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kristi518's review
5.0
Do everything you need to do to read this book uninterrupted. Why? Because once you start reading this book you won't want to stop for anything. Dorothy Love has written a book that has it all: historical setting, romance, drama and mystery. This story will pull you in and hold you captive until you have read the last word.
Celia Browning's life is near perfect. She has everything to be desired: loving father, comfortable house, money, social status, and is almost engaged to the love of her life, Sutton Mackay. His homecoming and proposal are the only things that would make life perfect. That is until Leo Channing, news reporter, starts showing up and asking questions about the family's past. In Savannah, social status is everything and Leo's questions could destroy Celia and her family's happiness. Soon Celia starts receiving veiled messages and gifts. One of which is a bracelet that holds a message. A message that puts her on edge and ever more curious to find out what happened when she was just a child.
I completely enjoyed this book. Celia was likable from page one. As were most of the other characters in the book. I wasn't quite sure about Ivy, the cousin who was raised alongside Celia. I wanted to like her but just didn't trust her. Dorothy Love did a fantastic job with this character. She made her vulnerable and somewhat likable yet at the same time I didn't quite trust her.
I loved the descriptions in the book. I felt like I had actually been transported to pre-Civil War Savannah. This was the perfect setting for this story. The history of the town added to the story and made the characters come to life.
I was completely fascinated by the bracelet and it's story. I was intrigued by the message in the jewels storyline. I think it would be so neat to have received a piece of jewelry with a hidden message (maybe not quite like Celia's though).
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, clean read with romance and a touch of mystery. I can't wait to read the next book with Celia in it that will be out later this year.
Celia Browning's life is near perfect. She has everything to be desired: loving father, comfortable house, money, social status, and is almost engaged to the love of her life, Sutton Mackay. His homecoming and proposal are the only things that would make life perfect. That is until Leo Channing, news reporter, starts showing up and asking questions about the family's past. In Savannah, social status is everything and Leo's questions could destroy Celia and her family's happiness. Soon Celia starts receiving veiled messages and gifts. One of which is a bracelet that holds a message. A message that puts her on edge and ever more curious to find out what happened when she was just a child.
I completely enjoyed this book. Celia was likable from page one. As were most of the other characters in the book. I wasn't quite sure about Ivy, the cousin who was raised alongside Celia. I wanted to like her but just didn't trust her. Dorothy Love did a fantastic job with this character. She made her vulnerable and somewhat likable yet at the same time I didn't quite trust her.
I loved the descriptions in the book. I felt like I had actually been transported to pre-Civil War Savannah. This was the perfect setting for this story. The history of the town added to the story and made the characters come to life.
I was completely fascinated by the bracelet and it's story. I was intrigued by the message in the jewels storyline. I think it would be so neat to have received a piece of jewelry with a hidden message (maybe not quite like Celia's though).
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, clean read with romance and a touch of mystery. I can't wait to read the next book with Celia in it that will be out later this year.
nicki_in_nz's review against another edition
2.0
A good start but the story dragged on and the writing got a bit cheesy and artificial.
astoriedsoul's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
This review originally appeared on my blog: The Literarium
In Antebellum-era Savannah, Georgia, Celia waits for her intended fiance, Sutton, to return from his work in Jamaica, while she occupies herself with the usual social functions and charity work expected of a lady in her station. On the moment of Sutton’s return, a disliked local journalist bursts his way into Celia’s home and opens up the wounds of a long-passed scandal and mystery that has haunted her family for years. As her father’s health fails, Celia is thrust into the role of sleuth as she is sent a series of mysterious and threatening letters, along with a bracelet including a deadly message, that threatens her family. To save all she loves, she must purge her family of this long-buried secret.
Dorothy Love’s novel is set against the backdrop of Antebellum-era Georgia. In other words, it’s set against the years of rising political tensions between the North and South regarding the abolition of slavery, before Abraham Lincoln’s election as president, and before the Civil War. Sprinkles of these historical moments find their way into the story, and it provides a lot of atmosphere–albeit a romanticized version of the South at this time–to the novel and characters’ lives. As I read with this in mind, with the feeling this historical background provides, I couldn’t help but recall Margaret Mitchell’s iconic Gone With the Wind; yet, this novel is more simple and on the surface than what makes Mitchell’s novel a permanent fixture in the American subconscious. I don’t know how else to explain it. At the same time, you can tell the author did her research to set the novel up in this historical framework. This research and accuracy adds a tone of realism to events in the novel.
