Review: "Enchanting Nicholette" by Dawn Crandall

After Dawn Crandall's The Cautious Maiden released two years ago, I assumed The Everstone Chronicles had reached their end. But then Crandall announced that Enchanting Nicholette would continue the story, so of course I had to read it 🙂.

"The Cautious Maiden" by Dawn Crandall

Last year, I was able to read the three books that made up Dawn Crandall's Everstone Chronicles. I loved them! When I heard that a fourth book was being written, I knew I had to read it. And guess what? It's just as great as I'd hoped!

cover reveal: "the cautious maiden" by dawn crandall + giveaway

Last year, I read the first three books in Dawn Crandall's Everstone Chronicles. I loved them! So I'm very excited to be able to share the cover for the fourth book, The Cautious Maiden, with you today. The book will release this fall—which can't come soon enough for me!

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Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother transforms her deceased parents’ respectable country inn into a brothel to accommodate the lumberjacks in the area. When her reputation is compromised, she finds herself forced to enter into an engagement with Vance Everstone. Can she trust this man she hardly knows who has a scandalous reputation in his own right?

Add to Goodreads.

See my reviews of The Hesitant Heiress (4 stars), The Bound Heart (5 stars and #2 on my Best of 2015 list), and The Captive Imposter (4 stars).

Dawn is also hosting a giveaway in celebration of the cover reveal. Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn’t begin writing until her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming traditionally published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress. It didn’t take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary.

Apart from writing books, Dawn is also a first-time mom to a precious little boy (born March 2014) and also serves with her husband in a pre-marriage mentor program at their local church in Northeast Indiana.

Dawn is a member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter.

"the hesitant heiress"--now in paperback + giveaway

You may remember me gushing over Dawn Crandall's Everstone Chronicles last year. I loved the series, especially book two, The Bound Heart, but as they were released in ebook format only, they were inaccessible to many readers. Not anymore! Whitaker House has decided to release all three books in paperback, beginning with The Hesitant Heiress.

In celebration, Dawn is giving away multiple copies of The Hesitant Heiress! Enter both giveaways below:   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Hesitant Heiress

by Dawn Crandall

Giveaway ends September 29, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of the series: The Hesitant Heiress (4 stars), The Bound Heart (5 stars), The Captive Imposter (4 stars).

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A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming traditionally published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary.

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 captive imposter" by dawn crandall

I have so enjoyed reading Dawn Crandall's Everstone Chronicles over the past month! These books are unlike much of what is currently out in the inspirational market—and their uniqueness makes them stand out in a positive way. Each book is told in first person through the eyes of the heroine, and though each woman is very different from the others, each story comes across as wholly believable. The Captive Imposter unfolds through the eyes of Estella Everstone, a woman who turns out to be so much more than what she originally seems.

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Sent away for protection, hotel heiress Estella Everstone finds herself living undercover as a lady’s companion named Elle Stoneburner at one of her father’s opulent hotels in the mountains of Maine—the one she’d always loved best and always hoped to own one day, Everston. The one thing she doesn’t like about the situation is that her ex-fiancé is in the area and is set on marrying someone else. Reeling from her feelings of being unwanted and unworthy, Estella reluctantly forms a friendship with the gruff manager of Everston, Dexter Blakeley, who seems to have something against wealthy young socialites with too much money, although they are just the kind of people Everston caters to.

When Estella finds herself in need of help, Dexter comes to the rescue with an offer she can’t refuse. She sees no other choice aside from going back home to her family and accepts the position as companion to his sister. Throughout her interactions with Dexter, she can’t deny the pull that’s evidenced between them every time he comes near. Estella realizes that while she’s been hiding behind a false name and identity, she’s never been freer to be herself than when she’s with Dexter Blakeley. But will he still love her when he finds out she’s Estella Everstone? She’s not entirely sure.

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As with The Hesitant Heiress and The Bound Heart, once I started reading The Captive Imposter, I couldn't put it down. Laundry? Forget it. Cleaning? Not on your life. Sleep? Who needs it? (Me, that's who. And believe you me, I regretted my late night the next morning.)

Honestly, I was a little hesitant when I realized that Estella would be the subject of The Captive Imposter—she just seemed so young, flighty, and a bit immature in the previous novels. But in The Captive Imposter, Estella Everstone grows up and becomes a very likeable heroine.

Overall, I very much enjoyed The Captive Imposter. The "when will Dexter learn that Elle is Estella Everstone?" question kept a good amount of tension running through the novel, and I enjoyed watching Estella's relationships with both Dexter and his sister Roxy develop. It was also nice to see some of the threads involving Estella's brother Vance resolved. He would make a nice subject for a future novel—well, his future bride would, anyway! (I can't believe I'm saying this, considering how much I loathed Vance in The Bound Heart, but he redeemed himself a bit in The Captive Imposter.)

