Ramblings-n-Writings

Posts Tagged ‘Siri Mitchell’

ABOUT THE BOOK

The elegance of Madame Forza’s gown shop is a far cry from the downtrodden North End of Boston. Yet each day Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana enter the world of the upper class, working on finery for the elite in society. The three beauties each long to break free of their obligations and embrace the American dream–and their chance for love. But the ways of the heart are difficult to discern at times.

Julietta is drawn to the swarthy, mysterious Angelo. Annamaria has a star-crossed encounter with the grocer’s son, a man from the entirely wrong family. And through no intent of her own, Luciana catches the eye of Billy Quinn, the son of Madame Forza’s most important client.

Their destinies intertwined, each harboring a secret from their families and each other, will they be found worthy of the love they seek?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Heart Most Worthy, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

My reading time has been severely hampered with the arrival of our girls, so I have to tell you that I’ve not cracked the cover of this book. I know that if I tried, I’d be instantly asleep since any time sleeping is very precious now! In the past I’ve read and reviewed two other books by author Siri Mitchell – She Walks in Beauty and Love’s Pursuit.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including in Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.

But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a sermon and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.

Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.

Her ninth novel, A Heart Most Worthy, follows prior Bethany House releases: A Constant Heart (October 2008), Love’s Pursuit (June 2009), and She Walks in Beauty (Apr 2010). She Walks in Beauty won the inaugural INSPY Award for Historical Fiction in Dec 2010. Two of her novels, Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door were Christy Award finalists. Love’s Pursuit was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award.

Publishers Weekly proclaimed, “Mitchell delivers the historical goods.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers via Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city’s most eligible bachelor.

Debuting means plenty of work–there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect. Her training soon pays off, however, as celebrity’s spotlight turns Clara into a society-page darling.

Yet Clara soon wonders if this is the life she really wants. Especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries.

When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it’s not just her marriage at stake–the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

If you would like to read the first chapter of She Walks in Beauty, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

Last summer I read Love’s Pursuit by Siri Mitchell. What an amazing look into the Puritan lifestyle! When I saw another book by Siri Mitchell on the reading list, I jumped at the chance to read it. My hope was that once again I would transported to another time and feel like I was living alongside the main character. I wasn’t disappointed.

She Walks In Beauty tells the story of Clara Carter, a 17-year-old New York socialite, and her rise to the top of the debutante world. Her journey wasn’t easy as she dealt with an overbearing aunt, a competition with her best friend for the richest man’s hand, and just the overwhelming social pressures.

Yesterday, I reviewed another book that took 5 unmarried women to the prairies. I admired their determination and spunk. I also queried whether I could’ve been a mail order bride. I have to say that after reading Sixteen Brides followed by She Walks in Beauty, I would much rather be a mail order bride than a New York debutante.

Like Clara, I would get bored with the routine and detest the fact that I was to marry for money and not love. I admired how Clara did make the right choice in the end. Tragedy struck her family and she saw through the obvious choice to what really would be best for her.

One thing that Siri Mitchell is a master at is making an historical era come alive. From the descriptions of the dresses to the details of corset wearing to the painted pictures of the poor versus rich sections of town, each detail makes the story richer and more vivid.

She Walks in Beauty is staying on my bookshelf for years to come and is one of those books that I’ll pull out to re-read some day.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the small Puritan community of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts, Susannah Phillips stands out both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds herself pursued by the town’s wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he seems.

In trying to discover true love’s path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth, passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question the rules and regulations of her childhood faith. In a community where grace is unknown, what price will she pay for embracing love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love’s Pursuit, go HERE
MY THOUGHTS

I have to admit I can recall reading only one other Puritan story – Hawthorne’s classic Scarlet Letter. I’m pretty sure I read some others as part of literature courses, but none stand out in my mind. As a historical novel, Love’s Pursuit opened up a whole new world and produced an interesting, compelling read.

The story’s premise is how does one deal with fitting the mold? Susannah is considered the “good” girl, but is the “good” girl always good or does she have a rebellious spirit inside? (How many of us have been in this same dilemma during our lifetimes?) How far is she willing to follow that rebellious spirit?

The love story in Love’s Pursuit is truly beautiful. Through the hero, Daniel, Susannah learns that not everything in life is as it seems. He also shows her that God gives grace, something her religion never taught her. I love how Susannah became her own person while around Daniel – she didn’t fit the mold.

My only “complaint” about the story is I was slightly confused when the first person point of view switched from Susannah to another character, Small-Hope. Other than a break to indicate that the scene had changed, the reader received no warning that she was suddenly in the head of a totally different character. As the story progressed, the verbal clues and writing style showed the difference between Susannah’s and Small-Hope’s scenes, but initially it was a little disconcerting.

Finally, one of the Reader’s Questions in the back stood out to me. It asks if the reader considers the story a tragedy or a romance. Given that the ending of Love’s Pursuit isn’t the typical book ending, I contemplated the question for awhile and decided that the correct answer isn’t listed. I believe it is a “tragic romance.” (How’s that for skirting the issue?) Love is pursued, found, lost. In the end, the reader knows that while Susannah is crushed by events, her life will go on – she’s young – and she’ll have many happy years.

If you enjoy stories that break outside of the box and don’t follow the usual plot sequence, Love’s Pursuit would make a great addition to your library. The historical details also make this a great book for anyone studying the Puritan era or lifestyle.