Top reviews from the United States – Amazon Verified
4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of twists and turns will keep you engaged all the way through the book.
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021
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I read the book before publication when it was being called “Stone of Her Destiny.” It certainly kept my attention with all the twists and turns of the plot. It is not a historical novel in the classic sense, but there is certainly a lot of history in it. Having spent much of the summer of 2017 producing a video and booklet (written by Mac Williams) about the history of Bluff Presbyterian Church I enjoyed the way that the early history of that church and the sister churches was interspersed through the book. As far as I can remember from the reading I did the history was right on target. I must confess that for some reason I thought the book was a history and was totally surprised when I started reading it. I am a mystery junky so it didn’t take long to change gears and enjoy the ride.
I was not used to ebooks when I read it and perhaps my comments below would be different if I had been holding the book in my hand. It is also possible that some things have been changed since I read it pre-publication. I look forward to reading it again since I now have bought the Kindle edition. There were a few places where I found the style of writing to be difficult for me to read. Some sentences were long and convoluted for me. Obviously I followed the plot easily so that wasn’t a big problem. I guess I follow Thomas Jefferson’s concept “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” My background in writing is for scientific writing and that also colors my ideas.
All in all, it is a great book and I look forward to re-reading it and reading the sequel to it.
5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating story
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2022
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I enjoyed this book immensely. The characters are very well developed and I love a strong woman protagonist who is also extremely likable. I am familiar with the North Carolina & Scottish settings so I was able to visit there again. The settings are finely described so there is no need to have been there to be able to see them in your mind’s eye. That was an extra treat for me. The relationships between the characters and the romance between the main characters was charming & heartwarming. I highly recommend this book.
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021
Attention grabbing, can’t put down read. Vivid descriptions and plot development made me feel like I was in the book with the characters. Loved it.
5.0 out of 5 stars This is book is full of mystery and suspense with ever turn of the page.
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2021
I enjoyed the suspense that kept me wanting to turn the next page.
“Joanna created amazing characters, weaving this romantic story with delicious detail. You can almost picture the lovely atmosphere of Scotland, the delicious food they eat, the sporting games they play, and the cold, but unique castle in which she stays during her visit there. We also find that Kenna possesses a unique gift, which makes delving into her ancestry an exciting adventure, but at times can make life among the locals precarious. I can’t wait to read her next novel! I truly loved this amazing book and now want to read everything this author has written!”–Deborah Bosiack