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WORK TITLE: The Lady Who Saw Too Much
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.thomasinerappold.com/
CITY:
STATE: NY
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2016/06/21/thomasine-rappold-interview-the-lady-who-saw-too-much/ * http://romancedivas.com/2016/06/thomasine-rappold-author-interview/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AVOCATIONS:Fishing, gardening, reading, watching movies, going to the beach.
MEMBER:Romance Writers of America, Capital Region Romance Writers.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Thomasine Rappold is a writer based in upstate New York. She has published historical romance novels that feature paranormal details.
The Lady Who Lived Again
Rappold is the author of the “Sole Survivor” series, which she described in an interview with a contributor to the Romance Divas Web site as “a series featuring ordinary women who acquire extraordinary abilities in the wake of surviving separate traumas.” Rappold told the same contributor: “The inspiration for the ‘Sole Survivor’ series came from a combination of ideas that have always fascinated me. Acquired Savant Syndrome, a rare condition in which a person develops remarkable mathematical, musical, or artistic abilities following some type of head trauma, provided an ample source of inspiration.”
The first book in the series is The Lady Who Lived Again. Set in the 19th century in the upstate New York resort town of Misty Lake, the story centers on Madeline Sutter, regarded as the fairest of the Fair Five, a quintet of beautiful young women who are friends. Tragedy strikes when all five die at a picnic, but strangely, Madeline comes back from the dead (on Friday the thirteenth, no less). After Madeline’s seemingly supernatural skirting of death, the superstitious townspeople shun her as an outcast. Enter a handsome doctor named Jace who wants to escape the grime and hubbub of Pittsburgh and make a fresh start in Misty Lake. Jace and Madeline become engaged, with the stipulation that Madeline become one of his patients and reveal to him the details of her recovery. But then, several of Jace’s other patients make similarly miraculous recoveries, and Jace can find no explanation for them.
The writer of the Love Saves the World blog summarized The Lady Who Lived Again as a “mesmerizing and compelling story of two people seeking for the light at the end of the tunnel.” Both Jace and Madeline “have handled themselves very well and survived on their own, but they discover that life, and the world becomes more bearable when they are together,” the same reviewer observed. “What keeps you reading Rappold’s debut novel is following Madeline’s arduous journey, and how she bears the unbearable burden of being the only survivor of the town’s worst tragedy.” Calling the novel “well paced and plotted,” a contributor to Romantic Historical Reviews stated that The Lady Who Lived Again “an enjoyable romance with enough uniqueness about it to help it stand out from the crowd.” “The tension between Maddie and Jace is sizzling,” added the same writer, “there’s plenty of emotional angst, and the romance is sweet and satisfying. The Lady Who Lived Again is a promising debut.” Finding the novel “fascinating” and “well executed,” a contributor to the With Love for Books blog thought that the era in which the story is set “works perfectly with the ability of the main character.”
The Lady Who Saw Too Much
In an interview with Joyce Lamb at the Happy Ever After Web site, Rappold discussed The Lady Who Saw Too Much, the second book in her “Sole Survivor” series: “The heroine of this story sees visions of the future. When Gia’s new employer, the autocratic Landen Elmsworth, turns out to be the same man she saw dead in her latest vision, she is determined to save him—by any means possible. Unfortunately for Landen, one reckless kiss results in marriage to a woman he may never be able to trust.” When Landen and Gia are caught kissing, Landen’s family insists that he marry her. Landen believes Gia set him up. However, the two ultimately resolve their issues, and their relationship becomes a happy one.
A Publishers Weekly reviewer described the volume as a “page-turning romance, which is enhanced by the angst between the protagonists and the undercurrent of mysticism.” Hailing The Lady Who Saw Too Much as “another amazing the ‘Sole Survivors’ book,” a reviewer at the With Love for Books blog summed up the novel as “a wonderful intriguing story about a woman who can look into the future.” A writer at the Buried Under Romance Web site remarked: “This book was wonderful to read, the romance and the passion between the main characters was believable, and the passionate scenes weren’t too descriptive at all. Watching Alice, the young debutante come into her own thanks to Gia was difficult to read at times because she was so awkward, but as things progressed, it was a pleasure to read.”
The Lady Who Drew Me In
Daisy Lansing is the heroine in The Lady Who Drew Me In. She has just been widowed, but her unpleasant late husband has only given her a small allowance to live on with the full amount waiting for her when she marries again. Daisy does not want to remarry, but she needs the money to start a children’s home. She meets with a lawyer named Jackson Gallway, who is asking for her help in freeing a man who was wrongfully convicted. He and Daisy make an agreement to marry but live separate lives. However, over time, they develop feelings for one another.
A contributor on the All About Romance Web site offered a lukewarm assessment of the volume, stating: “The Lady Who Drew Me In is one of those novels that proved too easy to put down. It’s by no means a terrible book, and the premise is an unusual and attractive one; but … neither the romance nor the mystery were strong enough.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, April 18, 2016, review of The Lady Who Saw Too Much, p. 104.
ONLINE
All About Romance, http://allaboutromance.com/ (February 23, 2017), Caz Owens, review of The Lady Who Drew Me In.
Avid Reader, http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/ (December 21, 2016), review of The Lady Who Drew Me In.
Books & Bottles, http://www.booksandbottles.net/ (April 19, 2016), review of The Lady Who Lived Again.
Buried Under Romance, http://www.buriedunderromance.com/ (November 16, 2016), review of The Lady Who Saw Too Much.
Burns Through Her Bookshelf, https://burnsthroughherbookshelf.wordpress.com/ (December 9, 2015), review of The Lady Who Lived Again.
Diana’s Book Reviews, http://dianasbookreviews.com/ (December 16, 2015), review of The Lady Who Lived Again.
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (June 21, 2016), Joyce Lamb, author interview.
Love Saves the World, http://www.lovesavestheworld.com/ (July 29, 2016), review of The Lady Who Lived Again.
Romance Divas, http://romancedivas.com/ (June 23, 2016), author interview.
Romantic Historical Reviews, http://www.romantichistoricalreviews.com/ (December 11, 2015), review of The Lady Who Lived Again.
Thomasine Rappold Home Page, http://www.thomasinerappold.com/ (February 23, 2017).
With Love for Books, http://www.withloveforbooks.com/ (January 14, 2017), review of The Lady Who Lived Again; (January 22, 2017), review of The Lady Who Saw Too Much.
