ABOUT THE BOOK
Author: Kristie Self
Series: The Ladies of Roderick Glen, Book 1
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Publisher: Private
Release Date: January 19, 2021
Pages: 461
She longs to escape a dreadful secret from her past, but can she ever run far enough to truly forget?
Melody Creston is left penniless following the death of her father. Desperate to escape the threat of an unwanted and dangerous marriage, she flees to the small village of Roderick Glen in the English countryside to begin life anew as a pianoforte teacher. She is hired to teach the daughter of the Earl of Rockingham and soon falls in love with the quaint village and its quirky residents. Despite her newfound freedom, she is haunted by the secrets of her past, as well as the constant fear that she will be discovered and forced to return to London.
Melody Creston is left penniless following the death of her father. Desperate to escape the threat of an unwanted and dangerous marriage, she flees to the small village of Roderick Glen in the English countryside to begin life anew as a pianoforte teacher. She is hired to teach the daughter of the Earl of Rockingham and soon falls in love with the quaint village and its quirky residents. Despite her newfound freedom, she is haunted by the secrets of her past, as well as the constant fear that she will be discovered and forced to return to London.
Lord Henry Roderick is the younger son of the Earl of Rockingham and has no desire to obey his father’s wishes and help his brother attend to their family’s estate, Cheswick Park. Carefree and fun-loving, his reputation as a scoundrel often hides the true nature of his heart. Upon meeting Melody, he is instantly captivated by the beautiful piano teacher, and is determined to do whatever it takes to win her heart and become the man she needs.
Melody is intrigued by Henry and encourages him to follow his own path as he searches for his purpose in life. Shy and reserved, she is reluctant to admit her feelings for him, but as they grow closer, he begins to break through the barriers of fear and mistrust that surround her heart. As their love deepens, she becomes increasingly afraid of what will happen when he learns the truth of her turbulent past. Can love forgive a secret hidden in the shadows when it is exposed to the light of day?
Brimming with laughter, love, emotion, and heart, this first book in The Ladies of Roderick Glen series introduces us to the citizens of Roderick Glen as they follow their dreams and discover that one’s heart is always happiest near the friendly faces of home.
MY THOUGHTS
I completely enjoyed this story and I was captivated from the very first chapter! One of those books that I just had to know what happened and couldn't put it down. It was so very well written and you can tell that the author put her absolute all into it. This story is full of amazing characters that take you into a journey that you never want to leave! There is a lot happening in this story and there is definitely an introduction to quite an array of characters but it was definitely easy to follow and get connected to them.
This story focuses on Melody. A young girl whose passionate about playing the pianoforte. She is also a wounded girl in the aspect of she has been taken advantage of by Fenwick Peele, which happens to be her father's advisor. Her father doesn't show any affection towards her and leaves her in a destitute state when he passes on. She has a confidant and supporter in her housekeeper Maria who is truly like a mother to her. Throughout the story we see her develop strength and cast out the fear that she has lived in for quite some time.
Of course there is a love interest in Henry Roderick. He also has his own story to tell. Although he comes from a wealthy family he wants to be able to choose for himself what he does with his life and whom he chooses to marry. I really enjoyed seeing the growth he goes through develop throughout the story. His love story with Melody is quite lovely and I know you will enjoy it. It tugged at my heartstrings and I think they will do the same for you.
The other characters we meet that I hope to see in the next book are Fiona and George, Marigold and of course Lady Victoria. Goodness Lady Victoria's antics had me giggling but her stance of also becoming independent and fighting for women to be heard was great as I am sure many in that time period must have felt the same but could not voice it. I am ready to see what happens next for all of them. The town of Roderick Glen is fabulous and jovial. I loved all the townspeople we meet and how they all knew everything about each other. Quite comical at times!
Kristie Self did a phenomenal job on her debut novel. It was engaging, heartfelt and well written. The message of God's redemption and overcoming fear is interwoven throughout the story. This author is definitely someone to look out for as she continues her writing.
My Rating: 5 Stars/Absolutely Loved it!
Favorite Quotes/Musings:
"But running away does not solve one's problems. Sometimes we must face them head on. And I've lived long enough to learn that life is mostly a series of battles we must wage against the devil. This is just one more. If you run away, the devil will succeed in his efforts."
I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristie Self has always had a love for books and has been writing since she was a child. She combines her love of history and romance to write faith-filled love stories with memorable characters and intriguing plots. A banker by day, she spends most of her nights and weekends focused on writing. She enjoys traveling, watching movies, and curling up with a good book. An avid lover of music, she plays several instruments and also teaches piano. She is a graduate of Howard Payne University and lives in Lott, Texas, with her cat, Arlo.
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