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pattyfgd's review
5.0
Historical romance can be a tough genre to write, but Mysti Parker has come through with a winner. This story is one that pulls you into a time of tragedy and lets us live through to find the happily ever after. Parker gives us Portia, or Po as she is nicknamed. Her husband is a casualty of war and her young daughter has been taken by typhoid. Now alone, she travels to try and make her new life teaching a young boy on a ranch. Beau is the man in charge and father of her student. A widower, he is bitter and full of pain. Parker weaves the story surrounding this couple, with outlaws, hateful discrimination, and the building of new lives full of love and hope. There is so much I enjoyed about this book. The time period is one I enjoy, taking us back to a time we all think is simpler, and then you listen to find out just how hard it was! The characters are wonderfully flawed, but easy to relate to.
Meghan Kelly's voice flows with such an easy pace. She breathes life into these characters and makes them feel real as we are listening to her. The inflections she adds into her voices creates the ability to relate to Po and Beau and feel their story. It's a great escape and entertaining listen.
Meghan Kelly's voice flows with such an easy pace. She breathes life into these characters and makes them feel real as we are listening to her. The inflections she adds into her voices creates the ability to relate to Po and Beau and feel their story. It's a great escape and entertaining listen.
caslater83's review
4.0
The research for this book was well done. As someone who appreciates accuracy in Civil War history, I was pleased with Ms. Parker's work. She created excellent characters and they were rather engaging and realistic. I had a hunch where this plot was going, but I also liked not knowing how she planned her characters to reach that point. A little unpredictability is always good. I loved reading the Bible verses and thought it was very appropriate for the book. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that there was no graphic sexual content in the book, so this should appeal to Christian readers. However, I would have enjoyed the book better if the author had kept the language clean. There are many ways to get your point across without using filthy words.
Having said all that, I believe many of you out there would enjoy this book!
Having said all that, I believe many of you out there would enjoy this book!
lisa01's review
4.0
This is a lovely historical romance. It is full of well thought out characters and the story grabbed my attention. I was shocked and surprised in here more than once. This story really took me back. It’s been a while since I have read a historical romance. Beau and Portia both have somewhat similar problems. Each has lost their partner whom they loved with all their heart. I did struggle a couple times with Beau when the cousin shows up. I know times were different back then but I wasn’t a fan. They each loved their deceased spouse so much that at times I don’t think they were ready to move on. The Epilogue is great though.
I did listen to this on audio. Meghan Kelly is the narrator. She did excellent as always.
I did listen to this on audio. Meghan Kelly is the narrator. She did excellent as always.
chrisistrangerthanu's review
4.0
3.5 stars
This was looking to be a solid 4.5 star read up until the last quarter, where I think too much drama let it down. While I love this author's writing style, in both the books I've read, there is too much going on near the end and it really messes with the fantastic flow of the books. I do think that is a real shame.
Overall, I liked the book. Portia was a likeable and engaging protaganist, and Beau was a good sort too. The slavery and civil war references were well done, I liked that she doesn't romanticize the horror of it, and the melancholy tone of the book suited well. Jonny was a delight and I loved how he and his father resolved their issues.
I think the biggest issue I had with the book was characterisation. Lydia was inconsistent quite a bit, and I was honestly left a bit perplexed. Was she spoilt and petty? Or was she the girl that spoke to Po before she left? Harry was portrayed well, with a great deal of depth, but then I felt that the grey area of his character was completely destroyed near the end. I felt that there was too much black and white in the character portrayals, Po could do no wrong or think no wrong, the characters who made bad choices then became completely bad characters in the narrative.
As usual with this author, I was engaged easily into this story, and I felt that the period setting really suited her writing style. I would definitely read more from the author.
This was looking to be a solid 4.5 star read up until the last quarter, where I think too much drama let it down. While I love this author's writing style, in both the books I've read, there is too much going on near the end and it really messes with the fantastic flow of the books. I do think that is a real shame.
Overall, I liked the book. Portia was a likeable and engaging protaganist, and Beau was a good sort too. The slavery and civil war references were well done, I liked that she doesn't romanticize the horror of it, and the melancholy tone of the book suited well. Jonny was a delight and I loved how he and his father resolved their issues.
