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Paint Me True
This is an alternate-cover edition for ASIN B0064GM2ZU.
Eliza Dunmar is about to turn thirty-one and fears her best days are behind her. As a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) she'll soon be too old to attend church in a singles ward, her career as a painter is no longer considered cool, and she feels too old to use the excuse that she's "just starting out" to explain why she still can't pay the bills. The only man interested in her is a scruffy, video game addicted nerd who is the first to admit that they are all wrong for each other.
When her beloved Aunt Nora calls from England and begs her to visit, Eliza leaps at the chance. Even better? Nora had the perfect romance with her late husband and is eager to share the tale. As Eliza sets out to immortalize this courtship in a series of paintings, she learns a lesson that will change her outlook on life and love forevermore.
Eliza Dunmar is about to turn thirty-one and fears her best days are behind her. As a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) she'll soon be too old to attend church in a singles ward, her career as a painter is no longer considered cool, and she feels too old to use the excuse that she's "just starting out" to explain why she still can't pay the bills. The only man interested in her is a scruffy, video game addicted nerd who is the first to admit that they are all wrong for each other.
When her beloved Aunt Nora calls from England and begs her to visit, Eliza leaps at the chance. Even better? Nora had the perfect romance with her late husband and is eager to share the tale. As Eliza sets out to immortalize this courtship in a series of paintings, she learns a lesson that will change her outlook on life and love forevermore.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2011
57 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Tippetts
40 books506 followersEmily Mah Tippetts writes romance under the name E.M. Tippetts and science fiction and fantasy under the name Emily Mah. Before she was a published author, she was an attorney who specialized in real estate, contracts, and estate planning, especially literary estate planning.
Her most recent pro publications have been her science fiction and fantasy short stories in magazines like Black Gate, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, and the anthology, Shanghai Steam.
Her most recent pro publications have been her science fiction and fantasy short stories in magazines like Black Gate, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, and the anthology, Shanghai Steam.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
October 3, 2020
I thought this was published early in Tippetts' career, so I was prepared to cut it some slack. But it's actually contemporary with Someone Else's Fairytale, which I found outstanding. So not so much slack, then. And yeah, it needed it a bit.
It's a really rough start because Eliza is shallow and judgmental and her friends aren't great, either. She's thirty and that's a bit long to be that immature, frankly; more so with how many deaths have hit her family due to the BRCA mutation making them so susceptible to cancer. So the first third or so had me looking for a reason to continue or ditch because I wasn't terribly engaged. Plus, knowing that it was a romance and there was no sign of a decent romantic lead left me scratching my head.
It evened out about that time, though, and I became interested in getting to know the aunt and the family dynamic that had been lurking in the background there. From there it was relatively smooth sailing to the end and I found it very gratifying by then.
So here's the problem with the story, and it's a characterization issue with the ex-boyfriend, eventual romantic lead, Len. The thing is, he just doesn't work because we never find out why he walked around looking like a homeless person all this time. Who wears clothing that's visibly threadbare every single day, including at church (when you should be wearing your formal best) and on dates (when you should be wearing your casual best)? People with a reason, that's who. And we never get a reason. And that just doesn't work. Worse, it's supposedly 2011 and he's using a PDA (personal digital assistant, remember those?) that requires a stylus. She even muses about how outdated that is. Which, okay, but the man is a nerd, a tech nerd. And one who works in an actual largish IT department doing important things, so it's not like he doesn't have money. Which is why I had a hard time seeing him as a romantic focus because something is wrong with this boy. He doesn't add up, like, at all.
Anyway, I ended up liking Eliza pretty well and I really liked developments with the British nurse that ended up being a good friend. And the family she finds was a lot of fun, too. So this is 3½ stars that only barely earns rounding up and then only because the last half worked out as well as it did.
A note about Faith: This is a solidly LDS novel and I wouldn't recommend it for non-LDS folks. A lot of social and religious things are expressed without background or explanation so it'd be at least a bit awkward for others, I think. Not least because Eliza's friend Hattie starts out in a really parochial place regarding non-members that I was glad to see her get over a bit by the end.
A note about Chaste: Eliza is solidly LDS and that means nothing more than kissing before marriage. So this is very chaste. In a good way.
It's a really rough start because Eliza is shallow and judgmental and her friends aren't great, either. She's thirty and that's a bit long to be that immature, frankly; more so with how many deaths have hit her family due to the BRCA mutation making them so susceptible to cancer. So the first third or so had me looking for a reason to continue or ditch because I wasn't terribly engaged. Plus, knowing that it was a romance and there was no sign of a decent romantic lead left me scratching my head.
It evened out about that time, though, and I became interested in getting to know the aunt and the family dynamic that had been lurking in the background there. From there it was relatively smooth sailing to the end and I found it very gratifying by then.
So here's the problem with the story, and it's a characterization issue with the ex-boyfriend, eventual romantic lead, Len. The thing is, he just doesn't work because we never find out why he walked around looking like a homeless person all this time. Who wears clothing that's visibly threadbare every single day, including at church (when you should be wearing your formal best) and on dates (when you should be wearing your casual best)? People with a reason, that's who. And we never get a reason. And that just doesn't work. Worse, it's supposedly 2011 and he's using a PDA (personal digital assistant, remember those?) that requires a stylus. She even muses about how outdated that is. Which, okay, but the man is a nerd, a tech nerd. And one who works in an actual largish IT department doing important things, so it's not like he doesn't have money. Which is why I had a hard time seeing him as a romantic focus because something is wrong with this boy. He doesn't add up, like, at all.
Anyway, I ended up liking Eliza pretty well and I really liked developments with the British nurse that ended up being a good friend. And the family she finds was a lot of fun, too. So this is 3½ stars that only barely earns rounding up and then only because the last half worked out as well as it did.
A note about Faith: This is a solidly LDS novel and I wouldn't recommend it for non-LDS folks. A lot of social and religious things are expressed without background or explanation so it'd be at least a bit awkward for others, I think. Not least because Eliza's friend Hattie starts out in a really parochial place regarding non-members that I was glad to see her get over a bit by the end.
A note about Chaste: Eliza is solidly LDS and that means nothing more than kissing before marriage. So this is very chaste. In a good way.
November 16, 2011
I love books that really draw me in - and it's especially impressive when they're written about characters with totally different worldviews from my own. I don't share the religious or political convictions of Eliza, the heroine of this novel, and at the beginning of the book, I found her social attitudes (oh, the horror of having to date a "nerdy loser"!) really irritating...and yet I couldn't stop reading anyway because the writing was so warm, compelling and immersive that I was drawn into sympathy with Eliza despite myself.
