A Beauty Refined | Book Review

With just the first page, I was swept into the story. I really liked Phoebe - her attitude, her demeanor, her awe of new places. Each of the characters' past lives had stories -- and they were all very interesting and connected. They all had a purpose in the story.

As with Tracie Peterson's other books, there was a clear salvation message, which I appreciated. But there wasn't a very clear point of when the character repented and turned to Christ -- it left me guessing, "Oh, so did they accept Christ here or here? Cause I'm assuming by how they're acting that they did."

I liked that they upheld truth and didn't run from problems, but I'm still not sure about the attitude of the wife who was wronged. It wasn't clear that she forgave, but instead, she was willing to overturn her powers of revealing secrets. I realize this was for the protection of her son, but it still left me a little unsettled as to, "Is this how a true believe ought to act?" (with threats)

I really liked Ian and his stand for truth -- his point of not rushing, but praying and seeking the Lord before making rash decisions based on emotions.

The way the theme with the Sapphire Duchess was interwoven through the story and how it ended up resolving was great. However, I think in some ways, there could have been more of a mysterious air to the story as a whole, instead of me as a reader figuring things out so quickly (it was stated rather than gradually shown).

I was really surprised when a couple decided to save their first kiss for their wedding day! Pleasant surprise!

There were a few drawbacks to this:

- The count had a mistress. It was quite implied, but not explicit.

- Another instance of one character falling in love with an unsaved-at-point-of-meeting and unsaved-when-falling-in-love-with-them character (this just may be one of my great pet peeves).

I wouldn't recommend this to readers under eighteen because of the mistress as well as abuse, beatings, and bloodshed.

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review from LitFuse Publicity Group.*

Back Cover Blurb

Phoebe Von Bergen is excited to accompany her father when he travels from Germany to purchase sapphires in Montana. Little does she know that her father's plans--for the gemstones and his daughter--are not what they seem. 

Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena, finds the young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a little intriguing. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie--a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.

Meeting Ian has changed everything. Phoebe is determined to stay in America, regardless of her father's plans. But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger as the deception begins to unravel.

About the Author

Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.










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