Review: "The London House" by Katherine Reay

Katherine Reay + THIS COVER = A Must-Read Novel!

Review: "The Printed Letter Bookshop" by Katherine Reay

A novel set in a bookstore? What could be better? (Owning said bookstore myself—that's what could be better 😉)

"A Portrait of Emily Price" by Katherine Reay

At the end of 2013, I discovered Katherine Reay's Dear Mr. Knightley. It's a beautiful novel that I read in one evening because it was so "unputdownable." I still haven't read her follow-up, Lizzy and Jane, but I was thrilled to get my hands on The Brontë Plot last year. Turns out my expectations were a bit too high, based on my complete adoration for Dear Mr. Knightley, and I walked away from The Brontë Plot a bit disappointed, even though it's a solid book.

While I expected to enjoy A Portrait of Emily Price, Reay's latest novel, I went into it with much lower expectations ... and I found myself blown away by this beautiful, touching novel.

top ten tuesday: all-time favorite inspy romances

For this week's Top Ten Tuesday, the topic is Top Ten ALL TIME Favorite Books of ___ Genre. That's pretty wide open, and I contemplated several topics as I drove today. (We had our annual yearbook conference in a town 45 minutes away, so I had a 90-minute drive time to think.) I wanted to be creative. I wanted to do the unexpected. But when it comes right down to it, they say to write what you know, and what do I know?

Inspy Romance.

I couldn't bear to rank them, so, listed by year of publication, here are my Top Ten Inspy (aka inspirational, aka Christian) Romances.

1990's

At the yearbook conference today, we talked about how yearbooks from the 80's look like they were made in the 80's ... well, these books from the 90's certainly look like they came from the 90's!

1994

Wings of the Morning by Lori Wick. I haven't read this book in years, but I still remember it vividly. Lori Wick was my favorite author of the mid-to-late-90's, and Wings of the Morning is my second favorite of her novels. A handsome sea captain, an independent woman, and pirates ... what more could you want?

1995

Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick. I probably read this ten times in high school alone. I also loaned it out to all my friends, which is why my copy is in such horrible shape. Like Wings of the Morning, I haven't read it in years, but it will always be one of my favorites.

1997

Sunsets by Robin Jones Gunn. I loved the whole Glenbrooke series, and Sunsets was my favorite installment, I think because it featured Alyssa, a character from the Christy Miller series.

2000's

2008

The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter. This marriage of convenience story is still one of my favorites! It was recently made into a Hallmark movie which was good, but the book is better! (my review)

2010's

2011

Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin. This book, the first of Sundin's I ever read, was my favorite book of 2011. Sundin's World War II novels are some of my most anticipated reads each year. (my review)

2012

My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade. Kate & Matt's story was my favorite of 2012, and I knew the instant I began reading it that Becky Wade was destined to become one of my favorite authors. (my review)

2013

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay. This epistolary novel is unlike anything else I've ever read, and it was my favorite book of 2013. I've only read it once, but I'm thinking it's time for another go at it! (my review)

2014

2014 was a very good year for inspy romance—my final three books are from this year!

Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter. I absolutely loved Denise Hunter's Chapel Springs series, and this—about pregnant, unmarried Jade and Daniel, the man who has secretly loved her for years—is my favorite installment. (my review)

When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren. While I enjoyed the first two Christiansen Family books, book three, When I Fall in Love, is the one that made me go "all in" on this series. Max and Grace have the sweetest story! (my review)

Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade. If you forced me to name an absolute favorite novel, this would be it. I love Ty (swoon!). I love Celia. I love their daughter Addie. Needless to say, it was my favorite book of 2014. I've read it twice already, and you can bet I'll be reading it again! (my review)

What's your favorite inspy romance? I'd love to know! And if you made your own list this week, leave a link in the comments, and I'll be sure to visit.

Disclosure of Material Connection: 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."

"the brontë plot" by katherine reay

Several years ago, I read Katherine Reay's debut novel, Dear Mr. Knightley, and I was completely charmed—so much so that I named it my favorite book of 2013. While I still haven't read Reay's second book, Lizzy & Jane, solely due to time and an insane review schedule, I must admit that I did a little happy dance when I opened a package from The Fiction Guild and found The Brontë Plot inside!

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Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious measures to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy's secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt, and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change.

In a sudden turn of events, James's wealthy grandmother Helen hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy's predicament better than anyone else.

As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen's wisdom, as Helen confronts the ghosts of her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters' beloved heroines, who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of change.

Now Lucy must go back into her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that's been waiting for her all along.

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Written in Katherine Reay's unique style, The Brontë Plot is an intriguing story. Set in Chicago and England, the bulk of the story involves Lucy and Helen's shopping and redemption trip around England. I absolutely loved the concept of the book; however, a few things kept me from wholeheartedly enjoying it.

Lucy isn't exactly a likable main character, though she does go through much growth and change throughout the novel, and she ends up much more sympathetic than she was in the beginning. Still, I had trouble rooting for her or for her romance with James. The romance is definitely not the main thrust of the book, which is fine; I do wish that as I reader I had been able to watch more of Lucy and James' early romance, as that may have helped me to actually care if Lucy and James reunited.