About Thomasine
A three-time RWA® Golden Heart® nominee, Thomasine Rappold writes historical romance and historical romance with paranormal elements. She lives with her husband in the small town in upstate New York that inspired her current series. When she's not spinning tales of passion and angst, she enjoys spending time with her family, fishing on one of th nearby lakes, and basking on the beach in Cape Cod. Thomasine is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Capital Region Romance Writers. She is represented by Stefanie Lieberman of Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Readers can find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter: @ThomRappold
The Fathers We FindQUOTED: "The inspiration for the Sole Survivor Series came from a combination of ideas that have always fascinated me. Acquired Savant Syndrome, a rare condition in which a person develops remarkable mathematical, musical, or artistic abilities following some type of head trauma, provided an ample source of inspiration."
"a series featuring ordinary women who acquire extraordinary abilities in the wake of surviving separate traumas."
Thomasine Rappold – Author Interview
June 23, 2016 Articles, Promo, Writing Related
theladywhosawtoomuchBY THOMASINE RAPPOLD
Where did you get the inspiration for your series/book?
The inspiration for the Sole Survivor Series came from a combination of ideas that have always fascinated me. Acquired Savant Syndrome, a rare condition in which a person develops remarkable mathematical, musical, or artistic abilities following some type of head trauma, provided an ample source of inspiration. Paranormal ability, survivor’s guilt, consuming grief, and superstition were all tossed into the mix. When added to the “what ifs” in my head, an intriguing premise for the stories began percolating in my mind—a series featuring ordinary women who acquire extraordinary abilities in the wake of surviving separate traumas.
If the apocalypse happened, which of your heroes &/or heroines would you want to have on hand to help you survive and why?
Hmm. This is a tough one, but I would have to say Landen Elmsworth, the hero of The Lady Who Saw Too Much. Landen is a born leader with a fierce protectiveness. He considers it his duty to take care of others, and people feel safe in his presence. As for which heroine I’d want on hand, I would choose Madeline Sutter from The Lady Who Lived Again. Maddie possesses the ability to heal, and this talent certainly would come in handy during the apocalypse.
Who is the celebrity who inspired the characters in your latest book?
Celebrities don’t often inspire the development of my characters. While there are dozens of celebrities I admire, I can’t help seeing them in the various roles they’ve portrayed or the personas reflected in the media. I prefer to flesh out my characters on a blank canvas, using nameless faces as inspiration, so instead, I look to photos in fashion magazines and catalogues, where the models’ previous work and personal histories are unknown to me. I draw my characters on that blank canvas, using their conflicts and flaws and fears to make hot messes of them.
What genre(s) do you write in & why?
I write historical and historical with paranormal/mystical elements. There is something so intriguingly romantic to me about historical settings. I’ve been reading the genre for years, so it only made sense to write in the genre I love so much.
Are there any particular locations you have traveled to that have made it into your novels?
My stories take place in Misty Lake, a fictional town set amid the real community in upstate New York where I live. Several locations mentioned in my books are close to my home and I frequent them often—Troy, Albany, Saratoga, and several small lake towns and hamlets.
If you were not writing, what would your profession be?
In addition to writing, I have a day job working for a NYS Government Agency.
What is your go-to snack or meal when you are on deadline?
Pizza! Hot or cold, morning or night, it’s perfect!
How many more books do you have planned in the series?
There is one more book planned in the series.
What would the theme song for this novel be & why?
Actually there are three songs I consider as theme songs for this book, but if I had to choose the most apt, it would be “Crazy Bitch” by Buckcherry. The other two are “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Prince and “No One Else On Earth” by Wynona Judd, both of which are far less graphic, but Crazy Bitch captures the essence of what my hero is feeling. Landen believes Gia is insane because she believes she sees visions of the future, but he’s so physically attracted to her, he looks past her “delusions.”
Do you have any other upcoming releases that readers should know about?
Yes. The third book in the Series, The Lady Who Drew Me In, will release in December.
***
Thank you so much for having me here today!
QUOTED: "My new release is The Lady Who Saw Too Much, the second book in my Sole Survivor historical romance series. The heroine of this story sees visions of the future. When Gia’s new employer, the autocratic Landen Elmsworth, turns out to be the same man she saw dead in her latest vision, she is determined to save him — by any means possible. Unfortunately for Landen, one reckless kiss results in marriage to a woman he may never be able to trust."
Interview: Thomasine Rappold, author of ‘The Lady Who Saw Too Much’
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By: Joyce Lamb | June 21, 2016 12:01 am
Thomasine Rappold
Thomasine Rappold
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Thomasine! Please tell us a bit about your new release, The Lady Who Saw Too Much.
Thomasine: My new release is The Lady Who Saw Too Much, the second book in my Sole Survivor historical romance series. The heroine of this story sees visions of the future. When Gia’s new employer, the autocratic Landen Elmsworth, turns out to be the same man she saw dead in her latest vision, she is determined to save him — by any means possible. Unfortunately for Landen, one reckless kiss results in marriage to a woman he may never be able to trust.
Joyce: What distracts you the most when you’re trying to write?
Thomasine: A messy house. Sad but true. I cannot deny my “crazy” on this one. Doing housework before I write may be my way of procrastinating, but completing some brief chores first eliminates my distraction, so the ritual works for me. Once my physical space is decluttered and tidy, my mind clears, too. While performing mindless tasks like dusting and washing dishes, I usually think about my WIP and my characters. By the time I turn off the vacuum and open my laptop, I’m ready to dive into the story.
Joyce: Do you write by the seat of your pants (pantser), or do you carefully plot your stories (plotter)?
Thomasine: I’m a plotter. I have such a great admiration for pansters, but I find the thought of writing without some basic outline or direction more frightening than entering a dark alley at 2 a.m. Instead, I mull the story around in my head until I have a sense of my characters and the story’s ending before I start typing. I also do rough outline sketches of what to include in each scene/chapter as I go along. I’m constantly adding to the sketches and taking some detours as the story progresses, but knowing my ending keeps me from veering too far off track — or off the rails completely.
Joyce: Do you have a pet that hangs out with you while you’re working?
Zowie, Queen of the House.
Zowie, Queen of the House.
Thomasine: Yes, I have a cat. Zowie is 15 years old now and enjoying her reign as queen of the house. She keeps me company while I work by pawing at my pens, pacing over my keyboard, sprawling across my newly printed pages and being adorably annoying.
Joyce: I don’t suppose you’d want to share a picture of you with your ’80s or ’90s hair or perhaps a prom picture?
What a feeling, being’s believing ...
What a feeling, being’s believing …
Thomasine: I did not attend the prom, but I am happy to share a photo. This picture is from the early ‘80s during the Flashdance craze.
Joyce: Nice! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?
Thomasine: While I don’t listen to music while I write, there were three songs in particular that reminded me of Gia and Landen and inspired me as I wrote The Lady Who Saw Too Much: Nothing Compares 2U (Prince), No One Else On Earth (Wynonna Judd) and Crazy Bitch (Buckcherry).
