What I'm Reading

The Tutor's Daughter 
by: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christian Romance, Historical Romance

Medium: Kindle Book
Published: January 1, 2013

Date Read: January 11, 2013
Reviewed for: Bethany House Publishers 
Stars: ★★★★☆

Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame... and which brother to trust with her heart?

I love reviewing author's whose work I'm familiar with, you go into each new book with the feeling of seeing an old friend after a long absence. However this meeting was a bit stilted, it has been a while since her last book, and I felt like it took a bit more work to get to the story line. THe first couple of chapters our heroine Emma, spends a lot of time in history, remembering this time, remembering that time, to the point you wonder if we're ever going to get out of her mind and hit the present time!

I also felt like it took a while for us to meet the secondary character Henry Weston, though he is often referenced in the mind of Miss Smallwood; and a bit longer to realize there is a mystery going on here.

But once the story is rounded out, it progresses quickly and we're able to dive fully into the Weston/Smallwood world. There are many moments when you catch your breath, and more still that have you holding your breath as the characters find themself trapped in...

Well that would be giving away the story now would it! :)

What I'm Reading..

Indelible

Kristen Heitzmann 

In a clash of light and darkness, can courage prevail? 
Rescuing a toddler from the jaws of a mountain lion, Trevor MacDaniel, a high-country outfi tter, sets in motion events he can’t foresee. His act of bravery entwines his life with gifted sculptor Natalie Reeve—and attracts a grim admirer.

Trevor’s need to guard and protect is born of tragedy, prompting his decision to become a search and rescue volunteer. Natalie’s gift of sculpting comes from an unusual disability that seeks release through her creative hands. In each other they see strength and courage as they face an incomprehensible foe.

When a troubled soul views Trevor as archangel and adversary, Redford’s peaceful mountain community is threatened. Together with Police Chief Jonah Westfall, Trevor presses his limits to combat the menace who targets the most helpless and innocent.

----- 

After reading Kristen Heitzmann's Indivisible, the first book in this series, I was thrilled to find she'd written another. However it took me a while to get into the story; the bevy of characters introduced and followed throughout the book was a bit overwhelming. She starts out introducing the key characters, Trevor, ex-Olympian skier, search and rescue volunteer, and a business owner (can we say over achiever?), Natalie an artist with an eidetic memory, (something I had to Google to see if it was indeed real), Cody, Natalie's nephew whom Trevor rescued from a Mountain Lion, Aaron & Paige Cody's parents, the come Fluer, Lena, Whit & Sara, not to mention the characters from the previous book. I'll admit I clicked on this book several times on my iPhone and went to something else, before I decided to skip the first chapter and dive on into the story. Once I did that, I couldn't put it down. Despite the many characters, I felt Ms. Heitzmann did a good job at not only developing their characters, but the disabilities as well. The plot line, though similar in some ways to her previous book, took you on a whole new ride, this time involving children, danger and a whole host of other things. I felt as if I were on an emotional roller-coaster through out. Over all I really enjoyed this book.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

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