I didn’t care for it.
I was very excited to get this book (I love to read about arranged marriages) and I am sorry to say that it did not live up to my expectations. Despite the fact that I didn’t particularly care for the book, I did finish it in one day. It held my attention and I was anxious to know what would happen next. (which is sadly the only positive thing I can say about it).
I found that I couldn’t relate to the characters and to be truthful, Cailin got on my nerves rather quickly. She spent at the first 100 pages bemoaning the fact that her marriage wasn’t how she wanted it to be and that she didn’t understand her husband, rather than trying to change anything. We rarely read anything from Avondale’s point of view, so you don’t know what he’s thinking through most of the book or what is going on with him until she questions him enough to understand. Also, I know everything was very proper in 1746 (when the book is set), but it seemed very stiffly written to me. The characters seemed rather flat and colorless.
My biggest complaint though, it that the author has Cailin say, “those He [God] loved, He tested” (page 234) when this is completely unbiblical and the verse she uses to back this up is misused. James clearly says that God does not test or tempt us (James 1:13) and that He will in fact help those who are being tempted flee said temptation. The Bible says that God disciplines those He loves, as a father disciplines his children.
Overall, I am sorry to say that I would not recommend this book to anyone.
I received this book through The Book Club Network for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to give a positive review and was not compensated in any way for my opinion.