Four StarsFormer prostitute & a handsome mute. I admit, I'm intrigued :)Read this in less than a day. It was surprisingly good and I really loved our Hero, John. He was so sweet and kind. I hated how some people treated him just because he was mute. Eliza and he made such a adorable couple. There was no communication barrier between the two. She immediately "got him" and he didn't mind her shady past. He loved her for her. I really liked this and I would've gladly paid for this Kindle freebie (Free on Amazon 11.09.12) This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It's rare to find a book you love from start to finish but that's how I felt about Loving Eliza. The author did a fine job and I loved her writing style. Unlike most Historical Romances, she doesn't bog the reader down with endless descriptions about the setting or characters. I find that most Historical Romance authors spend too much time focusing on the setting, I guess thinking this will put the reader back in that time more effectively, but it has the opposite effect. Ruth simply writes the story and it comes out so naturally.I enjoyed the characters. I love an author who's secondary characters are also three-dimensional. The secondary characters in this book were well done to the point that they even taught me more about Eliza and John. How the people in the town reacted to these two is what really made me connect with them. Eliza and John were one of the most romantic couples I've ever read. The relationship very tender and believable because they were both vulnerable but in different ways. Eliza is a woman running from her past by trying to build a new life, but she's constantly living with the fear that not only her new life but relationship with John will be threatened if anyone finds out about her.John has his own demons. He's mute, alone and very sheltered. When he meets Eliza he instantly clings to her and this seems realistic because other than a few people in town, John is misunderstood by so many. Eliza helps John get over his fear of people and gain confidence while John helps Eliza realize she is someone who is worthy of forgiveness and love. The relationship was so amazing to me because there were so many different levels. When Eliza first meets John she takes him under her wing like a mother would. After that, their relationship softens and they become friends. Then they eventually fall in love. I think the way things were drawn out (even though we know there's an attraction), it made the story more powerful opposed to a rushed romance.I thought John was a fascinating character, and I really didn't think the author would be able to keep me engaged with a mute character the way she did. But with Ruth's writing style, John is written in a way where you begin to think he's really talking. I could actually communicate with him the same as Eliza, the more I read. Not all authors could pull off something so complicated so well. Kudos to Ruth for that.I would have liked to see more into John's life. I wanted to see a bit into his childhood and find out more about how he was raised. I found the relationship with his brother Troy very interesting and so I was hoping for a glimpse into their past. I wanted to see why Troy disliked John so much. At first I thought it was because John was mute but as the story went on, I realized Troy was actually jealous of John and what he could accomplish with his talent.This is a beautiful book and not the typical Historical Romance. The characters are realistic and most importantly they are NOT perfect. Too many heroines in Historical Romance are squeaky clean and it was a refreshing change to see a heroine in HR painted as someone real, with depth who you could see into. Eliza is a character anyone can relate to. She's a wonderful person but she has many challenges she has to face.I definitely recommend this book to not only lovers of Historical Romance or Romance but fans of just good books. I intend to read more of Ruth Ann Nordin's books.
What do You think about Loving Eliza (2009)?
I was touched by this story. A pleasant read.
—shirley
