Dawn Crandall

The Cautious Maiden Review and Giveaways

October 24, 2016 by Suzie Waltner 2 Comments

Before we get into the review (and giveaways) for The Cautious Maiden, let me say this: If you have not yet read The Everstone Chronicles by Dawn Crandall, you are missing out! This series is amazing and the fourth and final book is a true treat.

Vance Everstone is the black sheep of the Everstone Family, the offspring who has lived life to please himself and now lives to regret his choices. He is striving to change his spots, to become a man after God’s heart but the shadow of his past hangs heavy over everything in his present.
On the other end of the spectrum, Violet Hawthorne has lived her life above reproach. Despite her brother turning her family home into a brothel, Violet has managed to stay away from that life and everything associated with it. But her brother is more devious and desperate than she could imagine.
When he puts her in a compromising position that will ruin her reputation and leave her with no place to turn, Violet is forced into an engagement with Vance Everstone, who promises to protect her. Violet longs for a real marriage—one full of love—but Vance has already told her he hadn’t planned on marrying anytime soon. Will she learn to navigate Vance’s high-society world? And how will she ever protect her heart from the man she is coming to love?

This story!! What a beautiful tale of redemption, of how love can change a person. How seeking God’s heart changes your own enough for someone who wants to know you to see the person God intended you to be.

And while it’s not usually my favorite point of view for romance, Crandall makes the first person narrative work. In every one of her books. Readers fall in love with the hero right along with the heroine. All I could ask for is more of these characters—maybe a reunion piece?

****Whitaker House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write either a positive or negative review. All opinions expressed are my own.***

For the next 10 days (both end Nov 4, 2016), there are two giveaways for you to enter. First, Dawn Crandall’s publisher is generously giving away a copy of The Cautious Maiden to one of my blog visitors. All you have to do is answer the following question in the comments:

Question: Who is the most memorable character in the books you’ve read?

And if you don’t win the book here, you have another chance. Dawn Crandall is also giving away a couple copies of her books along with some other treats:

Enter to win one of these two fabulous prizes here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now Available in Paperback!!!

September 21, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Greetings blog readers. I know it’s been a busy, busy year and you probably don’t remember book reviews from last March but let me tell you a little story. Sometimes authors go through different journeys with publishing. Dawn Crandall wrote three books in the Everstone Chronicles series that were ONLY released in eBook. Well, a few months ago, she got good news. The paperback versions are coming!!! Actually, the first book, The Hesitant Heiress, is available for sale now. Book two will be available in October and three in November.

These are great books. If you know anyone who enjoys historical fiction, consider giving this book as a Christmas gift (or even better the series). If you want to read more about The Hesitant Heiress, check out my review.

Dawn is also giving away 5 copies of her first book. Enter via rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Captive Imposter by Dawn Crandall

April 16, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

As hotel heiress Estella Everstone poses as a companion to an elderly widow after the death of her brother, Will, she struggles with her new position. When her employer announces they will be spending some time at Everston, one of her father’s hotels, Estella (living under the alias of Elle Stoneburner) is both excited and anxious. Excited because of all of her father’s hotels, this is the one she is most fond of, the one she longs to own someday. Anxious because she is Estella Everstone, visited the hotel when she was younger, and may be recognized. On the way to the hotel, Estella meets Dexter Blakeley, the manager of the hotel. His caring and kindness toward not only her but some other young ladies is both humbling and aggravating. But somehow Dexter is able to accomplish what no one else in Estella’s life has. He sees herself for who she truly is—not some society maiden, not the daughter of Bram Everstone, not the sister of Natalia, Nathan, Vance or, Will. And that is something she didn’t realize she’d wanted so desperately. But when the truth of who she comes out is revealed, will Dexter still look at her with affection or will the attachment and mutual respect that has grown between them be irreparably severed?

Book three of The Everstone Chronicles offers much desired insight into the elusive Estella Everstone. In the first two books, I could never decide if she was just so painfully shy she kept to herself or such a snob she didn’t believe others were worth her time (it’s neither of these things in case you’re wondering). Dawn Crandall’s characters are well-developed and the more I read of her, the more I want to read. Fingers crossed this isn’t the final book in the series. Estella’s struggle with how others see her and how she longs to be seen is heartfelt and genuine, her friendship with Dexter’s sister is sweet, and the chemistry between her and Dexter is undeniable. The Captive Imposter is a must read for fans of historical fiction, romance, or a good, engaging read (you’ll have a hard time putting it down).

