Ariana: The Trilogy

Ariana #1-3

by Rachel Ann Nunes

Three bestselling novels are now available in a single volume! The Making of a Queen begins the story of an extraordinary young woman who struggles to find hope and meaning in the face of unimaginable suffering. In the second volume, A Gift Most Precious, Ariana's faith is tested as she faces life-and-death consequences of past choices. And in A New Beginning, Ariana discovers that her reliance on the Lord and her love for her famiy can make the dramatic difference between triumph and tragedy. This rare and compelling series was originally published more than a decade ago and immediately established author Rachel Ann Nunes as one of the most popular romance writers in the LDS market.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Lds, Romance, Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Christian, Fiction

600 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2008

About the author

Rachel Ann Nunes (pronounced noon-esh) learned to read when she was four and by seventh grade knew she was going to be an author. Now as a stay-at-home mother of seven, it isn't easy to find time to write, but she will trade washing dishes or weeding the garden for an hour at the computer any day! Her only rule about writing is to never eat chocolate at the computer. "Since I love chocolate and writing," she jokes, "my family might never see me again."

Rachel has over sixty published books, including the popular Ariana series and the award-winning picture book Daughter of a King. She enjoys hiking, swimming, spending time with her family, reading, and visiting far off places.

For more information or to join her e-mailing list, visit http://www.RachelAnnNunes.com.

Reviews

[Cydnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

" I was given this 'trilogy' set by a friend - can't remember why - doesn't matter... I have to start this review by saying, I have read other novels by this author and enjoyed them [I think I even gave them 4 stars] so I was looking forward to reading this set. As soon as I began the first one I had to look up where it fit in her chronology of writing...yep...it was her first book. That being said, over the past few years I have read a number of 'first novels' by new authors and loved them. Not so much with this set. Least you wonder why I kept reading, I had to see if they got better and where the story was going to go. Oh well, it's making the book I'm currently reading much more enjoyable.

Things I liked:
1- Clean language and story. It's an LDS author writing an LDS story.
2- Characters were described well [I did get tired of Jean-Marc's "green-brown eyes". Too much
3- The story line made sense, not skipping around. Sometimes things happened a bit too quickly, while others dragged on some.

Things I didn't like:
1- If you're going to set a story in Paris, France make the characters sound French! The story could have occurred in Anytown, Anystate, USA. The only time I remembered that they were in France was the mention of landmarks, the names used and an occasional use of metric measurements.
2- The syntax used was often very elementary in construction. Other uses were soooo out of place. Here is an example of Simone, whose "..way of speaking clearly showed the accent of the small French village where she had been raised" EX: "Why, I ain't seen ya since ya was about two years old...I ain't good enough fer her no more." Small French village...really?!? But we also get the four year old saying, "Oh,..can you believe it? your're going to stay a few nights with us. Finally I won't be the only girl here."...really?!?
3- I have to think that only members of the LDS faith are going to try to continue reading this set, so why all of the explanations? Also, why not just say that someone is standing in the hallway [at the church]? We don't need an explanation of 'because she's the Primary president she has a closet to store her projects' - not necessary.
4- Ariana was a rebellious teen who did drugs and got pregnant out of wedlock. But she falls apart when her son gets a bit of rebellion in him. I would think she'd understand.

Two worst quotes:
"The summer days slipped away like rats scurrying out of sight behind the garbage bins in the basement parking lot." [umm, it's the second week of June in the story] And, "Jean-Marc nearly leaped into the office, filling it to capacity with his presence, though there was still ample physical space in the room."

