The Best of The Everstone Chronicles
I’ve been a fan of Dawn Crandall’s books since the first of The Everstone Chronicles, when she emailed me out of the blue asking if I’d consider reviewing it. I was hooked, and I’m still hooked. In fact, I think The Cautious Maiden is her best yet. Yes, it’s the fourth book in the series, but you don’t have to read the other three first. Although you should!Dawn Crandall doesn’t shy away from difficult issues (and one of the benefits of writing historical romance is that she can address these in a way that seems a little removed, yet is still 100% relevant today). One of the issues she tackles in The Cautious Maiden is the subject of sexual temptation—and how hard it is not to get carried away by feelings. Yes, there’s a lot of sexual tension in this novel.
The Cautious Maiden is the story of Violet Hawthorne, orphaned and forced to leave her childhood home after her brother turns it into a brothel. She works at the nearby Everstone hotel, and is friends with the wealthy owners (to understand why, read The Captive Imposter).
She comes into contact with the wealthy but distant Vance Everstone (from The Bound Heart), who has a formidable reputation as a scoundrel who ruins ladies. But the Vance that Violet gets to know is anything but —he’s a man of honour, and a Christian.
I loved both main characters. Violet, for her intelligence and her determination to distance herself from her brother despite having no family to depend on, and Vance for showing the transformation of character Christianity can bring. And I loved watching them (*spoiler alert*) fall in love (although this is a romance novel, so is that really a spoiler?).
Now I’m looking forward to the next of The Everstone Chronicles, because there are still some unmarried characters who need to get together! Recommended for fans of historical romance with an edge from authors such as Deeanne Gist and Francine Rivers.
Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.
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