Even as I gritted my teeth at Eliza's initial attitude to her boyfriend and her friends, and at her theories on dating in general (think: "The Rules"), I was completely wrapped up in her life and story. And as the book developed, not only did Eliza grow and change in the most wonderful (and believable) ways, but I absolutely fell in love with the guy who was perfect for her, whether she realized it or not...and I was so immersed in the book, I literally squeaked out loud with glee and excitement when she finally figured it out! The ending was soooooo much fun to read.
I loved the three-dimensional characters and moral complexity in this novel. I loved the romance. I even genuinely loved the heroine by the end. It really turned out to be my favorite women's fiction novel in a long time.
Even as I gritted my teeth at Eliza's initial attitude to her boyfriend and her friends, and at her theories on dating in general (think: "The Rules"), I was completely wrapped up in her life and story. And as the book developed, not only did Eliza grow and change in the most wonderful (and believable) ways, but I absolutely fell in love with the guy who was perfect for her, whether she realized it or not...and I was so immersed in the book, I literally squeaked out loud with glee and excitement when she finally figured it out! The ending was soooooo much fun to read.
I loved the three-dimensional characters and moral complexity in this novel. I loved the romance. I even genuinely loved the heroine by the end. It really turned out to be my favorite women's fiction novel in a long time.
January 22, 2012
The story of Eliza a thirty-year-old looking for love in a singles ward begins as she is breaking up with Len, her boyfriend for the last six months. She thinks he was going to propose and instead he throws her a celebratory break up dinner instead. With her pride hurt, Eliza limps back to her life as an artist, paining in an empty house that her stepmother can’t sell in the housing market.
Then she receives a phone call from her Aunt Nora in England, who has broken her arm and refuses to get treatment because she doesn’t want an x-ray. Eliza, having lost her mother, two sisters, aunts, and grandmothers to cancer because of a genetic mutation that runs in the family, packs and leaves everything to help the last living female relative in her family. While dealing with her aunt’s stubborn attitude toward all medical institutions Eliza paints scenes for Nora of her deceased husband to keep her motivated and strong. As in all good plot lines not everything about Nora’s life is as it seems, as her medical conditions complicate, and her noisy relatives reveal past secrets, Eliza learns about true love, friendship, and how to change after making a huge mistake.
My Review:
The breakup scene was hilarious and I empathized more with Len than I did with Eliza, who really was a rather shallow thirty one-year-old. It was pretty obvious that she looked down on Len for some of his nerdy and sloppy habits. Still, despite the fact that it seemed like this guy hadn’t bought himself any new clothes since his mission his genuinely caring personality comes out. Therein lies the genius of this romance novel. Even when Eliza is in Britain dating a hot new doctor, the reader’s heart is commiserating with the lonely soft-hearted computer/gamer geek back in the states.
In fact, it becomes rather clear that Eliza has made a huge mistake but if she thinks it is going to be easy to get Len back she has got another thing coming. E.M. Tippetts turns romance tropes on their head by switching gender stereotypes as Eliza now has to be the one who wins the guy back after her huge lapse in character judgment. In this touching novel characters are painted with true and realistic personalities that make them memorable, lovable, and endearing. I laughed out loud, felt the deep loneliness of the single life, and was strengthened by Eliza’s patient faith in the face incredible trial.
The formatting of the book is beautiful with lovely chapter headings and a professional cover. As I reader I didn't like Eliza at first, as she is kind of a jerk but I think the novel does a good job of making her sympathetic by showing that she is willing to grow and change. There were a few typos, and there was a mistake when Eliza’s home teachers gave her a blessing. They sealed the blessing even though it was only a blessing of comfort and counsel and not a healing blessing. Despite these mistakes I loved this book and I am thrilled that I get to read another LDS Fiction work by E.M. Tippetts again.
Then she receives a phone call from her Aunt Nora in England, who has broken her arm and refuses to get treatment because she doesn’t want an x-ray. Eliza, having lost her mother, two sisters, aunts, and grandmothers to cancer because of a genetic mutation that runs in the family, packs and leaves everything to help the last living female relative in her family. While dealing with her aunt’s stubborn attitude toward all medical institutions Eliza paints scenes for Nora of her deceased husband to keep her motivated and strong. As in all good plot lines not everything about Nora’s life is as it seems, as her medical conditions complicate, and her noisy relatives reveal past secrets, Eliza learns about true love, friendship, and how to change after making a huge mistake.
My Review:
The breakup scene was hilarious and I empathized more with Len than I did with Eliza, who really was a rather shallow thirty one-year-old. It was pretty obvious that she looked down on Len for some of his nerdy and sloppy habits. Still, despite the fact that it seemed like this guy hadn’t bought himself any new clothes since his mission his genuinely caring personality comes out. Therein lies the genius of this romance novel. Even when Eliza is in Britain dating a hot new doctor, the reader’s heart is commiserating with the lonely soft-hearted computer/gamer geek back in the states.
In fact, it becomes rather clear that Eliza has made a huge mistake but if she thinks it is going to be easy to get Len back she has got another thing coming. E.M. Tippetts turns romance tropes on their head by switching gender stereotypes as Eliza now has to be the one who wins the guy back after her huge lapse in character judgment. In this touching novel characters are painted with true and realistic personalities that make them memorable, lovable, and endearing. I laughed out loud, felt the deep loneliness of the single life, and was strengthened by Eliza’s patient faith in the face incredible trial.
The formatting of the book is beautiful with lovely chapter headings and a professional cover. As I reader I didn't like Eliza at first, as she is kind of a jerk but I think the novel does a good job of making her sympathetic by showing that she is willing to grow and change. There were a few typos, and there was a mistake when Eliza’s home teachers gave her a blessing. They sealed the blessing even though it was only a blessing of comfort and counsel and not a healing blessing. Despite these mistakes I loved this book and I am thrilled that I get to read another LDS Fiction work by E.M. Tippetts again.
June 25, 2013
'Paint Me True' is a novel about a twenty-nine
year old woman who has dated a "Nerd" for six months.
She had recently moved to Oregon and didn't know many
people. She was a professional painter and was house-
sitting for her new stepmother. She hadn't dated much
and Len (the "nerd") was always nice to her. When he
asked her out, she did not want to hurt his feelings
and it was "just a date". She kept dating him because
she was lonely and he always seemed eager to go out
with her. Now, after six months,uncharacteristically,
he prepared a special dinner date. She was going to
have to hurt him by telling him "no" when he proposed.