Joyce: What’s your favorite snack and/or beverage while you’re writing?
Thomasine: I drink coffee when I write in the morning. When I write at night, I like raspberry lime seltzer or wine. And pizza is the perfect snack — especially when on deadline, though I could eat it every day.
Joyce: Me, too!
What would be your dream vacation?
Thomasine: My husband and I spend a few weeks every year at our favorite place on Cape Cod, but my dream vacation would be to spend an entire summer there, staring out at the ocean with my toes in the sand.
Joyce: What do you do in your spare time?
Thomasine: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I like fishing, reading (of course), watching movies and gardening.
Joyce: What are you working on now?
Thomasine: I’m currently finishing up the third book in the series. The Lady Who Drew Me In will release in December. This is the story of a young widow with a remarkable artistic ability and a roguish lawyer with a severe case of wanderlust. But when Jackson enlists Daisy’s help to uncover a killer, he’s surprised to discover there is something he wants even more than his freedom.
Thank you so much for having me here today!
Joyce: Any time. And thank you, Thomasine!
The Lady Who Saw Too Much by Thomasine RappoldAbout The Lady Who Saw Too Much:
Cursed with prophetic visions and desperate to atone for a death she could have prevented, Gianna York swears she will never again ignore the chance to save a life. When she is hired by Landen Elmsworth to serve as companion to his sister, Gia repeatedly sees the image of her employer’s lifeless corpse floating in Misty Lake. As subsequent visions reveal more details, Gia soon realizes her best chance to save this difficult man is by becoming his wife.
At first, Landen Elmsworth believes the fetching Miss York might be right for a meaningless dalliance, but he grossly underestimates her capacity for cunning and soon finds himself bound until death to a woman he may never be able to trust. Yet in the dark of their bedroom they discover an undeniable passion—and a capacity to forge their own destiny …
QUOTED: "page-turning romance, which is enhanced by the angst between the protagonists and the undercurrent of mysticism."
The Lady Who Saw Too Much
Publishers Weekly. 263.16 (Apr. 18, 2016): p104.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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Full Text:
The Lady Who Saw Too Much
Thomasine Rappold. Kensington/Lyrical, $4.99 e-book (275p) ISBN 978-1-61650-993-4
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
A wealthy gentleman is attracted to a woman who has visions of the future in Rappold's second 19th-century Sole Survivor romance (after The Lady Who Lived Again). Gia York is forced to leave her position at the Troy Female Seminary in Troy, N.Y., and accepts an offer to work as a companion to Alice Elmsworth, a young woman in nearby Misty Lake. Gia is surprised when she realizes that Alice's brother, Landen, is the man whose death she saw in her latest vision. While searching for a way to save him, Gia is caught with him in a compromising position, and his family forces them to marry. Landen believes that Gia tricked him into marriage, but despite his ill will toward her, she is determined to do all in her power to keep him safe. Gia's selfless protection of others despite the cost to herself makes her a formidable heroine in this page-turning romance, which is enhanced by the angst between the protagonists and the undercurrent of mysticism. (June)
QUOTED: "The Lady Who Saw too Much is a wonderful intriguing story about a woman who can look into the future."
"The Lady Who Saw too Much is another amazing The Sole Survivors book."
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017
Book Review - The Lady Who Saw Too Much by Thomasine Rappold
Amazon USA Amazon UK Goodreads
Review by Suze
Gianna has visions, she can sometimes see into the future. She once failed to help someone and is determined to prevent that from ever happening again. That is why she doesn't hesitate when she has the chance to accept a job working as someone's companion. She knows something bad is going to happen to the person who is in charge of the household and this time Gianna won't be powerless, she will save the person from her vision.
Gianna is supposed to bring Alice out of her shell. Alice doesn't have any friends and she prefers spending time in her beloved garden over any kind of social event. Alice's brother Landen is worried about his sister and thinks Gianna might be the solution to Alice's problem. However, Gianna hasn't accepted the job to help Alice, she's there for Landen. To make sure he survives she has to trick him and before they both know it they're united. While there aren't any problems in the bedroom department the same can't be said about the rest of their time together. Will Gianna's plan eventually work or has she bitten off more than she can chew?
The Lady Who Saw too Much is a wonderful intriguing story about a woman who can look into the future. Gianna sees important and sometimes dangerous things that are going to take place. After she failed one person she promised herself she will never let it happen again. That's why she tricks Landen. It isn't her intention to do something to him that has permanent consequences, but she doesn't regret her decision to keep him safe. Their complex relationship and mutual attraction is a fun element of the story. Landen is a kind man who likes to protect and wants to be in control. Sometimes that means he takes decisions for other people. With Gianna things are the other way around, which is quite entertaining. I really enjoyed reading about their game of pushing and pulling, it is both sexy and amusing.
Thomasine Rappold's heroines have interesting gifts. The historical time frame and countryside setting she's chosen are perfect for the kind of stories she writes. I loved reading her colorful descriptions of society and her main character's personalities. The beautiful and peaceful surroundings they call home versus the complex struggle to be accepted is a fascinating topic for a series. The main characters have good hearts and are kind to others, but they are lonely because nobody appreciates what they can do. They do prevail in fantastic ways though and I love the surprising twists and turns of the stories. The Lady Who Saw too Much is another amazing The Sole Survivors book.
Advice
The Solve Survivors books can be read as standalones, but as they're all really great I'd recommend you to start with the first.
QUOTED: "This book was wonderful to read, the romance and the passion between the main characters was believable, and the passionate scenes weren’t too descriptive at all. Watching Alice, the young debutante come into her own thanks to Gia was difficult to read at times because she was so awkward, but as things progressed, it was a pleasure to read."
ARC Review: The Lady Who Saw Too Much by Thomasine Rappold
NOVEMBER 16, 2016 BY ANNMARIE LEAVE A COMMENT
ARC Review: The Lady Who Saw Too Much by Thomasine RappoldThe Lady Who Saw Too Much (Soul Survivor, #2) by Thomasine Rappold
Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation on June 21st 2016
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
Goodreads
Cursed with prophetic visions and desperate to atone for a death she could have prevented, Gianna York swears she will never again ignore the chance to save a life. When she is hired by Landen Elmsworth to serve as companion to his sister, Gia repeatedly sees the image of her employer's lifeless corpse floating in Misty Lake. As subsequent visions reveal more details, Gia soon realizes her best chance to save this difficult man is by becoming his wife.
At first, Landen Elmsworth believes the fetching Miss York might be right for a meaningless dalliance, but he grossly underestimates her capacity for cunning and soon finds himself bound until death to a woman he may never be able to trust. Yet in the dark of their bedroom they discover an undeniable passion--and a capacity to forge their own destiny . . .
