Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark, The - eBook
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5
5
5
â¢ðoâ¢:*èè*:â¢. I WANT TO MOVE HERE! .â¢:*èè*:⢠oðâ¢
ALL FOUR BOOKS IN THIS SERIES ARE REVIEWED HERE FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
THE WIDOW OF LARKSPUR INN, The Gresham Chronicles Book #1
Lawana Blackwell
â¢ðoâ¢:*èè*:â¢. THESE PEOPLE BECAME FAMILY .â¢:*èè*:⢠oðâ¢
Book one of The Gresham Chronicles is set in England/1860s. Julia Hollis has 3 children, servants and a grand home, and everything she needs until her husband suddenly passes away. She finds herself very suddenly deep in debt. She has days before the bank will throw her out and take everything. The only thing they allow her to keep is an old coaching inn in a village she has never heard of.
Initially, this book was hard for me because it focused on JuliaâÂÂs husband having a secret life of gambling. A life of sin he chose over his family. However, as the story progressed, I was able to relate to so much of what Julia was going through and the growth in Christ that she experienced. God used this book to grow me as well, and minister to my heart to continue to trust Him to see me and my kids through.
There are SO MANY WONDERFUL characters. You get to meet them and become a part of this village life and wish you were there. I am now about to start my 4th book in the series. I know I will be sad when it ends.
I so appreciate how this book is written with faith and God well-written throughout. It is very much the way I live life everyday. God is a part of my everyday life and a natural subject of conversation. But this book doesnâÂÂt feel preachy, above-your-head. Just simple and flowing like a gentle river of GodâÂÂs love. One thing I love, is how the books switch back and forth from different characters perspective. You really get inside each oneâÂÂs head. It feels like you are watching a miniseries! Each time I read from the books, I feel better and uplifted like I have been around good friends at church. I highly recommend these books.
Book1 - 432 pages
Also, please view her website. It is under her full name and very sweet. www.LawanaBlackwell.com
The Courtship of the Vicar's Daughter, Gresham Chronicles Series #2
â¢ðoâ¢:*èè*:â¢. LAUGH OUT LOUD, CRY, GENUINELY ENJOY .â¢:*èè*:⢠oðâ¢
Book TWO of The Gresham Chronicles continues in the lovely and now cherished village of Gresham. The details of these books are so rich. The fact that The Larkspur Inn is a boarding house allows for characters to move in and out and change so we can easily expect new ones to grace us with their presence. I love that there are several elderly characters, not just one or two and the author does not shy away from giving detailed descriptions of their emotions and lives. In this second book, you also get to know some of the children better, such as when young Philip goes off to boarding school. I absolutely love Mrs. Kingston. She is so cheeky. I laugh at her antics and enjoyed her thoroughly. Seth and Mercy are my favorite in this book. The way the Lord worked in their lives was amazing, and I found myself really rooting for them. However, the writer takes her time and does not rush the situation so you really get to go on a nice ride as their characters develop in an unexpected way.
The author also makes reference to books or authors that her characters are reading, such as Little Women, An Old Fashioned Girl, Jane Austen, etc. It is fun to see books/authors listed that I recognize.
I highly recommend these books.
Book2 - 416 pages
The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark, Gresham Chronicles Series #3
â¢ðoâ¢:*èè*:â¢. I WANT TO MOVE HERE! .â¢:*èè*:⢠oðâ¢
Book THREE of The Gresham Chronicles delivers you right back where you want to be. My only regret is that where Mercy and Seth had such a major role in book two, but they have only minor parts in this book. However, there are plenty of new relationships to follow. MercyâÂÂs brother Harold, actually grows into a very pleasant character in this book. Ooooh, those Sanders men were hard to like in Book two! There is love, faith, jealousy, introspection, the growing pains of youth and more in all of these books. There is also a great deal of humor that is injected at the most unusual moments so that you are caught of guard laughing out loud (and wondering if anyone else heard you!). In fact, LydiaâÂÂs dad really reminds me of my own dad who has dry humor that is all to happy to share with strangers and causes Lydia to role her eyes, and sarcastically commented that sheâÂÂs adopted. Ha ha! Once again, I felt warm and happy and wanting to live in Gresham, surrounded by the love of good friends, and GodâÂÂs love and simple times. I generally finish these books in a few days to week, allowing one full day off just to devote to reading. I did not plan it that way, but each one was so good, thatâÂÂs just what happened. I could not put them down!!!
I am so looking forward to reading book #4
Book3 - 398 pages
The Jewel of Gresham Green, Gresham Chronicles Series #4
â¢ðoâ¢:*èè*:â¢.NOT AS GOOD AS THE FIRST THREE .â¢:*èè*:⢠oðâ¢
Book FOUR of The Gresham Chronicles picks up in April 1884, 15 years after book three ends. It is very sad and depressing in many instances. Several of the old characters are gone, but some are still around. The sad times seem to outweigh the good times so I just did not enjoy this book as much. When it ended, I was finally ok with that, which is really a bummer after love, love, loving the first three.
Book4 - 415 pages
June 25, 2012
In a lot of series, I come across a book that I feel deserves an extra star. For the Gresham Chronicles, "Lydia Clark" is that book. Lydia and Jacob are honestly one of the sweetest, most romantic couples I have ever seen, and I can identify so much with Lydia, and even a little with Jacob, that I was anxious to see them find each other even though I knew they would in the end. For example, the whole time that Jacob was mooning over Miss Rawlins, I felt like screaming, "wake up, stupid!" And Miss Rawlins herself was an engaging character--not a villain, but a sufficiently annoying hindrance who was not in the least worthy of that man's affection. To say nothing of the fact that someone who wrote the same story over and over could get published--heaven forbid that happen in the real world! :) In addition, the subplot with the Meeks family and Harold Sanders was a fun one--Harol'd bumbling attempts at courting gave me a giggle. Even Noelle, who it took me awhile to warm up to, turned out to be a sympathetic character, although I must confess I would have liked to see a little more development of chemistry between her and Paul Treves. But as I said, this was my favorite visit to Gresham out of the whole series. Wonderful work, Lawana!
October 25, 2008
I do love the Gresham Chronicles and this book is a wonderful continuation of my favorite characters and their lives.
June 13, 2008
I found this book to be one of the best I have ever read. It was rich in plot, in messages, in surprises and in laughs. It also had I think a high literal level. By the end I felt I knew those people, as if I had lived every day of the book among them. I also found in it a great insight in Christian living. I gained a lot by reading this book.
June 13, 2008
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