I think the biggest issue I had with the book was characterisation. Lydia was inconsistent quite a bit, and I was honestly left a bit perplexed. Was she spoilt and petty? Or was she the girl that spoke to Po before she left? Harry was portrayed well, with a great deal of depth, but then I felt that the grey area of his character was completely destroyed near the end. I felt that there was too much black and white in the character portrayals, Po could do no wrong or think no wrong, the characters who made bad choices then became completely bad characters in the narrative.
As usual with this author, I was engaged easily into this story, and I felt that the period setting really suited her writing style. I would definitely read more from the author.
kerveros's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I got this book free and was asked to review it in return.
I generally find that books I receive for free in return for a review tend to either be okay or not so okay - it is rare I come across one that I generally find to be good. I'm glad to say this is one of the rarer ones - this is a pretty darn good book.
Although not my favourite genre I do, at times, like a good historical romance and I admit that I do quite like those set in the US in times long gone by (Wild West/Pioneer/Civil War etcetera). I've therefore read a few books in this kinda time period - I was concerned that this book might feel too modern (a concern I often have with historical romances) but the author did a great job and apart from a couple of moments (far too many mentions of a sore rear end!) this felt pretty in-keeping with the time period.
I admit, I wasn't a fan of the ending. Without spoiling the plot of the book with exact information I will say that you have a climatic moment followed by a happy one (which would be perfect to end upon and then go straight to the prologuesmarriage and birth of child 2 (or 3 I suppose depending on how you look at it) ), then another climactic moment, then another, and then some more... and then the endings. It just felt a bit... "oh of course" to me - the book could have ended a good 20 odd pages earlier and the last climatic acts aren't needed - they aren't really tying up any plot points in my opinion but seem to be there just for added tension. My issue with that is - this is a historical romance, it's going to end well so why try and make the reader think it won't - especially when you've already resolved the real 'sticking point' between the leads?
That said, this is a very good book and the fault above is common to many authors. I enjoyed reading this and would certainly read other books by this author.
I generally find that books I receive for free in return for a review tend to either be okay or not so okay - it is rare I come across one that I generally find to be good. I'm glad to say this is one of the rarer ones - this is a pretty darn good book.
Although not my favourite genre I do, at times, like a good historical romance and I admit that I do quite like those set in the US in times long gone by (Wild West/Pioneer/Civil War etcetera). I've therefore read a few books in this kinda time period - I was concerned that this book might feel too modern (a concern I often have with historical romances) but the author did a great job and apart from a couple of moments (far too many mentions of a sore rear end!) this felt pretty in-keeping with the time period.
I admit, I wasn't a fan of the ending. Without spoiling the plot of the book with exact information I will say that you have a climatic moment followed by a happy one (which would be perfect to end upon and then go straight to the prologues
That said, this is a very good book and the fault above is common to many authors. I enjoyed reading this and would certainly read other books by this author.
fromjesstoyou's review
3.0
"3.5 out of 5 stars, Portia’s (Po) life was ravaged because of the American Civil War. With both her husband and baby daughter now dead and not wanting to suffer the ramifications of depression any longer, she has decided to move on by putting her credentials to use and becoming a tutor for a young boy. However, the boy’s father Beau (Beauregard) came home from fighting in the war to find his wife dead and his farm falling apart, and isn’t ready to move on with his life. Both start off on rocky footing but just as they soon find their way to common ground and get a nice friendship going people from Beau past interfere into his life. Everything changes. Will Beau be able to create a life that he’ll be happy with? Can Po find a way to get over her grief while helping the boy in her care get over his own grief too? When unexpected love hits will both Beau and Po, can they be able to accept it or will others interfere enough to mess up both of their lives for good?
Not the lighthearted historical romance that I expected; yet it grips the reader with its dynamic characters and an intriguing plot from the very beginning. Basically, it was darker than I anticipated but it’s based in a more realistic setting then the typical historical romances that I’ve read before for this time-period. Nevertheless, I’m so happy with how this novel turns out..."
Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/07/made-grade-time-for-everything-by-mysti.html
Read an excerpt from this novel here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/07/blog-tour-time-for-everything-by-mysti.html
Not the lighthearted historical romance that I expected; yet it grips the reader with its dynamic characters and an intriguing plot from the very beginning. Basically, it was darker than I anticipated but it’s based in a more realistic setting then the typical historical romances that I’ve read before for this time-period. Nevertheless, I’m so happy with how this novel turns out..."
Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/07/made-grade-time-for-everything-by-mysti.html
Read an excerpt from this novel here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/07/blog-tour-time-for-everything-by-mysti.html
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