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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Just your average, "pretty rich girl moves to the pioneer to teach and meets a strong, good looking, rugged man" story.
I originally read this book about 20 years ago as a teenager. At that time I would have rated it 4 or 5 stars because it was such a sweet story.
But, having just finished reading this for the second time, I find my tastes have changed considerable and I'm pickier than I used to be with what I read. I would give it 3.5 stars.
The beginning of the story starts out very slow. It's easy to see from very early in the first chapter that Elizabeth will be moving West. The first ten chapters or so summarize a great deal, making it extremely difficult to get immersed in the book. It reads more like a letter to a friend (I did this, and then this, and then this.)
About two-thirds of the way through the book it starts to read more like real time. There's more dialogue and more introspection on Elizabeth's part.
I was sorely disappointed that the romance barely sparked in any way until very, very late in the book. I would have loved to see more depth in Elizabeth's reflection of her feelings--something more than "I loved him, I hated him, I pined for him."
This book is a prime example telling versus showing. Much of the story is relayed in a "tell" way which really prevents the reader from feeling connected to the characters or a part of the story. I thought Janette Oke's collaboration with Davis Bunn (the Songs of Acadia Series) does a much better job of showing versus telling.
But, having just finished reading this for the second time, I find my tastes have changed considerable and I'm pickier than I used to be with what I read. I would give it 3.5 stars.
The beginning of the story starts out very slow. It's easy to see from very early in the first chapter that Elizabeth will be moving West. The first ten chapters or so summarize a great deal, making it extremely difficult to get immersed in the book. It reads more like a letter to a friend (I did this, and then this, and then this.)
About two-thirds of the way through the book it starts to read more like real time. There's more dialogue and more introspection on Elizabeth's part.
I was sorely disappointed that the romance barely sparked in any way until very, very late in the book. I would have loved to see more depth in Elizabeth's reflection of her feelings--something more than "I loved him, I hated him, I pined for him."
This book is a prime example telling versus showing. Much of the story is relayed in a "tell" way which really prevents the reader from feeling connected to the characters or a part of the story. I thought Janette Oke's collaboration with Davis Bunn (the Songs of Acadia Series) does a much better job of showing versus telling.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a fun, nice and light read in a long month. I liked the characters and reading about the west in a Canadian setting was fun. I thought the romance moved a bit fast but it was a good read.
I read this charming little book as an example of Christian fiction for my genre fiction class. While this novel is classified as a Christian Romance, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the role of Christianity is very light-handed and not at all off-putting for a non-Christian. The story is set in western Canada in the early 1900s, and it was a lovely little historical romance. I would absolutely read further books in this series, despite the fact that I don't share the main character's religious convictions.
A gentle story of a young teacher who travels to a rural area past Calgary to teach in a new school, and which reminds me of the need to re-read [b:Mrs. Mike|155712|Mrs. Mike|Benedict Freedman|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1309212489s/155712.jpg|3232591]. It doesn't have the hard edges and crushing realities of Mrs. Mike, but does touch on the tough life a Mountie and his family might have. Elizabeth has to adjust to living away from her family and to dealing with the wildlife - both large and small - which surround her. She becomes attached to the children she teaches, finding both happiness and sadness there as she grows in self-confidence as both a young woman out on her own and as a teacher.
I enjoyed this book. It was a very quick read and if you like historical fiction you will probably enjoy it.
Elizabeth is a young woman who moves from her city life, to a country one to make a living as a school marm. In the middle of finding her place in the town however, Elizabth comes across a mysterious man, that seems to never show his face around town. As Elizabeth pushes herself deeper into this man's background, she is forced to come face to face with him, while two questions are on the tip of her tongue. Who is this man and what is he doing in this town?