I should point out that I mistakenly went for this one as I'd thought that it was an Historical Romance, and in point of fact it turns out to be classified as Fiction, Christian - although it is Historical.It is not something I would have willingly gone for, and whilst apart from the odd spelling/grammatical and typographical error there was nothing wrong with it ... I found it to be way too slow. Actually, the Christian content is minimal, and I wouldn't let that put you off.The plot was thin on the ground, and the characters lacked depth.At best I could say it was a gentle read that was undemanding, just a shade of dull ... however, I wouldn't go as far as to say that it was quite as bad that it tended towards as "dull as ditchwater". Really the only exciting thing that happened throughout was a renegade chicken!With reference to the clearly dangerous and vicious chicken ... I did find it quite unbelievable that given it was an Historical novel in a somewhat rural location, it seemed to hold the entire household and visiting contingent in awed fear. On a personal note, I have a phobia of birds, but even I can manage to deal with one small chicken without fear for my well being.A 2 star rating. It looks like this is a Trilogy, and the pace of the book would suggest that it would take that long for the vague idea of a romance for the main character, Emma, to get past the other person (Zachary) just existing in the the same locale. I don't think I will bother to read the rest of the Trilogy, purely because there was too little going on for my taste.Note: Free Kindle Download at the time (see my blog www.toodlesbookclub.blogspot.com for daily selections of free downloads).
An antebellum village in New York State serves as the backdrop of Delia Parr's Candlewood Trilogy. At the center of this rich ensemble novel is Emma Garrett, a 51-year-old boardinghouse keeper who ministers to her guests' spiritual as well as physical needs. Her home and good works are put in danger, though, when the ownership of her boardinghouse is called in question.Another free download on Kindle, this book was interesting because of the time period it was set in, you can see the end of the canal era coming to an end with the railroads getting set to take over. I enjoyed reading about how life was lived during this time period.
What do You think about A Hearth In Candlewood (2006)?
I really loved this Delia Parr book about a woman's adventures with her boarding house on the candlewood cannal. The characters in this novel are true to life and show the reader how good Christian women can make a difference when up agains incredible obstacles. The book makes the reader want to learn more about Emma Garrett and her friends as they move into the future of the Hill House. It leaves questions with the reader in the end about what Emma, and her friends will endure as she strives to keep Hill House.
—Bonnigene Cloud
This was a difficult book for me to rate. On the one hand I thought the writer did an excellent job creating a story world and making me believe it was true. Not a whole lot happened there though. This wasn't the sort of story with a lot of tension or conflict. Only near the very end do you start to see the beginnings of something ... and then it just cuts off abruptly with no real closure at all. That's a pet peeve of mine. I know there are more books, but when you leave more questions than answers -- it feels more like one long book that you just couldn't fit in between the covers than a series that is supposed to tie together.Another positive is the characters. They were funny, touching, authentic, and that was what kept me wanting to read until the end. So, if you're looking for a light historical read and you don't mind getting the entire trilogy, this might be a good choice.
—Margaret Metz
Just finished this book today in Kindle format.It's a character centered story with not a lot of actual moving plot pieces. It's a slow moving plot, a 'mild' plot, although it's thoughtfully written and full of actual 'characters' that are engaging - which is what I enjoyed most about it. It takes place when the Erie Canal was built around 1830/40's (my guess). It was worth the read, but it's one you'll meander through as opposed to a page-turner you can't put down.Overall, I found it enjoyable for a slower paced book.
—Cher Duffin
