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Monday, November 28, 2011

Review of Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland by Roseanna White


Fiction Monday Review

Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland
By Roseanna M. White
Summerside Press (December 2011)

Roseanna has written a beautiful book.  Her voice is fresh and lovely.  She lends authenticity to the story with her own history of having attended college in historic Annapolis.  Her love for the city is evident in her descriptions.  The story is set during the time Annapolis was the nation’s capital during a short time in 1783-84. Roseanna is a member of Colonial American Christian Writers, a group which I founded, and Roseanna also contributes to Colonial Quills, our group blog.  It was so fun seeing some of the topics we researched together as a group showing up in the book!  That was one of the neatest things about this novel, on a personal level.  We appreciate her acknowledgement of the group, as well! 

The premise for this book is not a typical romance nor even for historical romances.  So if the reader is expecting a cookie cutter romance this is not going to be their book. This is not a “let me settle in for my light romance” read.  Both the hero, Emerson Fielding,  and the heroine, Lark,  are flawed people who have a very significant parting right near the beginning.  This is a Christian fiction and both of these characters have the strongest character arcs I have seen since I can ever remember.  I suspect that is one of the many reasons RT gave this book their top amount of stars and selected it as the December Top Inspirational Pick.  There is profound change in Lark and Emerson, particularly as God leads them to be the persons they were meant to be and not who they had been at home in Virginia. 

One thing unique about this book is that the life issues of the young woman are portrayed with such authentic emotion as are Lark’s interpretation of her former fiance’s actions. Because Ms. White is still in her twenties, I believe she is well able to capture with a freshness and vivacity and authenticity the angst of this age group.  Granted, Roseanna married young and has little children, but it is clear when reading this book that she offers a unique and fresh author’s voice, and a way of characterization that is more in line with how a young person would indeed react. 

If you are going to read this book, don’t pick it up until you have several nights open in a row.  You will want to know what happens and won’t want to set this one aside and come back to it.

Bibliotherapy: The hero is a Revolutionary War veteran with PTSD.  The heroine has been “acting” out a role rather than displaying who God intended her to be.  She has been dishonest with herself and with others in revealing who and what she is.  Forgiveness and mercy and restoration of relationship are main themes.

Giveaway:  Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book in your choice of format.  Please leave your email address, also.

45 comments:

  1. I'm all for a book that is outside the norm of the cookie-cutter romances crowding the shelves, plus I'm a huge fan of the LFY series! I'd love to be entered for the giveaway. :o)

    Thanks!

    Christy
    southernsassythings at gmail dot com

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  2. Wow you leave me to where the only choice I have is to read this book. I am so glad authors are jumping out there with the reality of life. It has an earth shattering effect when we turn our lives over to God and the original plans he had laid out for our life. There has been some great moments in my children's adult lives when they got to those ah ha moments with God.

    Thanks for another great review/giveaway!

    Have a Blessed Day,
    Patricia aka Mamaw

    plb1050 at gmail dot com

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  3. Christy, I think I'm incapable of cookie cutter--I've tried. Much like my too-soft sugar cookies I tried to shape, my stories just turn into whatever they want, with no heed whatsoever to my outline. ;-)

    Patricia, I love phrases like "the only choice I have is to read this book." =) Many, many thanks to Carrie for her wonderful, insightful review!!

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  4. What. An. Awesome. Review. Carrie, I believe you covered everything without giving anything away, and left us wannabe readers of this book hungering for more! After reading Roseanna's, Jewel of Persia, I realized that that was one of the things I loved most about her writing. No cookie cutting on that one, either, and I NEVER knew what was going to happen next. It couldn't be a typical romance when the heroine had to share her husband with 100 other women! How many wives did King Xerxes have anyway, Roseanna? Well, enough, for sure! It amazes me somewhat, that at Roseanna's age, (even though Carrie, you mentioned the fact that she covers the angst of that age group so well), that she also had the wisdom to write such a complicated story as in her previous book. What a smart cookie she is, without the cutter!:) So much talent!

    LFY in Annapolis, MD, sounds intriguing, and again, Carrie, a remarkable review!

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  5. LOL, Diana. "A smart cookie without the cutter." I think I might slap that quote onto my resume. ;-)

    I actually couldn't find a count on how many wives and concubines Xerxes had, though his son and grandson report 100-300 in their harems. I had to assume Xerxes would be in a similar range.

    Thanks for the support, ladies!!

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  6. WOW! Carrie I see I have so much I am going to learn from you :) What an awesome review. I don't know how I'm going to read all these books I have on my TBR list. Roseanna what a blessing you are, thank you for using your talent for the Lord. Diana what do think would happen to our dear husbands if they even thought about getting another wife, much less 99 more! LOL! Besides I think they have their hands full putting up with us! :)

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  7. Hmmm...an outside-the-box Christian romance, and a fresh realistic take on the personalities and decisions of young people. You've convinced me. ;-)

    gwen[dot]gage[at]gmail[dot]com

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  8. Teresa, Paul said exactly that! He has enough on his hands with just one wife, he couldn't put up with another one! However, I'm sure what he MEANT to say is..."Sweetheart, you do everything in the world for me, why would I possibly need another wife?" I'm reading between the lines. LOL! I know Carlton would be sorely vexed, Teresa, with 99 more wives traipsing to Kohl's! haha

    I'm with you on the review as well, Carrie can certainly write them! And as for Roseanna's books, Wow!

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  9. I'm already a fan but it's reviews like this one, well....it's a one-of-a-kind review, that makes me want to run out and get this book!

    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

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  10. Run, Anne! RUN! ;-)

    Diana, you can imagine the conversations my hubby and I had while I was writing/he was reading Jewel of Persia. LOL.

    Teresa and Gwen, good to see you back! And isn't Carrie's review just fantabulous? Brought tears to my eyes. Love that lady!

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  11. A lovely review! I'd love to be entered for Rosanna's book and find out more about Annapolis, MD. Thanks!
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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  12. Fantastic review and you hit the nail right on the head, Carrie. Roseanna has a fresh and lovely voice indeed, and the story is so intriguing. I'm in the midst of reading it now.

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  13. The cover is gorgeous :) Excellent review. Sounds amazing!

    Please enter me
    crazi.swans at gmail dot com

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  14. Faye, the cover is beautiful and the story is even better! Thanks, Carla, so glad you are getting your chance to read it, too! Merry, we will enter you in the contest!

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  15. a wonderful review...looking forward to reading roseanna's latest masterpiece :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  16. Thanks Roseanna! I am so glad you are happy with the review and of course as a writer I love bringing tears to people's eyes! You did such a beautiful job on this story. Thanks so much for giving your readers this wonderful 18th century story!

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  17. Christy, Gwendolyn, and Anne - yes, you are some of the historical readers who will love this book because it is written for the discerning reader and is not formulaic.

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  18. Teresa, so good to see you here! you will enjoy this book! Karen, thanks for coming by and we will enter you.

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  19. Would love to win this book!

    frequentreader19 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  20. I read an excerpt from this book and have it on my list to read. It sounds verrrry good! If I win this book I would like it in paperback form.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/com

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  21. Merry, I'm of the opinion that you can't help but fall a little in love with Annapolis as you get to know it, so hopefully my book can help with that. ;-)

    Carla, I'm so glad to know you're enjoying it!

    Waving at my young friend Faye and my reader friend Karen, who's such an encouragement to me! (Have a few recommendations for you, Karen--mental note to email you.) And to the sweet Lori. =)

    Sylvia, it's always good to know the excerpts we post achieve something, LOL.

    Good luck, all!

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  22. The book sounds fantastic!
    andantespirit08(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. This book sounds really great, I'd love to read it!! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Courtney
    kcmelone at yahoo dot com

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  24. Rose and Courney, We will be sure to enter you to win a copy of this sparkling new book!

