MY REVIEW:
It is probably a good thing that one does not have to actually like the primary character to enjoy a book. I had a difficult time with many of Sarah’s choices and her motives. I could understand her desire to improve her lot in life but deception is never the way to achieve that. Reading about Sarah’s ever growing web of lies was like waiting for the inevitable crash of everything she had built on those lies.
On the other hand, I did like Simon. I have to hand it to him – he was much more forgiving and long-suffering toward Sarah than most men would have been. In some ways he was being Jesus to her by loving her despite her evident sins and trying to help her see herself the way she was meant to be.
I enjoyed revisiting characters from the first two novels in the Avenue of Dreams series. I was quite happy to watch Sarah’s repentance once she was found out and the way she finally made some right choices in her life.
I have enjoyed the entire Avenue of Dreams series and would love to see it continue. Nevertheless, I will look forward to Olivia Newport’s next novel, whatever she decides to offer her readers.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In a world where everyone is putting on a show, there is a love that is genuine.
Sarah Cummings has one goal in life–to break into Chicago’s high society. Desperate to stop serving dinner to members of the wealthy Banning family and to start eating at society tables, Sarah spends her meager free time altering cast-off gowns to create the perfect wardrobe for her future life.
When opportunity knocks at a chance meeting, she presents herself as Serena Cuthbert, weaving a fictitious past to go with her fictitious name. But as she gets closer to her goal–and closer to Simon Tewell, director of St. Andrew’s Orphanage–Sarah finds that she must choose between the life she has and the life she dreams of.
Can she piece together the perfect life from scraps? Or will it all come unraveled in the face of true love?
“Newport’s touching historical romance sweeps readers into another time and place, where elegance and wealth are abundant and where dreams really can come true. Highly recommended for fans of Tamera Alexander.”–Library Journal
Praise for the Avenue of Dreams series:
“Chicago’s history comes alive on each page.”–Andrea Boeshaar, author of Seasons of Redemption series
“With attention to historical detail and an artful sense of place, Olivia Newport gives readers a fascinating glimpse into . . . the roles of women in the world.”–USA Today, Happily Ever After blog
“Newport’s characters are by turn charming, conniving, or trying to be true to themselves in spite of what society expects of them.”–RT Book Reviews
For more information visit HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Olivia Newport is the author of The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow. Her husband and two twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is. Find out more at www.OliviaNewport.com.
For Olivia Newport’s website, Facebook or Twitter visit:
https://www.facebook.com/OliviaNewport
Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell,
a division of Baker Publishing Group.
