Worst Couples in Books

By Kelly Bridgewater

Valentine's Day.

The holiday that is all about love. What a wonderful holiday! If you are a romantic at heart. Not so much for me. I show my husband I love him every day, so I really don't need a holiday to force myself to buy him a gift. Usually, we don't buy each other gifts. It doesn't rank pretty high for us.

So I thought I would do something different to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Today, I'm sharing the book couples that I read that I saw no chemistry and wondered why the author allowed them to date and then fall in love. I didn't find their romance believable at all.

Without any further ado, here are the worst couples written in books, as least in my opinion:

(Disclaimer: If you agree, don't be mean with your comments. This is MY OPINION. Also, every picture comes from Amazon unless noted.)

Darkwater Secrets by Robin Carroll

 

A Rumored Fortune by JoAnn Davidson Politiano

 

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd

From Goodreads

What about you? What couples did not work for you?

Allison Pittman: The Seamstress

By Kelly Bridgewater

A beautifully crafted story breathes life into the cameo character from the classic novel A Tale of Two Cities.

France, 1788
It is the best of times . . .

On a tranquil farm nestled in the French countryside, two orphaned cousins—Renée and Laurette—have been raised under the caring guardianship of young Émile Gagnon, the last of a once-prosperous family. No longer starving girls, Laurette and Renée now spend days tending Gagnon's sheep, and nights in their cozy loft, whispering secrets and dreams in this time of waning innocence and peace.

It is the worst of times . . .

Paris groans with a restlessness that can no longer be contained within its city streets. Hunger and hatred fuel her people. Violence seeps into the ornate halls of Versailles. Even Gagnon’s table in the quiet village of Mouton Blanc bears witness to the rumbles of rebellion, where Marcel Moreau embodies its voice and heart.

It is the story that has never been told.

In one night, the best and worst of fate collide. A chance encounter with a fashionable woman will bring Renée’s sewing skills to light and secure a place in the court of Queen Marie Antoinette. An act of reckless passion will throw Laurette into the arms of the increasingly militant Marcel. And Gagnon, steadfast in his faith in God and country, can only watch as those he loves march straight into the heart of the revolution.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I have read a number of Allison Pittman's historical romances, and they were okay. The Seamstress sounded like a wonderful read, but sadly I was disappointed. The characters appeared flat and had no personality. They appeared to be cardboard characters flitting around on the pages of the story. I had a hard time empathizing with any of them. As for the plot, it started out with a wonderful synopsis, but Pittman drags the story along for a LONG time, getting to the good part of the uprising. I had a hard time focusing, and I kept finding other things to do beside read the book. The ending might be historically accurate, but I had a hard time believing I spent all this time with the character to have her end up the way she did. I really didn't enjoy this novel and was glad when I reached the end. Fans of Sandra Byrd's Henry VIII series might enjoy this novel. 

I receive a complimentary copy of The Seamstress by Allison Pittman through Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

About the Author:

From Amazon

As far as I know, I have always been a writer. Before I could put words to page, I would dictate stories to my mother. I have always lulled myself to sleep by crafting stories--a new chapter each night. When God called me to write, I was thrilled to answer His prompting. And so it was, after a long conversation with my husband, I left a 20-year teaching career to pursue a new direction. It called for a HUGE step of faith, but God has kept me and our family safe.

I count every single one of my readers as one of God's blessings in my life, and I like to think of my stories as being the first step in a conversation. Please visit my website, www.allisonpittman.com and send me an email. It is one of my greatest joys to hear from you! (Taken from Amazon)

Elizabeth Camden: A Desperate Hope

By Kelly Bridgewater

Eloise Drake's prim demeanor hides the turbulent past she's finally put behind her--or so she thinks. A mathematical genius, she's now a successful accountant for the largest engineering project in 1908 New York. But to her dismay, her new position puts her back in the path of the man responsible for her deepest heartbreak.

Alex Duval is the mayor of a town about to be wiped off the map. The state plans to flood the entire valley where his town sits in order to build a new reservoir, and Alex is stunned to discover the woman he once loved on the team charged with the demolition. With his world crumbling around him, Alex devises a risky plan to save his town--but he needs Eloise's help to succeed.

Alex is determined to win back the woman he thought he'd lost forever, but even their combined ingenuity may not be enough to overcome the odds against them before it's too late.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

Elizabeth Camden is a wonderful storyteller. There is only one of her stories that didn't work well for me. Don't worry. I won't tell, but you can find all my reviews on Amazon. Anyways, A Desperate Hope finishes her first series. I have enjoyed all three novels. I love how her heroines are educated and don't mind helping the little man. In this book, Eloise wants a place to be needed, but she returns to her home and runs into Alex, her first love. It is tangled emotions at first sight, but eventually, they learn to grasp and control their emotions and allow love to blossom. I really enjoyed the plot. It was different than anything I have ever read. Camden kept me engrossed in the plot, and I finished the novel in a little over three hours. I had a hard time putting  it down. There is even a hint of a mystery in the novel, which I loved. Overall, A Desperate Hope is a wonderful ending to the series. I really enjoyed the characters and anxiously await what Camden comes up with next. If you are a fan of Camden's other stories, then I recommend you pick this book up.

