If you enjoy inspiration historical romance or general historical romance and haven't
read this series yet, don't miss it! Check out my review and enter the giveaway below...
read this series yet, don't miss it! Check out my review and enter the giveaway below...
The Cautious Maiden
(The Everstone Chronicles #4)
by Dawn Crandall
by Dawn Crandall
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 304 Pages
October 4th 2016 by Whitaker House
Summary
Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks; but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance; Vance Everstone. As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiance who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust and who to leave behind.
(Affiliate link included.)
My Review
THE CAUTIOUS MAIDEN was an emotionally charged, heartwarming, and highly entertaining read! Full of sizzling romance, a bad boy who has opened his heart to God, and a girl who feels like she doesn't deserve his love. It was heart-wrenching to see two individuals doubt their worth, but then beautiful as they seek and allow forgiveness. There were family relationships, a little suspense, a beautiful historical setting, and inspirational moments when the characters turned to God. Would recommend to inspirational and general romance readers alike.
Let's talk a little about these characters. If you've read the other books in the series, you've already met them both. It's not necessary that you have read the other books though. Each book is basically about different characters and can be read separately. It just enhances the story if you already know the other characters in the Everstone circle already.
So, back to the characters. Vance is your epitome bad boy, or I should say that he was. He still comes off that way and can revert quite easily to his former flirting and charming habits. He also can go cold or hot quite quickly. Poor Violet didn't know what he was thinking most of the time so it really confuses her as she tries to gauge where she lies with Vance. Vance is also quite the protector. He is concerned for Violet in so many different ways and wants to protect her from her brother, a man who is out to claim her, her relatives, society, and himself. That last one (himself) tends to create some issues with him protecting her in other ways sometimes and in allowing Violet to find comfort in him. Violet was a very consistent character and true to herself most of the time. She was sweet, but had some backbone. She is strong in her faith and very caring and forgiving of others. Violet was so easily lovable. At different points I wanted to do some ranting and raving at them both, but they pulled it out. They both had their strengths and their faults, but were perfect for each other.
There were a few twists in the story, one towards the very end (I'm hoping one of the characters who was in disguise will have a story in the future and that possibly another will also get his happily-ever-after with the lady who is already in love with him). A lot of the time it is those twists that drive a story or suspense (there is some) and while these all did contribute here, the real drive to the story was the intense chemistry between the characters (is it hot in here?) and the way their hearts change towards God and each other.
Here are a few parts that stuck out to me (and you can see what I mean by the romantic heat):
Let's talk a little about these characters. If you've read the other books in the series, you've already met them both. It's not necessary that you have read the other books though. Each book is basically about different characters and can be read separately. It just enhances the story if you already know the other characters in the Everstone circle already.
So, back to the characters. Vance is your epitome bad boy, or I should say that he was. He still comes off that way and can revert quite easily to his former flirting and charming habits. He also can go cold or hot quite quickly. Poor Violet didn't know what he was thinking most of the time so it really confuses her as she tries to gauge where she lies with Vance. Vance is also quite the protector. He is concerned for Violet in so many different ways and wants to protect her from her brother, a man who is out to claim her, her relatives, society, and himself. That last one (himself) tends to create some issues with him protecting her in other ways sometimes and in allowing Violet to find comfort in him. Violet was a very consistent character and true to herself most of the time. She was sweet, but had some backbone. She is strong in her faith and very caring and forgiving of others. Violet was so easily lovable. At different points I wanted to do some ranting and raving at them both, but they pulled it out. They both had their strengths and their faults, but were perfect for each other.
There were a few twists in the story, one towards the very end (I'm hoping one of the characters who was in disguise will have a story in the future and that possibly another will also get his happily-ever-after with the lady who is already in love with him). A lot of the time it is those twists that drive a story or suspense (there is some) and while these all did contribute here, the real drive to the story was the intense chemistry between the characters (is it hot in here?) and the way their hearts change towards God and each other.
Here are a few parts that stuck out to me (and you can see what I mean by the romantic heat):
But I was still just Violet Hawthorne, a girl from nowhere, with nothing but a string of scandalous rumors and a few passionate kisses attaching me to Vance Everstone.
Vance reached for my waist, and kept his hands there for a moment. . . . "You should probably actually help me down from my horse now that this one's finished, shouldn't you, instead of simply looking as if you might."
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes! This was a highly enjoyable story, especially if you like your romance more on the sizzling, but still clean and sweet, side. The inspirational elements were light, but heartfelt. I loved how Violet so easily forgave and how the author let Vance struggle, mostly with forgiving himself. I think we can all relate to different levels of forgiveness on some level.
Content: Some innuendo between an engaged and married couple and from the villain. Some adult subject matter. High heat in the romance area, but still clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not affect my review in any way.
Content: Some innuendo between an engaged and married couple and from the villain. Some adult subject matter. High heat in the romance area, but still clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not affect my review in any way.
Other Books in the Series
Read my reviews of all three books here.
About the Author
Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.
Giveaway
There are two giveaways, one specific to my blog and then a general giveaway. Enter them both below.
Print copy of The Cautious Maiden
Provided by the publisher, Whitaker House
US only
Ends October 27th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have you read any of the books in this series?
No comments
Post a Comment
I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.