Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I grew up reading Janette Oke but haven't read any of her books in forever. I recently discovered this in my mother's bathroom, realized that i had never read it, and decided to read a chapter. Elizabeth is very strict with her inner thoughts, and that intrigued me, since it is very rare in books and i myself am pretty strict with my inner thoughts (though not as strict as Elizabeth). She is a city girl, thinks a longing for adventure is extraneous, until her brother urges her to come West and she is plunged into many new and hilarious experiences.
This book is so straightforward, light on description and with information a bit awkwardly introduced and out of the order i would have put it in, but it left me wanting more and made it easy to read quickly. Had i written this i would have stretched the events out over a couple of years instead of just one, but there was no point that seemed unbelievable in terms of the romance so much as very Pride & Prejudice to a certain extent. No, there isn't an early rebuffed proposal, but these two character do make me think of Lizzie and Darcy.
I was in tears by the end of this book, for the last couple of chapters. I had assumed they Elizabeth and Dee would end up together (does Oke ever have any other ending?), but it seemed impossible up until the last couple of pages. It was a slightly rushed ending, these characters are both so quiet and reserved! It made for a nice change from the usual voices that i read in young adult or science fiction novels. That and Elizabeth's temper made for quite an interesting read.
The entire time i was reading this i was wishing there was a sequel, but thought that there wasn't because there is no indication on the cover or first pages that this is part of one! Only four books are listed in Oke's previous works, three from the Love Comes Softly series and one from what i think of as the Seasons series, Once Upon a Summer. So this was obviously early in Oke's career and i am really looking forward to reading the next part.
This book is so straightforward, light on description and with information a bit awkwardly introduced and out of the order i would have put it in, but it left me wanting more and made it easy to read quickly. Had i written this i would have stretched the events out over a couple of years instead of just one, but there was no point that seemed unbelievable in terms of the romance so much as very Pride & Prejudice to a certain extent. No, there isn't an early rebuffed proposal, but these two character do make me think of Lizzie and Darcy.
I was in tears by the end of this book, for the last couple of chapters. I had assumed they Elizabeth and Dee would end up together (does Oke ever have any other ending?), but it seemed impossible up until the last couple of pages. It was a slightly rushed ending, these characters are both so quiet and reserved! It made for a nice change from the usual voices that i read in young adult or science fiction novels. That and Elizabeth's temper made for quite an interesting read.
The entire time i was reading this i was wishing there was a sequel, but thought that there wasn't because there is no indication on the cover or first pages that this is part of one! Only four books are listed in Oke's previous works, three from the Love Comes Softly series and one from what i think of as the Seasons series, Once Upon a Summer. So this was obviously early in Oke's career and i am really looking forward to reading the next part.
Exactly what you'd expect. Vastly different from the TV show but still enjoyable. I'm not one for Christian fiction (and my goodness how much of it there was), yet I liked the stories and characters.
I wanted to start this novel after hearing about the tv show, turns out it is nothing like the series ! An amazing period drama that gives a cozy feeling and makes you want to live in a Canadian cabin in the forest !
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
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:
No
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ok so I do really enjoy the show loosely based on this book, however cheesy it is. So I picked this book up. Surely it would have to be at least as good. But no! I actually like the show much better.
Honestly, most of the book I thoroughly enjoyed. It actually felt a little different and less cheesy than so many others I had read. I liked her writing style and her focus on as simple problems as mice in the house rather than great dramatic plot points like in the show with the town being full of new widows after a mine collapse. Elizabeth starts as a strong character, determined not to move out west for a man, but to teach. I enjoyed the early romantic tension between her and Wynn, complicated because this was not the vision either of them had planned for themselves. I wish this book had been longer and gone into even more detail and stories about her teaching and more relationship building between her and Wynn.
I really dislike the ending. First, she goes to leave the town and teaching she has grown to love because she can’t get over Wynn, who she thinks will never agree to marriage and maybe never see again once he is reposted. Oh Elizabeth, you are an adult and you came to teach remember? Shake yourself off over the summer, grow up, and get back to work.
Then Wynn, who has had very firm views about taking a wife as a Mountie, suddenly shows up at the station. I think, perhaps like Jack in the show, he may implore her to stay for her students and be encouraging to her profession. She will stay and their relationship may continue to develop, perhaps. But no, he loves her AND wants to marry her and bring her into he the wilds as a Mountie wife......
What just happened?! They both just completely abandon their firmly held thoughts and beliefs at the drop of a hat. It still feels like they barely know each other. This book ended up lacking a lot of the depth and maturity that the show actually has.
The only reason I will probably go to read the next book is because I’m quite intrigued in Mountie life and it seems Oke may have done more research on them than in the show. I also won’t have the show to compare it to any longer, I don’t think. Anyway, read this book, or don’t. It won’t matter.
Honestly, most of the book I thoroughly enjoyed. It actually felt a little different and less cheesy than so many others I had read. I liked her writing style and her focus on as simple problems as mice in the house rather than great dramatic plot points like in the show with the town being full of new widows after a mine collapse. Elizabeth starts as a strong character, determined not to move out west for a man, but to teach. I enjoyed the early romantic tension between her and Wynn, complicated because this was not the vision either of them had planned for themselves. I wish this book had been longer and gone into even more detail and stories about her teaching and more relationship building between her and Wynn.
I really dislike the ending. First, she goes to leave the town and teaching she has grown to love because she can’t get over Wynn, who she thinks will never agree to marriage and maybe never see again once he is reposted. Oh Elizabeth, you are an adult and you came to teach remember? Shake yourself off over the summer, grow up, and get back to work.
Then Wynn, who has had very firm views about taking a wife as a Mountie, suddenly shows up at the station. I think, perhaps like Jack in the show, he may implore her to stay for her students and be encouraging to her profession. She will stay and their relationship may continue to develop, perhaps. But no, he loves her AND wants to marry her and bring her into he the wilds as a Mountie wife......
What just happened?! They both just completely abandon their firmly held thoughts and beliefs at the drop of a hat. It still feels like they barely know each other. This book ended up lacking a lot of the depth and maturity that the show actually has.
The only reason I will probably go to read the next book is because I’m quite intrigued in Mountie life and it seems Oke may have done more research on them than in the show. I also won’t have the show to compare it to any longer, I don’t think. Anyway, read this book, or don’t. It won’t matter.