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A review by jenbsbooks
Hearth Fires by Dorothy M. Keddington
2.5
Just okay for me. This was a bookclub selection - not one I would have finished on my own. I think maybe in my younger years I would have liked it more. I read so much, I think I've come to expect more. Profound thoughts I want to highlight and discuss, learning something, really getting sucked in and caring about the characters. That just didn't happen here.
Looking back on the book to write up the review, I forgot about the prologue (not really necessary, I didn't remember the names or even remember the prologue had happened. I guess if I'd been paying closer attention I might have remembered/noticed Dicola's name to make that connection.
Prologue was 3rd person/past tense ... but the rest of the book was all 1st person/past tense, all from Mackenzie's POV. Just basic chronological chapters, no chapter headings. No "parts" but this did seem to be divided into two parts ... before Hearth Fires and at/after Hearth Fires. While generally I like that "ah" moment when the title of the book is referenced in the book ... this didn't really work for me.
The action starts off pretty quick, I'm trying to think if it would be realistic to nickname people so quickly in her mind ... "Sloppy Joe" and "The Pit Bill" and "The Ogre" ... Some spoilers ... (view spoiler)
I always wonder a big when name brands are given ... PF Changs, Pepsi (product placement?)
Some things that irked me a little ...
"inside I was shaking with reaction"
"marriage, children and a home. In that order" (I'd want a home before bringing in children)
"I wanted nothing" - back to back starting paragraphs
"Mackenzie Graham is five foot three with reddish brown hair and blue eyes" - I know it's not cool to give out age and weight, but that description really isn't that helpful without those additional details!
The first night, they have Mac sleep in a recliner rather than trying to handle the stairs - but the very next night, have her sleep upstairs (did her injuries really improve that much in 24 hours?)
"the BENISON of hot water" "benison" ??? A blessing? Seemed a very strange description.
Family history is big in Utah (Mormons) ... I wondered if there was going to be more to the writing up the father's life story. It had a few things to say, then it just seemed to drop.
So - now honestly, I came into this a little negatively. I love books, but I have so much more ear time than eye time, I love audiobooks. This didn't have an audio version available. The ebook version wasn't available at any of my libraries (local author) so I had to pay for it ($8 if I recall correctly). I struggled SO much with reading. My eye time is before bed, and I kept falling asleep. Bookclub was coming up and I was only halfway done. I actually finished by having Amazon's Alexa read it to me, which is not great narration, but it got the book finished for me. As the author is local, she had been invited to the book club discussion ... which, might be awkward, as I didn't love the book. As a book club book, it just didn't really have much for discussion regardless. But turns out I do actually have a conflict and will likely miss it.
Content concerns: LDS author, no proFanity (beer and coffee mentioned :) ...what? J/K). Completely clean. Some violence/death.
Looking back on the book to write up the review, I forgot about the prologue (not really necessary, I didn't remember the names or even remember the prologue had happened. I guess if I'd been paying closer attention I might have remembered/noticed Dicola's name to make that connection.
Prologue was 3rd person/past tense ... but the rest of the book was all 1st person/past tense, all from Mackenzie's POV. Just basic chronological chapters, no chapter headings. No "parts" but this did seem to be divided into two parts ... before Hearth Fires and at/after Hearth Fires. While generally I like that "ah" moment when the title of the book is referenced in the book ... this didn't really work for me.
The action starts off pretty quick, I'm trying to think if it would be realistic to nickname people so quickly in her mind ... "Sloppy Joe" and "The Pit Bill" and "The Ogre" ... Some spoilers ... (view spoiler)
I always wonder a big when name brands are given ... PF Changs, Pepsi (product placement?)
Some things that irked me a little ...
"inside I was shaking with reaction"
"marriage, children and a home. In that order" (I'd want a home before bringing in children)
"I wanted nothing" - back to back starting paragraphs
"Mackenzie Graham is five foot three with reddish brown hair and blue eyes" - I know it's not cool to give out age and weight, but that description really isn't that helpful without those additional details!
The first night, they have Mac sleep in a recliner rather than trying to handle the stairs - but the very next night, have her sleep upstairs (did her injuries really improve that much in 24 hours?)
"the BENISON of hot water" "benison" ??? A blessing? Seemed a very strange description.
Family history is big in Utah (Mormons) ... I wondered if there was going to be more to the writing up the father's life story. It had a few things to say, then it just seemed to drop.
So - now honestly, I came into this a little negatively. I love books, but I have so much more ear time than eye time, I love audiobooks. This didn't have an audio version available. The ebook version wasn't available at any of my libraries (local author) so I had to pay for it ($8 if I recall correctly). I struggled SO much with reading. My eye time is before bed, and I kept falling asleep. Bookclub was coming up and I was only halfway done. I actually finished by having Amazon's Alexa read it to me, which is not great narration, but it got the book finished for me. As the author is local, she had been invited to the book club discussion ... which, might be awkward, as I didn't love the book. As a book club book, it just didn't really have much for discussion regardless. But turns out I do actually have a conflict and will likely miss it.
Content concerns: LDS author, no proFanity (beer and coffee mentioned :) ...what? J/K). Completely clean. Some violence/death.