Customer Reviews

The Proposal (The English Garden Series #1)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I honestly cannot figure out why everyone seems so set on hating this book. Certainly, "The Proposal" is very similar in theme to Lori's other books, but in my mind it is no different from the other books that everyone else loved. The direction in which the plot is going is totally obvious from the start, but as I said before, isn't that to be expected in a Lori Wick book?

A brief plot summary-Jennings, a bachelor in Victorian England, has no intention on ever marrying or having children. However, when he unexpectedly finds himself guardian of his very young cousins Penny, James, and Thomas, all of that changes. Despite his stubborness, he sees his need for help and decides to visit his sister, who has four children of her own. Jennings finally discovers God along the way, and it seems that Marianne Walker, Jennings' sister's lovely neighbor, is taking up a large portion of his mind as well...

If nothing else, this book is a great escape from reality. Wouldn't you love a world with sweet, always well-behaved kids and constantly harmonious marriages? With charming neighbors and beautiful country manors and cute comments abounding from the little ones....wouldn't it be lovely? :-) Well, Lori Wick is famous for portraying that kind of world in her books, and if that's what you're looking for, you'll probably relish the first book in this new series.

I really enjoyed reading this book and hope that Lori's next one is just as good or better. It was a fun, easy read that took me to another place and time where my imagination could soar.

I have read the other reviews of this book and I think that the other readers should stop and think a little before blasting such a talented writer. I have been a fan of Lori Wick for many years now and own every one of her books. I agree with some of the reviewers that the character development could have been better, and that everything seems hunky-dory. I have enjoyed some of her other books better than this one. But think about it. This is not, I repeat not, a devotional book. It is not really intended to be like modern life or else it would be written in modern times. One reader lambasted the author for trying to be like Jane Austin but falling short of the mark. Ms. Wick herself even goes so far as to say that in her own introduction. Also, anyone who has read or tried to read Austin will know that Wick will have to write for today's audiences since Austin is a hard read for MANY in today's world. Another reader (maybe the same one) stated that the characters seemed stiff and unemotional. Well, read contemporary authors of the early 1800's (Austin, Bronte, etc.) and one will see that the people back then WERE stiff and formal and they did not show their emotions as we do nowadays.
And as for everyone being perfect, including the kids, every once in a while I like to read such a story to inspire me as to how I should be. All of Lori Wick's books have characters who inspire me to be better than I am. This book is chalk full of them. And yes, I do know some kids who are as well behaved as the Jennings and Palmer kids. I was even one of them when I was their age.

From a writer's point of view (being and aspiring one myself) this book had to have been fun to dream and write about. Who wouldn't want kids like the Palmers and Jennings kids. Who wouldn't want to have a relationship such as Lydia and Mr. Palmer (with the excetion of calling each other Mr. and Mrs., which was a cultural thing of the times)? And who wouldn't want to be like the energetic and sweet Marianne? After writing such an emotional ride as Bamboo and Lace, I'm sure that Lori needed an easier book to write. One cannot expect ANY writer to produce a brilliant book every time he or she writes. I expect that we will see more like her better ones in the future, but for now just be patient, look for the good in things, and enjoy The Proposal.

I am a big Lori Wick fan, and I know she can do better. I agree that she seems to be writing without real depth and storyline just to get a book out. Ironically I read Pride and Prejudice right before this and there is no comparison.

Another problem is the total lack of real issues and problems in peoples lives. The men are gentlemen and never lust. They are loyal, good fathers and are never seen to have a bad day. The mothers are happy and not harsh with their children. The children are perfect and never squabble, which is not my experience as a homeschooling mother of four. And enough with the servants. Let us see a main female character who manages to do the dishes, laundry, meals, and still have great hair at the end of the day:) Also, once someone is saved they don't make any big mistakes, they say the right thing, and understand spiritual issues perfectly. Please. This is not real life.

My main concern is for young girls reading this and developing an unrealistic view of motherhood and marraige. What happens when he shows himself to be a human being? Not to mention every mom in the world having huge amounts of guilt for having a messy house, not being rich enough for servants, and needing a little time to herself once in awhile. I, for one, would like to see a little more reality in the future.