I had problems with the dialogue and character development in this novel, mainly that I didn’t believe most of it. While I sympathized with Celia, not wanting her family to be ruined, I felt that the characters overall were surface characters and could have been “fleshed out” more in terms of their emotions, interactions, and so on. I didn’t feel the raw authenticity or depth in any of this that made the characters feel like the real people that they were in history. Also, there was no tension and depth to the romance between Celia and Sutton either. From the beginning of the novel, it is understood and stated that the two are betrothed and will marry, and that’s that. This part of the story doesn’t delve deeper into the bond between the two. So, if you are a reader looking for a developed romantic story-line, you won’t find that with Celia and Sutton. This was disappointing. I wasn’t looking for a romance novel, and I don’t seek that out at all in novels, but it would have helped in at least knowing more and in feeling more connected with the characters in this book. Overall, I felt distant from the novel’s cast. However, it does get better as it goes on, but the narrative still remains mostly on the surface.
I also didn’t feel like the dialogue, or voice, was authentic to the time and how people of that era would have spoken to each other across classes. I had one particular problem with the way the housekeeper would talk to Celia, calling her “daft” at one point. No housekeeper, or servant of any kind, would talk to a lady of the house s/he serves in that manner. Servants were employees and nothing more, and while servants in a higher position like that of housekeeper/butler, lady’s maid, or valet would have been able to exercise more freedoms than a parlor maid or kitchen maid, they still would speak with respect and reverence to their master or mistress. So, the few inconsistencies that there were in this novel really jerked me out of being immersed in the mystery, which is the heart of this book I think.
The mystery itself is well-done, and though readers will find out who the villain is well before the final chapters, this doesn’t detract from wanting to get to the end. I figured out who the villain was quite early on, but I found myself wanting to keep reading to understand the “whys” of it all, and I was eager to see how it resolved. And we as readers will keep reading because we still want to know how Celia and her family will fare. There are enough twists, turns, and mysterious events to keep the plot moving, and the Love’s narrative becomes a well-paced and easy read. Her language and style is simple, straight-forward, and makes no demands on the reader.
Overall, this is a good, easy historical murder mystery, and it was a fun alternative to the more serious reading I’ve been doing recently. Escapes are good. I would definitely read this again, and I do recommend it. The story, characters, style, and content are all likeable and solid aside from my few gripes above. Last, I was pleasantly surprised that though this was marketed as “Christian Fiction” it is not at all overtly religious; in fact, I didn’t realize it was categorized as that on NetGalley. The family goes to church and that’s about it. As a non-Christian, I found this an extremely likable quality, the fact that it wasn’t “preachy.” In fact, I’d probably just categorize this novel as Historical Fiction. So, don’t be deterred by the categorization in your local bookstore if you’re in the same boat as me.
This is a solid book.
This review originally appeared on my blog: The Literarium
In Antebellum-era Savannah, Georgia, Celia waits for her intended fiance, Sutton, to return from his work in Jamaica, while she occupies herself with the usual social functions and charity work expected of a lady in her station. On the moment of Sutton’s return, a disliked local journalist bursts his way into Celia’s home and opens up the wounds of a long-passed scandal and mystery that has haunted her family for years. As her father’s health fails, Celia is thrust into the role of sleuth as she is sent a series of mysterious and threatening letters, along with a bracelet including a deadly message, that threatens her family. To save all she loves, she must purge her family of this long-buried secret.
Dorothy Love’s novel is set against the backdrop of Antebellum-era Georgia. In other words, it’s set against the years of rising political tensions between the North and South regarding the abolition of slavery, before Abraham Lincoln’s election as president, and before the Civil War. Sprinkles of these historical moments find their way into the story, and it provides a lot of atmosphere–albeit a romanticized version of the South at this time–to the novel and characters’ lives. As I read with this in mind, with the feeling this historical background provides, I couldn’t help but recall Margaret Mitchell’s iconic Gone With the Wind; yet, this novel is more simple and on the surface than what makes Mitchell’s novel a permanent fixture in the American subconscious. I don’t know how else to explain it. At the same time, you can tell the author did her research to set the novel up in this historical framework. This research and accuracy adds a tone of realism to events in the novel.
