travelerswife4life's review
3.0
Interesting
Interesting, it is not my favorite book because of the characters. I tend to favor strong female characters, not more passive ones. But I did enjoy reading the book.
Interesting, it is not my favorite book because of the characters. I tend to favor strong female characters, not more passive ones. But I did enjoy reading the book.
kristi518's review
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. There were parts I liked and parts I didn't. When I first started reading the book I didn't know if I would ever really get interested in it or be able to finish it. There was way too much "ship talk" for me during the early part of the book. Once the story got to Key West and there was a bit of suspense I became interested and wanted to finish the book.
The characters in the book are just ok. The leading lady is likable and real. The leading man, however, didn't really appeal to me. He was nice and all, he just seemed to lack something to me.
The plot of the book was alright. I felt like the book was a bit rushed at the end with the story hastily ending. I would have liked less "ship talk" at the beginning and a less rushed ending.
I received a free copy of this book from the publish through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
The characters in the book are just ok. The leading lady is likable and real. The leading man, however, didn't really appeal to me. He was nice and all, he just seemed to lack something to me.
The plot of the book was alright. I felt like the book was a bit rushed at the end with the story hastily ending. I would have liked less "ship talk" at the beginning and a less rushed ending.
I received a free copy of this book from the publish through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
rlangemann's review
2.0
Kindle freebie. 1.5 stars, rounded up. The writing and plot just didn't hold together well for me. Loose ends dropped, intrigue going nowhere...
booksoneveryshelf's review
3.0
Great for historical fiction fans.
Love’s Rescue is the first book in Christine Johnson’s new, Keys of Promise series. Having never read her books, I had no idea what to expect. I was hoping for compelling characters, an intriguing storyline, and well-researched historical details. Though I found all of those to some extent, my expectations weren’t exceeded, merely met.
Christine has definitely done her research for this book and I loved the historical details. Some might find them tedious, but I’m a detail person, so that was great for me. Her descriptions and prose were also excellent. I could almost smell the sea breeze and touch the tamarind tree that grew outside Elizabeth’s window. Her depictions were so vivid and original. For example, “Her emotions twisted and tumbled like a sheet in the wind.” That is such an apt description, but not one I would have ever thought of using.
I confess, I struggled to get into the story, at first. The beginning seemed to drag on a bit and I kept finding reasons to delay reading any further. It took until about a third of my way into the book before it really grabbed my interest. Then I found I didn’t want to put it down. The story actually does flow quite well, minus the beginning. With some suspense thrown it, it sped up for a short time, then evened back out to a fairly satisfying ending. I had needed a reason to cheer the characters on and I didn’t have one at the start, but found one later on, when their pursuits came to light.
Elizabeth Benjamin is the heroine of the story and I honestly didn’t like her very much. She came across as spoiled and extremely selfish. I really wanted someone to shake her and tell her to grow up! She was supposed to be twenty in 1850, but she seemed so childish for most of the story. She does grow throughout the story and learns to put others before herself (a large part of the moral), but I still didn’t connect with her. Most of the story comes from her perspective and after so many pages of her self absorbed focus, I was ready to move on. She had my apathy from the beginning and unfortunately, it never really switched to sympathy.
Rourke O’Malley is a great hero: loving, selfless, strong, brave. He doesn’t give up, doesn’t quit in his pursuit of loving well those around him. There were a few times that I honestly wondered what he saw in Elizabeth. He was everything she wasn’t. I’m also still trying to figure out why he waited four years for her. He supposedly fell in love with her before she left, but he barely knew her and right up to the day before her ship sailed, he had considered her a little sister. I found that very strange and it made the romance rather awkward for me. In return, her love was that of a besotted teenager, rather than a woman. She wanted to be with him no matter what, but she hadn’t seen him in four years and had been mostly ignored by him in the years prior to that. The highlight of the romance for me was when he opens her eyes to sacrificial love. A line that is repeated several times and is the turning point for Elizabeth is, “Love does right even when it hurts.” - Rourke O’Malley I loved that line and the reminder of what real love is - not the sappy, happily-ever-after endings, but sacrifice. Putting another’s needs before your own. It also shows Christ’s love for us, His beloved.
Another overarching theme throughout the story is forgiveness. Christine did a great job of highlighting it, without overwhelming the story. I wish the ending would have been different, that Elizabeth had given her father the forgiveness he desired. Though she does in an offhand way, I think it would have made a larger impact had the words been spoke in a straightforward manner. I could be wrong, since that is simply my impression and opinion.
Overall, this book was okay. I’m going to be honest and say that it isn’t one I would reread. It was good and had some important life lessons, but they were overshadowed by my dislike of the heroine. I would recommend it to someone who is a huge fan of historical fiction and is looking for a thought provoking read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to give a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
*Please note, I own no rights to the book or the quotations used within my review. No infringement intended.
Love’s Rescue is the first book in Christine Johnson’s new, Keys of Promise series. Having never read her books, I had no idea what to expect. I was hoping for compelling characters, an intriguing storyline, and well-researched historical details. Though I found all of those to some extent, my expectations weren’t exceeded, merely met.
Christine has definitely done her research for this book and I loved the historical details. Some might find them tedious, but I’m a detail person, so that was great for me. Her descriptions and prose were also excellent. I could almost smell the sea breeze and touch the tamarind tree that grew outside Elizabeth’s window. Her depictions were so vivid and original. For example, “Her emotions twisted and tumbled like a sheet in the wind.” That is such an apt description, but not one I would have ever thought of using.