~~~~~
buriedreview
~~Reviewed by AnnMarie~~
The Lady Who Saw Too Much is the second book in the Soul Survivor series by Thomasine Rappold. Although part of a series it can easily be read as a stand alone novel.
The story is about a woman, Gianna York. Since an accident where she nearly died when she was a child, she has been gifted with prophetic visions. Although she doesn’t feel gifted because her parents believe she is insane and made plans for her to be admitted into an asylum. She runs away and after a short stint working in a school for young ladies, she ends up being hired as a companion to a shy young debutante. She has a vision that the young woman’s brother is going to die, and she is determined to use her gift for good, and make sure that the death doesn’t happen.
The man in question is Landon Elmsworth, a single man with no intention to marry because of the worry that his mother’s insanity could show in any children he has. He loves his family dearly and hopes very much that his sister’s new companion will bring her out of her shell and enable her to begin a courtship with a man worthy of her. It’s a true bonus for him when he finally meets Gianna and finds her infinitely attractive.
He doesn’t find her so attractive though when an innocent misunderstanding, albeit one that would have led to something less innocent, has her lying to his aunt, and has them betrothed to each other. What he doesn’t know is that his aunt would have thrown Gia out if it was just a case of being caught kissing, it was only quick thinking on Gia’s part in order to make sure she wasn’t thrown out that got her saying they had sex and she could be with child. It’s all she could think of to make sure she could stay in the house and stop Landon’s death from happening.
Of course Landon is furious with her, but he’s not concerned about her reasons to trap him when they are in bed together because they are perfectly matched sexually. It’s the fact that he can’t trust her that makes him hold back any true feelings for her. Gia wants to tell him so badly why she had to lie, but thinks he will want to send her to an insane asylum too, so she has to keep quiet. Will her secret come out, will she be able to stop his death, will they have their happily ever after?
This book was wonderful to read, the romance and the passion between the main characters was believable, and the passionate scenes weren’t too descriptive at all. Watching Alice, the young debutante come into her own thanks to Gia was difficult to read at times because she was so awkward, but as things progressed, it was a pleasure to read. There was drama, excitement, a missing child, kidnapping, death threats, plus an actual death too, and during it all we learn more about our hero and heroine and can’t help but love them. This is one of those books that you just don’t want to put down.
There is mention in the book, of a woman who is a healer, and apparently she is the subject of the first book in the series. There is an excerpt from her story at the end of the book. I read it, and am definitely going to be buying the book. I am sure it will be just as good as this one and I can’t wait to read it.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
QUOTED: "This was an enjoyable romance with enough uniqueness about it to help it stand out from the crowd. It’s well paced and plotted."
"The tension between Maddie and Jace is sizzling, there’s plenty of emotional angst, and the romance is sweet and satisfying. The Lady Who Lived Again is a promising debut."
VIRTUAL TOUR: The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold
Dec
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VT-LadyWhoLivedAgain-TRappold
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Madeleine Sutter was once the belle of the ball at the popular resort town of Misty Lake, New York. But as the sole survivor of the community’s worst tragedy, she’s come under suspicion. Longing for the life she once enjoyed, she accepts a rare social invitation to the event of the season. Now she will be able to show everyone she’s the same woman they’d always admired—with just one hidden exception: she awoke from the accident with the ability to heal.
Doctor Jace Merrick has fled the failures and futility of city life to start anew in rural Misty Lake. A man of science, he rejects the superstitious chatter surrounding Maddie and finds himself drawn to her confidence and beauty. And when she seduces him into a sham engagement, he agrees to be her ticket back into society, if she supports his new practice—and reveals the details of her remarkable recovery. But when his patients begin to heal miraculously, Jace may have to abandon logic, accept the inexplicable—and surrender to a love beyond reason…
OUR REVIEW
Publisher and Release Date: Lyrical Press, 8 December 8 2015
Time and Setting: 19th Century America
Genre: Historical Romance
Heat Level: 1
Reviewer Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review by Jenny Q
For three years, Maddie Sutter has been living as an outcast. Once one of the most popular and admired young ladies in town, she is now treated as a pariah, shunned by the people who were once her friends, all because she was the sole survivor of a driving accident that took the lives of three other young women, and the town has never forgiven her for it. Though she is lonely and bitter, Maddie accepts this situation, living mostly in isolation with her elderly grandfather and the miraculous gift she’s had ever since the accident: the power to heal with her touch. But her only remaining friend – who was on a European tour at the time of the accident – is coming home to get married, and she wants Maddie to share in her special occasion. While brooding over whether she wants to step back into the society that ostracized her, she stumbles into Jace Merrick, the new town doctor. Sparks fly, and Maddie revels in the fact that he knows nothing about her past and sees her for who she is rather than what she’s done. When a run-in with the fiancé who jilted her turns nasty, Maddie blurts out the only thing she can think of to shut him up, that she’s engaged to the new town doctor and will be attending the wedding on his arm. Now she just has to convince Jace to go along with the sham until after the wedding.
Surprisingly, Jace does agree, but on one condition: Maddie has to help him set up his new practice and allow him access to her medical history. Maddie reminds him of a patient he could not save, and he wants to understand everything he can about her accident and recovery. As the two begin to work together, they find their mutual attraction hard to resist. Feeling guilty for taking advantage of a lonely young woman, Jace tries to put the brakes on, but his willpower doesn’t last long against Maddie’s bold sensuality. Maddie finds more than she bargained for with the young doctor, including what may be her only chance at a passionate relationship, and she discovers she likes having the opportunity to help people with her gift. As they grow closer, she wants more than anything to share her gift with Jace, but he has a grudge against “faith healers” and unorthodox practices, blaming them for the decline of his father’s career and health. Maddie has to accept that the fantasy she’s built around Jace is never going to be reality, but she determines to enjoy her time with him to the fullest until the wedding is over and their fake engagement is called off.
Jace doesn’t believe a doctor can make a good family man, having witnessed the unhappiness in his parents’ marriage. His past relationships have been limited to quick couplings amid the demands and horrors of a big city hospital emergency room, and he’s never envisioned himself settling down. But he can’t deny how much he enjoys having Maddie in his life. He admires her intelligence and her generous heart, and he’s furious at the former town doctor for allowing people to think Maddie’s survival was unnatural. His instinct to defend her against every slur is admirable, as is his desire to learn from her case so he will be able to treat the mental anguish traumatic injuries can leave behind. Jace only wants what’s best for Maddie, and as the time to end their engagement draws near, he’ll have to decide whether that includes remaining in Misty Lake with him. But before he gets the chance to make up his mind, the townspeople may decide for him. As the social event of the decade brings out the best and worst in people, Jace and Maddie find themselves fighting for more than just their hearts, and Maddie will have to decide if she can trust Jace with the biggest secret of all.
