Location: Canada
Member Since:
June 05, 2011
Lauren Devine
Smashwords book reviews by Lauren Devine
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Mud and Gold (Promises to Keep: Book 2)
on June 26, 2011
"Mud and Gold", being the second book in the series, picks up from the first book "Sentence of Marriage". The story follows Amy's challenges as she tries to navigate married life. I would love to take more time to write this book the review it deserves. Parkinson's writing style is simple, elegant and yet able to transport the reader directly into the minds of the people who populate the story. You feel the swells of happiness and the crushing despairs. His descriptions often touch on all senses- smells, sounds, sights, textures- without overwhelming the reader with unnecessary detail. The pacing is good: he's not afraid to follow Amy in her daily life for a few days and then allow time to pass so that subsequent events don't feel forced. Definitely recommended. I hope there's more from this author in the future.
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A Second Chance
on June 26, 2011
The final book in the trilogy definitely holds up to the others. Closing the story arc, I almost felt as if everything ended so nicely for Amy that it was almost too perfect. However, Amy's 'message' to the readers has always been that perseverance and tolerance will see her through rightly. Amy's character revisits this theme again and again as she struggles through a difficult marriage. As a reader, I don't think I'd have had the heart to see her end off no better than when she started and so while the ending was a bit 'perfect', it was extremely, extremely satisfying. I've commented on Parkinson's writing in previous reviews, so I won't revisit that here, but if you're reading about this author for the first time, know that he's worth checking out and has an excellent writing technique.