However, things didn't go as she planned. Seeing him at
church each week was awkward.
A few weeks after the "disaster date" she received a
call for help from her Aunt Nora, in England.
The females of her family suffered from the BRCA 1
mutation which caused cancer of which most had died
from, early in life. Eliza had lost her mom and two
sisters from it. Her and Aunt Nora were the only women
in that side of her family who were free from the
genetic curse. They were very close. Nora had two
children but refused to talk about them. There was nobody
but Eliza who could help. This also gave Eliza an escape
from her precarious situation at church. She immediately
booked a flight to England.
When at the hospital, Eliza was escorted to her Aunt's
room by tall, gorgeous man she discovers was the nurse,
Colin,who was taking care of her aunt on the night shift.
Within days Aunt Nora was released to Eliza's care, but
not before Nora slipped the nurse a paper with Eliza's
name and telephone number on it. They began dating,
occasionally.
While staying with her aunt, she does special paintings
for her aunt and learns more about the uncle she never
knew. Theirs seemed like a fairytale romance. She never
knew he was so wealthy until after they had fallen in love.
Now, Aunt Nora lived alone in this beautiful mansion.
Mysteries began to unfold: accidents, questions concerning,
her cousins, and other relatives.
Amidst it all, Eliza, often reflected on her relationships,
and the pros and cons between them.
This is a romantic drama/mystery that will captivate the
reader. The indecision is at times irritating but the
action,and suspense makes up for it.
This is a bittersweet story of love, relationships,
choices, self-discovery, friendship and family loyalty.
This story relates to L.D.S. Single Adults but is a great
book for any adult or YA religious or not.
This book was generously exchanged for an honest review of
which I have given.
year old woman who has dated a "Nerd" for six months.
She had recently moved to Oregon and didn't know many
people. She was a professional painter and was house-
sitting for her new stepmother. She hadn't dated much
and Len (the "nerd") was always nice to her. When he
asked her out, she did not want to hurt his feelings
and it was "just a date". She kept dating him because
she was lonely and he always seemed eager to go out
with her. Now, after six months,uncharacteristically,
he prepared a special dinner date. She was going to
have to hurt him by telling him "no" when he proposed.
However, things didn't go as she planned. Seeing him at
church each week was awkward.
A few weeks after the "disaster date" she received a
call for help from her Aunt Nora, in England.
The females of her family suffered from the BRCA 1
mutation which caused cancer of which most had died
from, early in life. Eliza had lost her mom and two
sisters from it. Her and Aunt Nora were the only women
in that side of her family who were free from the
genetic curse. They were very close. Nora had two
children but refused to talk about them. There was nobody
but Eliza who could help. This also gave Eliza an escape
from her precarious situation at church. She immediately
booked a flight to England.
When at the hospital, Eliza was escorted to her Aunt's
room by tall, gorgeous man she discovers was the nurse,
Colin,who was taking care of her aunt on the night shift.
Within days Aunt Nora was released to Eliza's care, but
not before Nora slipped the nurse a paper with Eliza's
name and telephone number on it. They began dating,
occasionally.
While staying with her aunt, she does special paintings
for her aunt and learns more about the uncle she never
knew. Theirs seemed like a fairytale romance. She never
knew he was so wealthy until after they had fallen in love.
Now, Aunt Nora lived alone in this beautiful mansion.
Mysteries began to unfold: accidents, questions concerning,
her cousins, and other relatives.
Amidst it all, Eliza, often reflected on her relationships,
and the pros and cons between them.
This is a romantic drama/mystery that will captivate the
reader. The indecision is at times irritating but the
action,and suspense makes up for it.
This is a bittersweet story of love, relationships,
choices, self-discovery, friendship and family loyalty.
This story relates to L.D.S. Single Adults but is a great
book for any adult or YA religious or not.
This book was generously exchanged for an honest review of
which I have given.
March 29, 2012
Did I enjoy this book: Yes, I did. I read it every free chance I had. In fact, I finished the book in a day...that's how good it was. I could not put it down.
What I really enjoyed about this book was that I felt all of the emotions that the characters were feeling. It is something that doesn't happen often for me. I laughed out loud - especially during the steak house date scene. That was funny! I cried, I hoped, I bit my lip with anxiousness. I experienced it all as I was reading! Thank you, Ms. Tippetts, for that!!
I also liked that the characters were real...they weren't ideal or perfect. Each one had a flaw or quirk or something not perfect about them. That is refreshing. Usually characters are written perfectly - the ideal woman, the perfect boyfriend, etc - but in this book there were no "perfect" characters. All of the characters were complex and likeable in their own ways...and unlikeable in other ways.
Len is my favorite. He is an every day nerd...but a loveable nerd. Nora is the second mother who has her own secrets that she wishes to stay hidden. Louisa was the overprotective sister and nosy neighbor who turns out to be much different.
Eliza was a complex character for me. At first, I really didn't like her. I thought she was shallow, stuck up and way too full of herself. Eliza and her friends also acted rather young for her almost 31 years. And her "rules" for a guy that wants to date her??? Oh, my! That was kind of bothersome. But then, you find out her true self and everything she has been through. This redeemed her for me and helped me to better understand her. She is real, she is complex, she is who she is and finds herself through a series of stories and paintings.
Would I recommend it: I definitely would. I would recommend any of Ms. Tippetts books.
Will I read it again: I don't know if I will read it again. It is a rather sad book...but a quick read that evoked many emotions. Hmmmm...only time will tell.
http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...
What I really enjoyed about this book was that I felt all of the emotions that the characters were feeling. It is something that doesn't happen often for me. I laughed out loud - especially during the steak house date scene. That was funny! I cried, I hoped, I bit my lip with anxiousness. I experienced it all as I was reading! Thank you, Ms. Tippetts, for that!!
I also liked that the characters were real...they weren't ideal or perfect. Each one had a flaw or quirk or something not perfect about them. That is refreshing. Usually characters are written perfectly - the ideal woman, the perfect boyfriend, etc - but in this book there were no "perfect" characters. All of the characters were complex and likeable in their own ways...and unlikeable in other ways.
Len is my favorite. He is an every day nerd...but a loveable nerd. Nora is the second mother who has her own secrets that she wishes to stay hidden. Louisa was the overprotective sister and nosy neighbor who turns out to be much different.
