Review: A love story that looks past the beast of the exterior in order to behold the beauty underneath
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 11, 2014
The more I read from Amber Stokes, the more I truly appreciate and relish her writing ability! She never ceases to touch my heart with her stories. There is a beauty that lies within the simple yet honest way she develops her characters and the plot. I never get tired of delving into a different character and seeing life from their eyes. It’s a refreshing and rejuvenating experience.In Bellflower, we see how Annabella and Jacob meet and fall in love. Annabella is new in town, and is in need of a job. Jacob finds himself immediately drawn to this beautiful stranger. His heart betrays him just as Annabella's own heart is filled with confusion after their first meeting. Jacob is not at all what she expected, and she doesn't know how to interpret his actions. Will she push away the only heart that has longed for who she is underneath her mask, or will she give in to this fragile dream that has bloomed before her and hold on with everything in her?This is not your typical love story. It is one born from the heart as any other, but it is one that looks past the beast of the exterior in order to behold the beauty underneath. Theirs is an imperfect and harsh world, and even in the midst of that pain, they find a spark of something pure and beautiful. Neither intended for this, but that is what makes it all the more wonderful.Amber Stokes continues to delight and enthrall as she unfolds the rich history of her beautiful series. I love immersing myself in the details of the time and the personalities of the quirky and charming characters that she brings our way. I never tire of their captivating tales, and I continue to look forward to new stories by this extremely talented author.BONUS STORY:Fairy Slippers: A Retelling of CinderellaWhat a beautiful surprise to be able to read this emotionally touching short story that also serves as a new piece of Amber Stokes’s serial masterpiece. It was such a treat to see Zachary Taylor again! I was wondering if we would perhaps see another side to him.We are introduced to a new character named Margret Richmond who finds herself alone in the world. Both of her parents have passed away and left a huge hole in her heart. She struggles to get through life one day at a time. Secretly, she dreams of finding a man who will love, cherish, and desire her, but she knows she isn’t anything special. She doesn’t have the bubbly personality, the blessing of beauty, or the grace of the other girls she works alongside, so she prepares herself to live a solitary life. However, Zachery Taylor sees her in a completely different way. You would think that a man who served and fought in a war would have the courage to proclaim his feelings to a woman, but you would be mistaken. War does not prepare a man for love. Will these two lonely souls find each other and let their hearts do the talking, or will they shake off these silly, unfounded feelings and get on with life?The struggle of letting go of the reigns of life is one that we all deal with. We aren’t able to easily hand over what we think we can manage just fine. Even admitting that you really aren’t in control can be a huge mountain to overcome. What we need to understand is that once we get out of the way, life is able to proceed as intended. Dreams can then be fulfilled. The hardest part is just allowing things to happen on their own, so just let go and see what wonders will unfold before your eyes.Once again, Amber Stokes has outdone herself with this fresh and original piece to her much larger tapestry. I look forward to much more in the future. She is only just beginning to scratch the surface of the potential that lies within her heart.