Shadows of Ladenbrook Manor book review.

Shadows of Ladenbrook Manor by Melanie Dobson

•°o•:*:•.HEAVY SUBJECT MATTER .•:*:• o°•

I found this book extremely frustrating. The book jumps from the past to the present throughout the entire story.  It’s in the 50s, the 60s, the 70s, the 80s, and then present day with iPods and cell phones.  Whenever it’s in the past, it clearly tells you the date, but in the present it never does.

The POV (point of view) switches back and forth from character to character:

Maggie / Walter / Libby / Heather / Mrs. Wescott / Christopher

When Christopher finally learns why his heart was broken, he says nothing and takes a phone call instead.

When Heather learns a huge secret, she says nothing and the story just switches to the past.

Both very unrealistic acts.

Additionally, the story is very heavy, involving THREE different times teenage girls give up their virginity to boys and suffer all the consequences that can come from that choice.

Although faith and forgiveness along with interesting detail about places and an autistic girl are also in the book, the story was so heavy with the rest of it, that I could not enjoy it.  A good reminder for me to check the label for the publishing company first.

I did NOT enjoy this novel and do not recommend it.

© 2015 Howard Books, div of Simon & Schuster

336 pages

Read: 1/30&312018 - Reviewed: 2/2/2018

2 stars

I received a purchased copy from a friend. My opinion is my own for no compensation.

FAIR PLAY a book review

Fair Play Deanne Gist

•°o•:*:•. PG-13 or higher .•:*:• o°•

                      

Very disappointing.  This book seems to be trying to cater to two different audiences; Christian and secular. I kept expecting the tone of inspiring lust to change, but instead it continued to build.  It made me very uncomfortable to read.  I kept thinking about my best friend that I share books with, who then passes them to her teenage daughter.  I would never want her to read this book. 

Ch. 4 Pg., 32 “She would start her new job with a new gown, a new hat, new gloves, new stockings, and the most wicked undergarments she’d ever owned.” Her risqué undergarments get referenced repeatedly throughout the novel.

The story takes place at the 1893 World’s Fair, the same as the first book in the series, but only once do we “glimpse” the original characters from book one, so they are both stand-alone books.  Dr. Billy Jack Tate has hung her shingle in the exciting town of Chicago, and is pushing the odds to attempt to run her own practice.  She has an outstanding resume, but people are prejudice against female doctors. Hunter is a Texas Ranger on loan to the Fair.  The story is ripe for an enjoyable diversion, and exploration as they get to know each other.  Instead, this book delves deeply into the deplorable conditions of the west side tenements, the disgusting jails, where children are kept with men who have syphilis and half their tongues are missing, and hookers, and other criminals, while they all share the same cup for drinking, and trough for relieving themselves.  That’s just one example of the details shared!  The two main characters are constantly drawn to each other, and think about each other provocatively. Ch. 53 Pg. 404 “Shaking her head, she started soaping and washing her instruments…. He admired the view, mesmerized by the jiggling that occurred while she scrubbed.”  So much of this was throughout the book, it became an annoying distraction. In addition, there is rape, and murder of innocents.  Just because the author found these deplorable conditions in her research, does not mean we, the readers, want to sit back to enjoy a pleasant evening reading, and be slapped in the face with all of it.  I did finish the book, in order to give it my best effort, but I can not, in good conscience recommend this book.

H (1 star)

Read: 04/21&22/2016

I purchased this book from Christian Book Discounters (CBD) and my opinion is my own.

SERIES: World’s Fair Series

It Happened At The Fair –  Book #1 – April 2013

Fair Play – Book #2 – May 2014

Tiffany Girl – Book #3 – May 2015

Pressings Matters Publ. Co., Inc., - Howard Books