Eliza was a complex character for me. At first, I really didn't like her. I thought she was shallow, stuck up and way too full of herself. Eliza and her friends also acted rather young for her almost 31 years. And her "rules" for a guy that wants to date her??? Oh, my! That was kind of bothersome. But then, you find out her true self and everything she has been through. This redeemed her for me and helped me to better understand her. She is real, she is complex, she is who she is and finds herself through a series of stories and paintings.
Would I recommend it: I definitely would. I would recommend any of Ms. Tippetts books.
Will I read it again: I don't know if I will read it again. It is a rather sad book...but a quick read that evoked many emotions. Hmmmm...only time will tell.
http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...
June 17, 2015
This book was a different experience for me. It's not just a Christian romance, it's actually a Mormon romance. Which isn't an issue, but rather coincidental, being as I just met some nice Mormon girls on their mission so I've taken to looking into a little more of their beliefs. But that's besides the point. The religion points in this book are very much present. And you learn a little more about the way the church is structured, without getting into too many details. The main character is a little bit of a clueless twit sometimes, but she grows and realizes it. I thought the summary completely misrepresents the premise, as the reason she goes to England is Nora is sick, not because she was invited there. But again, that doesn't matter. It writing is good, the story has a few interesting twists in it, and the character actually grows which is always nice. Very heavy religious influence throughout.
August 30, 2014
LDS Fiction - Fun, very clean read!
I liked Len more than Eliza, and I think I would have liked this story more if it had been written about him instead of her. I love how Len knows that others seem him as a nerd, but he has enough self-confidence in who he is that he doesn't feel like he has to change to please everyone else. And when Eliza can't appreciate him for who he is, he breaks up with her even though he really likes her. I also enjoyed watching Eliza change and put herself on the line to make everything right. I love that Len didn't give in very easily after she had treated him so badly; he really made her prove herself! And she had changed enough that she was willing to keep proving to him that she deserved a second chance. I kept reading the ending part over and over just to get more of Len.
Content: Very clean, no swearing
I liked Len more than Eliza, and I think I would have liked this story more if it had been written about him instead of her. I love how Len knows that others seem him as a nerd, but he has enough self-confidence in who he is that he doesn't feel like he has to change to please everyone else. And when Eliza can't appreciate him for who he is, he breaks up with her even though he really likes her. I also enjoyed watching Eliza change and put herself on the line to make everything right. I love that Len didn't give in very easily after she had treated him so badly; he really made her prove herself! And she had changed enough that she was willing to keep proving to him that she deserved a second chance. I kept reading the ending part over and over just to get more of Len.
Content: Very clean, no swearing
October 1, 2017
Cute book. Plot twist that wasn't tight but a cute book. The actions of one person, the sister-in-law, didn't ring true. And what about the missing extra key? That was never addressed. But.......I liked the message, and the main character worked. She was a very believable person to me. I loved the way she grew and slowly realized who she had become and how she could change that.
The author also built a sympathetic portrayal of an abused woman, making my heart hurt for her. The nerdy fellow became real through her writing. So I gave the book three stars because I hated the way the plot turned with all the unresolved pieces, but I loved the people she pored over characterization. A tighter plot would have taken this to five stars, not just three. I recommend it anyway, more than most three star books.
The author also built a sympathetic portrayal of an abused woman, making my heart hurt for her. The nerdy fellow became real through her writing. So I gave the book three stars because I hated the way the plot turned with all the unresolved pieces, but I loved the people she pored over characterization. A tighter plot would have taken this to five stars, not just three. I recommend it anyway, more than most three star books.
June 10, 2015
Characters are balanced and realistic, and the plot proceeds smoothly due in no small part to excellent writing. MC is active LDS, but the plot doesn't center on the church, or trying to change anyone's beliefs. This is a great book for anyone who loves women's fiction (the women in her family have a high risk of cancer), romance (sigh), or who has ever been curious at how an active LDS woman deals with loss and love.
E.M. Tippets has a new fan.
E.M. Tippets has a new fan.
November 15, 2011
All right, I know it's a little obnoxious to rate my own book like this, but I have to say, this was a ton of fun to write. I hope you find it a quick and memorable read.
September 15, 2020
Excellent story.
August 22, 2013
This was a light read, and I enjoyed it. The main character is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is an artist, and she is reaching a point in her life where she wants to be married but hasn't found the right guy yet.
A gene mutation runs in the main character's family, so she has dealt with a lot of deaths in the family.
Multiple relationships in this book challenge the way you make judgements about people, about not being shallow.
There is a romance. :)
"'Are you an artist?' Nora asked.
'I just draw.'
'Let's see. These are wonderful.' She leafed through my sketchbook. 'You've got great talent. Are you going to become an artist?'
'No. It's not practical.'
'Oh, pffft. You only live once, and who's got time for practical? Let me ask you this, what makes you happy, a day when you get three square meals and a lot of homework you don't like, or a day when you draw and don't even remember to eat dinner?'
That was easy to answer. 'I love to draw.'
'Choose to be happy, then, even if it means you go hungry sometimes. You and I both know how short life can be.'"
"I turned down jobs as a graphic designer, which paid well but wasn't what I loved, and instead went into painting gospel subjects. I chose to be happy, as if by living on full life, I might make up for the lack I felt in the absence of my sisters, whose lives had come to such abrupt, decisive ends. I wanted to feel enough joy for the three of us."
"One thing about being older than most of the ward, I felt more settled in my faith. I wasn't trying out religion as an adult to see whether or not it was something I could sustain. My testimony was burned in deep. If it weren't for God, I knew I'd be a very different person. How else could I survive the death of all my close, female relatives and still get through the day? Adages like 'time heals all wounds,' are lies. Let me be clear on that. Each death hurts just as bad today as it did the day it happened. The people I've lost were ripped from me and took pieces of my soul with them, and I can feel the wounds every second of every day. Like a Hollywood actress I can call up tears on demand. They're always there, tickling the back of my throat. There isn't a moment that I don't miss my mother, or wish I could pick up a phone and call my sisters."
"True love is all about those once-in-a-lifetime moments when you don't just find yourself a good guy who's nice enough, but you find that man who's beyond your wildest dreams." Agree?
"'The chippy's over off the High Street,' Nora explained. 'Kind of down an alley, past where the Chaing Mai restaurant is, or was. I haven't been down there in ages.'
'Was the food good?'
'Disgusting. Batter fried sausages and greasy fish and chips. Might as well just eat fried lard, not that I cared. He paid and put vinegar on my fries so that I could have them the "real English" way. I thought I'd faint at any moment. It was like a dream. I wanted to pinch myself, literally.'"
