Fans of Christian Romance discussion

For July, we are reading Somewhere to Call Home by Janet Lee Barton.



Summary: Some might call it a proposal. Violet Burton knows it's blackmail, and she refuses to give in. She won't marry the unscrupulous banker who holds the mortgage on her Virginia home. Instead, she'll find employment in New York City, earning enough to pay her debts before returning home. Virginia's where she belongs…even if reconnecting with childhood friend Michael Heaton makes her long to stay permanently at his mother's boardinghouse.The freckle-faced girl Michael knew is now a lovely woman. Helping Violet find her way is a simple act of friendship—at least at first. But soon he'll do anything to keep her safe, and hope she'll see that the home she seeks is one they can share together.

I'm excited and honored that my Somewhere to Call Home, is a group read this month. I loved researching the time period and the city.

I'm sorry to say, I really didn't like this book. The premise of the story on the back of the book didn't interest me, so I knew I was in for a rough ride in trying to read this for this month's group read. Granted, it was a quick read, and did get more interesting as it went on, saving it from a one star rating and bringing it to the two star rating I gave it on my book list, but I really hated the heroine. Yes, her behavior could have been blamed on the time setting of the story, but for her to be whiny and spineless when she was priding herself on being strong by refusing to marry the banker that was trying to blackmail her just grated on my nerves too much to be enjoyable. To me, she was looking for everyone to save her from this man and tell her what to do and how to do it, which ended up making her seem weak in my eyes. She had started out showing real strength by moving away and trying to solve her problem by working in a different city to pay the debt off, but the second she got there, it was like she didn't have a mind of her own and had to have others tell her her best course of action. I would have to say that if I was looking for a read set in this time period that would be better, I would pick up The Gaslight Mystery series by Victoria Thompson before re-reading this or recommending it to others, which says something, as I don't read murder mysteries much anymore. Here's hoping others like this book more than I did.

I enjoyed this book very much. To me it was interesting to see how this young woman went from living in a small town to living in New York city. I found her to be brave and compassionate to those less fortunate than her. Over all, I would recommend this book to everyone.

I liked the book quite a lot too. I could feel and imagine New York at that time and generally the setting was very enjoyable.

I didn't see the main character as spineless as Victoria mentioned. I thought it is quite normal to not know what is best to do if you have grown in a little town and suddenly move to the big city. When you are out of your comfort zone it is normal to trust your friends' suggestions for the best course of action. I'm sure I would do the same.

Violet was, of course, a "damsel in distress" but that didn't bother me much at all.

Darina wrote: "I liked the book quite a lot too. I could feel and imagine New York at that time and generally the setting was very enjoyable.

I didn't see the main character as spineless as Victoria mentioned. ..."

I agree, it is good to follow your friends suggestions when you're out of your comfort zone, but to me it seemed that all Violet did was wait for those suggestions to come and not think for herself. There is a fine line between "damsel in distress" and "spineless, unable to think for myself" and I think Violet crossed that line.

Odd thing is, I've read other books set in this time period, even romance books at that, and none of the heroines came off as Violet did. Sure, they might start out like Violet acted, but somewhere along the way, they pluck up their courage and figure out how to move on for themselves. Violet started out with that plucked up courage and devolved into vapidity and weakness that to me plagued the rest of the book.

As I've said, I hoped others would like the book more than I did, and I'm glad they have. I still stand by my original opinion of the book that it is not worth recommending to others and was a difficult read for me personally.