I am really glad that this was not my first introduction to Rachel Ann Nunes, because if it had been I don't think I would have read anything else. I am mostly frustrated by the fact that such poor proof-reading is done before books get published - and re-published. I guess if you are not as neurotic of a reader as I am, and want a set to fill the time, you may enjoy this set. I won't be reading it again, but I think I'll look up her latest novel to redeem her.(less) "

[Breanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book as a teenager (I read it twice between the ages of 13 and 16) and I was excited to read it again. However, I discovered that as an adult, I didn't like it nearly as much. The fact that pretty much everyone in the book got baptized was incredibly unrealistic, and I think I'll scream if I read about Jean-Marc's "green-brown eyes" one more time. Really, you only need to mention that a couple of times during the series. A couple times each chapter is overkill.
I'm not saying this is a bad book. I loved it as a teenager and I think it's a great read for that age group. It talks about a lot of great and important topics. However, I would not recommend it to an adult.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't my FAVORITE book EVER...but it was VERY good. I think I would give it a 4.75 if I could. It is written by an LDS author, so some people might think it's a little cheesy (baptizing friends and family and almost everyone they meet)...but I loved the feelings I got from it. I really enjoyed reading it and it inspired me to be a better person and a more dedicated latter day saint member.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first LDS romance novel that I have read. I really enjoyed how the story flowed. And it seems realistic. How our lives are like those in this story, you have ups and downs. And even in spiritual growth, you have the ups and downs there two. It seemed realistic, and I was surprised by how much I really liked it. I will reread this again and again!

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly religious. The underlying message is uplifting but some components to the story itself is hard to believe and overly dramatized. Despite all that, still very relatable and if you're looking for something that reminds you constantly of God's hand in your life and the world, then this would be for you.

[Ariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given this triiogy as a gift, due to sharing my name with the main character.

The first half of the first book was great; there were gripping (if somewhat emotionally cliched) events that brought Ariana to where she stood in the rain on page 1. Little Nette in particular really gives the book some color and heart, and when she dies, I wept. However, Nette's death at the mid-point of the first books marks the end of a gripping story. Ariana gets involved with the Church of Latter-Day Saints and has her life radically changed. From that point on, this book loses all appeal to a non-LDS audience. Nunes is a fantastic author, but I'm personally not interested in this or that temple, and the phrase "Families are forver" is nothing if not overused.

I would definitely recommend this book to an LDS friend, but this book is not for most people.

[H.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My great-grandma told me that this book was going to make me cry. It did not. I have only cried once while reading a book. Anyway, this book(s) grew kind of monotonous. Happy, sad, happy, sad, happy, sad. Yes, I did like it. I hated Ariana's first husband, Jacques, during the first two books, but at the end of the third book, I decided that he was all right. I started to get frustrated at her second husband, Jean-Marc, for missing the obvious, which he wouldn't have recognized if it had slapped him in the face. Even though this book is really sad at some points, it is morbidly fascinating at the same time. But I liked how well the characters were developed, and I liked how the author made them seem real. This book is a really good read if you have enough time on your hands.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these books! I would definitely say that they are feel good/pick me up books and I loved seeing how I should be handling trials that come (even though I hope to NEVER have to go through what Ariana does!) I thought that the author does an excellent job of developing her characters so well that you cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh. I think the first book in this series is the saddest but the best! These books helped put into perspective for me once again just how true the LDS church is and how grateful I am for eternal families! I would def recommend it!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh sad! It didn't make me cry but I wanted to a few times. Some of it seemed fake though...like, can a person really be that unlucky? There were a few times when I thought Ariana should get her patriarchal blessing. I think that would've helped a lot. I think that this is a good book to read. I wasn't sure I would like it, but I ended up loving it! You might at first feel like I did, like it wouldn't be exciting (usually I like to read fanstasy, sci-fi, adventure, whatever) but this book was very fun to read. Thought-provoking, challenging, fun and even TESTIMONY BUILDING.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would probably give it 3.5 stars...:). I actually really enjoyed this series. I was a little worried that I wouldn't, but I was surprised. For some reason the 2nd book was the hardest for me to get through. It was very sad, but it almost seemed like it drug out to much. I feel as though she was hit with a series of unfortunate events...while some of it seemed a little too unrealistic (ie everyone they meet joins the church, without hardly a second thought, some things that happened when Ariana was a missionary). I still really enjoyed it. :)

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the reason why I liked this so much was simply because I could relate to the character really well. Ariana deals with some incredible life altering experiences that many people would never recover from; however, she finds the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints and she begins to find what life really means. Because of the Church, she is able to let go of her past and develop into a very faithful servant of the Lord. This book was very inspiring and heartwarming. I definitely would recommend to... everyone.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I would say about 3 1/2 stars. I really liked the story, and it really brings you in to like all the characters and such, but I felt like the author had to keep torturing the characters to keep the plot going. It was one major trial after another. I know life is full of trials, but seriously, it was a little heavy handed in that department. But, I obviously still liked it since I read all three books in less than a week.