"'Be honest,' I said. 'What else do you know about me?'
'Look, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable.'
'Just promise me you're not a stalker.'
'Guess that depends.'
'On what?'
He raised his hands defensively. 'Look, as far as I can tell, the only difference between a stalker and the most romantic guy ever is how the girl feels about him. If she's interested, the guy can sneak into her house and do he dishes or leave her love notes, and it's sooo sweet, but if she's not interested, it's freaky.'"
"'Hi, this is Colin.'
Colin? As in Colin Radcliffe? The hot nurse? My pulse sped up. 'How are you?'
'Sorry?'
I winced. Every time I came over here, I slipped and used that phrase, 'How are you?' and many Brits either didn't understand, thought I was asking, 'Who are you?', or thought it was funny to respond with a long litany of complaints. I never really understood the humor there. 'Sorry, I should say, "you all right?"'"
"'These days I live in Oregon. That's in the upper—'
'Northwest, just north of California. Yeah, that's the state that's got the same landmass as all of Great Britain.'
'Really?'
'Without the sixty million people all packed in.'
'Really? The island is that small?'
'You mean your state is that big, don't you?'
'Sure . . . '
He laughed. 'Don't pick on countries smaller than yours, all right?'"
"I wanted the painting to convey that these two people created their own space. They weren't hidden away somewhere, out of sight, but rather could make the rest of the world disappear no matter where they were, they were so enraptured with each other."
"Nora looked up at me, tears in her eyes. 'I hate all this.' In that moment she wasn't my older, stylish aunt who breezed through the world with unstoppable confidence. She was just a woman, and she was scared. That was the worst part of cancer, the way it reduced people, casting them down to the depths of humility and fear."
"'Why don't you and I talk?' He looked at my open sketchbook with interest. 'You draw?'
'I'm a professional artist.'
'Oh, right.' He raised both eyebrows in that expression I knew all too well, a mix of 'that's impressive' and 'really? Do you actually make money doing that?'"
"It felt wrong, turning away. I'd never left my mother or my sisters during their last days. I'd absorbed every last memory I could with them and learned them by heart so a part of them could be with me for the rest of my life. Then again, I looked back on those days and felt I gazed into a bottomless pit of despair. How much of life had I set aside to follow each of them into death?"
"'Wait right here.' He looked past me, out through the front windows, as if checking for surveillance, then darted through a door behind the counter. When he reemerged, he had a box clasped to his chest and a smug grin on his face. 'Okay, this isn't officially released until next week, and I swear I am in such deep trouble if you tell anyone I sold it to you.'
'I don't want to put your job at risk.'
'Oh, I can cover my tracks. I'm the manager and I know what I'm doing. I'm doing this for the karma. I help you get your nerd, maybe the universe will send me a hot hick who is cool with my gaming.'"
"I slid down onto the floor and picked up a controller. It was like a weapon designed by aliens. I hefted it then turned it over to look at the buttons. I figured out which one to press to start a new game, and much to my relief, I saw that it offered a tutorial on how to use the controls. I loaded that."
A gene mutation runs in the main character's family, so she has dealt with a lot of deaths in the family.
Multiple relationships in this book challenge the way you make judgements about people, about not being shallow.
There is a romance. :)
"'Are you an artist?' Nora asked.
'I just draw.'
'Let's see. These are wonderful.' She leafed through my sketchbook. 'You've got great talent. Are you going to become an artist?'
'No. It's not practical.'
'Oh, pffft. You only live once, and who's got time for practical? Let me ask you this, what makes you happy, a day when you get three square meals and a lot of homework you don't like, or a day when you draw and don't even remember to eat dinner?'
That was easy to answer. 'I love to draw.'
'Choose to be happy, then, even if it means you go hungry sometimes. You and I both know how short life can be.'"
"I turned down jobs as a graphic designer, which paid well but wasn't what I loved, and instead went into painting gospel subjects. I chose to be happy, as if by living on full life, I might make up for the lack I felt in the absence of my sisters, whose lives had come to such abrupt, decisive ends. I wanted to feel enough joy for the three of us."
"One thing about being older than most of the ward, I felt more settled in my faith. I wasn't trying out religion as an adult to see whether or not it was something I could sustain. My testimony was burned in deep. If it weren't for God, I knew I'd be a very different person. How else could I survive the death of all my close, female relatives and still get through the day? Adages like 'time heals all wounds,' are lies. Let me be clear on that. Each death hurts just as bad today as it did the day it happened. The people I've lost were ripped from me and took pieces of my soul with them, and I can feel the wounds every second of every day. Like a Hollywood actress I can call up tears on demand. They're always there, tickling the back of my throat. There isn't a moment that I don't miss my mother, or wish I could pick up a phone and call my sisters."
"True love is all about those once-in-a-lifetime moments when you don't just find yourself a good guy who's nice enough, but you find that man who's beyond your wildest dreams." Agree?
"'The chippy's over off the High Street,' Nora explained. 'Kind of down an alley, past where the Chaing Mai restaurant is, or was. I haven't been down there in ages.'
'Was the food good?'
'Disgusting. Batter fried sausages and greasy fish and chips. Might as well just eat fried lard, not that I cared. He paid and put vinegar on my fries so that I could have them the "real English" way. I thought I'd faint at any moment. It was like a dream. I wanted to pinch myself, literally.'"
"'Be honest,' I said. 'What else do you know about me?'
'Look, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable.'
'Just promise me you're not a stalker.'
'Guess that depends.'
'On what?'
He raised his hands defensively. 'Look, as far as I can tell, the only difference between a stalker and the most romantic guy ever is how the girl feels about him. If she's interested, the guy can sneak into her house and do he dishes or leave her love notes, and it's sooo sweet, but if she's not interested, it's freaky.'"
"'Hi, this is Colin.'
Colin? As in Colin Radcliffe? The hot nurse? My pulse sped up. 'How are you?'
'Sorry?'
I winced. Every time I came over here, I slipped and used that phrase, 'How are you?' and many Brits either didn't understand, thought I was asking, 'Who are you?', or thought it was funny to respond with a long litany of complaints. I never really understood the humor there. 'Sorry, I should say, "you all right?"'"
"'These days I live in Oregon. That's in the upper—'
'Northwest, just north of California. Yeah, that's the state that's got the same landmass as all of Great Britain.'
'Really?'
'Without the sixty million people all packed in.'
'Really? The island is that small?'
