Thomasine Rappold

The Lady Who Drew Me In by Thomasine Rappold is the third book in The Sole Survivor Series. Daisy Lansing is a widow living in Misty Lake, New York in 1885. Daisy has the unique ability to transfer images from people’s thoughts onto paper. Daisy used to use her skill to entertain her guardian’s friends at parties until one night a married woman’s thought got her in deep trouble with her husband. It caused a big scandal. Daisy’s guardians, The Palmers married Daisy off to Lawry Lansing (a man thirty years older) in exchange for a house in Newport and the promise of their daughter, Grace being well received in society. Lawry was strict and insisted that Daisy not draw or paint (she rarely left the house). Lawry has now passed away and left Daisy with a small monthly allowance (much to her dismay). Jackson “Jax” Gallway is an attorney from Troy. He is the brother-in-law to Daisy’s best friend, Tessa Gallway. Jax needs Daisy’s assistance on his latest case (his future depends upon this task. He needs Daisy to use her ability to get information from a young witness. Jax’s client, Randal Morgan has been wrongly accused of murder. The only witness is a young boy, Andy Wendell who has not talked since he saw his father murdered. Daisy assists Jax, but she ends up with her reputation in shatters. With help from Jax’s brother, Dannion the two are quickly wed. But, can Jax, a notorious rogue, be content as a married man or living in the country town of Misty Lake? Jax is also alienating the towns people with his pursuit of justice for Randal Morgan. Will there be a happily ever after for Jax and Daisy? Will Jax be able to prove Randal Morgan’s innocence?

The Lady Who Drew Me In is a sweet yet steamy novel. I liked the characters and the setting. The book is well-written and, for the most part, kept my attention. The mystery was interesting and the author provided good clues. Ms. Rappold also did a very good job at capturing the time period of the late 1800s in New York as well as the personalities of society people. I give The Lady Who Drew Me In 3.5 out of 5 stars. I just wish there had been more of the paranormal element in the novel. The romance or attraction between Daisy and Jax dominated the story with the Jax’ case taking second place. The paranormal element was very much in the background (like an extra in a movie). There are highly stimulating scenes between Jax and Daisy after they are married (cold water would rise like steam if it was doused on them). In addition, the story has the usual miscommunication between the couple that leads to a distance between the couple. The ending is expected (there has to be a happy ending). If you like to read historical romance novels, then you will enjoy reading The Lady Who Drew In.… (altro)

The Lady Who Saw Too Much by Thomasine Rappold was the second book in the Soul Survivor series. Gianna “Gia” York has to leave her position at the Troy Female Academy (she should not have told the headmistress the truth). Thankfully, Gia is offered the position as companion to Miss Alice Elmsworth. Alice is twenty years old and painfully shy. Alice hates going out in public to parties, dances, and dinners. When Gia is handed Landen J. Elmsworth card, she immediately gets a vision of his death. Gia is determined to never let another person die if she can help it (because her parents refused to let her pursue a vision or warn the family and Prudence Alber died). Gia and Landen are immediately attracted to each other. Landen tries to steer clear of Gia, because he does not wish to commit (because of an incident with a woman). One night Gia is trying to find something personal of Landen’s to get a vision and is in his bedroom. Landen returns early and the two end up kissing (she is in her nightclothes and he a blanket). They are caught in this comprising position by Landen’s Aunt Clara. Aunt Clara is going to send Gia away until Gia mentions that she should stay around at least a month—just in case (Gia is determined to save Landen’s life). Aunt Clara insists that the two of them marry. Landen feels that Gia had this goal in mind all along and is furious. Can Gia save Landen’s life? Would he believe her if she told him about her visions? Is there any hope for their marriage with such a difficult beginning? Join us in Misty Lake for the summer to see if Gia succeeds in saving Landen and getting Alice out of her shell.

The Lady Who Saw Too Much was acceptable, but it could have been so much more. I found too much of the book is devoted to the attraction between Gia and Landen. I wanted more of the paranormal elements. I ended up skimming through the many pages that describe how handsome he is, her lovely lips, the curve of her neck, the kissing, intimate bedroom scenes, and more. It just went on and on (I ended up skimming through these pages). The last half of the book was significantly better. The story starts to progress (finally) into the mystery (who was going to kill Landen) and how Gia can save him. I give The Lady Who Saw Too Much 3 out of 5 (which means it was okay/satisfactory). I just felt that the writer could have made this a great novel (it had so much potential). Instead we get an expected historical, romance novel. While this is the second book in the series, it can be read alone. If you have not read the first book, it will not hinder your reading The Lady Who Saw Too Much (the first book or the characters are not mentioned in this novel).

I received a complimentary copy of The Lady Who Saw Too Much from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the book.… (altro)

2.5 Stars

Ultimately, this book was a disappointment to me. I had high hopes as I always love a good historical romance with a touch of the supernatural. The book pleases on a few regards; yet, the other issues drag it down.

I liked Madeline and Jace as individuals. They both have strong constitutions and wills, being able to face heavy trauma and tragedy to come out stronger the other side. I liked Jace’s no nonsense, scientific attitude towards medicine, not being taken in by the local hocus-pocus and superstition. I liked how he approached the new venue of small town practice vs big town emergency room. I also liked how Madeline faced ostracizing from the locals again and again and still had the strength to show her face in town, knowing what she’d face. She’s a courageous gal, and I liked that.

Some of the medical details were also interesting. I liked how Jace started to contemplate using Madeline’s coping techniques as treatment for medical trauma. His past history with victims of survivor’s guilt and PTSD and being unable to treat them successfully ate him up. I liked that these two were able to grow together and use Madeline’s horrific past experiences to help people in future.

Now the romance part I’m on the fence about. I liked their exchanges together; I felt that their personality types dovetailed well together. For the most part, they’re very sweet and passionate together. However, the relationship has a tendency to run hot-cold in its progression. Both parties would go back and forth on whether they would actually pursue a relationship together and constantly fell back on the same excuses. I don’t know if these plot devices were used to help ratchet up the romantic tension or not; but to me, it just read as exasperating and tiresome, maybe because they were used so often.

The parts of the book I had some very serious issues with were the extent of the superstition in this small town and the role that certain secondary characters played. I mean, come on, this is the 1880s! The beginning of the modern industrial age and you’ve got a whole town believing in hocus-pocus, superstition, and the “power of the Devil” to such an extent?!?! Maybe some individuals, yeah, but the entire town? I could see these town folk getting ready to burn Madeline at the stake if the story had taken place 200 years earlier.

Then there’s the power that the preacher wielded. Now a religious preacher in small towns did control much influence with people, the field that they were in and all. And I can see where the motivation this particular preacher has in his hatred of Madeline personally. But it’s the power he has over the entire community that makes this a stretch. It’s his preaching hatred and that Devil claptrap about Madeline that makes everyone ostracize her so much. Not just individuals, the whole community. That just seems like a stretch to me, personally, that one man would have so much power.

While the main leads were enjoyable in and of themselves and their relationship was sweet and passionate at times, this book didn’t live up to the potential that it had with such a unique spin on a supernatural historical romance. I felt like this book fell on its face. A populace more situated for the Dark Ages, too-big-for-their shoes secondary characters, and a yes/no relationship kept this book back from greatness. I wouldn’t say no the second book in the series maybe some time in the future. But I won’t be going out of my way to find it.… (altro)