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The Healing Tree
Lady Lilian Bliant appears to be a serene earl’s daughter, but under her exotic façade she has a spine of steel. She is determined to thwart her manipulative father’s plan to shackle her to a weak-willed man of the ton and is successful until Lord Maxwell Warrick becomes a suitor.
Lord Max is anything but weak-willed. He is happy with his life until Lady Lilian wreaks havoc on his heart. Despite her continued rejection, Max wants Lily to trust him, trust in his love, and have faith in the Lord.
With the Lord’s guidance, and through prayer, he begins to hope that one day their differences will be put aside and Lily will accept his faith as her own and Max as her husband.
Lord Max is anything but weak-willed. He is happy with his life until Lady Lilian wreaks havoc on his heart. Despite her continued rejection, Max wants Lily to trust him, trust in his love, and have faith in the Lord.
With the Lord’s guidance, and through prayer, he begins to hope that one day their differences will be put aside and Lily will accept his faith as her own and Max as her husband.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2011
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75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 27, 2016
In many ways, there was nothing special or unique about this story (it was obvious from the first two chapters what the ending would be), but yet it was still a very enjoyable read. The two main characters are both entertaining. Although they are the standard perfect people (for about the first 5 chapters the guy could not be mentioned without being called handsome), they do not come across as overbearingly goody two-shoes (although for him and his orphans it does come close). I will say that the story of her brother's birth and his and her mother's death was quite surprising.
The book has strong religious undertones, but I felt like they were appropriate for the time period it is set in and not too preachy.
Sometimes the narrative failed, however. There were various points were the line of action didn't make sense. The father would be described as having left the group, then chime in on the group's conversation a few paragraphs later. Lily is described as listening in at a door like she always did as a child, then suddenly when the scene shifts she is in another room and says she couldn't hear (the conversation was not described as quiet in the least). I would occasionally have trouble following where Lily went physically as it would seem they left one house and returned to another. One more glaring example of this is when
The book has strong religious undertones, but I felt like they were appropriate for the time period it is set in and not too preachy.
Sometimes the narrative failed, however. There were various points were the line of action didn't make sense. The father would be described as having left the group, then chime in on the group's conversation a few paragraphs later. Lily is described as listening in at a door like she always did as a child, then suddenly when the scene shifts she is in another room and says she couldn't hear (the conversation was not described as quiet in the least). I would occasionally have trouble following where Lily went physically as it would seem they left one house and returned to another. One more glaring example of this is when
April 21, 2012
There was quite a lot to like about this book, and I would certainly give it 3.5 stars if that rating was available. The author writes well, is a good story teller, and offers a creative plot. I liked the characters, and thought they were well developed. And even though the villain is hateful and destructive, the author has shown us that his behavior is rooted in mental illness. His mental illness is believable, so this was no caricature villain.
I'm giving this book a 3 because of the religious content. Yes, I know, the readers of this review may tell me that if I don't like inspirational romance, I shouldn't read it. I have nothing against inspirational romance. I love good writing, and I love historical romance, so I will read well-written historical romance from all perspectives. I have read and highly enjoyed several authors of inspirational historical romance. And I have no problem when a character's religious faith is the foundation and guiding principle of his or her life. However, for me, if the religious message is written with too heavy a hand, it detracts from the book too much for me to enjoy it.
This author is a very good writer, and the religious message throughout about the first ⅔ of the book is not particularly heavy handed. However, it does become so by the last third, which did detract from the book for me. I appreciate and respect if an author wants to write for an audience who shares her religious beliefs. However, I really liked this author, and am not sure that she'll appeal to a wider audience if the religious message is too heavy handed. And I would like to see her appeal to that wider audience if she is so inclined. In any event, I will certainly try more of her books.
I'm giving this book a 3 because of the religious content. Yes, I know, the readers of this review may tell me that if I don't like inspirational romance, I shouldn't read it. I have nothing against inspirational romance. I love good writing, and I love historical romance, so I will read well-written historical romance from all perspectives. I have read and highly enjoyed several authors of inspirational historical romance. And I have no problem when a character's religious faith is the foundation and guiding principle of his or her life. However, for me, if the religious message is written with too heavy a hand, it detracts from the book too much for me to enjoy it.
This author is a very good writer, and the religious message throughout about the first ⅔ of the book is not particularly heavy handed. However, it does become so by the last third, which did detract from the book for me. I appreciate and respect if an author wants to write for an audience who shares her religious beliefs. However, I really liked this author, and am not sure that she'll appeal to a wider audience if the religious message is too heavy handed. And I would like to see her appeal to that wider audience if she is so inclined. In any event, I will certainly try more of her books.
May 3, 2013
When I purchased the book, it was in a bundle with others and so I did not know it was a Christian historical romance. Not that that is a problem. However, I am not religious, and had to battle with the fact that the hero kept trying to talk the heroine into believing his ideas and faith. I felt like he should have let her find G-d on her own considering all of the things that she has been through. I also didn't like the heroine in the novel because she annoyed me to the point that I wanted to yank my hair out. First she didn't want to marry the hero because she didn't think he would ever come to love her because she believed he was only trying to marry her for her dowry and the title given by her father. Then when she finds out that is not the case and that he does love her, she questions whether he will always feel this way and still decides not to marry him. I mean come on. She was too much of a cynic throughout the entire novel. I felt like she never gave him a chance until the very end. Time and again in the novel he was proving himself a good man and she kept questioning things. I really wish this novel had turned out differently because the decription was promising.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2013
The only thing saving this book from one star is that my interest is genuinely held by the pacing of the book, the characters' fates, and the concept of a Christian regency romance.
