Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Wrap-up: HoHoHo Readathon
Well, life and a packed review schedule got in the way of meeting my goal of reading the entire Return to Christmas Falls series, but I did get a good start and read three of them! I'll get the reviews posted later this week.
Here's what I read:
Review: The Nativity Pageant by Neil K. Johnson
My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing
Would you rather read the nativity story or be a part of it? Using simple stage directions, easy-to-find props, and a script that's straight from the scriptures, this book helps you act out the familiar story of the first Christmas for your friends and family. Start a new tradition this season with a simple pageant you'll look forward to performing year after year.
My Review
I love how simple yet thorough this slim 26-page booklet is for directing a Nativity pageant. It includes the cast, two narrators, stage direction, props, and optional songs. The cues for the actors include directions for movement and expression that will bring life and meaning to this powerful story, and are also easy enough for young children to follow. It's perfect for a family, church class, or Christmas party. We can't wait to use it this Christmas season with our daughters and their cousins!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Review: A Marchioness Below Stairs by Alissa Baxter
My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
Escaping from Bath and the news that her former love is about to marry another, Isabel, the young widowed Marchioness of Axbridge, accepts an invitation to her cousin’s house party. Yet, instead of finding respite, she stumbles into a domestic crisis of majestic proportions: The kitchen servants have succumbed to the influenza.
If that weren’t bad enough, her former sweetheart arrives with his fiancĂ©e, seeking shelter from the increasingly hazardous snow storm. Trapped inside Chernock Hall with a volatile mix of house guests, including abolitionists and slave owners, Isabel wishes she could hide below stairs for the duration. But, alas, she cannot. While helping in the kitchen, Isabel is cornered by her cousin’s disreputable friend, Marcus Bateman, who challenges and provokes her at every turn.
At last, the storm subsides. However, the avalanche of repercussions cannot be undone. Caught in the grip of the terrible winter of 1813, will Isabel’s greatest threat come from the weather, her abolitionist views, or from falling in love again?
My Review
There are a lot of things I liked about this book. Isabel's passion for abolition, her humility in helping her cousin by cooking for his house party, her sacrifices for her family, and her love of independence. The setting was easy to imagine and I appreciated the historical and period details sprinkled in. I didn't quite know how to take Mr. Bateman for a while (like Isabel) but as he proves himself devoted to her and supports her in ways nobody else did I came to like him more. He challenges her and is confident enough to stand up to her. I didn't feel a connection to the emotions of the characters however, and felt a bit detached, even though the plot and banter were entertaining. Overall a great story and one I would recommend to fans of Regency romance.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
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