Katie Stone

This is a sweet debut book by Katie Stewart Stone. I was very impressed with her first book. She did a good job and it felt as if it may have been written by a more seasoned author.

Annabelle's parents are suddenly taken from her. Her healthy parents were taken with a deadly illness. It was a shock. She was visiting a friend and didn't get the chance to say goodbye. To make it worse, the heir to her home packed up her belongings and sent them to an aunt and uncle she wasn't familiar with. She didn't receive the closer that she needed emotionally.

The bright spot is that her aunt and uncle have a young son who brightens her day. He is the sibling that she did not have. I was impressed with her patience and her willingness to spend time exploring with him. Her aunt and uncle live in a cottage on a great estate. The Lawrence family immediately welcomed her and tried to help fill in a void left with the death of her parents. They have sons that evoke different responses: Peter, the eldest, is brooding and carries a great weight on his shoulders. Nathan is the new vicar but he is worldly and reckless. Robert is the youngest and immediately bonds with Annabelle. They become great friends.

The pacing of the book was fast and slow. There were moments that didn't feel like they were fully explained or explored while others were a little repetitive. Those moments didn't last long and I did not lose interest in the story.

This is the story of a young woman who finds herself and the things missing in her life. While she is undergoing the process she helps those around her.

This is a job well done by a new author. I look forward to seeing what she has "up her sleeve" in the future.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.… (altro)