If I have any criticism, it centers around the romance. For whatever reason, I didn't connect with Estella and Dexter's romance as much as I connected with the romances in the previous novels. The story is romantic, but I was definitely more interested in other aspects of the plot than I was in the romance. Still, The Captive Imposter is a great book, and I highly recommend it! 4 stars.

Note: While you wouldn't have to, I highly recommend reading these books in order.

Follow the blog tour for The Captive Imposter.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of The Hesitant Heiress (4 stars) and The Bound Heart (5 stars).

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A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn’t begin writing until her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming traditionally published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress. It didn’t take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary.

Apart from writing books, Dawn is also a first-time mom to a precious little boy (born March 2014) and also serves with her husband in a pre-marriage mentor program at their local church in Northeast Indiana.

Dawn is a member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter.


The Everstone Chronicles is Dawn’s first series with Whitaker House. All three books composing the series were semifinalists in ACFW’s prestigious Genesis Writing Contest, the third book going on to become a finalist in 2013.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author. I was not required to write a review, and 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."

series feature: the everstone chronicles by dawn crandall

Over the past month, I've had the pleasure of reading Dawn Crandall's Everstone Chronicles. First was The Hesitant Heiress (4 stars), then The Bound Heart (5+ stars), and finally The Captive Imposter (review to come next week). Today, I want to introduce you to the whole series. Be sure to follow Dawn's blog and Facebook page, as she's giving away great stuff throughout the tour!

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THE EVERSTONE CHRONICLES
by Dawn Crandall

The Blog Tour for The Captive Imposter started last week! Drop by author Dawn Crandall’s blog or Facebook page to check out all the posts and giveaways going on throughout the next few weeks! There will be lots of prizes and giveaways!

Dawn Crandall’s Blog
Dawn’s FaceBook Author Page

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The Hesitant Heiress
*** 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Winner (Romance Writers of America)

After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy disappearing before her very eyes. Now the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: marry within the year to inherit her grandmother’s fortune. Amaryllis reluctantly takes part in her aunt’s society, intent on getting to the west coast on her own… and without a husband.

Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself falling in love with the most unlikely of men, Nathan Everstone, whose father not only had a part in her expulsion, but whose ominous presence has haunted her dreams for a decade since her mother’s tragic death. Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems and everything she never knew she wanted. But just as everything Amaryllis has recently hoped for comes to fruition, it all falls apart when she finds that the real culprit who has been managing her life isn’t who she thought at all.

Add to GoodReads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book Distributors

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The Bound Heart

One accidental kiss from Lawry Hampton. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt’s world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn’t have the time or the desire to fall for her friend Lawry Hampton. However, with Vance out of the country and Lawry constantly at her side, Meredyth can’t help but wonder if what’s holding her to Vance is nothing more than a desire to redeem herself from their unfortunate past.        

When Vance comes home to stake his claim on Meredyth, will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she’s convinced she deserves? Or will she find the strength to accept that God’s plan for her life could include redemption... and quite possibly the love of her best-friend?

Add to GoodReads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book Distributors

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The Captive Imposter

Sent away for protection, hotel heiress Estella Everstone finds herself living undercover as a lady’s companion named Elle Stoneburner at one of her father’s opulent hotels in the mountains of Maine—the one she’d always loved best and always hoped to own one day, Everston. The one thing she doesn’t like about the situation is that her ex-fiancé is in the area and is set on marrying someone else. Reeling from her feelings of being unwanted and unworthy, Estella reluctantly forms a friendship with the gruff manager of Everston, Dexter Blakeley, who seems to have something against wealthy young socialites with too much money, although they are just the kind of people Everston caters to.

When Estella finds herself in need of help, Dexter comes to the rescue with an offer she can’t refuse. She sees no other choice aside from going back home to her family and accepts the position as companion to his sister. Throughout her interactions with Dexter, she can’t deny the pull that’s evidenced between them every time he comes near. Estella realizes that while she’s been hiding behind a false name and identity, she’s never been freer to be herself than when she’s with Dexter Blakeley. But will he still love her when he finds out she’s Estella Everstone? She’s not entirely sure.

Add to GoodReads
Amazon

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About Dawn Crandall

A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn’t begin writing until her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming traditionally published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress. It didn’t take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary.

Apart from writing books, Dawn is also a first-time mom to a precious little boy (born March 2014) and also serves with her husband in a pre-marriage mentor program at their local church in Northeast Indiana.

Dawn is a member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter.