I had problems with the dialogue and character development in this novel, mainly that I didn’t believe most of it. While I sympathized with Celia, not wanting her family to be ruined, I felt that the characters overall were surface characters and could have been “fleshed out” more in terms of their emotions, interactions, and so on. I didn’t feel the raw authenticity or depth in any of this that made the characters feel like the real people that they were in history. Also, there was no tension and depth to the romance between Celia and Sutton either. From the beginning of the novel, it is understood and stated that the two are betrothed and will marry, and that’s that. This part of the story doesn’t delve deeper into the bond between the two. So, if you are a reader looking for a developed romantic story-line, you won’t find that with Celia and Sutton. This was disappointing. I wasn’t looking for a romance novel, and I don’t seek that out at all in novels, but it would have helped in at least knowing more and in feeling more connected with the characters in this book. Overall, I felt distant from the novel’s cast. However, it does get better as it goes on, but the narrative still remains mostly on the surface.
I also didn’t feel like the dialogue, or voice, was authentic to the time and how people of that era would have spoken to each other across classes. I had one particular problem with the way the housekeeper would talk to Celia, calling her “daft” at one point. No housekeeper, or servant of any kind, would talk to a lady of the house s/he serves in that manner. Servants were employees and nothing more, and while servants in a higher position like that of housekeeper/butler, lady’s maid, or valet would have been able to exercise more freedoms than a parlor maid or kitchen maid, they still would speak with respect and reverence to their master or mistress. So, the few inconsistencies that there were in this novel really jerked me out of being immersed in the mystery, which is the heart of this book I think.
The mystery itself is well-done, and though readers will find out who the villain is well before the final chapters, this doesn’t detract from wanting to get to the end. I figured out who the villain was quite early on, but I found myself wanting to keep reading to understand the “whys” of it all, and I was eager to see how it resolved. And we as readers will keep reading because we still want to know how Celia and her family will fare. There are enough twists, turns, and mysterious events to keep the plot moving, and the Love’s narrative becomes a well-paced and easy read. Her language and style is simple, straight-forward, and makes no demands on the reader.
Overall, this is a good, easy historical murder mystery, and it was a fun alternative to the more serious reading I’ve been doing recently. Escapes are good. I would definitely read this again, and I do recommend it. The story, characters, style, and content are all likeable and solid aside from my few gripes above. Last, I was pleasantly surprised that though this was marketed as “Christian Fiction” it is not at all overtly religious; in fact, I didn’t realize it was categorized as that on NetGalley. The family goes to church and that’s about it. As a non-Christian, I found this an extremely likable quality, the fact that it wasn’t “preachy.” In fact, I’d probably just categorize this novel as Historical Fiction. So, don’t be deterred by the categorization in your local bookstore if you’re in the same boat as me.
This is a solid book.
kristi518's review against another edition
5.0
Do everything you need to do to read this book uninterrupted. Why? Because once you start reading this book you won't want to stop for anything. Dorothy Love has written a book that has it all: historical setting, romance, drama and mystery. This story will pull you in and hold you captive until you have read the last word.
Celia Browning's life is near perfect. She has everything to be desired: loving father, comfortable house, money, social status, and is almost engaged to the love of her life, Sutton Mackay. His homecoming and proposal are the only things that would make life perfect. That is until Leo Channing, news reporter, starts showing up and asking questions about the family's past. In Savannah, social status is everything and Leo's questions could destroy Celia and her family's happiness. Soon Celia starts receiving veiled messages and gifts. One of which is a bracelet that holds a message. A message that puts her on edge and ever more curious to find out what happened when she was just a child.
I completely enjoyed this book. Celia was likable from page one. As were most of the other characters in the book. I wasn't quite sure about Ivy, the cousin who was raised alongside Celia. I wanted to like her but just didn't trust her. Dorothy Love did a fantastic job with this character. She made her vulnerable and somewhat likable yet at the same time I didn't quite trust her.
