I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Bloggers and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Published by Baker Publishing Group on March 6, 2018
Source: Bethany House Bloggers
Genres: Christian, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Victorian
Pages: 368
When stable hand Nolan Price learns from his dying mother that he is actually the son of the Earl of Stainsby, his plans for a future with kitchen maid Hannah Burnham are shattered. Once he is officially acknowledged as the earl's heir, Nolan will be forbidden to marry beneath his station.
Unwilling to give up the girl he loves, he devises a plan to elope--believing that once their marriage is sanctioned by God, Lord Stainsby will be forced to accept their union. However, as Nolan struggles to learn the ways of the aristocracy, he finds himself caught between pleasing Hannah and living up to his father's demanding expectations.
At every turn, forces work to keep the couple apart, and a solution to remain together seems further and further away. With Nolan's new life pulling him irrevocably away from the woman he loves, it seems only a miracle will bring them back together.
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Christian or Secular: Secular
ASEL Rating: mild romantic, suggestive scenes but no descriptions or details
Suggested Age: 15+
I was so torn what to rate this book. On one hand, I liked the author’s writing style. On the other, this book fell prey to too many overused tropes and predictability. Not to mention that Nolan’s story mirrored his father’s story and the characters found themselves in the same situation multiple times.
Servant turned prince/princess trope is so overdone. I mean, it’s a dime a dozen with at least 4-5 books a year using this storyline. I’m just tired of it. Find something new. Why is it that you never have a princess that finds out she’s actually a servant?
I also found the story so repetitive. Nolan is in love with a maid. His father also loved a maid. Nolan marries the maid in secret. His father married a maid (Nolan’s mother) in secret. Nolan’s mother died in childbirth. Hannah nearly dies in childbirth. I don’t know, it just felt like I was reading a story within a story and both stories were nearly the same.
Having said all of that, I do like the writing style. I know, I already mentioned that but I want to repeat it and here’s why. While I felt this book was mediocre, I would be very interested in other books by this author. I think I could really like her works, despite the fact this one just wasn’t the greatest fit for me.
Last, of all, I do want to say that the innuendo and wedding night may be a little risqué for younger readers. I’m not as protective as some Christian parents when it comes to this kind of content. While I would let my 14-15 year old read this, I think some Christian parents would be put off a bit. So, I’m throwing that out there so you can proceed with caution.
Overall, this cover is lovely, the writing is great. I just didn’t resonate with the story. If you’ve read this author and would like to suggest a different book of hers, please do so in the comments below. I’d love to check it out!
About Susan Anne Mason
Susan Anne Mason’s historical novel Irish Meadows won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA as well as the Christian Retailer’s Choice Award for Debut Novel. A member of ACFW, Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children. She can be found online at www.susanannemason.com.
Love that idea….a princess discovers she’s a servant. I would read that!