9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cathy Maxwell is a real keeper, March 25, 2006
This review is from: All Things Beautiful (Monogram) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is an excellent romance, first novel by Maxwell, and definiely worth the read! I won't summarize the plot here, but just tell you what I didn't like, and what I did like...
What I Didn't like:
In an attempt to create strong characters as well as tension between the hero and heroine, many authors use the vehicle of haughtiness or pride. It is a really tricky thing to carry off well. In particular, it's hard to believe a rather shallow display of pride once the heroine starts to feel love for the man. And, in the face of blossoming love, prideful/haughty action makes the character appear petty, rather than showing true strength of character. I think that compared to other authors I've read, Maxwell does a better job at handling the transition in her character. However, the dining room scene where Julia's brothers appear for a visit, after she plans to move into Brader's room, is the one scene that really stretched it for me. After all of Brader & Julia's tender and caring revelations to each other, Julia's behavior in the dining room is an uncharacteristic backslide. I realize that perhaps Maxwell needed to set up this tension in order to make it reasonable that Brader would still hold her in suspicion, or perhaps to have Julia show one final struggle with her heritage. However, in my opinion, Maxwell had already shown that Julia held low regard for society, so her concern about marrying a cit really rang false to me. Instead, Julia could have stood up to her brothers' verbal assault and defended Brader, and it would have made her change of heart more believable, *and* it would have actually served to underscore her true strength of character. That is, if she has the blood of conquerors running through her veins, then she should have been strong enough to state her changing views to her brothers, especially given their treatment of her in the past. Thus, her vacillating actions did not really ring true to the character Maxwell was trying to create. At that point, the retreat to the bedroom afterwards could have been really interesting... with Brader thrilled about her defense, rather than having it be another battle of wills.
What I did Like:
Everything else! I have definitely discovered another favorite author! Maxwell rings true on the three pillars of a great story: character, place, and plot. Her descriptions of characters are consistent and strong, keeping the attraction between them flowing with good visuals and deft, consistent reminders of their initial attraction, such as Brader's voice. The characters' backgrounds were excellently drawn: you had the full sense of the shallowness of the Markham family, their cruelty to Julia. Brader's working background was also interesting and rich, with his uncertain parenthood, loving mother. With both main characters, you really want to know more about them and their motivations, and Maxwell doesn't disappoint, revealing more interesting elements about the characters' particular stories in a way that deepens your understanding of their actions as well as of their mutual attraction. It was wonderfully satisfying character portrayal that enriched the plot. For my tastes, I think Maxwell could have gone into more detail on the characters, I liked her writing so well. I had this notion that there was a great little side them that could have been developed with Julia helping Brader to improve his riding and Brader helping Julia to improve her writing/reading.
I also enjoyed the setting that Maxwell created, although this was the element of her story that received the least attention. Still, the sense of Kimberwood was drawn well enough to establish the place in the story. However, I wish she had drawn this out a little more... I think that Maxwell could have played the Jane Austen in this novel to great results, frankly.
Last, but far from least, the plot was excellent. A genuine story! I love authors who avoid the irritating "non-plots," which only rest on confusion or miscommunication between the main characters to pull the story forward. Instead, Maxwell creates a genuine story of a man who wants a house for a particular reason, a reason revealed in the story, and a woman who is willing to marry a stranger, first out of hopelessness, and later, for a chance to start her life over. Further, I love it that Maxwell doesn't do that "plot jerking" so many authors do, where the characters start to move toward loving behavior and then suddenly, because they are stung or because they misconstrue something, they over-react and say something ridiculously cruel. Instead, she creates in Brader a strong, passionate character who builds steadily toward his love of his wife. When they have conflicts, they resolve them believably. I do wish she had made Julia a little stronger and less stubbornly haughty in her actions, but still she does a great job of having Julia's character move toward the thing she desires: belonging and love.
Definitely one you will enjoy!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Maxwell's Best...4.5 Stars, August 19, 2008
This review is from: All Things Beautiful (Monogram) (Mass Market Paperback)
I really liked this book because the storyline wasn't so typical, but it was about something that is pretty universal...screwed up families who take advantage of one another and trade in guilt as a means to an end, with a whole lot of greed, pride and self doubt added to the mix. The hero and heroine aren't typical and I liked watching them deal with their familial and societal struggles. Those problems were probably pretty realistic for the time - commoners' wary views of the aristocracy and the aristocracy's superior, but often threatened views of commoners. The hero in this one is so different and I enjoyed his character so much. The heroine's attitude bordered on the cusp of unlikable sometimes, but then again, she had been through so much I had a great deal of sympathy for her that overrode those negative thoughts. Another reviewer lists several questions she had about the book, and I went over each of them and had none of them at all - I felt all of that was clear, so maybe she just read it too quickly. BTW, this is a fast read...never boring and finished in just a few hours. Definitely recommend. Also highly recommend Falling in Love Again by this author.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Maxwell's first book and still the BEST one. Hard to put down., September 3, 2011
This review is from: All Things Beautiful (Monogram) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is Maxwell's first novel and you can tell she was trying hard to create amazing characters, dialogue, setting and drama. I have read many of her other novels and none of them can rival this first one. You're instantly captured by the first ten pages and will be difficult to put down. You find yourself rooting for the characters and their plight. I didn't want it to end. Cathy, please write another just as good. I loved, loved loved this one.
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