"None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives."
- Jane Austen, Persuasion
- Jane Austen, Persuasion
Title: The Cautious Maiden Series: Book 4 of The Everstone Chronicles
Author: Dawn Crandall
Publisher: Whitaker House
Release Date: October 6, 2016
ABOUT THE BOOK
Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks;but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance;Vance Everstone. As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiance who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust; and who to leave behind.
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Endorsement
– Annie, Just Commonly Review Blog, www.justcommonly.blogspot.com
So, let's talk about The Everstone Chronicles. Wait. hear me out. I know I've done quite the number of posts on this series (see HERE), but it's just simply fabulous. Plus, I'm kind of crazy about the men in this series, and the covers. You know me, total book cover crazy! I get it. you want something new. Well, today we will dive into the new release of the series, book 4, The Cautious Maiden and my thoughts. I'll just simply say it.
For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.
In other words, I love it, and it has become my favorite one of the series. Why? One man. Vance Everstone. Remember my little blurb about him during my review of book 3, The Captive Imposter? I said, "He is one I once "strongly disliked", yet by the end of The Bound Heart, I do find myself relinquishing the word "strongly". And now, by the end of this book, he has "redeemed" himself to me, a reader that not only wish him the best, but would love to get to know him better. I want to see who he is or have become since his conviction." And what a transformation! A beautiful hymn have voiced it well:
Ah, yes, yes. It's spelled leper's, but there's a reason for that, and I just love it. That instant I read those words, I know it's Vance. His spots have changed and it touched me and will even touch you. Out of every character we've met so far in The Everstone Chronicles, Vance's presence and development may truly be the strongest. Though he does not make an appearance in book 1, The Hesitant Heiress, he is mentioned, and we can already sense what kind of person he was. (No worries, you will not need to read the previous books to be able to follow along here. However, why would you not want to?) By the end of book 3, The Captive Imposter, I was itching to see who he's become. From his confession, to realization, to redemption and now conviction, he has become the hero we want to see in every story. Someone that walks away from his sinful past, takes to heart the grace he's been given by our Savior, and follows in His footsteps to be righteous and honorable. Even though, there will be bumps and struggles, his heart continues on. If only he can forgive himself.
Speaking of his heart, his attempt to do the right thing with Violet caused lots of frustrations both emotionally and physically, yet because of his vow, we see the genuinity of his reformation. He no longer is the bad boy, despite the reputation that lasted much longer than the four books and how easily flirting comes to him. I like Violet. She's a little different than when we first met her in The Captive Imposter, but I like it. She's a sweet girl with a loving or rather a forgiving heart. Poor girl had to figure Vance out from his sudden aloofness to his desire that sparks his eyes. The connection those two have can steam up the whole page (in a clean sense).
The Cautious Maiden is about forgiveness and grace, but it's also about love. How love can heal, can forgive and can change. Love in its purity is the greatest gift of all. Inspirational and filled with angst with a bit of clean passion, humor, and the redemptive quality one seeks in a story, The Cautious Maiden is it. (Plus, there's Vance Everstone.)
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.
Dawn Crandall celebrates the release of The Cautious Maiden with two prize pack giveaways! Woohoo!
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