A Review of
Christine Lindsey's SHADOWED IN SILK
by Gina Welborn
(For FTC purposes, a copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers.)
In the last year, I've agree to endorse a few books. The plus is I get free copies. The con side is that occasionally the book isn't my cup of tea. However, the problem I'm having with book reviews is that . . . well, you see, my heart's desire is to rave about a book without being obligated to rave. I LOVE LOVE LOVE sharing about books that literally (in a metaphorical manner) glued me to my seat. Actually in this case, the sofa.
SHADOWED IN SILK is one of the best written novels I've ever read.
Oh, let me tell you the basics about the book. Abby marries a swanky British soldier after a whirlwind romance. Only following their honeymoon, her husband leaves to serve in India. Fast forward a few years, and Abby and her son are traveling to India to put their family back together. What man wouldn't want his beloved wife with him?
Problem for Abby is that her husband actually doesn't want her with him. He'd been happily content living apart. I blame the fact he has a . . . secret he doesn't want Abby to know about.
Well on the journey to India, Abby meets a great guy on the boat. Geoff has a mission he can't tell Abby about because, well, he has a very good reason. Over the course of the novel, Abby and Geoff face all sorts of awful things about themselves and others. Before I go more into that, here's the official details about the novel.
She was invisible to those who should have loved her.
After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British army. She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women . . . but Nick has become a cruel stranger. It will take more than her American pluck to survive.
Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.
Amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.
Now because Abby is married and because this book is targeted to the Christian market, both the author and the publisher ensured that the reader understood Abby's circumstances and empathized with her struggle to love the man she married and not love the man she loves.
Now the romance storyline really isn't the prime focus. Both Abby and Geoff have their own journeys they have to travel apart from one another. Yet through it all, God kept drawing them together, which is a great reminder to the reader that He continually is working to take the unpleasantness of life and turn it into good.
About the Author
Christine Lindsay is an award-winning writer of Christian Inspirational Historicals. SHADOWED IN SILK is her debut novel, which won the 2009 ACFW Genesis award in the historical category. Christine, her husband, and their grownup family live in British Columbia, Canada. She loves being Nana to her 3 little grandsons.
The lushness of Christine's world building made India come to life in my mind. I feel the need to watch the first three Indiana Jones movies even though they're set about 20 years after Christine's novel.
Christine's Book 2 in this series, CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT, is available for pre-order by clicking HERE.
Christine's Book 2 in this series, CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT, is available for pre-order by clicking HERE.
CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT by Christine Lindsay
Prisoners to their own broken dreams…
After a daring rescue goes awry, Laine Harkness and her friend Eshana flee to the tropical south of India…and headlong into their respective pasts.
Laine takes a nursing position at a plantation in the jungle, only to discover that her former fiancĂ© is the owner…but fun-loving Laine refuses to let Adam crush her heart like he had years ago.
Eshana, captured by her traditional uncle and forced once more into the harsh Hindu customs of mourning, doubts freedom will ever be hers again, much less the forbidden love that had begun to flower.
Amid cyclones, epidemics, and clashing faiths, will the love of the True Master give hope to these searching hearts?
This sounds like an interesting book with a great story line.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I read a book in this time frame and setting. It was a fascinating glimpse into a part of history and a setting I wasn't really familiar with, but like you, Gina, it brought Indiana Jones to mind. I'm thinking I'll have to read this one.
Well, I'm definitely going to have to read this book! Loved the review. Thank you, Gina.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review, Gina.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to see Christine's book released. She's taken a novel approach with the setting and circumstances and I wish her all the best success with it.
Anita Mae.
You know, the problem with mystery writers reading romances is that I keep waiting for people to die. But with spies and political unrest and sinister secrets, this one might be a good one to try.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gina!
I started it on my Kindle. Now if I just had time to sit and finish it!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe I didn't comment on this. I blame crazy dance recital day. I've read this book twice. Once as a lowly word document, and even then I knew it was something very special. Hope Christine wins some awards with this one.
ReplyDeleteI just feel like a total ditz for missing this FANTASTIC review by Gina. For missing this, I totally to not deserve her wonderful praise. Please everyone chalk this up to my working our my job situation. You know what it's like---having to work at a dratted day job in order to support your writing habit.
ReplyDeleteOy, and I'm bushed with having to change jobs and find a new one. So I hope I'm forgiven for not being around when this wonderful review was posted.
Somehow I have to make it up to Gina.
Any suggestions, anyone?
Whoops! I guess I could have done a different way of re-posting this. Technology...ugh.
ReplyDeleteBut with Christine's novel 2 coming out in this series, I felt like it was a fitting re-post because I'm sure an Inky will do a review of Captured by Moonlight.
Good idea, Gina. I actually already posted a recommendation for Captured by Moonlight. Didn't want to call it a "review" since I edited it. Here is the link http://www.inkwellinspirations.com/2013/03/captured-by-moonlight.html
ReplyDeleteI loved the first book and have the second one on my Kindle. I know I'll love it too. Christine is an amazing writer!
ReplyDelete