Available now

Visit Dawn Crandall’s blog during release month (through April 23) and enter to win a copy of The Captive Imposter and other great reads!

***The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Bound Heart by Dawn Crandall

March 20, 2015 by Suzie Waltner 1 Comment

Meredyth Summercourt has known for six years what her future holds—marriage to Vance Everstone. Despite the fact that Vance has been out of the country for two years with no plans of returning, Meredyth is determined to make things right. And then Lawry Hampton, her best friend since childhood, kisses her, Meredyth’s future doesn’t feel so certain. With Lawry at her side, challenging her, comforting her, and listening to her, Meredyth realizes that she is in love with him, that she’s tired of pretending. But she doesn’t deserve him and she fights her attraction. Can Lawry’s love release her from her shame and guilt?

After reading The Hesitant Heiress, I felt like Meredyth and Lawry are already old friends of mine. It’s fun reading series because we get more depth into each character as they become the focus of a book. Meredyth wants to be noble and good but never believes she can achieve that so instead she sets her sights on atoning for her past. The additions of little orphan Wynn pulled on my heartstrings on more than one occasion (especially right before the wedding at the end). And Lawry’s persistence and consistency is sigh-worthy.

I think most people can relate to making a bad decision and living with the regret of that decision. Yes, some are more damaging than others but no one is perfect. Dawn Crandall excellently handles the topic of living with the regret and shame of a bad decision in The Bound Heart. Meredyth struggles with being worthy of the life she is living in the moment, being loved by Lawry Hampton. In the end, there is only one person who can release us from our past mistakes, and He is more than a man.

The Bound Heart (as well as the first book in the Everstone Chronicles) is available now. Book three is due out in April and you will definitely want to read these first.

The Hesitant Heiress by Dawn Crandall

March 14, 2015 by Suzie Waltner 1 Comment

For me, there are a couple of definite signs that a book is going to go on a favorites list. First, I want to know what happens to those characters after the book ends. Second, I immediately go back into the book and re-read parts of it. I found myself going back over many scenes in The Hesitant Heiress, the first book in The Everstone Chronicles by Dawn Crandall. And then there’s the little matter of not wanting to put the book down but you have to because you’ve got to work. Or sleep. Or care for you family. This new-to-me author blew me away with her first book and I cannot wait to read the other two she’s written thus far. Crandall immerses her readers in high society in the late 1800s and entertains from the opening page.

Amaryllis Brigham is forced to leave the Boston Conservatory of Music and move in with her aunt. When she learns that she is the sole heir of her grandmother’s will (a grandmother who she had never met), she is met with a stipulations she knows she can’t meet. She must marry within one year after finishing school. The problem is that Amaryllis never plans to marry. Her dream is to start a music school in her beloved state of Washington. Enter Nathan Everstone. A man who is intent on making Amaryllis uncomfortable and uneasy. A man whose father hates her. A man who she is inexplicably attracted to but cannot become involved with.

As Nathan works to gain Amaryllis’s trust, she meets others in Boston society, some friends and some enemies. When she learns the truth of who caused her expulsion from school, all of her prejudices against the Everstone family are called into question. Could she be wrong about them? And if she’s wrong about them, is a future with Nathan a possibility?

I am usually partial to romances written in third person because it gives me as a reader perspective into both the male and female main character’s heads and hearts. Crandall does such an amazing job of telling a story from only the female character’s point of view in first person, I didn’t miss the other perspective. In fact, it made the story more intriguing. As a reader, I couldn’t help but sympathize and even empathize with Amaryllis as she tries to find herself in a society she doesn’t want to be a part of. The interactions between Amaryllis and Nathan are sometimes humorous, sometimes touching, and always has that bit of tension between the two that makes you want to shake them and yell, “Just say it already!” The story moves along at a fast pace and introduces a few characters that will be prominent in future books. (The Hesitant Heiress and The Bound Heart are available now and The Captive Imposter will be available April 1).

To learn more about Dawn Crandall and her books, visit her website.