I loved the descriptions in the book. I felt like I had actually been transported to pre-Civil War Savannah. This was the perfect setting for this story. The history of the town added to the story and made the characters come to life.
I was completely fascinated by the bracelet and it's story. I was intrigued by the message in the jewels storyline. I think it would be so neat to have received a piece of jewelry with a hidden message (maybe not quite like Celia's though).
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, clean read with romance and a touch of mystery. I can't wait to read the next book with Celia in it that will be out later this year.
Celia Browning's life is near perfect. She has everything to be desired: loving father, comfortable house, money, social status, and is almost engaged to the love of her life, Sutton Mackay. His homecoming and proposal are the only things that would make life perfect. That is until Leo Channing, news reporter, starts showing up and asking questions about the family's past. In Savannah, social status is everything and Leo's questions could destroy Celia and her family's happiness. Soon Celia starts receiving veiled messages and gifts. One of which is a bracelet that holds a message. A message that puts her on edge and ever more curious to find out what happened when she was just a child.
I completely enjoyed this book. Celia was likable from page one. As were most of the other characters in the book. I wasn't quite sure about Ivy, the cousin who was raised alongside Celia. I wanted to like her but just didn't trust her. Dorothy Love did a fantastic job with this character. She made her vulnerable and somewhat likable yet at the same time I didn't quite trust her.
I loved the descriptions in the book. I felt like I had actually been transported to pre-Civil War Savannah. This was the perfect setting for this story. The history of the town added to the story and made the characters come to life.
I was completely fascinated by the bracelet and it's story. I was intrigued by the message in the jewels storyline. I think it would be so neat to have received a piece of jewelry with a hidden message (maybe not quite like Celia's though).
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, clean read with romance and a touch of mystery. I can't wait to read the next book with Celia in it that will be out later this year.
shelfesteem's review against another edition
3.0
The stunning cover art of Dorothy Love’s latest novel The Bracelet drew me in. Dorothy has authored a handfull of books, but this was my first exposure to her writing. As a historical piece Mrs. Love offers her readers splendid details about the life and social norms of pre-Civil War Savannah, Georgia. The turmoil surrounding the upcoming elections and the debate over slave ownership adds a dramatic flare to the book.
While classified as a historical romance, I feel it would be more accurately described as a murder mystery. I write this because the heroine Celia Browning, a young woman of high social standing, turns sleuth when a local reporter begins to dredge up family secrets. In order to protect her status and family name, Celia places herself in a number of potentially dangerous situations. Without a doubt, reclassifying the book helped me to justify the lack of character growth and romantic tension between Celia and Sutton Mackay.
When the villain was revealed eighty percent into the book, I can’t say that I was completely shocked by who it was. Indeed, I was more shocked by the lack of justice exacted on the criminal during the resolution of the story. Further compounding my disappointment was the lack of christian themes - given that the book is supposed to be christian historical fiction. For these reasons I can only give it 3/5 stars.
I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
While classified as a historical romance, I feel it would be more accurately described as a murder mystery. I write this because the heroine Celia Browning, a young woman of high social standing, turns sleuth when a local reporter begins to dredge up family secrets. In order to protect her status and family name, Celia places herself in a number of potentially dangerous situations. Without a doubt, reclassifying the book helped me to justify the lack of character growth and romantic tension between Celia and Sutton Mackay.
When the villain was revealed eighty percent into the book, I can’t say that I was completely shocked by who it was. Indeed, I was more shocked by the lack of justice exacted on the criminal during the resolution of the story. Further compounding my disappointment was the lack of christian themes - given that the book is supposed to be christian historical fiction. For these reasons I can only give it 3/5 stars.
I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
booksforchristiangirls's review against another edition
2.0
About this book:
“The mystery surrounding Celia's home in Savannah threatens her family reputation . . . and her very life.