'You mean your state is that big, don't you?'
'Sure . . . '
He laughed. 'Don't pick on countries smaller than yours, all right?'"
"I wanted the painting to convey that these two people created their own space. They weren't hidden away somewhere, out of sight, but rather could make the rest of the world disappear no matter where they were, they were so enraptured with each other."
"Nora looked up at me, tears in her eyes. 'I hate all this.' In that moment she wasn't my older, stylish aunt who breezed through the world with unstoppable confidence. She was just a woman, and she was scared. That was the worst part of cancer, the way it reduced people, casting them down to the depths of humility and fear."
"'Why don't you and I talk?' He looked at my open sketchbook with interest. 'You draw?'
'I'm a professional artist.'
'Oh, right.' He raised both eyebrows in that expression I knew all too well, a mix of 'that's impressive' and 'really? Do you actually make money doing that?'"
"It felt wrong, turning away. I'd never left my mother or my sisters during their last days. I'd absorbed every last memory I could with them and learned them by heart so a part of them could be with me for the rest of my life. Then again, I looked back on those days and felt I gazed into a bottomless pit of despair. How much of life had I set aside to follow each of them into death?"
"'Wait right here.' He looked past me, out through the front windows, as if checking for surveillance, then darted through a door behind the counter. When he reemerged, he had a box clasped to his chest and a smug grin on his face. 'Okay, this isn't officially released until next week, and I swear I am in such deep trouble if you tell anyone I sold it to you.'
'I don't want to put your job at risk.'
'Oh, I can cover my tracks. I'm the manager and I know what I'm doing. I'm doing this for the karma. I help you get your nerd, maybe the universe will send me a hot hick who is cool with my gaming.'"
"I slid down onto the floor and picked up a controller. It was like a weapon designed by aliens. I hefted it then turned it over to look at the buttons. I figured out which one to press to start a new game, and much to my relief, I saw that it offered a tutorial on how to use the controls. I loaded that."
May 5, 2023
Language: G (0 swears, 0 "f"); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
The love story for the main character is absolutely adorable -- so much so that I read it again the day after finishing it just to read those parts and skip over all the hospital mysteries and family drama and the flashbacks to the aunt's love story. I dare anyone who has read the book to try and convince me that the scene in the video game store isn't the best one. I read it twice in the first sitting because I kept pausing to laugh.
The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol. The violence rating is for mentions of domestic violence and suicide.
The love story for the main character is absolutely adorable -- so much so that I read it again the day after finishing it just to read those parts and skip over all the hospital mysteries and family drama and the flashbacks to the aunt's love story. I dare anyone who has read the book to try and convince me that the scene in the video game store isn't the best one. I read it twice in the first sitting because I kept pausing to laugh.
The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol. The violence rating is for mentions of domestic violence and suicide.
August 8, 2021
This story started out a bit too slowly for me, but I'm so glad I kept reading. A pragmatic female main character, a nerdy male main character, family secrets, tragedy, and love made for a wonderful story.
Read
November 5, 2012Paint Me True is a story of people and situations that are not what they first seem. Not in a suspenseful, mysterious way, but in a perspective-changing, now-I-see-the-whole-picture kind of way.
Despite her reservations and intentions otherwise, Eliza somehow remains in relationship with her best friend’s nerdy, scruffy, video game-loving cousin Len for six months. The story opens as they arrive at a very nice steakhouse on a big date. Eliza expects to be turning down a marriage proposal and is instead dumped by Len.
Eliza is a talented religious artist who has watched all of her female family members but one waste away and lose their battles with cancer. She has a special relationship with her Aunt Nora, and doesn’t hesitate to hop on a plane to England when her aunt needs her help to recover from a fall, especially after the disastrous break-up date she had just experienced.
In England, Eliza meets handsome nurse Colin. They hit it off and start dating. During her stay with Aunt Nora, she agrees to paint several memories her aunt has with her deceased husband that are not recorded by photographs. Through her interactions with her late uncle’s family and some unexpected discoveries, Eliza learns that things are not always what they appear to be.
What I enjoyed most was experiencing Eliza and Len’s relationship through flashbacks as she painted. I was pleasantly surprised as I got to know Len better through her memories. He was still annoying in some ways, and I didn’t care for the video-game obsession, but I soon realized first impressions are often wrong.
I’m not going to give away any more of the story, but I will say that Eliza suffers heartbreak more than once and things are not easy for her. She has a lot to make up for and pays the price for her selfishness. She needed a wake-up call and she got it.
While Paint Me True started a bit slow for me, by the end I was involved in the story and stayed up after my family went to bed to find out how things would turn out for Eliza. I liked the ending and think that those who enjoy clean, LDS romance will like it, too.
Review originally published on www.ldswbr.com.
Despite her reservations and intentions otherwise, Eliza somehow remains in relationship with her best friend’s nerdy, scruffy, video game-loving cousin Len for six months. The story opens as they arrive at a very nice steakhouse on a big date. Eliza expects to be turning down a marriage proposal and is instead dumped by Len.
Eliza is a talented religious artist who has watched all of her female family members but one waste away and lose their battles with cancer. She has a special relationship with her Aunt Nora, and doesn’t hesitate to hop on a plane to England when her aunt needs her help to recover from a fall, especially after the disastrous break-up date she had just experienced.
In England, Eliza meets handsome nurse Colin. They hit it off and start dating. During her stay with Aunt Nora, she agrees to paint several memories her aunt has with her deceased husband that are not recorded by photographs. Through her interactions with her late uncle’s family and some unexpected discoveries, Eliza learns that things are not always what they appear to be.
What I enjoyed most was experiencing Eliza and Len’s relationship through flashbacks as she painted. I was pleasantly surprised as I got to know Len better through her memories. He was still annoying in some ways, and I didn’t care for the video-game obsession, but I soon realized first impressions are often wrong.
I’m not going to give away any more of the story, but I will say that Eliza suffers heartbreak more than once and things are not easy for her. She has a lot to make up for and pays the price for her selfishness. She needed a wake-up call and she got it.
While Paint Me True started a bit slow for me, by the end I was involved in the story and stayed up after my family went to bed to find out how things would turn out for Eliza. I liked the ending and think that those who enjoy clean, LDS romance will like it, too.
Review originally published on www.ldswbr.com.
December 17, 2015
Oh man can I just say I was hooked by this book. Yet again it was a great free find on Amazon!