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  25. I don't prefer romance for the sake of romance (esp when it gives me unrealistic expectations), so I think I have to read Roseanna's style in this one! (Can't wait to read her earlier books, too!)

    I didn't realize Roseanna was so young...though in the photo above I would have guessed it!
    derekannette at gmail dot com

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  26. Roseanna,

    This book sounds wonderful and I can't believe how prolific you are while homeschooling and all the rest of what you do...

    Glad to "see" you over here as I went to check out Laura's post. I thought of you and wondered if your year was going well. I think your daughter is in first grade like mine.

    julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

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  27. Another reminder that I need to get my hands on some of Mrs. White's books ... good thing Christmas is around the corner. ;-)

    Thanks for the chance to win! I love historicals --and that must be one of the most gorgeous "LFY" covers I've seen. =)

    jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

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  28. Roseanna is one of my very favorite authors and this book can be no exception to that. I would LOVE to win a copy of this book for my church library so that they can have the chance to read her wonderful books!

    angelmom1165(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. Carrie, what can I say after reading your review?
    I want to read it! :)

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  30. I've been enjoying the "Love Finds You" series and this looks and sounds like a great book. Would love to get entered in the giveaway.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  31. I'm glad to hear that this isn't a cookie cutter romance. There seem to be too many cookie cutter romance nowadays! :)
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    writer.chicka[at]gmail.com

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  32. I love romance books that are not cookie cutter romance. I read "A Stray Drop of Blood" and look forward to reading more of Roseanna's books. I have read many LFY books and have enjoyed them all. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  33. As a lifelong fan of historical fiction and romance, this book would be the perfect treat to snuggle up to over Christmas. I've been putting my husband through grad school to be a theatre professor and while it hasn't been easy, the end is in sight next May. Here's hoping you will give me some inspiration to tackle the final push - to academia and beyond!
    dsks88 at gmail dot com

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  34. I would LOVE to read this book! I love all of the LFY books!

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  35. Sorry, I forgot my email address!
    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  36. I was sent the ebook by Summerside to read, but man do I really want a hard copy. The cover is stunning!

    joyfulhutch[at]msn[dot]com

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  37. I know what you mean, Michelle, the computer version isn't the same when they put a gorgeous cover on it like this one!

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  38. Marissa, I am hearing people say they love all the LFY books. I think this is my first one and I was so impressed. I understand, from Roseanna, that the editors are just wonderful there, too. I ran into them at the elevators at the conference and they were just as sweet as could be!

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  39. Sandy Kay, it will be so worth it when you all are done with grad school and begin careers that God has laid out for you. Hang in there!

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  40. Miss Kallie, I have A Stray Drop of Blood as all my friends have said how fabulous it is. It is crying out from my Kindle, but I have others that I need to review so it will have to wait.

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  41. Wow, I disappear into my basement for a while (cleaning and organizing before Christmas--oy! The glamor, LOL), and find all these lovely comments when I come back! =) Let's see if I can catch up . . .

    Annette and I were chatting on facebook last week, so we're pretty caught up. =)

    Julia R., so good to see you!! Yes, Xoe's in first grade, too. How's your year going?

    Lady Dragonkeeper, I was soooooo excited about this cover--Summerside did a fabulous job!

    Marian, that is EXACTLY the response I like to see, LOL.

    The Love Finds You series is so much fun to be a part of--I love meeting the loyal LFY readers!

    Sandy Kay, it sounds like you've been hard at work helping your hubby reach his goals! Here's wishing you a merry, merry Christmas with some good curl-up-with-a-book time. =)

    Waving to Michelle and Terri! And Miss Callie, good to see you! I really hope my bib-fic readers enjoy following me to an era closer to home. =)

    Thanks so much, everyone, for all the interest!!

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  42. Random.org picked #1 which is Christy at Sassy Southern Things! Congrats, Christy, and we hope you enjoy this book by Roseanna! Blessings!

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  43. Oopsies - Southern Sassy Things not the other way around! Check your email, Christy!

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  44. beautiful book cover

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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