Reviews

My Daughter's Legacy by Leslie Gould, Mindy Starns Clark

booklvr10's review against another edition

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5.0

This book takes place in two different eras: Civil War and present. I loved the transitions back and forth. I didn't lose track of what time period I was reading. I hadn't read the other two books before reading this on, but I will be reading them soon. A read that was hard to put down.

*I received an ARC from Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

lmbartelt's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a satisfying conclusion to the series with its own share of surprises. The mystery deepens and is finally laid to rest as the cousins come together again for the annual reunion. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book. Review reflects my honest opinion.)

The historical storyline is set in Civil War era Virginia and features a Southern woman who cannot abide slavery. Her struggle to assist in a hospital while keeping her values mostly a secret is an interesting take on this time period. I enjoyed Therese's dilemma between suitors, both of whom had the last name Talbot. I was never quite sure who she was going to choose in the end.

The present day scenario picks up a year after the second book and is told from Nicole's perspective. Her struggle is with recovery from addiction and finally telling the truth about what she knows about the mystery.

This book ends the series well, though again, I felt like some portions were wrapped up too quickly and easily, almost as if an afterthought. Still, I would recommend this series to historical fiction fans or those who enjoy the split-time novels. While I'm not sure you must read them in order, I think it helps to get to know the characters. And it's fun to see the Talbot ancestors and how they progressed from the Old World to the New.

kristi518's review against another edition

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5.0

Reading this book was a bittersweet experience for me. I enjoyed the story and was excited to read it while being sad at the same time because this was the last book in the series. A series which I have loved from the beginning and wanted more of. My Daughter's Legacy is a fitting conclusion to wonderful series.

I enjoyed the dual storyline/time period of this book. The present day story of Nicole mixed well with the Civil War story of Therese. Both are women who are stronger than they and others think they are. My favorite of the two was Therese's story. As someone who likes stories set among the backdrop of the Civil War, this story was right up my alley. I thought the authors did a fantastic job of portraying what life must have been like during that time. I liked reading about Therese's time as a nurse and her relationship with Dr. Alec Talbolt. Therese has a pretty rocky relationship with her mother and this was conveyed well, too. The tension between the two was almost palpable at times. Therese's relationship with Michael was also interesting and kept me guessing throughout the book.

The pace of this book was great! I liked how the authors switched back and forth from Nicole to Therese. There was never a moment to be bored in this story. I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened. At the same time though I wanted to read slowly to enjoy the story. I also enjoyed all of the details in the story. It was so easy to feel as if I were a part of the story and to imagine each scene as it unfolded.

This book could be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the entire series in order. The present day story flows from book to book and in order to not be lost it would be best to read each book. Besides the stories are just too good to pass up!

I have really loved reading this series by these authors. Their writing is seamless and they are just really, really good at writing stories that readers can totally immerse themselves in. I am hoping these two will join together again and bring more great stories for us to enjoy. Fans of either author are sure to treasure this book. Fans of historical fiction will appreciate this book, too.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are mine.

audiobooks_sweettea's review against another edition

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4.0

I love these two authors and their work, and I was excited to see where this book went. And honestly, while I loved that these authors came together and created a captivating story, I was a little lost in some of the areas of the story, so I'll definitely be going back to read the first two in the series.

That said, these characters, both present day, and historical, are beautifully chiseled. Told between two points of view, the authors take the reader on a whirlwind ride through history and contemporary times. I loved visiting Richmond during the Civil War. Historical eras are my favorite! Nicole and Therese quickly swept me into the heart of the story and I felt both of their emotions like they were my own!

Despite not reading book 1 and 2 and occasionally struggling to follow the story line, this conclusional book is definitely worth 4 stars. The writing styles of these two authors are beautiful, and mysterious and historical elements are awesome. This book is filled with emotions, thought provoking story lines, family legacies, and Godly messages of faith, trust and hope. I definitely suggest you get this book if you've read the first two! It will steal you away to another place in time and keep you up long into the night.This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads

shelfesteem's review against another edition

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4.0

By a narrow margin, My Daughter’s Legacy edges out My Brother’s Crown to become my favorite book in the Cousins of the Dove Trilogy. I’m a little surprised by this, because the Huguenot storyline (book 1) is what initially drew me in. After a slightly weaker second book, Clark and Gould have returned with a climatic series finale.

Those who dabble in genealogy will relish how the authors connect the past to the present through mementos which have been handed down through the Talbot family since the Civil War. Additionally, the introduction of a new clue—an illuminated manuscript—cleverly ties all three books together. As with the previous installments, historical events often provide the impetus for modern day revelations. While there were several quick transitions, I could usually sense when the authors were about to make a switch from the present day to 1864.

Between the characters holding/revealing secrets and plot twists, the pace progresses at a good clip. I wouldn’t say that Nicole’s story outshines Therese’s, but the intricacy of the 22 year old murder investigation made me eager to return to the modern day. Furthermore, it was rewarding to read how Nicole turns her life around and owns her past mistakes. Neither story ended the way I expected—an added bonus and a fitting conclusion to the Talbot family saga. 

I received a copy of this book for free as a member of the Harvest House Book Club. A favorable review was not required of me. All opinions expressed are my own.

khaven's review against another edition

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5.0

Great ending to the series
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