Review: An Okay Story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 19, 2013
This book started out great, with tons of action, great character development, tenderness, humor, and sympathy for the characters. Unfortunately, towards the end of the book, it seemed that the character development for the heroine - Lady Chloe-Louise de Geld - came to a standstill when she decides to take matters into her own hands, regarding Ingilby, the vindictive and evil neighbor of hers. She took action - not once, but twice- with both actions leading to unfortunate repercussions for everyone and, most especially, for herself. I enjoy a good story with a great heroine who is smart, witty, intelligent, and strong emotionally but Chloe does not really seem to be it, even though she seems to have a pleasant personality. After those actions of hers, she seemed fickle, foolish and extremely unthinking to me. It was extremely hard for me to finish reading the book after that but I did, just to see what happens in the end.Overall, the book was good with the appropriate disposal of the enemy, the strong bonds between friends and family, undying love between the newly formed couples in the book and, most especially, with the mystery solved in the end with what happened to Merritt St. Hever, Keir's son. Chloe's character had a slight redemption in the end when she helped resolve that particular mystery. I initially wanted to give the book 3 stars but I enjoyed Fragments of Grace for the most part, especially with the character development of Keir, regardless of my disappointment with the heroine.If I had my way, I would've set up Lady Summer de Moray, the daughter of an old friend - Sir Garran de Moray - with Keir. To me, she seems to have a great set of skills, interests and hobbies, vice that of Chloe who seems to have none. Add those skills on top of a super-pleasant personality and it seems like she is made for Keir who is also made of great stuff. This was finely written for the most part, so 4 stars- A+++.