I received a complimentary copy of this book from Whitefire Publishing 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 WhiteFire Publishing on October 1st 2011
Source: Whitefire Publishing
Genres: Christian, Fiction, Historical, Romance
Pages: 300
Love's quest leads her the world over. Dandelion Dering was born a peasant in the English village of Arun, but her soul yearned for another life, another world. One filled with color and music, with adventure and passion . . . with more. Haunted by childhood memories, Dandelion determines to find a better existence than the life every peasant in the village contents themselves with. Even if her sweetheart William's predictions prove true, and her journey leads straight to heartache. From her sleepy hamlet to the intrigue of castle life, from the heart of London to the adventurous seas, Dandelion flees from the mistakes of her past, always seeking that something, that someone who will satisfy her longings. Will Dandelion ever find the rhythm to her life's dance . . . or did she leave her chance for true love at home in Arun village?
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.
Content Review:
Christian or Secular: Christian
Profanity: None
Sex&Violence: Sex(Tame by secular standards-premarital sex/cheating), Violence (Mild), Murder
Trigger Warnings: A man paints a portrait of a child with sensual undertones. Domestic violence.
Disclosure: This book pushes the envelope for Christian fiction. The main character is lusty and cheats on the man she is engaged to.
If Christian-Erotica ever becomes a genre—this book would be a good fit. I’m not a prude, I do know how erotica reads, so don’t mistake my words for meaning there are overly descriptive sex scenes. There isn’t, not really. However, there are sex scenes and innuendo and phrases that would have fit better in a secular book. Such as this quote,
I need you. I need your lips to wash me clean. I need your scent to drown her stench. I need to bury myself in you and come out new and fresh once again. Please, Dandelion, don’t deny me.
Chokes. Bury himself in her? No, just no. That belongs in a bodice ripper. Maybe the author didn’t intend that the way that I took it but…yeah, no. It doesn’t fit…not when every couple of pages there’s practically a sermon being preached. I just can’t do sermons and sex in one book. It doesn’t work for me.
I totally get that the author was trying to show that some women struggle with purity. But, good gravy! Dandelion fell for every man she met in this book. Love triangle? Nah, more like love octagon—I wish I was joking but there was William, a prince she crushed on, her husband, an affair, a fiancé, another affair, a prince and William again. I stopped feeling sorry for her after a while. She made one poor excuse after another. Again, I know that there are women that are like this, fumbling through life making bad choices. Yes, those women need redemption. But I never truly saw a change in Dandelion. In fact, even after she supposedly turned her life over to God she still chose to have an affair with a ship captain while her fiancé was sick below deck! She reasoned that she deserved to have this affair and that surely her fiancé would understand.
Again, I never saw true repentance from Dandelion and she never suffered any lasting consequences. In the end, she gets exactly who she wants. Everyone forgives her and her baby ( the result of an affair) is loved and accepted by her first love. We never see how her actions hurt William. We just see a man that has pined and waited for her until she came back home. Even in that moment, she was caught up in yet another love triangle.
Further, I couldn’t agree with much of the Christianity in this book. Dandelion says she worships the sun, sea, and sky and she’s told that doesn’t make her a heathen because God created those things.
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Exodus 34:14
There are other things that just didn’t sit well with me. New age Christianity was a prevalent theme in this book and that’s something I don’t agree with on a personal level. Multiple ways to heaven? Again, No.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
I’ve read other books by this author and have enjoyed her writing. This one just wasn’t for me.
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