like Eden or Levi; they're both unremarkable. His speech impediment wasn't handled well. Eden was so boring, as was Levi. Very predictable storyline. I skimmed just to get through this, thinking, I'm not too familiar with this author; maybe things will get better. They did not.
"He stilled and stared at her gloved hand as if it were a ladybug that had alit upon him, delicate and dainty against his corded masculinity."
"The plea in her voice touched his heart, but it was the sound of his name on her lips that spread warmth through him like hot coffee on a winter morning."
"And if loneliness sometimes ate away at her like water poured on a sugerloaf...?"
I just can't with this writing. I can't. How can I enjoy that? It made me feel so gross.... If this is Karen Witemeyer's style, I don't think I can ever try another book by her again. I'm not a huge fan of westerns (whether a book or a film), though this is (without a doubt) more of a romance. Had it not been a western, I still would not have liked it. I've been trying out Christian romantic fiction, and I am disappointed at how close it comes to secular writing, because it's also primarily about lust.
The one star is for the writing. I CANNOT stand it in the least. It deeply annoyed me, and at times even embarrassed me. I lost count of the number of times the author described Eden looking up at Levi through her eyelashes and Levi's massive bulk trying to fit in a too-small chair, not to mention his bulging biceps (how many times did the author include the descriptions of those?). I don't often say this, but the writing in this is quite bad.
And if you do not believe me about the purple prose, I tagged some pages. Below are real examples of the writing that permeates every single page of this book. Accompanying the writing were flat characters and a flat storyline. I didn't like Eden or Levi; they're both unremarkable. His speech impediment wasn't handled well. Eden was so boring, as was Levi. Very predictable storyline. I skimmed just to get through this, thinking, I'm not too familiar with this author; maybe things will get better. They did not.
"He stilled and stared at her gloved hand as if it were a ladybug that had alit upon him, delicate and dainty against his corded masculinity."
"The plea in her voice touched his heart, but it was the sound of his name on her lips that spread warmth through him like hot coffee on a winter morning."
"And if loneliness sometimes ate away at her like water poured on a sugerloaf...?"
I just can't with this writing. I can't. How can I enjoy that? It made me feel so gross.... If this is Karen Witemeyer's style, I don't think I can ever try another book by her again. I'm not a huge fan of westerns (whether a book or a film), though this is (without a doubt) more of a romance. Had it not been a western, I still would not have liked it. I've been trying out Christian romantic fiction, and I am disappointed at how close it comes to secular writing, because it's also primarily about lust.
lyratorg's review against another edition
3.0
This one went on a little longer than I was expecting.
rainbow_slushie's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
allowe's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was an emotional up and down ride the whole entire book! I flied through the pages wanting more. Unlike some books the ending was spectacular, and even though I didn't want to stop, I was happy with how it ended! I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone!
jwolfpack's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! I loved this novel! I love, love, love any sort of book where the hero or heroine is hindered with some sort of physical issue. (See [b:Silent Revenge|15954445|Silent Revenge|Laura Landon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357952872s/15954445.jpg|21705970]) Levi's speech impediment really tugged on my heartstrings. I enjoyed both him and Eden, separately and together. At times I felt Eden was slightly cliché, but she's human, after all.
I loved the suspense, too! I thought we were nearing the end of the story around the 65% mark, but it just kept going. And I'm glad it did. This is a quick and easy read. Perfect for the beach.
I only had two qualms with this story:
1) The character of Chloe felt unnatural and forced. I felt like she was thrown in there for the heck of having another conversion. She wasn't as gritty as she maybe should have been and everything happened too easily when it came to her story lines.
2) Some of the syntax was too heavy. Long, complicated words were thrown in here and there and they caught me off-guard. While I was able to swallow them, they just didn't fit and disconnected me from the story for a bit because I was too busy trying to figure out what a certain word meant.
I loved the suspense, too! I thought we were nearing the end of the story around the 65% mark, but it just kept going. And I'm glad it did. This is a quick and easy read. Perfect for the beach.
I only had two qualms with this story:
1) The character of Chloe felt unnatural and forced. I felt like she was thrown in there for the heck of having another conversion. She wasn't as gritty as she maybe should have been and everything happened too easily when it came to her story lines.
2) Some of the syntax was too heavy. Long, complicated words were thrown in here and there and they caught me off-guard. While I was able to swallow them, they just didn't fit and disconnected me from the story for a bit because I was too busy trying to figure out what a certain word meant.