I really was not expecting a lot from this book. In fact I didn't even know this was the author's first finished manuscript (which probably explains one of my criticisms.) But as I read the book I found my most favorite female character EVER for this genre...Em. Just Em. Plain Em.
Caleb wasn't bad either, but he didn't top my favorite male character, Drew, from A Bride Most Begrudging. A few months ago Susan (this blog's real author) and I had a discussion about our favorite male characters from this genre. (Hers is Artham from The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson, but in this genre it is Gideon from Head in the Clouds by Karen Witmeyer.) At the time I couldn't pin down my favorite male. I hold a soft spot in my heart for The Messenger by Siri Mitchell so Jeremiah is a favorite, but he is a little too "wounded soul" to be my absolute favorite character. Then a few weeks after our discussion I picked up Bride to reread for like the third time. Afterwards I handed it to Susan and said, "You may like Gideon, but read Drew. THIS is my favorite." But, on to THIS book's review. My main criticism for The Hope of Azure Springs is the dialogue. It just doesn't always flow really well. It sometimes feels choppy and short. Rushed almost. When I finished the book and discovered this was her first finished manuscript, it made more sense. I am not a writer but I have often heard from my son who would love to be one someday that dialogue is a hard thing to get a good grip on. So, maybe as we see Rachel Fordham publishing more books, we will see a more flowly dialogue emerge. But even this small flaw could not keep me from loving The Hope of Azure Springs. This book made me cry, ya'll. Two or Three Times. Something about the storyline and Em just resonated with me where I am right now. On the more formal review side, this book is very clean. The romance factor is the way I prefer...kissing saved to the end and the author conveys that they care for each other without telling us all about their tingling feelings. I just can't suggest books like that to unmarried girls, especially. And although the storyline was somewhat predictable, it wasn't entirely. So, I didn't feel like I was rereading all the other books but with a new cover. Speaking of the cover, I think this book is beautiful. It may not look like anything special on the computer screen, but there is something about the cover that when I received it in the mail, I thought it was amazing. I don't know if it is the colors (yellow and green together are my favorite color combo) or her dress/shawl combo or what. But, I do love the look of the cover. And I love this book. I so hope Mrs. Fordham continues to perfect her craft and is able to finish another manuscript because I, for one, am looking forward to her next publication. Blessings, The Mother
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October 2019
Book Review
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