I will admit I cried several times throughout reading this. I just loved watching the MC go threw the change she did. Watching her keep moving forward despite all the loss in her life. Her mom and grandma and sisters and aunts, basically all the females in her family have a rare genetic disorder that causes cancer and she and an aunt are the only surviving females. The book starts with her boyfriend breaking up with her and her aunt calling from England asking her to come help her because she fell and broke her arm.
Eliza, the MC, gets there only to discover things aren't exactly as the aunt made them seem and so she is trying to help and piece together all the pieces. She does a lot of soul searching and changing along the way. The author does an incredible job painting the picture of the aunt's life which the MC actually does paint in the novel as she is a very talented artist. I love the love story. It shows us that we all have different perspectives but we are not always accurate in those thoughts. Sometimes when we take a step back and let others show and teach that we can finally truly see it as it really is.
Just a wonderful story, it is sad and frustrating at points but there is a lot of truth in what the author writes. It is a Christian romance and is a clean read which I appreciate not having to worry if I'm going to come upon a scene that I don't need to have detailed out for me or any other reader.
It is free right now on Amazon so if you are at all interested now is the time. I read another book right after that was by this author that was also free and I have to say I am excited to try more of her books. I definitely recommend this to anyone to enjoy.
Happy Reading!!!
I will admit I cried several times throughout reading this. I just loved watching the MC go threw the change she did. Watching her keep moving forward despite all the loss in her life. Her mom and grandma and sisters and aunts, basically all the females in her family have a rare genetic disorder that causes cancer and she and an aunt are the only surviving females. The book starts with her boyfriend breaking up with her and her aunt calling from England asking her to come help her because she fell and broke her arm.
Eliza, the MC, gets there only to discover things aren't exactly as the aunt made them seem and so she is trying to help and piece together all the pieces. She does a lot of soul searching and changing along the way. The author does an incredible job painting the picture of the aunt's life which the MC actually does paint in the novel as she is a very talented artist. I love the love story. It shows us that we all have different perspectives but we are not always accurate in those thoughts. Sometimes when we take a step back and let others show and teach that we can finally truly see it as it really is.
Just a wonderful story, it is sad and frustrating at points but there is a lot of truth in what the author writes. It is a Christian romance and is a clean read which I appreciate not having to worry if I'm going to come upon a scene that I don't need to have detailed out for me or any other reader.
It is free right now on Amazon so if you are at all interested now is the time. I read another book right after that was by this author that was also free and I have to say I am excited to try more of her books. I definitely recommend this to anyone to enjoy.
Happy Reading!!!
December 31, 2012
I'm a big fan of E.M. Tippets. Her writing style is completely engaging and such a delight to read. Her characters and themes are always pleasantly surprising, and this one was also. 'Paint Me True' is a novel about first impressions. I started reading it and quickly assumed it to be somewhat formulaic to the genre. Eliza is an adult single girl who is approaching a time in her life that she is not completely happy with. She has a boyfriend, Len, whom she doesn't like too much, he's more for the role of it, but he dumps her and doesn't hide that he's actually quite happy that he did. She accepts an invitation to go to England to help her aunt through some health problems and soon things are not what they seemed to be.
The more I read, the more I realized that my first impressions were also wrong, and that this novel was original in its theme and the way it was portrayed. Eliza goes through a tremendous character growth as she realizes that her ideals were grossly skewed and that what she previously had not appreciated is actually what she really wants the most. The author accomplishes this very skillfully in both the writing of the plot and the characterization. It's introduced naturally and gradually until the reader realizes the same things that Eliza does. She then sets about to do everything she can to mend what she did wrong in a spirit of humility and kindness that is both inspiring and motivating.
If you are looking to read something different, look no further, you will not be disappointed.
The more I read, the more I realized that my first impressions were also wrong, and that this novel was original in its theme and the way it was portrayed. Eliza goes through a tremendous character growth as she realizes that her ideals were grossly skewed and that what she previously had not appreciated is actually what she really wants the most. The author accomplishes this very skillfully in both the writing of the plot and the characterization. It's introduced naturally and gradually until the reader realizes the same things that Eliza does. She then sets about to do everything she can to mend what she did wrong in a spirit of humility and kindness that is both inspiring and motivating.
If you are looking to read something different, look no further, you will not be disappointed.
December 29, 2011
My first book on my new Kindle! Woo-hoo!
I had a hard time getting into this book -- I think the thing that bugged me most was the shallow attitudes of the characters. The main character is really not very likable, and her "friends" are atrocious (what's with Hattie calling her own cousin a loser?? I had a hard time believing these girls were as old as they were; they acted about fourteen years old sometimes). But by about halfway through the book, I was hooked on the plot and delighted to see the character growth.
I liked the author's way of weaving events from the recent past (Eliza and Len) with the more distant past (Nora and Paul) all while driving forward with the present plot. And there were a few honest surprises in the book which I enjoyed. I ended up wishing I could hear more about Nora's thoughts after all was revealed about her relationship; that ending came a little too quickly for me.
But the ending for Eliza was a good one; I was glad to see her growth and change and her subsequent happily-ever-after. I ended up staying up waaaay too late to finish this one!
I had a hard time getting into this book -- I think the thing that bugged me most was the shallow attitudes of the characters. The main character is really not very likable, and her "friends" are atrocious (what's with Hattie calling her own cousin a loser?? I had a hard time believing these girls were as old as they were; they acted about fourteen years old sometimes). But by about halfway through the book, I was hooked on the plot and delighted to see the character growth.
I liked the author's way of weaving events from the recent past (Eliza and Len) with the more distant past (Nora and Paul) all while driving forward with the present plot. And there were a few honest surprises in the book which I enjoyed. I ended up wishing I could hear more about Nora's thoughts after all was revealed about her relationship; that ending came a little too quickly for me.
But the ending for Eliza was a good one; I was glad to see her growth and change and her subsequent happily-ever-after. I ended up staying up waaaay too late to finish this one!
March 8, 2012
This book had me riveted from the beginning! E.M. Tippetts is such a great Author. I could put myself into the main characters shoes (minus the proposals, haha). Being the age I am, and still in the single's ward it hit so close to home. So it wasn't hard to feel the way Eliza felt.
If you like to read, you will love this book. If you like to paint, you will love this book. If you are in a singles ward, you will love this book. If you love to date, you will love this book. Pretty much whoever you are, you should pick up this book!
So many things happen in this book that It was so hard to put down. I laughed with the character, and cried with the character. So many emotions lie in this one book. Get your hands on it as soon as you can! Keep a look out for some of E.M. Tippets other books. One is called "Time and Eternity" and she will also have a new one coming out in December called "Someone Else's Fairytale".
I also need to mention that if I go to England anytime soon, I now know how to word things like a proper Englishman. haha
If you like to read, you will love this book. If you like to paint, you will love this book. If you are in a singles ward, you will love this book. If you love to date, you will love this book. Pretty much whoever you are, you should pick up this book!
So many things happen in this book that It was so hard to put down. I laughed with the character, and cried with the character. So many emotions lie in this one book. Get your hands on it as soon as you can! Keep a look out for some of E.M. Tippets other books. One is called "Time and Eternity" and she will also have a new one coming out in December called "Someone Else's Fairytale".
I also need to mention that if I go to England anytime soon, I now know how to word things like a proper Englishman. haha
March 4, 2012
I was really surprised and pleased by this book. I don't read a lot of romances, and this is my first-ever Mormon romance. I was honestly expecting a very standard romance plot -- they meet, they hate each other, they slowly stop hating each other until BAM, they're in love.
What I got instead was a far more complex and nuanced story about a wounded woman (wounded because she has lost many loved ones to cancer) who has a lot of things to learn about herself. Her journey takes her to the aid of an ailing aunt in England where she meets a cute guy and learns about her aunt's romance with her dead husband.
I found the structure of the novel refreshing and interesting, and the main character's emotional arc believable and rewarding. I don't give star ratings any more, but I'd give this one 5/5.
[Obligatory note: I designed the cover for this book so may not be wholly unbiased.]
What I got instead was a far more complex and nuanced story about a wounded woman (wounded because she has lost many loved ones to cancer) who has a lot of things to learn about herself. Her journey takes her to the aid of an ailing aunt in England where she meets a cute guy and learns about her aunt's romance with her dead husband.
I found the structure of the novel refreshing and interesting, and the main character's emotional arc believable and rewarding. I don't give star ratings any more, but I'd give this one 5/5.
[Obligatory note: I designed the cover for this book so may not be wholly unbiased.]
August 3, 2013
Ok, I will tell you up front that I don't always feel like I convey myself well thru reviews but here it goes ...
This book had me alternating between laughing and crying. Watching Eliza go thru the pain of losing loved ones ... watching her learn more about herself and also seeing what is really important and eventually recognizing what has been right in front of her and realizing that sometimes mistakes aren't a simple fix.
"I'll never forget the first time I saw him. You know that feeling when you really notice someone. They just stand out to you and you want to get to know them?"
"Paint Me True" is a wonderful, uplifting story about real life -- being able to look past what you see on the outside, finding love, making mistakes, taking chances, being able to forgive and being true to yourself.
This book had me alternating between laughing and crying. Watching Eliza go thru the pain of losing loved ones ... watching her learn more about herself and also seeing what is really important and eventually recognizing what has been right in front of her and realizing that sometimes mistakes aren't a simple fix.
"I'll never forget the first time I saw him. You know that feeling when you really notice someone. They just stand out to you and you want to get to know them?"
"Paint Me True" is a wonderful, uplifting story about real life -- being able to look past what you see on the outside, finding love, making mistakes, taking chances, being able to forgive and being true to yourself.
July 14, 2015
I loved the character's depth that she gains throughout the course of the book and the fact that
I am also getting older and it is nice to read clean books with adults about my age dealing with adult problems rather than the things that bother teenagers.
Free on Amazon
I am also getting older and it is nice to read clean books with adults about my age dealing with adult problems rather than the things that bother teenagers.
Free on Amazon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2014
Paint Me True
Certainly a different twist of a romantic story. I really enjoyed it though, since it was as if there were two stories inside one larger story. Eliza is one strong woman, who had suffered from many losses in her life. Because of this she had missed out of somethings, but after a phone call from her aunt things change. Will Eliza find love, peace of mind? Or will she turn the dreaded 31 years old and not find a match?
Certainly a different twist of a romantic story. I really enjoyed it though, since it was as if there were two stories inside one larger story. Eliza is one strong woman, who had suffered from many losses in her life. Because of this she had missed out of somethings, but after a phone call from her aunt things change. Will Eliza find love, peace of mind? Or will she turn the dreaded 31 years old and not find a match?
June 16, 2015
I like this story! It could be a niche novel, since most of the main characters are LDS, but it's also entirely relatable, since the religious quirks are clearly and succinctly explained and don't complicate the plot or the relationships. I really enjoyed Eliza's growth as a character--it wasn't a smack in the face, lightning bolt change, but a gradual growth that was revealed to Eliza all at once, but that I saw coming in stages. Really sweet romance, very clean, and felt real to me.
June 16, 2015
The Kindle edition was a little choppy and scattered in places, so maybe 3.5 stars. The rough parts were at a very crucial point.
At first I totally thought Eliza was a horrific jerk and I was embarrassed to be put in the same category as her (LDS). As the book went on though, I realized that the purpose was to show her change of heart.
This was a quick read. Kept my interest. I really wanted to be reading it when I had other things to do.
At first I totally thought Eliza was a horrific jerk and I was embarrassed to be put in the same category as her (LDS). As the book went on though, I realized that the purpose was to show her change of heart.
This was a quick read. Kept my interest. I really wanted to be reading it when I had other things to do.
November 13, 2011
This was a good book with a bit of a twist to the romance. I won't tell you the twist, but it's a good one. In the beginning I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book because Eliza (and friends) just weren't that likable. But, growth, change, awareness, and understanding come to the rescue. E. M. Tippets is now on my radar.
June 26, 2012
This was a good book IF you get passes the religious part. It should be noted as a mormon LDS novel. after I started reading into couldn't return it when I found out! But it does have a good moral and is more of a discovery of the characters self with a little love story. This book has no sex in it all so if your looking for that you should pass!
June 17, 2015
I've read several books by this author, but I think this is the first I've read that is LDS fiction. I really like what she did with the story. It was pretty touching at times, and just a good romance. It wasn't an easy, love at first sight story. The struggles made the characters that much more likeable. I liked that it wasn't predictable, and the characters had to work for what they got.
January 6, 2012
This was an engaging love story that was more than just a love story. I enjoyed all the aspects of the story. There was really good character development and some unexpected twists which added a really important dimension to the story. Definitely an enjoyable read.
November 20, 2012
This is the story of a painter who dates a computor nerd. He break up with her and she goes to England to stay with her aunt who has broken her arm in a fall. My daughter and I both liked this book. Sometimes you don't know what you have when it is right under your nose. It was a very good book.
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