All in Good Time, Gilded Legacy Series #2 -eBook
4.4
5
14
14
Glad I tried it...
This is the first book I've read from Maureen Lang and it didn't disappoint. It's the journey of two people trying to come to terms with their past mistakes and finding grace from others in the process. Dessa thinks her past precludes her from being able to marry;she believes she will be content in continuing her mentor's dream of opening a house for former prostitutes. Yet, she tends to be impatient when waiting on God so she tries to do things her way (which she thinks would be God's way, too). Henry knows his world was built on a lie of his own creation and he thinks he could never have a wife and family because of his past. They both learn to love each other and accept the truths about each other because their past is what made them into the people of the present. Although I enjoyed their story line, I would have liked it better if they spent more time with each other in the first half of the book. It always seemed like either character was running out of the room for one reason or another. I enjoyed the epilogue so I could get a glimpse of how all the secondary characters were doing. Overall, I'm glad I tried it and would definitely read another of Ms. Lang's books again.
June 14, 2013
At-Risk Women in the Wild West
Summary: Dessa Caldwell has a heart for helping at-risk women and girls in 1880's Denver. So she takes her impulsive nature and gets a loan from a local bank to open a safe house. Little does she know that the loan was given without the blessing of the bank owner, a young man with a dark past. Sparks fly, and both Dessa and her beaux are compelled to decide what they really want from life.
The main problem with this story is that we don't spend enough time with any one character to really understand who they are. Between the problems at the bank, the problems at Dessa's safe house, the problems in the bordellos, the problems back home, all the characters are rushing around trying to do something and we are left guessing at their intentionsâÂÂa poor substitute for suspense.
While I appreciate the author's efforts to deal with topics like child-rape, prostitution, gambling, and drug addiction tactfully in a way that will not steal the innocence of her readers, the truth is that her approach also lacks compassion. Dessa's violation at a young age by her employer is treated as foolish first love. The reason that Dessa has a low response from the women she wants to help is because they are happy in the brothels. In fact, one character blatantly announces her goal to become a prostitute, and when she changes her mind, it is due less to an understanding of the pain accompanying that lifestyle than to immediate fear she will be punished for helping others. An ending explanation says that just providing a door out gives these women all the hope they need to keep living, even if they never walk through it.
My greatest fear is that a naif reader might construe the light treatment as grounds for superiority. After all, if these women all chose this life willingly then they deserve what comes to them. The truth is far more complex.
For a better treatment of this subject, I suggest Francine River's Redeeming Love.
June 9, 2013
A Lovely Romance
Maureen Lang writes beautiful stories. I have enjoyed a few of them so far, and I`ll be sure to look for more. Her descriptions are clear and detailed, so I'm never in doubt as to her meaning. Her characters are sympathetic and charming, and I can relate to them. The romance is sweet, gentle, and appealing. There is plenty to keep the interest in the plot, with DessaâÂÂs ambitions and the two men competing for her, as well as the consequences of all their pasts. There is also the exciting city life in the Victorian era. I always like books with a clean theme, by which I mean no goriness or prurience. This one was just to my taste. I recommend it!
June 4, 2013
Such a great book!
Within the first few pages, this book had me completely hooked and I couldn't put it down until I finished it!
All in Good Time is a story that centers around two people - Dessa Caldwell, who wants to open a house to serve women looking to get out of prostitution, and Henry Hawkins, who owns the largest bank in town and who makes an investment in her new business through his uncle, who works at the bank with him. Both Henry and Tessa have secrets from their past that threaten to impact their lives now, and both want to keep those secrets hidden. While I did have a feeling about what would happen in the end, I was still somewhat surprised by how it all worked out. There were many things that could be learned through this story - about faith to follow through on the plans God has for us, about what really makes a friendship, about learning to trust the people who come into our lives, and many more. The author made the characters come alive in a way that made it easy to relate to them, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books in the future!
Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, the opinions expressed are completely my own.
May 30, 2013
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