[DiDi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this from Deseret book with high praises from the salesclerk. It is not the best writing, but there some excellent passages. Book deals in unrealistic situations that are heaped upon one small family who deal with them in an unrealistic way. LDS based with some really great quotes on the faith. Problems with the book are from the writer, not the subject or church. Am happy to lend this out.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this trilogy. Good writing, interesting characters, good stories, not quite as predictable as Anita Stansfield. However, I kept asking myself, "What more do these people have to go through?!" They just get through one harrowing trial when another life-wrenching event happens. Maybe life is like that for some, but it was a little overkill for me. I guess that's why it's fiction.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meeting Ariana and taking the journey with her through her life was amazing for I was reminded that we must love and accept everyone without judgement for we do not know what they have been through or their challenges and burdens. This trilogy was long but I liked that it was all in one book so there was no waiting to see what happens next. I love these people and was sad when the book ended and they are no longer in my life.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the author did a good job writing the books but I personally did not like the series. It is divided into three books. I hated the first one, disliked the second and thought the third was okay. It's just so depressing and deals with situations that I would rather not read about. Had I known it had so much drug use and death in it I would not have read it. But for someone having a difficult time dealing with these situations it might help them.

[Trina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually read through the first "book" and part of the second. I basically lost interest. The author is good at keeping you interested at first but she didn't give me enough description of the good to outweigh the struggles and heartache. I was hoping for something a little more upbeat I guess. I'll probably finish it sometime, but not right now.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, however, I was sobbing hysterically about midway through the 2nd book. I loved the way she wrote and captured the characters, she incorporated missionary work, prayer, church, and so many other Standard Seminary Answers, but it was not preachy like Anita Stansfield's books. Loved this author!

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books- I read them over and over again. In this series (but not necessarily in all of Rachel Nunes' books) she writes about things that are very deep and touching without being cheesy. She nailed these characters down and I love the thoughts that she gives them that are so real to what we think as human beings.

[Annie Lamae · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so amazing! Rachel Ann Nunes pulls you into the life of Ariana. You cry when she crys, laughs when she laughs, and love when she loves. You really feel like you are part of this woman's life. This books has real trials that can happen to anyone, anytime in this crazy world.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband and I read these books together. We really enjoy the characters and have loved getting to know them even more through the rest of Rachel's books. I would categorize them as feel-good books. They are happy and sad but they make me want to be a better person!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. I am so very aware that these are silly little Mormon novels, however I really truly liked them. They were so good. I want to read them again, but I'm embarrassed to check them out of the library.

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is the first book of hers that I have read, though I have heard she is a good author. This is a condensed/abridged version of the trilogy all in one book. Not super impressed. The topic content didn't really hold my attention. Not a page turner for me.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story if you are looking for a good romance. Set in France, Ariana is a young girl who must find her way through some intense challenges to the faith that will help her survive and find joy in life.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing!! It is definately one of my all time favorite books! The trials that Ariana and her family have in this book are so real for some people it made it easy to relate to.

[Erinp Plumley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like no other book I have read. It is basically 3 short books in one that flow together seamlessly. It is a book about Mormon life, but in such a real life format. I shed tears on many occasions which covered several emotions. yes, I recommend it.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several things about this story seemed to me to be ludicrous and unrealistic, but overall, it was a good story with a good message. Though, a couple times I caught myself thinking, "Why am I still reading this?"

[Ciara Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these books, mostly because I am LDS. It was a great story line and I loved how it had learning and life principles in it. I enjoyed how it expounds onto Ariana's kids and their lives. I would definitely read these again.

[Kelliann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these books, although they were a little on the sad side for me. I think they could have used a little more joy and she still could have gotten her point across.