Celia Browning is counting the days until her childhood sweetheart Sutton Mackay returns to Savannah after two years in Jamaica looking after his family's shipping interests. She's certain he will propose marriage, thus joining two of the city's most prominent families. But just as Sutton returns, an unsavory newspaper reporter arrives in town, determined to revive interest in the secret tragedies that occurred in the Browning mansion on Madison Square when Celia was a child.
A series of mysterious notes arrives at the house, followed by an anonymous gift--a bracelet imbued with a sinister message. Is it merely a coincidence, or is someone out to harm her?
As war clouds gather over Savannah and her beloved father's health worsens, Celia determines to uncover the truth about what really happened all those years ago.”
Series: Connected to the author’s other book, “The Respectable Actress”. Review of that book Here!
Spiritual Content- A Scripture is quoted; A few prayers; Church going; Talks about God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, services, clergymen, & hymns; Mentions of sins, sinners, & Heaven; Mentions of Christmas; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of saints; A couple mentions of prayer books; A couple mentions of blessings;
*Note: Mentions of All Hallows’ Eve, ghosts, & poisons; Mentions of curses; A couple mentions of the devil himself; two forms ‘what the devil’.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘stupid’s; A bit of eye rolling; Prologue is a woman who nearly hangs herself (up to semi-detailed); Being held at gunpoint & Threats (up to semi-detailed); Pain, being attacked, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Social drinking at dinners; Many mentions of a coming war, fighting, slavery, slaves, & the slave trade; Many mentions of deaths & if they were accidents, murders, or suicides; Many mentions of gossip, rumors, & scandals; Mentions of hangings, jumping/being pushed off railings, suicides, & a noose (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of being willing to murder someone; Mentions of crimes; Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of dares/pranks, pain, & a broken bone; Mentions of injuries & an attacker (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of threats, hatred, betrayal, & jealousy; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of jails, arrest, mobs/riots, & gunfire; Mentions of a fire, smoke, injuries, & deaths (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & drinking establishments; Mentions of smoking, tobacco, cigars, & pipes; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; A few mentions of poker & gambling; A couple mentions of a killer; A couple mentions of hunting.
Sexual Content- six cheek kisses, two forehead kisses, a not-detailed kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three semi-detailed kisses; Touches, Embraces, & Heat; Noticing; a ‘harlot’;
Mentions of mistresses & concubines; Mentions of children conceived out of wedlock (some between a slave-owner and a slave); Mentions of affairs; Mentions/hints of a wedding night & a woman’s underthings (not details); Mentions of kisses, kissing, & wanting to kiss; Mentions of greeting & thanking kisses; Mentions of noticing; Mentions of blushes & flirting; Mentions of scandals, reputations, & chaperones; Mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of brothels; A couple mentions of husband’s indulging in their own passions; A couple mentions of Joseph Smith and the practice of polygamy; A couple mentions of whistles & catcalls; A mention of a man’s wild night of wine, women, and song (teasing); Love, falling in love & quite a bit of the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of a wife that died in childbirth.
-Celia Browning, age 23
P.O.V. of Celia
Set in 1858-1859 {Prologue in 1843}
336 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- One Star (and a half)
My goodness. This wasn’t a very happy or uplifting novel. At all.
Between the many mentions of murders, suicides, affairs, children conceived out of wedlock, slavery, social drinking, the death of a character I actually liked, the character that’s revealed to be crazy near the end, it really wasn’t enjoyable for me.
Also add in the fact that the plot didn’t start until about half away through and all throughout the book, it just seemed oddly paced out.
I was interested about reading about the language of jewels in the late 1800s, while the back-cover makes it sound like it a large part of the plot, it’s really not.
So, overall, I honestly didn’t enjoy this book, unfortunately.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-bracelet-by-dorothy-love.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“The mystery surrounding Celia's home in Savannah threatens her family reputation . . . and her very life.
Celia Browning is counting the days until her childhood sweetheart Sutton Mackay returns to Savannah after two years in Jamaica looking after his family's shipping interests. She's certain he will propose marriage, thus joining two of the city's most prominent families. But just as Sutton returns, an unsavory newspaper reporter arrives in town, determined to revive interest in the secret tragedies that occurred in the Browning mansion on Madison Square when Celia was a child.
A series of mysterious notes arrives at the house, followed by an anonymous gift--a bracelet imbued with a sinister message. Is it merely a coincidence, or is someone out to harm her?
As war clouds gather over Savannah and her beloved father's health worsens, Celia determines to uncover the truth about what really happened all those years ago.”
Series: Connected to the author’s other book, “The Respectable Actress”. Review of that book Here!
Spiritual Content- A Scripture is quoted; A few prayers; Church going; Talks about God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, services, clergymen, & hymns; Mentions of sins, sinners, & Heaven; Mentions of Christmas; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of saints; A couple mentions of prayer books; A couple mentions of blessings;
*Note: Mentions of All Hallows’ Eve, ghosts, & poisons; Mentions of curses; A couple mentions of the devil himself; two forms ‘what the devil’.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘stupid’s; A bit of eye rolling; Prologue is a woman who nearly hangs herself (up to semi-detailed); Being held at gunpoint & Threats (up to semi-detailed); Pain, being attacked, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Social drinking at dinners; Many mentions of a coming war, fighting, slavery, slaves, & the slave trade; Many mentions of deaths & if they were accidents, murders, or suicides; Many mentions of gossip, rumors, & scandals; Mentions of hangings, jumping/being pushed off railings, suicides, & a noose (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of being willing to murder someone; Mentions of crimes; Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of dares/pranks, pain, & a broken bone; Mentions of injuries & an attacker (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of threats, hatred, betrayal, & jealousy; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of jails, arrest, mobs/riots, & gunfire; Mentions of a fire, smoke, injuries, & deaths (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & drinking establishments; Mentions of smoking, tobacco, cigars, & pipes; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; A few mentions of poker & gambling; A couple mentions of a killer; A couple mentions of hunting.
Sexual Content- six cheek kisses, two forehead kisses, a not-detailed kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three semi-detailed kisses; Touches, Embraces, & Heat; Noticing; a ‘harlot’;
Mentions of mistresses & concubines; Mentions of children conceived out of wedlock (some between a slave-owner and a slave); Mentions of affairs; Mentions/hints of a wedding night & a woman’s underthings (not details); Mentions of kisses, kissing, & wanting to kiss; Mentions of greeting & thanking kisses; Mentions of noticing; Mentions of blushes & flirting; Mentions of scandals, reputations, & chaperones; Mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of brothels; A couple mentions of husband’s indulging in their own passions; A couple mentions of Joseph Smith and the practice of polygamy; A couple mentions of whistles & catcalls; A mention of a man’s wild night of wine, women, and song (teasing); Love, falling in love & quite a bit of the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of a wife that died in childbirth.
-Celia Browning, age 23
P.O.V. of Celia
Set in 1858-1859 {Prologue in 1843}
336 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- One Star (and a half)
My goodness. This wasn’t a very happy or uplifting novel. At all.
Between the many mentions of murders, suicides, affairs, children conceived out of wedlock, slavery, social drinking, the death of a character I actually liked, the character that’s revealed to be crazy near the end, it really wasn’t enjoyable for me.
Also add in the fact that the plot didn’t start until about half away through and all throughout the book, it just seemed oddly paced out.
I was interested about reading about the language of jewels in the late 1800s, while the back-cover makes it sound like it a large part of the plot, it’s really not.
So, overall, I honestly didn’t enjoy this book, unfortunately.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-bracelet-by-dorothy-love.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
alirenreads's review against another edition
2.0
This was my first audio book experience so that fact may have something to do with why this book only got 2 stars. Overall, I found the ending to be pretty predictable. I couldn't really relate to the characters as much as I would have wanted.
readingqueen's review against another edition
2.0
I must admit that The Bracelet was a little hard to get into in the beginning. I tossed the book aside at least twice, but then I finally settled down and read the book. It didn't grab me or really make me fall in love with any of the characters, they were mostly bland with some exceptions of Celia and Sutton. But even they were dull at times. I can't quite get myself to like Sutton because I still have some odd mistrust/dislike of him.
The setting of Savannah was interesting and very well done. The mystery in this story was not necessarily the I-have-to-know-now kind. Instead, it was more like -can-we-just-get-on-with-it. And in the end, I remained pretty much indifferent to everything. I don't hate the book or like it very much, but don't let that keep you from it if you think it sounds interesting to you.
