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A review by jbeen21
Mrs. Lincoln's Rival by Jennifer Chiaverini
2.0
Thank you to the Goodreads First Reads giveaways program for a copy of Jennifer Chiaverini’s novel, “Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival.”
I couldn’t wait for this book to arrive in my mailbox. Chiaverini’s fiction had been on my “to-read” list for years, and winning a copy of her most recent historical fiction novel was such a thrill. Unfortunately, after admiring the beautiful, high-quality cover of the book, settling into bed and reading the first few chapters, I knew, with a sinking feeling inside, that I just didn’t have the inclination to proceed with the story. Over the course of the next week or so, I grudgingly returned to the pages, hoping that some event or character would spark my interest for the long haul. But the characters just weren’t appealing, the “rivalry” between protagonist Kate Chase and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln was merely a minor happening, and the many military battles were so mired in historical detail that this potentially-fascinating Civil War-era novel was a disappointment. Hopefully, Chiaverini’s earlier historical novels, such as “The Spymistress” and “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” have more to offer.
I couldn’t wait for this book to arrive in my mailbox. Chiaverini’s fiction had been on my “to-read” list for years, and winning a copy of her most recent historical fiction novel was such a thrill. Unfortunately, after admiring the beautiful, high-quality cover of the book, settling into bed and reading the first few chapters, I knew, with a sinking feeling inside, that I just didn’t have the inclination to proceed with the story. Over the course of the next week or so, I grudgingly returned to the pages, hoping that some event or character would spark my interest for the long haul. But the characters just weren’t appealing, the “rivalry” between protagonist Kate Chase and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln was merely a minor happening, and the many military battles were so mired in historical detail that this potentially-fascinating Civil War-era novel was a disappointment. Hopefully, Chiaverini’s earlier historical novels, such as “The Spymistress” and “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” have more to offer.