Book description from Book Bub:
“The Great Rebellion of 1857 was a remarkably bloody business. At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer–nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death.
Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own.”
My review:
I am of a divided mind as I write this review about this book. I want to be fair to the author, because there are several things that I liked about this book. But there’s also some things that bother me, and I want to be fair to whoever reads this review. I’m going to begin by addressing the things that I liked.
I think that Naomi Stephens writes in a flowing, elegant style. Her descriptions of the settings in this book were vivid. Her incorporation of her research into this time period in the story was great. Her writing style drove me to finish this book. I did get invested in Rena’s story. I hurt for both she and her mother-in-law and the poverty and extreme prejudice they experienced. The author did a wonderful job in presenting Rena as a complex, caring, strong young woman. There’s some strong writing in this book and I loved that part of it. I will read another of this author’s books.
However, here’s the part I struggled with. This book was loosely based on the story of Ruth in the Bible. I didn’t mind that it did not follow the story exactly. I felt that the author’s portrayal of the relationship between Rena and her mother-in-law was compelling and tender. In my opinion, I felt that she missed the relationship between Lord Barric and and Rena. This could have been so much more than it was. It focused more on the sensual side of the relationship to the point that I thought it almost, but not quite, took it out of the Christian fiction category. Their relationship had the potential to be a real, true love based on mutual respect and trust. I would like to have seen more emphasis on tenderness, kindness, and true redemption rather than desire. Please understand: There’s nothing inappropriate in this book. I was disappointed in the portrayal of the relationship between Barric and Rena.
I’m giving this book four stars because I still feel that the author’s writing style deserves it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.