I received a complimentary copy of A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

About the Author:

From Amazon

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.

She regularly posts about the joys of the book world at http://elizabethcamden.com/blog (Taken from Amazon.)

Verse for 2019

By Kelly Bridgewater

Last week, I shared the word for 2019.

REST.

What a nice word that sounds like.

The verse to verify or go with this word for 2019 is:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

I pray this year is a less stressful year with more rest. Maybe even a nice family vacation. We have been waiting to travel to Washington D. C. and visit some of the Smithosian Museums.  We want to go out west and see Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone. I could enjoy a restful vacation.

What would it be like to actually spend money customizing my house to my taste instead of fixing everything that breaks? I would like to make a path to the front porch from the driveway. I would like more flowers in certain spots around the yard. I would like another piece of fence on the opposite side of the driveway. Maybe fix the garage door into a patio door to keep our food storage warm in the winter.

What about you? Doesn't a year with just plenty of rest sound wonderful?

Kristy Cambron: Castle on the Rise

By Kelly Bridgewater

A storied castle. A band of rebels. A nation chasing a centuries-old dream of freedom. And three women who rise above it all . . .

When Laine Forrester travels overseas to attend her best friend’s vineyard wedding, she expects to find the bride on the brink of a fairy tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks, it seems the storybook lives they’d imagined are suddenly ripping apart.

With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending, Laine agrees to accompany the newlyweds to the groom’s home in Ireland—never expecting she’d be the one drawn in by its wide-open moors, backroads bordering the Irish Sea, and a mysterious castle that dares to keep its secrets hidden.

From the storied streets of Dublin to the shores of the Emerald Isle, Laine is drawn in to the land and its rich history. The castle ruins whisper stories of Issy—a photojournalist battling through the 1916 Easter Rising, and Maeve—the castle’s lady of legend, fighting for survival through the 1798 rebellion that started it all.

Spanning more than two centuries, Castle on the Rise unites the legacy of three women who must risk mending the broken places within—for life, love, and the belief that even through the depths of our pain, a masterpiece of a story can emerge.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I adore Kristy Cambron's lyrical writing style. It flows well and her stories jump off the imagination and into the world. With her first novel in this series, The LostCastle, I had a hard time with the three different time frames and point of views. They didn't really mesh well together. I believe Cambron was the first person I have read that has conquered such a feat. But with Castle on the Rise, I knew what to expect so the novel flowed easier.

Yes, this novel does feature three different point of views in three different time periods, but like I mentioned earlier, I was prepared for this and I think it worked better this time around. I had no problem waiting to see how the three storylines would intertwine. I knew they would, but I had to wait until Cambron showed me. The story appeared more balanced with the heroines. They showed their strengths in each other.

As for the plot, I really think the story shined a lot more this time. I loved the idea of the Irish rebellion that has occurred for over two hundred years. I enjoyed seeing how important each of the three heroines were to the rebellion from the beginning to the present. I flew through the story, and I couldn't wait to see how Cambron would tie them all together.

The romance occurred in all three timelines but nothing was too forced on the characters. I was lost in the treasure hunt in the present timeline and lost in the fight for Irish independence in the past two timelines. The romance appeared to flow naturally from the struggling, yet heroic females.

I don't remember much of a spiritual thread to the story. If there was one, it didn't jump out at me as the most important aspect of the novel. So if you don't want a story that preaches at you, then this might be the book for you. Cambron just informs the reader about the Irish Rebellion, which I enjoyed.

Overall, Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron definitely rose from the ashes and made me take notice. This time around, the three time periods flowed better and made more sense. I can't wait to read Cambron's final installment in this series. Fans of Melanie Dobson, Rachel Hauck, and Cambron's other works might enjoy this novel too.

I received a complimentary copy of Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

About the Author:

From Amazon

KRISTY CAMBRON is an award-winning author of Christian fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of Bible studies, including the Verse Mapping series. She is a women's ministry leader at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, and a passionate storyteller who travels to speak at ministry events across the country, encouraging women to experience a deeper life in the Word through verse mapping. Her work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews' Best Books, RT Reviewers' Choice Awards, and received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations.

Kristy holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing, and has 15 years of experience in education and leadership development for a Fortune-100 Corporation, working in partnership with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, and can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.

To stay connected, visit: www.kristycambron.com (Taken from Amazon.)