Thursday, March 31, 2011

A Dream Unfolding

A Dream Unfolding (Prescott Pioneers #1)Author: Karen Baney
ASIN: B004GNFT5I
ISBN: 978-1456512316
Publisher: Self Published
Source:Author for Review
Purchase Link: A Dream Unfolding (Prescott Pioneers #1)

About the Book
The promise of a new life and a chance to start over…

Hannah Anderson had the life she always wanted, married to the man of her dreams. When her husband’s brother gets in trouble with the law, the town turns against them, shattering her perfect life. Now they are left with only one choice—to head west to the Arizona Territory in the hopes of creating a new life. Will the journey be worth the cost?

Will Colter, after burying his father, is forced to leave the ranch he has called home for nearly thirty years. The journey is dangerous, challenging him and his men. Will he find the new life he was hoping for?

Or, is there a new dream quietly unfolding before their eyes?

Review
A Dream Unfolding is a delightful debut novel! I enjoyed this book immensely though I am not a fan of westerns, which this book reminded me of. This historical fiction takes place in 1800’s America, during the Civil War and Arizona’s statehood. While I was clearly aware of the plot set up from the very beginning, there were a few surprises, in terms of its execution, along the way. Here is the skinny on this title.

Setting – Perfect! The author does a wonderful job of being as historically accurate as possible when it comes to writing a historical fiction title. She even includes an author’s note at the end that clearly defines what details is fact, what's derived from fact or what's completely made up in the story. I appreciated this touch.

Characters – All the characters are well developed and throughout. It was easy to make them come alive in my imagination. I had a clear picture of them and their surroundings throughout the entire story. It was as if I was watching a movie in my mind. Just as with a family member or friend, these characters were lovable yet aggravating at times. I was happy they had friends in the novel that helped “enlighten” them when they needed it.

Pace - The novel has a steady pace that guides the reader. There is just enough action, story and plot to make it wonderful. I never felt the pace slack. It was very consistent.

Story – Though somewhat predictable in regards to its set up and direction, the story was very interesting and kept me captivated. I was aware of the “storyboard” with this title. It is very clear who the hero and heroine are once you are introduced to both sides of the story. From here it is obvious that certain events will take place in order to remove obstacles and bring the two together. There of course is a love triangle and all the other wonderful elements that go into a well written story. This was the only part of the book that I felt could use improvement. The author is very creative, well written, expressive and interesting. The only thing this book lacked was the ability for me to “forget” I am reading a book.

Audience – Though lovers of historical fiction, Christian fiction, romance and western related fiction will enjoy this title most, it is a book for any reader. The romance is extremely light and never goes beyond an Inspy heat level. The book has romantic elements but in my opinion barley qualifies as a romance, so don’t let that stop you from reading it!

Overall, I recommend this book! It really was a wonderful debut. It has a little of everything to offer the reader. I enjoyed the authors writing style immensely. She did a wonderful job switching between the two sides of the story and bringing them together as one. I’m thankful for the chance to read it and look forward to reading the second title in its series!

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2 comments:

  1. I had already added this one to my TBR list. I am not happy that the library still doesn't have it in, but it does sound exactly like the kind of book I like. In fact, the cover itself tells me I will like it as well as your very pleasant review. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ruthhill74, This title just became available in the paperback version! It debuted in electronic format only. You can find it on Amazon. Hopefully your library will get a copy sooner than later!!

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