Review: Loved the mystery
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 12, 2014
The secret of the mystery, the hidden treasures of the Abbey, hidden at the time when the Crown went around destroying Catholic churches throughput the land, has got to remain concealed.  Suffice to say, it is the greatest surprise in the entire story!…but to learn it prematurely here would spoil the thrill of learning as you read.  For me, the possibility of such treasures was alone enough to make the reading worthwhile (especially since it could so easily have arisen out of local legend; definitely an issue worthy of research).It was interesting and exciting, filled with intriguing individuals whose friendship the reader could feel as well.  Not to mention the treacherous adversaries, capable of making the reader's blood boil over some of their devastating deeds.More than worth the reading!  You will truly be delighted with this mystery.However, it is not just that: it is a beautiful love story, beautifully written.  BUT, it must be said that no detail of that love was left unexplored.  Which, unfortunately, makes it inappropriate for younger readers.In truth, I seldom write reviews for books that go so deeply into the intimate romantic situations; they make me way too uncomfortable.  But this book explored those moments so beautifully that it would actually be a worthy prequel to that parents' most dreaded discussion with the kids.  It truly shows what love -- and making love -- should be: exuding beauty and compassion, with consideration for one another, rather than "slam, bam, thank you ma'am".  I have only read one other author who writes such scenes in a way that the reading is not distressing to me [Kim Law], especially when the love making is such a large part of the story.But part of the beauty of this portion of the book, is that it even addresses some of the reasons persons as myself normally feel uncomfortable reading about intimacy; verily, the author should be commended for exposing the frights that Rowena had previously suffered, having left her a happy spinster prior to the time of this story.  And also thanks for showing the special cares that must be taken with women whose history parallels Rowena's, as well as demonstrating just how precarious comfort can be, showing how easily new situations can cause old fears to again arise, never having fully disappeared.You can see that it is, this time, with [uncomfortable] gratitude that I must thank the author for such beautiful and compassionate treatment of the love story, for which I must advise parents first read before allowing it to reach younger readers' eyes.