Chivalrous (Valiant Hearts Series #2) by Dina L. Sleiman: A Book Review

Chivalrous (Valiant Hearts Series #2)
Author: Dina L. Sleiman
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Christian
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: 2015
Pages: 368
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: With Her Future In Jeopardy, This Unforgettable Heroine Won't Go Down
Without a Fight!

Strong and adventurous Gwendolyn Barnes longs to be a knight like her chivalrous brothers, but her parents view her only as a marriage pawn. When her domineering father makes plans to see her wed to a brutish man, Gwendolyn must fight for her future.

She's surprised, however, for that clash to include a handsome, good-hearted newcomer. Allen of Ellsworth arrives in Edendale searching for his place in the world, but he finds in Gwendolyn the most unexpected of women.

Tournaments, intrigue, and battles--along with twists and turns aplenty--await these two as they struggle to find love, identity, and their true destinies.

My Review: Gwendolyn longs for adventures and to be a knight in shining armor. However, because she is a baron’s daughter, she must marry for the good of her family. She must play her part as a noblewoman by doing embroidery and playing a pipe. One day, she decides to defy her parents and fight in the tournament herself. Her opponent is Sir Allen. Soon, Sir Allen captures her heart, and the two of them must brave all obstacles to be together.

Gwendolyn is a fun character. She is a skilled fighter. She is romantic and loves to hear tales of adventures. She yearns for freedom, and wants to control her own life. She is also stubborn and and strong-willed. Gwendolyn really reminded me a lot of the character, Merida, in the Disney movie, Brave. I also like that at first, she was not very religious. Yet, over time she has a strong relationship with God. It is God, who gives her strength, comfort, and love that she desperately seeks when she is encountered in rough situations.

I also liked Sir Allen. He is a man of virtue. He studies the scriptures everyday. He is also blessed with good fortune because of his good heart. During the tournament, he forfeits his competition to save a little boy. Because of his heroic deed, the duke grants him a place on the council. However, after the duke’s death the council chose him to marry the duchess and to be the new duke. Allen is blinded by ambition and greed. Allen becomes lost and blind, and he must find his way and listen to his heart.

Overall, this book is about friendship, choices, hope, and love. The message of the book is to trust in God’s love and to follow your heart. The story is fast-paced and filled with interesting characters. It is filled with action, adventure, and romance. I like how the story also has some aspects to King Arthur. While the novel is part of a series, it is a standalone. I am definitely going to read the first novel in the series, and I am looking forward to the series. I recommend this book to fans of Melanie Dickerson, Tamara Leigh, and Jody Hedlund.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar: A Book Review

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Blog Tour: A Class Apart and A Class Entwined by Susie Murphy

A Class Apart (A Matter of Class #1) by Susie Murphy Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Susie Murphy Release Date: 2018 Pages: 285 Synopsis: It’s 1828, and Ireland is in turmoil as Irish tenants protest against their upper-class English landlords. Nineteen-year-old Bridget Muldowney is thrilled to return to the estate in Carlow she’ll inherit when she comes of age. But since she left for Dublin seven years earlier, the tomboy has become a refined young lady, engaged to be married to a dashing English gentleman. Cormac McGovern, now a stable hand on the estate, has missed his childhood friend. He and Bridget had once been thick as thieves, running wild around the countryside together. When Bridget and Cormac meet again their friendship begins to rekindle, but it’s different now that they are adults. Bridget’s overbearing mother, determined to enforce the employer-servant boundaries, conspires with Bridget’s fiancé t...

Interview with Kate Quinn

Today, I have the pleasure to interview bestselling author, Kate Quinn. She is best known for The Empress of Rome Saga and The Borgia Chronicles . Her latest novel, The Alice Network, focuses on a WWI spy network made up of women. In this interview we discuss these unsung heroines, who risked their lives in WWI. Mrs. Quinn also gives us a hint about what she is working on next. I hope this interview will give you some insight into the history of The Alice Network. I have given a very good review of this book, and I hope you will take the opportunity to read it. Thank you, Mrs. Quinn! What drew you to take a break from Ancient Rome and write about women in WWI? I love ancient Rome, and I'd love to write more books about it someday, but I've never been a one-era writer. I've always had ideas for books in a wide array of historical periods, from ancient Rome clear through to World War I. When I saw the huge recent boom in populari...

History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

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