Book Review: A Godsent Governess to soothe his nightmares|HonestlySpeakingonBooks

 Book Review: A Godsent Governess to soothe his nightmares by Olivia Haywood

 

Well, I’m back with another clean, historical romance.

This one was more “American” but I must say that I rather prefer European historical fiction.

Anyway, I noticed that it was Christian and so I decided that I ought to give it a try and I didn’t mind it much, it was alright.

This is my review on A Godsent Governess to soothe his nightmares by Olivia Haywood.

On The Back:

He wakes up finding a baby on his doorstep, and he desperately needs help. She is the Godsent sign that Abraham prayed for. Can two hurt souls heal each other with God’s help?

“If God is for us, who then can be against us?”

Laura survived a troubled childhood, and she is convinced that she will never discover love in her life. God sends her a sign, and Laura decides to follow His guidance and become a governess to escape her world. Is this sign that will lead her to the path of true love?

After the Civil war, Abraham has trouble living a peaceful life. Haunted by a tragic past, Abraham thinks that God must be testing him when he finds a baby on his doorstep. Unable to take care of the ranch and a baby all by himself, he decides to find a governess to help him around. Can Laura show him true love and the way to God’s path?

God’s will brought Laura and Abraham together, but it is in their hands to make things work. How can they defeat the threats coming to their way and trust in God’s plan even if it’s scary to open up their hearts again?

My review:

Abraham Harnell, a successful rancher, is constantly tormented by nightmares that bring him back to his childhood where tragedy had scarred him for life, it seemed. And now an abandoned infant is left at his doorstep with a letter yielding it to his care.

When she is unexpectedly subjected to the death of her mother, Laura Russ is left with her violent, and often drunk, stepfather. After being the victim of his rage she’s desperate to escape him. An opportunity arises when she reads an ad stating the need for a governess. 

A slight flicker of hope appears in her heart. She mistrusts men but maybe her employer will have a kind and gentle heart. All she can do is pray that the Lord will protect her as her mother had taught her to do.

The plot of the novel was interesting and the romance was weaved in throughout the story. There were many mentions of the Lord and I appreciate that He was brought into all aspects of the story, in the relationships and daily life.

 You could say that rather than the romance being the primary focus, it was more of faith and trust in Lord along with repentance. Laura struggles with anxiety but she slowly learns the true meaning of casting one’s cares upon the Lord. Her experiences help her to reach out to Abraham and two begin to open up to one another. 

The romance was pretty much squeaky-clean, with only a couple of kisses that were very vaguely mentioned. As I already said, it revolved more around relationships with the Lord and through Him, with one another.

The conversations and interactions between the characters were a bit a dull, to be honest. I wasn’t able to really feel the way they felt or their emotions, which is important in order to “get into” the story. 

The narration also seemed a bit rushed and I wasn’t very affected or moved. The writing style is perhaps the reason behind this, the characters’ speech was unrealistic and I think that really impacts how one views them and in my case, I was simply a spectator without any true connection with any of them.

Being able to relate to characters is very essential in captivating one’s audience and I was not captivated.

I will say, though, that it was alright, there was a good plot behind it all and definitely a strong Christian background. You are still able to perceive the budding love between Abraham and Laura and also the abandoned orphan, Thomas.

All in all, it was a satisfactory novel and I’m sure many will find it tastefully done and agreeable. 

 

                                                       Sarah E