Tuesday, October 20, 2015

"chivalrous" by dina l. sleiman

In Chivalrous, Dina L. Sleiman has created a heroine that teen girls can look up to without making their mothers cringe.

With Her Future In Jeopardy, This Unforgettable Heroine Won't Go Down Without a Fight!

Strong and adventurous Gwendolyn Barnes longs to be a knight like her chivalrous brothers, but her parents view her only as a marriage pawn. When her domineering father makes plans to see her wed to a brutish man, Gwendolyn must fight for her future. 

She's surprised, however, for that clash to include a handsome, good-hearted newcomer. Allen of Ellsworth arrives in Edendale searching for his place in the world, but he finds in Gwendolyn the most unexpected of women. 


Tournaments, intrigue, and battles--along with twists and turns aplenty--await these two as they struggle to find love, identity, and their true destinies.

Dina L. Sleiman returns to the world of medieval England in Chivalrous, book two in her Valiant Hearts series. Chivalrous is set in the fictional North Britannia, a kingdom ruled by a Christian duke. However, not everyone in the kingdom follows the duke's Christian principles, including Gwendolyn's father, a hard, abusive man. When Gwen hears God referred to as a father, how can she trust Him, since the only father she has ever known treats her horribly?

Allen of Ellsworth (one of the "Ghosts of Farthingale Forest" from Dauntless) is welcomed to North Britannia with open arms. When tragedy strikes, Allen is presented with an opportunity he never expected...but at what cost?

Chivalrous is a fun, action-packed "girl power" kind of novel that also deals with some weighty issues. I absolutely loved Gwen's spunky character and her desire to follow her dreams, no matter what was expected of her as a woman. And Allen made a perfect complement to her—his esteem for women and acceptance of Gwen for who she was made him a great romantic hero. (He was not flawless, however; his pride was an issue throughout the novel.) Gwen's maid Rosalind also played an important role in Chivalrous, and I was excited to learn that she will be the heroine of the next Valiant Hearts novel.

While I didn't enjoy Chivalrous quite as much as I did Dauntless (probably because it took a bit longer to really get moving), it's still an excellent read. This would be a great book for mothers and daughters to read together, as it brings up issues such as obedience, abortion, abuse, and respect—issues that teen girls deal with today. 4 stars.

Read an excerpt.
Buy the book.
Read my review of book one, Dauntless (4-1/2 stars).

Dina L. Sleiman holds an MA in professional writing from Regent University and a BA in communications with a minor in English from Oral Roberts University. Over the past eighteen years, she has had opportunities to teach college writing and literature, as well as high school and elementary classes in English, humanities, and fine arts. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three children. She can be found online at www.dinasleiman.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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