Much of the novel teases Lucy's reunion with her father, and when it happened, I felt a little let down—though it definitely did explain a lot about Lucy. I'm sure the way things played out was more realistic than the "happily ever after" reunion I'd hoped for, but I still was disappointed.

By far, my favorite aspect of the novel was Helen's story. Not only was her back story fascinating, but her quest to right previous wrongs definitely struck a chord with me. I loved the way she interacted with Lucy and her family members, the way she owned her actions, and the way she gently guided those she loved.

I know that I'm making this book sound worse than it is. It is solidly a 4 star novel. It's just that I'd hoped for more, for something that moved me in the way Dear Mr. Knightley did. Perhaps that's not fair to Reay, and I definitely want to read whatever she writes next. I'll just be sure to keep my expectations a bit lower next time.

Buy the novel.
Read my review of Reay's Dear Mr. Knightley (5 stars).

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Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries. After earning degrees in history and marketing from Northwestern University, she worked as a marketer for Proctor & Gamble and Sears before returning to school to earn her MTS. Her works have been published in Focus on the Family and the Upper Room. Katherine currently lives with her husband and three children in Seattle.
Learn more about Katherine at http://katherinereay.com/.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through The Fiction Guild. 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 the 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."

best books of 2013: top 10

It's that time again: time to pick my favorite books of the year. (And this year, I'm actually posting before the new year—if only by two hours. That's quite the improvement over my 2011 and 2012 lists!) If my Pinterest board is to be believed, then I read 87 books in 2013 (and I'm not sure that I remembered to pin each book I read). Out of those 87, I enjoyed the vast majority, so narrowing my list of favorites down to 10 was quite difficult—so difficult that I'll be publishing a list of honorable mention books later this week. Below are the books that I settled on as my favorite 10 reads of 2013.

10. Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter (my review)

Barefoot Summer is a fantastic opening to Hunter's Chapel Springs series. Madison and Beckett's chemistry practically leaps off the page, and the conclusion is heartwarming and satisfying. I can't wait for book two's release this spring!

9. Anomaly by Krista McGee (my review)

Anomaly stunned me. I expected to enjoy it (it's YA/sci-fi, so how could I not?), but I didn't anticipate the way McGee would so completely suck me into her world. The book ends with a delightful twist, and I can't wait to read the second book in the trilogy!

8. Duchess by Susan May Warren (my review)

The final book in Warren's Daughters of Fortune trilogy, Duchess is also the best. For whatever reason, it really resonated with me—and I especially connected with main character Rosie. Here's a snippet of my review: "Really, Rosie could be any of us. No, we don't all have bombshell looks or the attitude to go with it, but we do all have regrets and hurts that motivate our actions, and without surrendering to Christ and trusting that He loves us, we could gain the whole world and still be searching for meaning and wholeness. The spiritual lessons found in this book (and the rest of the series) are profound, yet not at all 'preachy.'"

7. Shattered by Dani Pettrey (my review)

Shattered is the second book in Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series. It focuses on Piper and Landon, two of my favorite characters from the first book in the series. Packed with mystery and romance, Shattered was easily my favorite romantic suspense novel of the year.

6. Moon Over Edisto by Beth Webb Hart (my review)

Of all the books on this list, Moon Over Edisto is the least overtly "Christian" and the most literary. (It is put out by a Christian publisher, but the faith aspect takes a backseat. And I think that's totally fine.) It's the only novel that I read this year that I thought my sister, who tends toward literary snobbery, would enjoy—and so I promptly bought her a copy as soon as I finished reading mine. Moon Over Edisto is a beautifully-written novel about family, and it ended far too soon for my liking.

5. The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen (my review)

If you love Jane Austen, you'll love Julie Klassen. I've read several of her books so far, and each one is better than the last. The Tutor's Daughter is pure delight. Here's a bit of what I had to say in my review: "As I read, I couldn't help but feel that I was reading a Jane Austen novel. Or, more accurately, that I was watching a film adaptation of a Jane Austen novel, as Klassen has a way with words that put a very clear picture into my head as I read. The plot evokes memories of Northanger Abbey, Emma,Pride & Prejudice, and even Jane Eyre while still remaining unique." Klassen's next book, The Dancing Master, is currently sitting on my to be read shelf—I can't wait to pick it up!

4. A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund (my review)

I loved everything about A Noble Groom...especially the hero, Carl. In my review, I said that "Carl gives Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy a run for his money. While Carl is by no means perfect, he is wonderful (and a lot less uppity than that Darcy fellow)." And that cover? It may be my favorite book cover of the year!

3. On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin (my review)

Fun fact: Sarah Sundin is the only author to have a book appear on my "best of" list each year that I've made one: With Every Letter was number four on my 2012 list, and Blue Skies Tomorrow was my pick for my favorite book of 2011.