The Everstone Chronicles is Dawn’s first series with Whitaker House. All three books composing the series were semifinalists in ACFW’s prestigious Genesis Writing Contest, the third book going on to become a finalist in 2013.

"the bound heart" by dawn crandall

WARNING: Do not begin reading this book before bed. It has been known to cause extreme loss of sleep and next day exhaustion. This is because once you begin reading, you won't be able to put it down, even if that means reading until 1:30 a.m.!

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One accidental kiss from Lawry Hampton. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt's world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn't have the time or the desire to fall for her best friend. But with Vance out of the country, and with Lawry at her side nearly every day, teaching her what the world is like through the eyes of a little orphan girl named Wynn--Meredyth can't deny that what's holding her to Vance is nothing more than a desire to redeem herself from her past. 

Will she marry Vance once he returns from Europe? Or will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she's convinced she deserves, and accept that God's plan for her life includes redemption...and, quite possibly, Lawry Hampton? 

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Words cannot describe how much I loved this book! When I read book one of The Everstone Chronicles, The Hesitant Heiress, I liked it a lot, but there were things (specifically regarding the heroine) that I didn't care for. Not so with The Bound Heart! I loved everything about it—especially Meredyth and Lawry.

Lawry and Meredyth's romance is sweet and sigh-inducing, and it moves at a great pace. (It drives me nuts when characters dance around the romance and the first kiss doesn't come until the last 10% of the novel, and The Bound Heart definitely doesn't fall into that category!) Lawry's love for Meredyth shines through the whole book.

The book isn't just about romance, though. It also shows the power of forgiveness—both toward others and yourself. As Meredyth struggled with her past, she was trapped by lies, and I longed for her to start believing the truth—that God loved her and forgave her, no matter what, and she was no longer bound by the sins of the past. Of course, she eventually got to that point, and the journey there was so emotional and realistic.

The Bound Heart is easily one of the best books I've read so far this year, and I'm eager to read the next in the series, The Captive Imposter! 5 stars.

Read my review of The Hesitant Heiress.
Buy the book.

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A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming traditionally published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author. I was not required to write a review, and 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."

"the hesitant heiress" by dawn crandall

Author Dawn Crandall recently asked me to review her latest book, The Captive Impostor, when it releases in April. Since I hadn't read the previous two books in her Everstone Chronicles, she sent me copies. I opened up the first one, The Hesitant Heiress, on the way to our district speech meet on Wednesday. (We won! Go team!) That may have been a mistake, as I was constantly thinking about the book throughout the day, reading bits and pieces every time I had a break. I finished reading after getting home ... instead of going straight to bed like I should have. The book was just so captivating!

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After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy disappearing before her very eyes. Now the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: marry within the year to inherit her grandmother’s fortune. Amaryllis reluctantly takes part in her aunt’s society, intent on getting to the west coast on her own… and without a husband.

Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself falling in love with the most unlikely of men, Nathan Everstone, whose father not only had a part in her expulsion, but whose ominous presence has haunted her dreams for a decade since her mother’s tragic death. Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems and everything she never knew she wanted. But just as everything Amaryllis has recently hoped for comes to fruition, it all falls apart when she finds that the real culprit who has been “managing her life” isn't who she thought at all.

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The Hesitant Heiress is a compelling romance with a side of mystery set in the late 1800s. I say "side of mystery" because the mystery is in no way the driving force of the novel—the romance is. The chemistry between Amaryllis and Nathan is palpable, and their love story kept me flying through the pages.

The characters are fleshed out and interesting, and I'm thrilled that some of the more intriguing supporting characters (like Amaryllis' cousin Lawry and her friend Meredyth) will be featured prominently in future novels. This is a series that I am 100% behind.

Here's the thing, though: I didn't love everything about The Hesitant Heiress. In fact, Amaryllis annoyed me quite a bit. She was so wishy-washy when it came to Nathan that I just wanted to shake some sense into her! But in spite of that, I couldn't stop reading. And I enjoyed reading it, even when I found Amaryllis frustrating. The story is written in first person from her perspective, and for the most part, I really liked Amaryllis. It was just when she thought about her love life that I found her trying.

And then there's Nathan. I can see how Amaryllis couldn't help falling for him—I would have fallen for him, too! He actually reminded me a bit of Mr. Darcy—rich, handsome, brooding—and I'm certainly a sucker for the Darcy type.

So here's my recommendation: Read The Hesitant Heiress. You may want to shout at Amaryllis at times, but read the book anyway. It's a gripping story featuring a fabulous romance that will hold your attention from start to finish. 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my review of book two, The Bound Heart (5 stars).

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A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming traditionally published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author. I was not required to write a review, and 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."