I am always on the lookout for something new and different in historical romance, and I went into this one with high hopes. I really wanted to love The Lady Who Lived Again, and I did like it, but it didn’t blow me away as I’d hoped. I thought it ended up being fairly predictable, and there were some inconsistencies, not only in the plot but also in the world building and Maddie’s characterization. Would anyone really call a deer hunter a “murderer” in the nineteenth century? Were there really dozens of slutty nurses running around back then for Jace to slake his lust with? And in the pivotal scene where Maddie runs into her ex-fiance and invents her fake engagement, why was Maddie at the dressmaker searching for the perfect dress to wear to the wedding when we later find out she had been in the wedding party all along and the bride had already ordered a dress for her? And this one bothered me most of all: Maddie says she’s never backed down from a challenge when Jace determines there will be no more kisses between them and he’s going to treat her professionally, yet for three years she’s been hiding from the challenge of reclaiming her place in society. It would have been nice to see her display as much backbone with the townspeople as she did with Jace.
But overall, I thought this was an enjoyable romance with enough uniqueness about it to help it stand out from the crowd. It’s well paced and plotted, and I couldn’t put it down as I became absorbed in the characters’ lives and in wondering if Jace and the town would overcome their prejudices and accept Maddie for who she is. I really liked the setting in a small upstate New York town and in the practice of a young doctor struggling to convince old-fashioned, superstitious people to embrace modern medicine. The tension between Maddie and Jace is sizzling, there’s plenty of emotional angst, and the romance is sweet and satisfying. The Lady Who Lived Again is a promising debut, and I will be looking for more from this author.
3.5 STAR REVIEW
Review + Giveaway – The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold
DECEMBER 9, 2015
ERIN S. BURNS
I received an ARC of this book from the Publisher, via Netgalley, this does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.
You typically expect doctors to be Mary Stus in fiction (assuming they aren’t the evil villain), but this one is something of a cad and a rake. Jace is also more than a bit of a know-it-all ass. Maddie on the other hand, it is hard to get a handle on her, all puffing, preening, flirtation one minute, soundly grounded and reasonable the next, and flighty as all hell the next one.
But, as we see just how the townspeople have treated Maddie, and how she bears up under it and faces down her fears, you can’t help but learn to like her. She learns to truly live again and we watch her blossom on the page, and it is HER doing, not the love of nay man or the regard of any other person. Frankly I don’t think anyone else besides her grandfather (and their two servants-who aren’t really fleshed out) and Dolly (a minor character) are worth anything at all. And that includes the supposed hero and her best friend.
Frankly I liked her best friend Amelia until she single handedly managed to ruin almost everything there at the end and then blithely went on about her life. And while there was some degree of chemistry between Jace and Maddie, I didn’t really warm up to him until the very end at all.
For all that though, I liked Maddie so well, and enjoyed her journey so much that it bumped up my rating tremendously. I was also interested in the events of the town and how things would resolve. And I am especially hoping that as this series plays out that we get to see Dolly’s happily ever after.
But don’t read this expecting some epic love story, or a woman who gets rescued by the love of a man, because in this case it is almost like the classic video game situation only in reverse. Jace is the princess in the tower with no agency, and he is Maddie’s prize in the end for completing her quest. But for readers who like that sort of thing, of which I am one, I heartily recommend this book.
QUOTED: "The Lady Who Lived Again is a fascinating story."
"It's well executed and the era it's set in works perfectly with the ability of the main character."
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2017
Book Review - The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold
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Review by Suze
Madeleine was once a very popular girl. She and her friends were loved by everyone, but ever since their accident, of which she was the sole survivor, people have turned against her. She shouldn't have walked away unharmed at all and instead of being dead she woke up with an extraordinary ability, she can heal people. She's a social outcast, but this might change when Jace arrives in town. He's in Misty Lake to start a medical practice and has to get used to working in the countryside. He and Maddie both need help. Jace needs to get his business organized and Maddie wants to become a regular member of society again. Will they both benefit from their agreement?
The Lady Who Lived Again is a fascinating story. Maddie has the ability to heal and that is something the scientific Jace doesn't believe in. My heart sometimes ached for Maddie, due to her accident she lost everything that was important to her. However, she never despairs. She's a strong and capable woman. She knows who she is and she's smart. Being with Jace improves her life and that was wonderful to see. Jace is a kind and caring man. He's passionate about his profession, which is why working together with a woman with an unscientific gift might prove to be too difficult. I couldn't wait to see where their relationship would lead and what Jace would do when he'd find out about Maddie's ability. Their agreement is interesting and even though they aren't an actual couple it's clear that they're attracted to each other. I loved the chemistry between them and liked the fact that they're both intelligent people with a strong opinion. That makes interesting reading.
Thomasine Rappold combines historical romance with a paranormal aspect and as I'm a big fan of magical realism this mix made me very happy. It's well executed and the era it's set in works perfectly with the ability of the main character. I also loved the colorful descriptions of the setting, Misty Lake is an intriguing town and I really enjoyed reading about it. I kept hoping its inhabitants would be friendlier to Maddie again as she doesn't deserve to be shunned and disrespected. Her story is impressive and I loved it from beginning to end.
Advice
If you like historical romance with a paranormal element, you will love this book.
QUOTED: "This is Thomasine Rappold's mesmerizing and compelling story of two people seeking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Both of them have handled themselves very well and survived on their own, but they discover that life, and the world becomes more bearable when they are together. What keeps you reading Rappold's debut novel is following Madeline's arduous journey, and how she bears the unbearable burden of being the only survivor of the town's worst tragedy."
Friday, July 29, 2016
Book Review: The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold (Debut Novel)
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This week, I had started and stopped reading three novels -- making it to 25%, and then giving up on them. I was about to call it a bad week of reading for me, and then I started reading Thomasine Rappold's debut novel, The Lady Who Lived Again, finished it, and loved it.
It's New York in the Gilded Age, but Thomasine Rappold has chosen to set her story in the gray and bleak, and appropriately named town of Misty Lake. I like the idea of "mist" -- that not-quite middke ground between clear and hazy -- not as solid-looking as clouds, but not a shapeless notion as fog -- it's perfect for the world where Madeline lives in: where her gift of healing lives alongside modern science.