I confess, I struggled to get into the story, at first. The beginning seemed to drag on a bit and I kept finding reasons to delay reading any further. It took until about a third of my way into the book before it really grabbed my interest. Then I found I didn’t want to put it down. The story actually does flow quite well, minus the beginning. With some suspense thrown it, it sped up for a short time, then evened back out to a fairly satisfying ending. I had needed a reason to cheer the characters on and I didn’t have one at the start, but found one later on, when their pursuits came to light.
Elizabeth Benjamin is the heroine of the story and I honestly didn’t like her very much. She came across as spoiled and extremely selfish. I really wanted someone to shake her and tell her to grow up! She was supposed to be twenty in 1850, but she seemed so childish for most of the story. She does grow throughout the story and learns to put others before herself (a large part of the moral), but I still didn’t connect with her. Most of the story comes from her perspective and after so many pages of her self absorbed focus, I was ready to move on. She had my apathy from the beginning and unfortunately, it never really switched to sympathy.
Rourke O’Malley is a great hero: loving, selfless, strong, brave. He doesn’t give up, doesn’t quit in his pursuit of loving well those around him. There were a few times that I honestly wondered what he saw in Elizabeth. He was everything she wasn’t. I’m also still trying to figure out why he waited four years for her. He supposedly fell in love with her before she left, but he barely knew her and right up to the day before her ship sailed, he had considered her a little sister. I found that very strange and it made the romance rather awkward for me. In return, her love was that of a besotted teenager, rather than a woman. She wanted to be with him no matter what, but she hadn’t seen him in four years and had been mostly ignored by him in the years prior to that. The highlight of the romance for me was when he opens her eyes to sacrificial love. A line that is repeated several times and is the turning point for Elizabeth is, “Love does right even when it hurts.” - Rourke O’Malley I loved that line and the reminder of what real love is - not the sappy, happily-ever-after endings, but sacrifice. Putting another’s needs before your own. It also shows Christ’s love for us, His beloved.
Another overarching theme throughout the story is forgiveness. Christine did a great job of highlighting it, without overwhelming the story. I wish the ending would have been different, that Elizabeth had given her father the forgiveness he desired. Though she does in an offhand way, I think it would have made a larger impact had the words been spoke in a straightforward manner. I could be wrong, since that is simply my impression and opinion.
Overall, this book was okay. I’m going to be honest and say that it isn’t one I would reread. It was good and had some important life lessons, but they were overshadowed by my dislike of the heroine. I would recommend it to someone who is a huge fan of historical fiction and is looking for a thought provoking read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to give a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
*Please note, I own no rights to the book or the quotations used within my review. No infringement intended.
readingqueen's review
4.0
Love's Rescue has a synopsis that I feel doesn't do this book justice. There is so much more to this book than what is promised in the synopsis. I urge you all not to pass this one up. Love's Rescue is the first book in Christine Johnson's Keys of Promise series. Another new series for me to indulge in.
In Love's Rescue, Elizabeth is a young woman returning from Charleston to her family, a father and a crippled brother, in Key West. She is, as she feels, responsible for her brother's unfortunate condition. She also has a certain man, Captain O'Malley, still on her heart. And to make matters worse, her father insists that she marry a man who makes her sick at the mere sight of him. But there are also other more harrowing secrets that Elizabeth will have to learn, that her own dearly departed mother and scheming father had kept from her.
Captain Rourke O'Malley is a wrecker. He is a respectable man, despite those who would rather believe that wreckers are really only just licensed pirates. A kind, strong, God fearing man who has waited for Elizabeth's return for four years. And with her arrival, comes some unexpected problems for him. One that may keep them apart once again.
Anabelle, Elizabeth's maid, has a few secrets of her own. So does John, O'Malley's First Mate. They were equally interesting characters, as much as Elizabeth and Rourke were. I couldn't imagine being separated as long as they were. I'm relieved things worked out for them in the end.
I loved Charlie, Elizabeth's brother, and I don't believe he resented her at all. He might have been bitter, but was still going on with his life and bettering himself for the future. I would have liked to read more about him.
Overall, I'm really satisfied with Love's Rescue. It would make a pretty interesting movie. Now if only that could happen.
In Love's Rescue, Elizabeth is a young woman returning from Charleston to her family, a father and a crippled brother, in Key West. She is, as she feels, responsible for her brother's unfortunate condition. She also has a certain man, Captain O'Malley, still on her heart. And to make matters worse, her father insists that she marry a man who makes her sick at the mere sight of him. But there are also other more harrowing secrets that Elizabeth will have to learn, that her own dearly departed mother and scheming father had kept from her.
Captain Rourke O'Malley is a wrecker. He is a respectable man, despite those who would rather believe that wreckers are really only just licensed pirates. A kind, strong, God fearing man who has waited for Elizabeth's return for four years. And with her arrival, comes some unexpected problems for him. One that may keep them apart once again.
Anabelle, Elizabeth's maid, has a few secrets of her own. So does John, O'Malley's First Mate. They were equally interesting characters, as much as Elizabeth and Rourke were. I couldn't imagine being separated as long as they were. I'm relieved things worked out for them in the end.
I loved Charlie, Elizabeth's brother, and I don't believe he resented her at all. He might have been bitter, but was still going on with his life and bettering himself for the future. I would have liked to read more about him.
Overall, I'm really satisfied with Love's Rescue. It would make a pretty interesting movie. Now if only that could happen.
More...