The setting of Savannah was interesting and very well done. The mystery in this story was not necessarily the I-have-to-know-now kind. Instead, it was more like -can-we-just-get-on-with-it. And in the end, I remained pretty much indifferent to everything. I don't hate the book or like it very much, but don't let that keep you from it if you think it sounds interesting to you.
carolikesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at: A Girl that Likes Books
I asked and received this book through NetGalley for free. This review is not sponsored nor influenced in anyway. Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the book. The expected publication date is December 9.
First impression
This is the first book from Dorothy Love that I have ever read. Most of her books are on Historical Fiction and this added to the beautiful cover made me ask for a copy at NetGalley. While the description of the book hints at a mystery, I think this element was not as present as I expected. The bracelet in question only had its appearance 1/3 into the story and the whole mystery was solved ¾ in, which made it feel like that everything after that was a bit too long. However, if you would take just the historical fiction part, it was a very entertaining read.
Final thoughts
The book revolves around Celia Browning, a 19th century Savannah socialite, day dreaming about the love of her life while at the same time taking care of her father and sharing her household with her orphan cousin. Celia has been in love with Sutton MacKay ever since they were kids and now he is coming back from Jamaica to, it would seem, marry her and take over his family business. But not everything is perfect in Celia's life, a nuisance in the form of a reporter stirring stories better left untold, comes to taint her family's reputation and to make matters worse, she starts getting threats from a mysterious origin.
The author does a great job when setting the background; at point I felt like I was watching a period movie, with the description of the city, the dresses and the dialogues. I enjoy when authors manage to build the world this nicely, since it makes the experience much more involving.
The part that I felt was in deficit was the mystery part. Considering that the title of the book is The Bracelet I was under the impression that the mystery would come from a bracelet. In fact, what we have is two mysteries, that at the end, sort of blend together, but not quiet. And even then, it didn't feel that heart gripping type of mystery and the conclusion was predictable for me.
What I ended up doing to review this book, was just remove the mystery part of the equation and that is the reason I ended up giving it a 4. The author gave me what I was expecting: a historical fiction with a sweet love story in a small southern town. No more and no less. If that's what you are looking for, got for it. If you are looking for a page turning type of mystery, I would look for something else.
I asked and received this book through NetGalley for free. This review is not sponsored nor influenced in anyway. Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the book. The expected publication date is December 9.
First impression
This is the first book from Dorothy Love that I have ever read. Most of her books are on Historical Fiction and this added to the beautiful cover made me ask for a copy at NetGalley. While the description of the book hints at a mystery, I think this element was not as present as I expected. The bracelet in question only had its appearance 1/3 into the story and the whole mystery was solved ¾ in, which made it feel like that everything after that was a bit too long. However, if you would take just the historical fiction part, it was a very entertaining read.
Final thoughts
The book revolves around Celia Browning, a 19th century Savannah socialite, day dreaming about the love of her life while at the same time taking care of her father and sharing her household with her orphan cousin. Celia has been in love with Sutton MacKay ever since they were kids and now he is coming back from Jamaica to, it would seem, marry her and take over his family business. But not everything is perfect in Celia's life, a nuisance in the form of a reporter stirring stories better left untold, comes to taint her family's reputation and to make matters worse, she starts getting threats from a mysterious origin.
The author does a great job when setting the background; at point I felt like I was watching a period movie, with the description of the city, the dresses and the dialogues. I enjoy when authors manage to build the world this nicely, since it makes the experience much more involving.
The part that I felt was in deficit was the mystery part. Considering that the title of the book is The Bracelet I was under the impression that the mystery would come from a bracelet. In fact, what we have is two mysteries, that at the end, sort of blend together, but not quiet. And even then, it didn't feel that heart gripping type of mystery and the conclusion was predictable for me.
What I ended up doing to review this book, was just remove the mystery part of the equation and that is the reason I ended up giving it a 4. The author gave me what I was expecting: a historical fiction with a sweet love story in a small southern town. No more and no less. If that's what you are looking for, got for it. If you are looking for a page turning type of mystery, I would look for something else.
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