I agree, something has happened to Lori Wick. However, I saw the loss begin to surface in the Yellow Rose trilogy. I had to force myself through those books despite totally loving the Rawlings brothers. And the loss appeared in full bloom in Bamboo and Lace, which was, in my opinion, horrible.

The characters in The Proposal are flat, boring, and absolutely not to be concerned about. And the plot - I've read it before in other Lori Wick books. Like was noted before, this plot is Sophie's Heart all over again. NOTHING NEW!

Mrs. Wick began as such a good storyteller with limited writing skills that were rapidly improving, but now she seems so much more interested in getting a new book on the shelves every 6 months instead of insuring the quality of her work. She needs to develop new characters with some human flaws, workable plots, and believable conversions.

I would suggest to any new Lori Wick fan that they skip these newest books and read the Kensington Chronicles or The Californians series. They are much, much better.

Not only have I read all of Mrs. Wick's books, but I have bought them with my hard earned money. I may choose not to do so with future books.

I am a fan of both Lori Wick writing and of the victorian era in which these books are set. The stories are compelling and intriguing. I most loved the fact that you actually became a part of these characters lives, I felt as if I were a part of the families or a good friend who was invited to tea...

I strongly suggest that if you like to escape into the beauty of an "English Garden" you will read these books over and over again as I have...

This book is awesome! I recently became a Christian and I asked my friend Melinda if she had any good books I could read. She knows me pretty well, and told me she had just the right series for me to read. Before reading this book I had read maybe 2 books my whole life, so this was pretty new territory for me. This book completely blew me away. The story was beautiful and I felt in love with the characters. The most amazing thing about this book was that not only was it a great story, but it really spoke to me. God put a great desire in me to have kids and to take care of them. I have read the four books on this series and the only thing that disappoints me is that there aren't more books to the series. This book and the English Garden Series touched my life, and I would recommend it to all people of all ages.
P.S. -I have another really good book that all should read
"The Bible" :)

Lori Wick in the past has writen books that have had more character development and a more indepth plot. I don't agree with some of the other reviews though. I liked the book. I did not find that the book had the same plot as previously written books. How can you say that this is just a repeat of Sophie's Heart? The main plots are totally different. When I first read the book, I was not drawn in much. It was a light, easy, cheerful read. When I read the book for the second time, I enjoyed the book more and saw more depth. The proposal is a charming little story. I saw characters with flaws. I saw Christians who stuggled. Their lives were not perfect. I look forward to Lori Wicks next novel in this series!

This is Lori Wick's worst book to date. The characters seem to be made of cardboard. There's a total lack of plot going on. They just prance around living their happy little lives. They have no flaws, they don't struggle with anything. They all love each other and get along perfectly all the time, even the children. They never get irritated, lose their tempers, struggle with tempation, or do anything that remotely resembles human weakness. The beginning was ok, but once the main hero became a Christian, I just couldn't stomach the perfect perfectness of it all. In addition to this, I think Lori Wick must have a desire to be a preacher. Every single Sunday she wrote out the entire church sermon. The characters would then go on for pages having perfectly sound theological discussions about it. If I wanted to read theology, I would get a theology book. If I wanted to read a nice light Christian romance, I would get something else.

I have read and own several Lori Wick books. I quite like "Pretense" which I have read and recommended several times. I love gardens and England so I've been anxious to start this series, which I luckily checked out from the library. This book was just bad. There was no character development. The 'Englishy' part was totally missing, I felt more like it was all happening in Vermont than in England, no local slang, no period accents. It was totally predictable. I've never written a bad review on amazon before, as I love to encourage authors and readers, but I was compelled to share today. No conflict. The scenes of horses involve no horse knowledge. The scenes of gardening involve no garden knowlege. Hardly any dialogue except arranging elaborate meetings and parties, that require no effort. I will not read any more in this series.

Unfortunately for Lori Wick, her latest effort seems too much like a Jane Austen knockoff than a real Lori Wick novel. Everything from plot lines, places to charachter names is taken from an Austen novel. Reading "The Propsal" was like reading a modernised comgination of "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice", and sorry to say, Ms. Wick did not do either of them justice.
The charachters are unbelieveable...enough of cliched children! The plot is predictable. I must say, a dissapointing effort from Lori Wick.