On Distant Shores continues Sundin's streak of excellent World War II fiction. I love that while her books are full of romance, they contain so much more. On Distant Shores highlights the struggles pharmacists faced in the Army, and Sundin wrote about it so realistically that I wanted to call my senator to demand fair treatment for them! I'm eagerly awaiting Sundin's next novel.

2. Invisible by Ginny Yttrup (my review)

Ginny Yttrup was a new-to-me author, and she totally blew me away with this novel. Invisible focuses on three women, each of whom is hiding in some way. As they connect with each other, they work through emotional and physical trauma and learn about the God who loves them infinitely. Invisible is completely captivating, and when I finished reading it, I just had to sit there and let it sink in. I loved it.

1. Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (my review)

Dear Mr. Knightley, Katherine Reay's debut novel, is so unique and fun! I don't think I can say it better than I did in my review: "Honestly, I picked up Dear Mr. Knightley expecting a simple romance, but this book turned out to be so much more—throughout the course of the novel, Sam found her voice, her place in the world. And, yes, she found love—in many forms. One of the most touching aspects of the novel was not the romance (though it was sweet) but the love Sam found in family.

Dear Mr. Knightley is a novel that will grab you at the first page and not let go until you've finished the last. Run to your nearest bookstore (or, more realistically, click on over to the website of your favorite bookseller) and get your hands on a copy of this book. You won't regret it!"

I almost wish I hadn't read Dear Mr. Knightley yet—because that would mean I could experience it again for the first time! For a limited time, it's only $2.99 for Kindle (check the price before you buy)—you really need to read this book!

There you have it: my top 10 reads of 2013. Check back at the end of the week for my honorable mention books. Happy New Year!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the 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.”

"dear mr. knightley" by katherine reay

About the book (from Litfuse): Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others—namely her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story—by giving that story to a complete stranger.

Growing up orphaned and alone, Sam found her best friends in the works of Austen, Dickens, and the Brontë sisters. The problem is that she now relates to others more comfortably as Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre than as herself.

Sometimes we lose ourselves in the things we care about most.

But life for this twenty-three-year-old is about to get stranger than fiction, when an anonymous benefactor (calling himself "Mr. Knightley") offers to put Sam through the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress.

As Sam's program and peers force her to confront her past, she finds safety in her increasingly personal letters to Mr. Knightley. And when Sam meets eligible, best-selling novelist Alex Powell, those letters unfold a story of love and literature that feels as if it's pulled from her favorite books. But when secrets come to light, Sam is—once again—made painfully aware of how easily trust can be broken.

Reay's debut novel follows one young woman's journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become.

My take: Warning: I'm about to gush over this book. Is it too soon to name it my favorite read of 2013? Yes? Well just wait, then; I predict that on December 31, nothing will have usurped Dear Mr. Knightley's place on the top of my Best Books of 2013 list.

Dear Mr. Knightley is so familiar, yet so unique. It's familiar in that it frequently references Jane Austen, Shakespeare, and Jane Eyre (and even re-imagines certain plot points), and it also evokes more recent works like the film You've Got Mail. Yet it is unique in both plot and delivery—it's an epistolary novel, which means it is written through letters. (Yes, other epistolary novels do exist—notably Lewis's Screwtape Letters—but this is not a common form of writing today.)

After reading the back cover, I guessed the identity of Mr. Knightley (and I suspect you will, too), but that didn't matter one bit; the fact that Mr. Knightley ended up being exactly who I guessed only made the whole reading experience that much sweeter.

Honestly, I picked up Dear Mr. Knightley expecting a simple romance, but this book turned out to be so much more—throughout the course of the novel, Sam found her voice, her place in the world. And, yes, she found love—in many forms. One of the most touching aspects of the novel was not the romance (though it was sweet) but the love Sam found in family.

Dear Mr. Knightley is a novel that will grab you at the first page and not let go until you've finished the last. Run to your nearest bookstore (or, more realistically, click on over to the website of your favorite bookseller) and get your hands on a copy of this book. You won't regret it!

My rating: 5 stars

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About the author: Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries. After earning degrees in history and marketing from Northwestern University, she worked as a marketer for Proctor & Gamble and Sears before returning to school to earn her MTS. Her works have been published in Focus on the Family and the Upper Room. Katherine currently lives with her husband and three children in Seattle. Dear Mr. Knightley is her first novel.

Learn more about Katherine at http://katherinereay.com/.

About the giveaway: Debut author Katherine Reay is celebrating the release of her delightful novel, Dear Mr. Knightley, with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway, a fun Favorite Austen Moments Pinterest contest, and an Austen-themed Facebook Party.

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
• Handmade Austen-themed items (scarf, mug, bracelet, and necklace) 

Two ways to win! Enter today by clicking one of the icons below or participating in the Pinterest contest (see banner below)—or BOTH! 

But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Dear Mr. Knightley" Austen-themed Facebook Author Chat Party on the 3rd. Join Katherine (and Austen fans) for an evening of book chat, prizes, and an exclusive look at Katherine's next book.

So grab your copy of  Dear Mr. Knightley and join Katherine on the evening of December 3rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST. Hope to see you on the 3rd!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. 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 the 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."