Madeline Sutter was, perhaps, the fairest of the Fair Five. The leader of a group of the most beautiful and sought-after girls in Misty Lake. The world was their oyster, and everyone adored them. Life was good, and the future for all four girls was bright. Then the world turned upside down, when a birthday picnic in the mountains of Misty Lake ends in the tragic death of Madeline and her friends, but, strangely, Madeline returns from the dead a day after -- coincidentally on Friday the 13th.
Now Madeline bears the scars of the accident, the hostility of the families of her friends, the directed enmity of the town's pastor, and the suspicion of the rest of the town.
For three years, Madeline has accepted her lot as outcast, but, when her only friend, Amelia, one of the Fair Five (who was on holiday at the time of the accident), decides to return to Misty Lake for her wedding, and asks her the be part of the wedding party, Madeline's first instinct is to refuse, but, then, she realizes that Amelia might be right -- that this might be her chance to regain her place in society.
Jace Merrick is the new town Doctor: young, fresh from the Big City -- armed with skills and modern ideas. Jace is looks my for a fresh start after serving in the emergency rooms of Pittsburgh. He is weary and wary, and he is hoping that Misty Lake might restore a little bit of his faith in the world.
This is Thomasine Rappold's mesmerizing and compelling story of two people seeking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Both of them have handled themselves very well and survived on their own, but they discover that life, and the world becomes more bearable when they are together. What keeps you reading Rappold's debut novel is following Madeline's arduous journey, and how she bears the unbearable burden of being the only survivor of the town's worst tragedy. Her only allies are her grandfather, who is too sick and frail, and is confined to the house, her friend Amelia, whose family moved away from Misty Lake, and Jace Merrick, a new addition to the town.
You can't help but admire Madeline, who possesses a quiet dignity, and an overwhelming grace in the face of open hostility, but she is not perfect. You can see Madeline struggle, stumble, and fall -- but you also see a different Madeline, remnants of the old Madeline, one who charms and teases her way to getting what she wants. And I love that Madeline does not wallow in being a martyr -- she keeps herself active and proactive, despite all opposition.
Jace is a modern man who now lives in a town that hasn't moved forward: they've had the same pastor, they've had the same doctor, the same mercantile store owner, etc. -- it's a town that is alive, and bustling, but not quite at the same pace as the rest of the country. When Jace first meets Madeline, he is intrigued by her beauty -- and when he finds out Madeline's story, the scientist in him is intrigued even more.
Love and logic are at opposing poles for Jace, who struggles to maintain a professional distance from Madeline -- and with good reason: if he is to help Madeline regain the town's good opinion, she must preserve her reputation, and, if Jace is to be Madeline's greatest defender, he must show that he is an unbiased opinion. Madeline knows that her gifts are counter Jace's medical background, and the last thing she wants to do is expose herself to more scrutiny and judgment -- but the temptation to experience desire, to be admired for herself and not for her past -- it is irresistible.
Our hero and heroine represent opposite ends of the spectrum: Madeline relies on her emotions and feelings, and Jace is very analytical -- but, they compliment each other very well. Both are able to provide a unique perspective for the other -- I really love how well they worked together in Jace's clinic. ^_^
The Lady Who Lived Again, is, at it's core, a story of "you and me, against the world" -- and Thomasine Rappold could have easily created flat one-dimensional villains, but, the author does the fair thing, and provides the town with an honest, legitimate reason: someone's daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin, or friend, died that day -- and they can't help but resent and be angry at Madeline, who survived, despite being the one driving the wagon. The town pastor, and the town doctor, could have, as moral pillars, called for calm, and order, but, they, too -- lost that day, and would stand to lose even more if they had stood by Madeline.
How the author resolves all is just as wonderful, and, for me, seals the deal -- making this a true 5-star read for me.
The Lady Who Lived Again is book 1 in Thomasine Rappold's Sole Survivor series, and her debut novel.
BOOK REVIEW: THE LADY WHO LIVED AGAIN BY THOMASINE RAPPOLD #GIVEAWAY @TASTYBOOKTOURS @THOMRAPPOLD
Posted on December 16, 2015 by DianaK / Posted in Book Review, Giveaway
Enter to Win an Ebook Copy of
THE LADY WHO LIVED AGAIN
THE LADY WHO LIVED AGAIN
The Sole Survivor Series #1
Thomasine Rappold
Releasing Dec 8th, 2015
Lyrical Press
Madeleine Sutter was once the belle of the ball at the popular resort town of Misty Lake, New York. But as the sole survivor of the community’s worst tragedy, she’s come under suspicion. Longing for the life she once enjoyed, she accepts a rare social invitation to the event of the season. Now she will be able to show everyone she’s the same woman they’d always admired—with just one hidden exception: she awoke from the accident with the ability to heal.
Doctor Jace Merrick has fled the failures and futility of city life to start anew in rural Misty Lake. A man of science, he rejects the superstitious chatter surrounding Maddie and finds himself drawn to her confidence and beauty. And when she seduces him into a sham engagement, he agrees to be her ticket back into society, if she supports his new practice—and reveals the details of her remarkable recovery. But when his patients begin to heal miraculously, Jace may have to abandon logic, accept the inexplicable—and surrender to a love beyond reason…
Excerpt-Banner
With a shake of his head, Jace stood, preparing to track the deer. He would find out the truth soon enough, though with a wounded deer, one could never be certain as to how soon that might be. Mrs. Tremont was in dire need of protein. Since the old woman had no husband or sons, Jace would do what he must to provide it.
It had taken only one house call to discover that the duties of the country doctor entailed catering to each patient on a more personal level than was possible with the human wreckage he’d treated at Pittsburgh Hospital. Although his office had yet to open officially, he already knew the hell of the emergency ward—and the endless misery that flowed through its wide double doors—was a stark contrast to a small-town practice. He could make a real difference in Misty Lake, and not just to the wealthy summer visitors. Here he’d have the time to focus on each patient case without the patch-them-up-and-ship-them-out approach of the hospital. The change would be just what he needed to replenish his spirit from the toll of the daily tragedy that had sucked him dry.
Inhaling deeply, he forged past the memory of his internship in the city and the suffocating despair that came along with it. The pine-scented breeze coursed through his senses, anchoring him back to the present. The beauty of his current surroundings lifted his mood. There was nothing like a walk in the woods and reconnecting with nature to remind him that he was alive.
Perhaps if he’d found some comparable diversion from his rote existence in the city, he might have fared better there. Not that it mattered now. He’d made a decision to build a practice in the country, and he intended to succeed come hell or high water. Even so, he knew that, as a stranger, he should expect some initial hostility and skepticism from Misty Lake’s residents. Miss Sutter had merely acted upon the resentment that a lot of her neighbors were nursing privately.
