5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A touching holiday inspirational from a skilled author, December 15, 2011
I am a big fan of inspirational romances, but I'm also a tough critic. One of my pet peeves is that sometimes inspirational romances are written and published with what I consider a sub-standard criteria for writing. It is hard not to make them "preachy" or having them end up being a romance where someone just injected a couple of comments about spiritual things to make them go from simply a romance to an "inspirational" romance. That said, I was very pleased to find out that Deborah Hale, who is one of my auto-buy romance authors, had ventured into the inspirational romance genre. I somehow missed out on Deborah Hale's first novels, but after I read one of her novels, I bought all her backlisted ones. In my opinion, she ranks up there with my other favorite historical romance writer, Carla Kelly, and sometimes I forget whose book I am reading at the time. This book is part of a series featuring "Glass Slipper Brides," featuring heroines who met each other at a very harsh school where they were bullied and shunned. The first story was part of an anthology. In this book, the heroine, Marian, is governess to two orphaned girls who may be made wards of a selfish globe-trotting aunt if their cousin, Captain Gideon Radcliffe, doesn't step up and get custody of them. The plot develops slowly, with careful attention to why the characters are the way they start out, and how experience and interaction with each bring them closer to each other and to God. I liked the way that the reader was let into the mind and heart of the hero and heroine as they dealt with their feelings for each other and with their spiritual ups and downs. Marian has a strong faith at the beginning, while Gideon's harsh life in the British Navy has made him question everything he had been taught about God and God's providence.
The characters are likeable and feel "real," drawing you into their story. The fact that this is set during the holidays makes it even more enjoyable, and it is a great read for a cold winter's night. I was sorry to come to the end of the tale, but I look forward to seeing more from author Deborah Hale. Her books go on my "keeper shelf."
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Holiday Read, December 7, 2011
This review is from: The Captain's Christmas Family (Love Inspired Historical) (Kindle Edition)
The Captain's Christmas Family is the perfect book to curl up with by the fire on a cold winter evening. Captain Gideon Radcliffe has an endearing combination of gruffness and gentleness, Marian Murray combines common sense with a warm heart, and her two young charges are likeable without being saccharine. The relationship between Gideon and Marian develops naturally, the conflict is believable and there's no lack of Christmas spirit as the family-to-be prepares for the holiday. Some of the Christmas customs of the Regency period were new to me, which added to the fun. Deborah Hale knows how to pen a heart-warming story. I will be rereading this one over the holidays, with cookies and egg nog at hand!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A story with heart., January 22, 2012
This was a sweet story, mystery, some suspense, and an adorable child determined to win his heart.
I really enjoyed it, and the ending was satisfying.
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