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A review by english_lady03
The Keeper of Her Heart by Stacy Henrie
3.0
When I saw a friend on social media had reviewed this book late last year, I thought it would be right up my alley as a historical novel set in England during the Edwardian period, and so I went and requested on Netgalley almost straight away. Which turned out be a timely discovery, since the book was archived shortly afterward.
In many ways, it was a very good book and an enjoyable read: even though I found some details in the plot were rather cliched. The whole aristocratic girl who refuses to marry for money/duty/convenience and ‘follows her heart’ to marry the commoner that she falls in love with has been done many, many times before.
It takes a very good author to make an original tale out of such an overused formula, in my opinion. Stacy Henrie did that: for the most part anyway, with some of the details about Ada’s life, and her struggles as a widowed single parent during the First World War, and her faith journey. She proves to be a strong character, with great resolve and independence in this well-written tale.
In the second half, however, I felt the story became a little more strained and predictable: although I liked the character involved (but really could not remember him being mentioned previously, although he was meant to have been a childhood friend of the protagonist), and I felt the relationship developed slowly and plausibly without the insta- love you see in some books. I didn’t like one part of the conclusion though: stories like this always and always end with a certain thing happening, and I don’t see why its necessary to the ending.
Whilst a lot was right, there were certain Americanisms which stood out, (‘someplace’ ’write him’ etc), and some of the accents seemed a little dubious, with that of Ada’s Cockney friend seeming to be all but indistinguishable to those of people from rural Yorkshire.
Finally, that this is a personal matter, I did not realize this book was by a Mormon until I read the biography at the end. I have no problem with reading or even recommending books written by authors who aren't Orthodox Christians or even religious, but I'm still undecided about whether I want to endorse them on my blog.
I requested a copy of this book via Netgalley of my own volition. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
In many ways, it was a very good book and an enjoyable read: even though I found some details in the plot were rather cliched. The whole aristocratic girl who refuses to marry for money/duty/convenience and ‘follows her heart’ to marry the commoner that she falls in love with has been done many, many times before.
It takes a very good author to make an original tale out of such an overused formula, in my opinion. Stacy Henrie did that: for the most part anyway, with some of the details about Ada’s life, and her struggles as a widowed single parent during the First World War, and her faith journey. She proves to be a strong character, with great resolve and independence in this well-written tale.
In the second half, however, I felt the story became a little more strained and predictable: although I liked the character involved (but really could not remember him being mentioned previously, although he was meant to have been a childhood friend of the protagonist), and I felt the relationship developed slowly and plausibly without the insta- love you see in some books. I didn’t like one part of the conclusion though: stories like this always and always end with a certain thing happening, and I don’t see why its necessary to the ending.
Whilst a lot was right, there were certain Americanisms which stood out, (‘someplace’ ’write him’ etc), and some of the accents seemed a little dubious, with that of Ada’s Cockney friend seeming to be all but indistinguishable to those of people from rural Yorkshire.
Finally, that this is a personal matter, I did not realize this book was by a Mormon until I read the biography at the end. I have no problem with reading or even recommending books written by authors who aren't Orthodox Christians or even religious, but I'm still undecided about whether I want to endorse them on my blog.
I requested a copy of this book via Netgalley of my own volition. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.