Swatting at a horsefly, he took a few steps in the direction in which the deer had bolted, searching the ground for the blood trail that would lead to his prey. Bloody hoof prints led from the scene. Hunching down for a closer look, he followed the tracks to a birch log, scanning the ground as he moved. “What the…?”
Not a single droplet of blood lay anywhere in the vicinity of the tracks. Had the deer’s wound simply stopped bleeding? He scratched his head, glancing around. The blood flow might have ebbed somewhat, but to cut off entirely without leaving a trace? Preposterous. There had to be a logical explanation. There always was. As a man of science, Jace was curious to know what the devil that explanation was.
He inspected the peeling bark on the decaying log, then saw something flutter on the ground behind it. He reached for the discarded leaf of paper trapped in the weeds. Miss Sutter’s? He collected the thing, then read with interest the letter that was, indeed, addressed to Madeline Sutter.
The past is the past, my dear friend, and you must lay it to rest. Eventually, the town will follow suit.
Who was this strange woman he’d encountered in the middle of nowhere? The woman who refused to attend her friend’s wedding, but had no qualms about dislodging an arrow from a wild animal or ordering a man twice her size off her property?
Madeline Sutter intrigued him, and few women accomplished that feat. Jace looked forward to meeting her again. He glanced toward the path through the field. Locating her residence wouldn’t be difficult. And her dropped letter gave him the perfect excuse to pay her a visit. For the moment, though, he had a deer to track in the opposite direction.
He gathered his things, then headed into the woods. When he returned to town, he would ask around about his latest acquaintance. Whoever she was, he couldn’t wait to find out more.
Review-Banner
I really enjoyed reading The Lady Who Lived Again. (Soul Survivor #1) by Thomasine Rappold.
This story is set in the 1800s in rural Misty Lake. Madeleine (Maddie) Sutter was the soul survivor when the wagon she was on crashed during a storm, her three friends did not make it. Maddie was pronounce dead as well but the next day she awoke. The small town doctor didn’t know what to think, and couldn’t explain why she was alive and the others weren’t. She was now an outcast. She lived with grandfather.
Maddie also seems to be able to heal others. Something that she didn’t have before the accident. Should be a blessing but seems to be a curse.
Dr Jace Merrick comes to town to take over the medical practice of the previous doctor who is retiring. He is very interested in Maddie’s case.
I love reading this story because the author did a great job of explaining details. I could follow the story and felt it was very intriguing. This was a book I couldn’t put down. I loved how the chemistry between Dr. Merrick and Maddie. Maddie’s friend Amelia came back to town to have her wedding there. Maddie of course couldn’t attend to the affair alone and when her ex fiancé ask who she is going with she said she was going with the new Dr. Merrick. Well of course he didn’t know and Maddie needed to get him on board with the idea.
I did receive a copy of this book from Netgalley and Tasty Blog Tours.
The Lady Who Lived Again, by Thomasine Rappold
April 19, 2016
rappold the lady who lived againSeries: Sole Survivor # 1
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Published: June, 1991
Goodreads | Amazon CA / US / UK | Indigo | Barnes & Noble
“Madeleine Sutter was once the belle of the ball at the popular resort town of Misty Lake, New York. But as the sole survivor of the community’s worst tragedy, she’s come under suspicion. Longing for the life she once enjoyed, she accepts a rare social invitation to the event of the season. Now she will be able to show everyone she’s the same woman they’d always admired—with just one hidden exception: she awoke from the accident with the ability to heal.
“Doctor Jace Merrick has fled the failures and futility of city life to start anew in rural Misty Lake. A man of science, he rejects the superstitious chatter surrounding Maddie and finds himself drawn to her confidence and beauty. And when she seduces him into a sham engagement, he agrees to be her ticket back into society, if she supports his new practice—and reveals the details of her remarkable recovery. But when his patients begin to heal miraculously, Jace may have to abandon logic, accept the inexplicable—and surrender to a love beyond reason…”
KATELYNN’S REVIEW
Rating: 3 / 5
Format: Library Ebook
Started: April 10th, 2016
Finished: April 10th, 2016
Drink Pairing: A hot cut of chai tea (Samurai Chai is my favourite).
She decided at once that if given the chance to pilfer a caress or two, she would rob the man blind.
Yes, you can expect a lot of cute, cheesy lines like this.
This is a really cute read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading from both Madeline and Jace’s perspectives, and I absolutely loved Madeline’s personality! Her wit and confidence was wonderfully refreshing, and her flirtiness was cute. Her independence is a bit of a hindrance at spots – as she has come to rely solely on herself, she convinces herself that she will always be alone and she can never let anyone know her secret. Never believing Jace will come to accept her, she helps the town in secret to try and give something even if they hate her. I do understand her reasoning but it still irritated me. Especially when I imagine how back in 1882, to treat the doctor’s patients without seeing if his remedies work would just add insult to injury. Everything Jace worked so hard for in his life is pointless compared to her abilities. By believing no one will love her, she makes it harder for them to and pushes anyone away.
The rest of the story is pretty much as the synopsis says – it’s all there. It’s so hard to write a review for books that are “meh.” It’s not bad but it’s not amazing, I enjoyed reading it but I won’t read it again. If you have a few hours and are looking for a quick read to keep you entertained, give you a few laughs, and then SPOILER: have a happy ending, I recommend The Lady Who Lived Again.
In a yellow dress and matching hat, she filled the room like sunshine. The light of her presence touched everything around her, illuminating every nook and corner inside the dreary room. Inside Him.
Christ Almighty.
He was so full of nonsense that he didn’t even recognize himself.
QUOTED: "The Lady Who Drew Me In is one of those novels that proved too easy to put down. It’s by no means a terrible book, and the premise is an unusual and attractive one; but ... neither the romance nor the mystery were strong enough."
The Lady Who Drew Me In
Thomasine Rappold
Buy This Book
The Lady Who Drew Me In is the third book in Thomasine Rappold’s Soul Survivor series, which mixes historical romance and mystery with a little dash of the paranormal. I haven’t read the previous two novels, but I gather from reading the synopses, that the heroines, like Daisy Lansing – the heroine of this one – had some supernatural ability; Maddy in book one has magical healing powers and Gia in book two has prophetic visions. Here, Daisy, a talented artist, has the ability to translate people’s thoughts into drawings and pictures.
I was intrigued by the publisher’s blurb, which promises a tale featuring the newly widowed and independently minded Daisy, a dashing young lawyer and the hunt for a murderer. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I was looking forward to a suspenseful story – something akin to a modern romantic suspense novel, but set in 1880s America. Sadly, it didn’t meet those expectations and I came away from it feeling disappointed.
