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Final Act
To Wendy Wood, the job sounded ideal. She would be living in the mansion of a legendary film star and she would be able to focus on teaching only one student. But a chilly reception by the household staff and her initial encounter with Paul, her young charge, leave her wondering if she made the right decision --and now it seems someone wants her out of the way.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 1, 2012
I would have given this two and a half stars but rounded it up. This is so much like Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier that I found myself betting on the next character, scene prop, or plot match-up. If I wasn't so picky I probably could have just enjoyed it for what it was, a fun romp. I chose this in audio book.
June 10, 2020
This was a cute story, but it wasn't as well-written as I expected it to be.
I'm told it is a lot like Jane Eyre (So I'm going to have to read that now, so I can see what everyone means).
I liked the plot, but I feel like the prologue and the epilogue did not add to the story like they could have. Also, I feel like the story ended way too fast after the climax, having the rest of the story shoved into the Epilogue with too many loose ends not getting the detailed ending they deserved.
There were also times things were repeated that made the conversations redundant, and/or the religious references were sometimes overstated.
However, that said, I greatly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to those who want an "easier version" of a Jane Eyre type story to read.
I'm told it is a lot like Jane Eyre (So I'm going to have to read that now, so I can see what everyone means).
I liked the plot, but I feel like the prologue and the epilogue did not add to the story like they could have. Also, I feel like the story ended way too fast after the climax, having the rest of the story shoved into the Epilogue with too many loose ends not getting the detailed ending they deserved.
There were also times things were repeated that made the conversations redundant, and/or the religious references were sometimes overstated.
However, that said, I greatly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to those who want an "easier version" of a Jane Eyre type story to read.
August 7, 2011
Wendy is a young teacher who takes a position as a live-in tutor for eight-year-old Paul, grandson to the reclusive movie star, Bella Horstman. The mansion is huge, and the staff isn't particularly friendly. Bella is said to live on the third floor, but with the exception of one or two staff members, no one is allowed to venture there.
Wendy struggles with the strange new environment. She starts receiving anonymous notes to leave Horstman house, and is even physically harmed several times. But, she is determined to stay and give Paul the help he desperately needs.
Final Act started a bit slow for me with lots of details. I got through the first few pages with lots of skimming. Then as the story started to move along, I was drawn in.
Unfortunately, I was distracted by the religious aspects of the story. Some authors have a great talent for including spiritual characteristics and mannerisms in their novels, but the way those things were included in this novel disrupted the flow.
But, the major downside to the story was that it was so much like Jane Eyre. If you aren't familiar with the story of Jane Eyre, this may have been pretty suspenseful and intriguing. However, if you've read Jane Eyre, then you were in for a pretty predictable read.
Wendy struggles with the strange new environment. She starts receiving anonymous notes to leave Horstman house, and is even physically harmed several times. But, she is determined to stay and give Paul the help he desperately needs.
Final Act started a bit slow for me with lots of details. I got through the first few pages with lots of skimming. Then as the story started to move along, I was drawn in.
Unfortunately, I was distracted by the religious aspects of the story. Some authors have a great talent for including spiritual characteristics and mannerisms in their novels, but the way those things were included in this novel disrupted the flow.
But, the major downside to the story was that it was so much like Jane Eyre. If you aren't familiar with the story of Jane Eyre, this may have been pretty suspenseful and intriguing. However, if you've read Jane Eyre, then you were in for a pretty predictable read.
August 11, 2016
Wendy Wood has taken on a job as the private tutor of the grandson of a movie star. She couldn't be happier to be leaving her public school teaching job, and this one seems like a dream come true. In reality, it may be more of a nightmare. Her reception is chilly, at best, and as time goes on she receives several anonymous threats telling her to "Leave this house."
There is some light, though--the little boy she teaches is desperately lonely, and she's able to make his life a lot better, providing some love and advocating for him to experience more of the world. She also begins to get to know Paul's dad, Daniel, and can see that with time a relationship between them might be possible.
She's not sure how long she'll last, though, as she experiences more than one attempt on her life. She needs to get to the bottom of it or leave. With Paul and Daniel depending on her, she resolves to figure it out--before it's too late.
Strong allusions to Jane Eyre. Some of the scary incidents were more believable than others. Interesting conclusion to the story.
There is some light, though--the little boy she teaches is desperately lonely, and she's able to make his life a lot better, providing some love and advocating for him to experience more of the world. She also begins to get to know Paul's dad, Daniel, and can see that with time a relationship between them might be possible.
She's not sure how long she'll last, though, as she experiences more than one attempt on her life. She needs to get to the bottom of it or leave. With Paul and Daniel depending on her, she resolves to figure it out--before it's too late.
Strong allusions to Jane Eyre. Some of the scary incidents were more believable than others. Interesting conclusion to the story.
September 18, 2009
this is a no star book. The man who wrote it is a raving loony. I finished it but I wasn't happy when I was done. They had people with mental illness, lots of different accidents,a lot of lying and it was just all around creepy. The saddest part about it was that it was supposed to be lds fiction. ARRRAH
July 28, 2010
uugh! So I guess I have not read many Christian/LDS themed books that are so overly laden with religious practices. The plot was okay, but it just seemed so "cheesey" or something. It really rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. I would almost give this 1-1.5 stars but I'm rounding up again.
July 31, 2009
I almost didn't finish this one. It was a bad rip off of one of the Bronte sisters' books, I can't remember which one. I'm not too picky about reading only well written books, but there is a limit to what I can comfortably endure and this was about it.
November 28, 2011
This is an LDS author who incorporates the gospel into his story very well. The story had great suspense and resolution, and only got slightly slow somewhere in the middle. I very much enjoyed his characters and setting. A great read and one I would recommend to all.
March 25, 2008
This is an alright book, I listened to it during spring cleaning.
January 14, 2009
This was a pretty cute romantical story. It ended a little cheesy, but it made me laugh. It's just a quick read, and clean.
September 16, 2009
Like reading a 1970s version of "Jane Eyre."
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September 14, 2009I think I read somewhere that the author was inspired by Jane Eyre (sp?) I can see the the similarities, though I almost like this book better.
November 3, 2009
This was an enjoyable no-brainer book, but was a little slow. The romance was also obviously written by a man and was not very romantic or believable.
February 8, 2010
I LOVED this book!! I think it is one of my top favorites! I loved the suspense and how it all came together at the end. I would recommend this book to anyone:)
September 30, 2010
About half way through the book, I could see the direction the book was headed. Definitely an LDS version of Jane Eyre (which by the way is a much more amazing novel.) But this was an okay read.
October 30, 2010
I liked this author. Enjoyable story.
May 9, 2012
Wendy is a tutor in famous movie stars home. Someone wants her gone and many terrifying incidents could chase her away or kill her.
December 12, 2014
An odd LDS-spiced combination of Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and All About Eve. Figure that one out!
March 9, 2016
I liked the book. The plot was similar to other books "Rebecca" and "Jane Eyre", which I love. So it was good, but not spectacular.
July 31, 2016
A 1970s LDS version of Jane Eyre. Personally, I like the original much better, but if you're not into classics and the language they employ, this is a good way to go.
September 27, 2016
Interesting creepy story
April 10, 2018
This book is so touching me , not only that I've learned so much from it I have also feel the way Mater Paul felt about his parents where he didnt spent that much time with his father, or even talk to him . but the most terrible is that the mother pass away in a accident and he leave lonely in the house with full of maids and mose terrific person knowns as Ingrids but ive learn alot from this which ill explain once ive done reading the whole story
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews