Ramblings-n-Writings

Archive for August 19th, 2008

A Daughter’s Inheritance
The Broadmoor Legacy #1
Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

A few weeks ago I promised to review some of the books I’ve read over the summer. First up is Judith Miller and Tracie Peterson’s A Daughter’s Inheritance.

Lose yourself in the history, opulence, and elegance of the Thousand Islands. Cousins Amanda, Sophie, and Fanny Broadmoor are as close as sisters, but when their grandfather dies, the terms of his will just might destroy their bond. Seventeen-year-old Fanny has never put much stock in the conventions of society. In fact, she has given her heart to Michael, the family boat-keeper. But when she receives a surprising inheritance, she discovers just how oppressive society can be… and that she may be trusting the wrong people. Dare she follow her heart and risk going against her family? What if she loses everything she’s ever known? It all comes down to one choice: What does Fanny Broadmoor want her legacy to be? ~ back cover copy

I would give A Daughter’s Inheritance a 4-star rating on a scale of 1 to 5. The storyline focuses on one of three cousins, Fanny Broadmoor, coming of age in the late 1800s. Some elements of the plot are typical – an heiress, a plotting guardian, and a forbidden love – but when woven together, they make an intriguing story.

The first three chapters are told almost exclusively from Fanny’s perspective with a brief excerpt near the end of chapter 3 coming from another character’s perspective. I thought this was an excellent way to “set the stage” and allow the reader to glean Fanny’s opinion of the characters she interacts with. This technique also exposes Fanny’s naïveté as she places her trust in certain characters.

Fanny, the main character, is a very believable character and I felt like she and the Broadmoors actually existed in history. The descriptions of the Broadmoor home and Thousand Islands paint another believable picture of what living in the 1890s was like for a wealthy.

My only dislike of the book is that the plot is very slow to start and at times lacks suspense and/or excitement. While a slow-moving plot is bearable, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of development and lack of forward motion. Finally, in chapter 19 the plot picks up and some additional twists are added.

Because of the slow movement, I considered putting the book down at times, but I’m glad I stuck it out to the final page. The end intrigued me enough to make me want to read the next book coming out this fall. Watch for An Unexpected Love, book 2 in Broadmoor Legacy.