Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Fiction

For the days when you're wishing for Downton Abbey: Review of The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

It’s that time of year where we Americans who are waiting for the return of Downton Abbey are jealous of the Brits (and select Canadians) who are already into season 4 of the PBS Masterpiece series.

governess coverIf you’re in need of something to occupy your time, I’d suggest Carrie Turansky’s new book, The Governess of Highland Hall. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Waterbrook Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program in exchange for my review.)

Julia Foster has been serving with her parents as missionaries in India. When they are forced to return to England because of her father’s health, Julia takes a job as governess of Highland Hall. Sir William Ramsey, a widower and the estate’s new master, is in over his head trying to save the property from financial ruin while trying to manage his two young children and his teenage nieces.

From Julia and William’s first meeting, I felt like this story was part The Sound of Music, part Downton Abbey. Both are stories I love, but I couldn’t decide if I loved this story or not. The setting is alluring, of course, because it’s England in the early 1900s and it’s a manor house, which I will always find enchanting.

But there are a lot of similarities to Downton. I found myself picturing characters from the show in place of characters of the book. That’s not entirely a downside because to me, that shows that the author has done her research and has accurately portrayed the time period. There are also some additional points of view besides the main characters. It didn’t thrill me. There are subplots in the story, and the extra POVs, like from one of the maids and the head housekeeper, are necessary to tell those stories, I guess, but I thought it was only okay.

Toward the end of the book, the action built to a point that I couldn’t put the book down, so I’m glad I stuck with it for that.

Overall, though, I found the plot fairly predictable and the story just okay. Again, if you want to relive the high points of Downton Abbey, this is a good book for that. If you’re looking for something fresh, I’d look elsewhere.

'The dearest of friends': Review of Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund

I make it no secret that I love, love, love the stories that come from Jody Hedlund’s brain. (She doesn’t pay me to say that; I’d say it for free. But I did get a free copy of the book in exchange for my review.)

rebellious heartWhat a treat to have a second new release from her this year, Rebellious Heart. (If you missed my review of A Noble Groom, you can find it here.)

I thought that one would be hard to top, and it was. Is. In fact, I was a little disappointed when I finished Rebellious Heart because it didn’t leave me with the same sigh-worthy feelings as A Noble Groom.

So I did something I rarely do with any book: I read it again. In the same week.

Because I knew it was a good story, but I felt like I had missed it. And what I learned in the re-reading is that this story crafted by Hedlund is almost like a symphony. I’m no music expert, but I know it takes a trained ear to discover the nuances of all the instruments working together. I think the same could be said of this book. In Rebellious Heart, there’s a story on the surface: a fictional re-creation of the courtship of John and Abigail Adams. (In the book their names are Ben Ross and Susanna Smith.) They have history with each other, unpleasant at times, with similar obstacles to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. We see their relationship change and bloom in 1760s Massachusetts, and overall, it is an enchanting love story.

On second reading, I appreciated the little things so much more. John and Abigail Adams are known for their letters to each other, showing a sweet love that spanned five decades. They referred to each other as “the dearest of friends.” In the book, Ben and Susanna often trade witty comments in a sort of intelligent flirtation. It’s the sort of romance that is based on intellectual stimulation as well as physical attraction, the former adding to the latter. As a lover of words, I savored their exchanges.

Ben takes notice early in the book.

The intelligence and decisiveness of her responses were like a shot of energy in his veins. There was something entirely refreshing about a young woman who wasn’t afraid to voice her thoughts and spar intelligent words with a man. Most women he’d met didn’t have the slightest interest in the latest political situation involving the king, nor did they have any thoughts about treason or anything else important. (33)

They wrestle not only with their feelings for each other but with the laws of England and whether to obey the king and his soldiers.

Here, I think, is where the beauty of the book lies. While the story of their courtship is heartwarming and sweet, knowing what is to come for the couple (revolution, war, danger), makes their relationship that much more meaningful.

I had goosebumps reading these words from Susanna:

Perhaps I need to have more faith that God will use me someday to be a steady light for someone going through a dark travail. (89)

Whether Abigail Adams said those words or not, she would indeed be that for her husband in the days and months leading up to the Revolution.

If you have even a casual interest in the Revolutionary War era, I recommend this book. It wasn’t my favorite time period when I married my husband, but his favorite musical is 1776, and I have to say, the time period is growing on me. (Confession: The actor who plays John Adams in the movie version of 1776 was the man I envisioned, sort of, for Ben Ross as I read. I think that’s a compliment to Hedlund, as she has captured Adams’ mannerisms and speech patterns, as portrayed in other stories of his life.)

And if you’re a fan of historical romance, I’d recommend it as well, although it has a bit of a different feel to it than some historical romance I’ve read. Not a bad difference at all.

I always look forward to what’s next from Hedlund, and Rebellious Heart has left me wanting more.