Otherwise, this is painful to read. The kindle edition is chock full of misspellings, horrible grammar, and incorrect punctuation. And the general narrative is choppy and contrived. I think this could have been a very good book with a better editor, telling the author not only about the awful grammar and spelling, but also warning her away from the cheesiness and predictability rampant in every chapter.
One final note of retribution: the main character was pretty relatable, since the author seemed to know how someone in her position would act. That at least seemed realistic. If I grit my teeth against the results of poor editing, I can like this book. I don't know if I'll be able to handle reading it again.
Otherwise, this is painful to read. The kindle edition is chock full of misspellings, horrible grammar, and incorrect punctuation. And the general narrative is choppy and contrived. I think this could have been a very good book with a better editor, telling the author not only about the awful grammar and spelling, but also warning her away from the cheesiness and predictability rampant in every chapter.
One final note of retribution: the main character was pretty relatable, since the author seemed to know how someone in her position would act. That at least seemed realistic. If I grit my teeth against the results of poor editing, I can like this book. I don't know if I'll be able to handle reading it again.
December 20, 2013
Read as part of the Timeless Quills: Timeless bundle. Regency Romance. G-Rated.
Well done. Christian romance. Lily is the only child of Lord Artemisia. He is obsessed with his title and finding a way to pass it down. Maybe his worthless daughter can be of some use after all by marrying her off to someone willing to be his heir. Lily has had the strictest of childhoods. Closer to abuse. She is not allowed to show emotion and must be perfect at all times or be punished. Even an allergic reaction is grounds for punishment.
Lord Maxwell is the perfect suitor, according to her fathers deranged scheme. So Lily avoids him at all costs. But when she cannot avoid him, and his true caring nature is revealed, she must avoid him for other reasons. So she won't lose her heart.
A sweet story of a girl who finds God for the first time, and through love finds her faith; in herself, in others, and in God. I'm not a huge reader of Christian Romance, but this was nice.
Well done. Christian romance. Lily is the only child of Lord Artemisia. He is obsessed with his title and finding a way to pass it down. Maybe his worthless daughter can be of some use after all by marrying her off to someone willing to be his heir. Lily has had the strictest of childhoods. Closer to abuse. She is not allowed to show emotion and must be perfect at all times or be punished. Even an allergic reaction is grounds for punishment.
Lord Maxwell is the perfect suitor, according to her fathers deranged scheme. So Lily avoids him at all costs. But when she cannot avoid him, and his true caring nature is revealed, she must avoid him for other reasons. So she won't lose her heart.
A sweet story of a girl who finds God for the first time, and through love finds her faith; in herself, in others, and in God. I'm not a huge reader of Christian Romance, but this was nice.
February 4, 2014
I had given up on Christian romance this book has renewed my interest. So often Christian romance is so preachy and filled with annoying characters that are so bent on some "righteous" way that the message of God's love is lost. This story is told so that you are entertained (the whole point of fiction) but doesn't leave out the importance of God (the whole point of life). I truly enjoyed the characters but I kept back the 5th stars because it was a bit typical for a historical romance. I did like ths little twist at the end with the brother that wasn't too typical.
February 12, 2015
Overall I enjoyed this book. The relationship between Lily and Max slowly developed over time which I liked. I loved Max's character. He was honorable, loyal, handsome and Godly - a great hero. I enjoyed watching Lily's growth in both her love for Max and her knowledge of God. The only downside of the story was Lily's father. He was a true villain and I truly did not like him. There was a part in the book that told of the extent of her father's evil. It gave Lily's character more depth, but I didn't like it. For that reason I would not consider this a book for a younger audience.
May 29, 2012
I really liked this book. The heroine was very strong-willed and intelligent and it was refreshing to see considering the time period. I enjoyed her creative ways in trying to avoid an unhappy marriage. This is a Christian romance and so there are some definite religious overtones especially towards the end. However, I thought it was an enjoyable read and the characters were well developed. Like a previous reviewer, I would give it 3.5 stars.
June 24, 2017
Intriguing!
Though there were a few misspelled words, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. The characters' situations were interesting and kept me guessing. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Though there were a few misspelled words, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. The characters' situations were interesting and kept me guessing. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
June 11, 2013
A great story where the setting is wonderful, the heroine is a darling and the feel good end is just brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 7, 2015
Too heavy handed religiously. And too many errors.
historical
January 7, 2019Own in Timeless Quills Collection-Lady Lilian Bliant appears to be a serene earl’s daughter, but under her exotic façade she has a spine of steel. She is determined to thwart her manipulative father’s plan to shackle her to a weak-willed man of the ton and is successful until Lord Maxwell Warrick becomes a suitor.
Lord Max is anything but weak-willed. He is happy with his life until Lady Lilian wreaks havoc on his heart. Despite her continued rejection, Max wants Lily to trust him, trust in his love, and have faith in the Lord.
With the Lord’s guidance, and through prayer, he begins to hope that one day their differences will be put aside and Lily will accept his faith as her own and Max as her husband.
Lord Max is anything but weak-willed. He is happy with his life until Lady Lilian wreaks havoc on his heart. Despite her continued rejection, Max wants Lily to trust him, trust in his love, and have faith in the Lord.
With the Lord’s guidance, and through prayer, he begins to hope that one day their differences will be put aside and Lily will accept his faith as her own and Max as her husband.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews