Review: Disappointed
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 01 11, 2014
I've read the first two in the series and they were enjoyable reads, so I of course want to continue the series. While this one seemed like it was going to also be a good read, I ended up not very impressed with it at all.I really tried to like this mail order bride and while I could understand her deceit and reasons in the beginning, I felt she would redeem herself once she got to Montana. Instead she not only married a really great, honest and caring guy, Gideon, she went into her marriage with so many lies! The worst of course was marrying him under her best friends name (which by law would make the marriage invalid, even back in those days) and continued her previous lies while building on them the whole time. It was just very hard for me to like a person who would lie so much and repeatedly to a man who believed very strongly in honesty and working through things. He'd also given her so many chances to be honest with him, since he knew that she was keeping something from him but she always found some reason not to be honest and while bits and pieces slowly came to light, she still kept the biggest secrets and lies to herself all in the name of her deep love for him.Personally, I don't know how you can lie so well to someone who treats you so well when you supposedly love them so much. It was just a real turn off for me and I just couldn't connect, respect or like the. character of Elenor/Addie.  She betrayed her best friend and deceived so many people for months that she just wasn't redeemable for me because it didn't seem to matter who she lied to, manipulated or deceived to get what she wanted. Sure, there were times it seemed it was really weighing on her conscious but obviously not enough to be honest to even one person; she would just twist the truth to cover up for things she got caught at with a pitying sob story and deceived so many good people that she just wasn't redeemable for me. Throughout, I saw her as a very selfish, lieing person, who never considered consequences of her deceptions on others lives or feelings except to herself if she got caught.One other thing in this book that was a big turn off to me was the blatant criticism of another's religion. Though I'm no longer a church goer, I grew up as a Christian and still have a very strong faith and belief in my religion. While I'm not into the exceptionally religious romances that I believe go overboard, I have no problem with storylines of people and their faith. What truly shocked me in this book, was what I felt was a totally unnecessary part where there is much criticism as well as joking made about the Catholic religion.  While I may not agree with other religious beliefs,  I at least try and show the respect for others as I hope they would for mine. I personally felt it was very unnecessary to the storyline in the first place but since religion was brought up, I definitely didn't expect the derogatory remarks and for me, I would find some of the things said very insulting if I were Catholic, totally unnecessary and uncalled for. Was a big turn off for me, definitely not something I'd expect from a true Christian. Very tacky and demeaning.Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book I can see myself recommending which is a disappointment since the first two in the series were rather good. It also makes me hesitate to continue the series. Totally different writing style which  amazed me. Not at all like, or as well written as the first two. Doesn't seem like it was written by the same person. Sorry but this is just my take on this book. I'm sure others may see it differently but it was just not a book I enjoyed.