Daisy Lansing’s invalid, controlling husband has recently died and she is finally free to pursue her own interests. The problem is that he has tied up the money he’s left her in such a way as to mean that her income is very small, and she is unable to gain access to the full amount until she remarries. That is something Daisy does not want – her experience of marriage with an older, peevish husband was not a good one – but without it, she won’t be able to found the children’s home which has been her dream for years.
Lawyer Jackson Gallway has travelled to the small town of Misty Lake in order to ask for Daisy’s help on a case he is working on. He has also taken the opportunity to get out of the city in the wake of the scandal that erupted over his affair with a married woman – the wife of a business associate – although even that gossip has spread far and wide, and Daisy is well aware of Jackson’s reputation as a rake and all-round scoundrel. Yet when she learns that he is trying to prove the innocence of a man convicted of murder – a murder to which the victim’s son was the only witness – her attention is captured by the plight of the boy, and she agrees to help.
Daisy is able to use her gift for drawing what people are thinking to good effect, getting a clear sketch of the man the boy saw on the night of the murder. And it’s not the face of the man currently imprisoned. Jackson, keen to get back to town, insists they head back even though a storm is brewing; of course, he and Daisy are caught in it and end up having to take shelter for the night. Nothing happens between them – even though they are strongly attracted to each other – but when word gets out that they spent the night together, there is nothing for it if Daisy is going to be able to further her plans for the home, or even hold up her head in Misty Lake again; Jackson will have to marry her.
Jackson certainly hasn’t planned either on marrying or spending his life in a backwater like Misty Lake and Daisy wants her independence, so the pair reaches an agreement. With their marriage, Daisy will come into her money and be able to set up her children’s home; Jackson has his eye on a job in St. Louis. Once Jackson’s case is over, he can leave Misty Lake and the two of them will live separate lives – on the condition that before he leaves, he gets Daisy pregnant.
The couple settles into a routine of sorts, and Jackson even finds himself starting to enjoy the quieter life offered by Misty Lake, but it’s clear to him that all Daisy wants is a stud and that as soon as she has conceived, she will want him gone. And Daisy, who is falling for her handsome husband, is convinced he can’t wait to get back to the city, so is putting up barriers in an attempt to protect herself from heartbreak. Both characters have emotional baggage that is clouding their judgement, but this is pretty much classic Big Mis territory; all of it could have been straightened out by a simple conversation. But while Daisy and Jackson are battling their respective demons – he that he’s not good enough and she because of her survivor’s guilt at having survived the fire which killed her parents – they also have to contend with the very real threat posed by the killer for whom Jackson has been searching.
The overall problem with the book is that it’s just a little bit dull. The writing is decent, but nothing out of the ordinary, and while Daisy is fairly well fleshed-out as a character, Jackson is a bit of a stereotype. There’s no real romantic chemistry between the couple, and even though they enjoy spending time together in and out of bed, I didn’t feel an emotional connection between them. The mystery surrounding Jackson’s search for the killer is somewhat perfunctory and the identity of the villain isn’t set up very well, so that aspect of the story is rather disappointing, too. But on the plus side, the author does a good job of showing Jackson and Daisy coming to know and understand each other better; and the scene towards the end in which they are both forced to confront some unpleasant home truths is insightful. These things save the book from a lower rating, but the romance itself is lukewarm.
The Lady Who Drew Me In is one of those novels that proved too easy to put down. It’s by no means a terrible book, and the premise is an unusual and attractive one; but I’m afraid that neither the romance nor the mystery were strong enough to really draw ME in.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
The Lady Who Drew Me In: The Sole Survivor Series
Happy Wednesday! Only a few days left until Christmas (I could really use another week). My featured author today is Thomasine Rappold. She has written The Sole Survivor Series. The book in the series include The Lady Who Lived Again, The Lady Who Saw Too Much, and The Lady Who Drew Me In (the latest novel). Ms. Rappold writes historical, romance novels with a touch of paranormal in them. Thomas Rappold is on Twitter (@ThomRappold) and you can follow her on Amazon (to get updates when she releases a new book).
The Lady Who Drew Me In by Thomasine Rappold is the third book in The Sole Survivor Series. Daisy Lansing is a widow living in Misty Lake, New York in 1885. Daisy has the unique ability to transfer images from people’s thoughts onto paper. Daisy used to use her skill to entertain her guardian’s friends at parties until one night a married woman’s thought got her in deep trouble with her husband. It caused a big scandal. Daisy’s guardians, The Palmers married Daisy off to Lawry Lansing (a man thirty years older) in exchange for a house in Newport and the promise of their daughter, Grace being well received in society. Lawry was strict and insisted that Daisy not draw or paint (she rarely left the house). Lawry has now passed away and left Daisy with a small monthly allowance (much to her dismay). Jackson “Jax” Gallway is an attorney from Troy. He is the brother-in-law to Daisy’s best friend, Tessa Gallway. Jax needs Daisy’s assistance on his latest case (his future depends upon this task. He needs Daisy to use her ability to get information from a young witness. Jax’s client, Randal Morgan has been wrongly accused of murder. The only witness is a young boy, Andy Wendell who has not talked since he saw his father murdered. Daisy assists Jax, but she ends up with her reputation in shatters. With help from Jax’s brother, Dannion the two are quickly wed. But, can Jax, a notorious rogue, be content as a married man or living in the country town of Misty Lake? Jax is also alienating the towns people with his pursuit of justice for Randal Morgan. Will there be a happily ever after for Jax and Daisy? Will Jax be able to prove Randal Morgan’s innocence?
The Lady Who Drew Me In is a sweet yet steamy novel. I liked the characters and the setting. The book is well-written and, for the most part, kept my attention. The mystery was interesting and the author provided good clues. Ms. Rappold also did a very good job at capturing the time period of the late 1800s in New York as well as the personalities of society people. I give The Lady Who Drew Me In 3.5 out of 5 stars. I just wish there had been more of the paranormal element in the novel. The romance or attraction between Daisy and Jax dominated the story with the Jax’ case taking second place. The paranormal element was very much in the background (like an extra in a movie). There are highly stimulating scenes (I have to find creative uses for the word "sex" because many review sites do not allow this word) between Jax and Daisy after they are married (cold water would rise like steam if it was doused on them). In addition, the story has the usual miscommunication between the couple that leads to a distance between the couple. The ending is expected (there has to be a happy ending). While The Lady Who Drew Me In is the third book in series, it can be read alone. Each book is independent of the others. What ties them together is the paranormal aspect. If you like to read historical romance novels, then you will enjoy reading The Lady Who Drew In.
I appreciate you taking the time to visit and read my latest book evaluation. I am off to enjoy dinner. I will return tomorrow to review another novel. May all of you have a lovely, relaxing night. Take care, stay warm and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader