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| Love in Three~Quarter Time |
by Dina Sleiman
Zondervan First, 2012
Reviewed by Marian Baay
5 stars~*****
A Dancing Surprise!
Constance “Gingersnap” Cavendish is
the eldest daughter of a plantation owner and she's used to a luxuary life. When her
father died, he left behind a lot of debts. Constance, her mother and her two
sisters must work now for a living.
Because her father has swindled a
lot of people, the villagers despise the Cavendish ladies and want nothing to
do with them.
Constance wants to make a new start
for her family, but what she had in mind is far different than what is going to
happen in the rest of this story.
Constance is a dancer and she’s
good at it. When she hears that the rich Beaumont family in the frontier town
Charlottesville is looking for a dance instructor, she decides to go there to
offer her services. Even when she finds out that she’s going to find herself in
the home of her old beau Robbie—who broke her heart—she’s still determined to
work for the Beaumonts and sacrifice herself for the sake of her family.
When she’s hired by the Beaumont
family to teach their twin daughters to dance, she runs into the handsome Robbie on the very
first day . . .
In the past five years after Robbie
broke her heart, Constance could never forget him. He promised to marry her,
but after her father’s death he let her down. She thought it was because her
family lost all their money, but she will find out it’s something else.
What is the true reason Robbie
didn’t marry her? What dark secret has he carried with him for the past five
years?
Constance meets a handsome circuit
riding preacher in buckskins. She is attending one of his worship services
among the slaves and has never felt so much alive. Together with the slaves she
is dancing her heart out for the Lord. After this she’s changed and wants to
know more of God. She is spending much time with the handsome preacher. Could
they possibly have a future together? Or does her heart still belong to Robbie?
This book reads like you’re going
on an adventure with the lovely characters. Sometimes I felt I had to dance and
praise God while reading. This book is beautifully written and shows much of
God’s grace! The book had me laughing, crying, feeling sad and happy . . .
I can’t remember reading the last book that aroused so many different feelings
inside me.
The characters are very well
developed and easy to love. I hope to see them back in a sequel, because I
don’t want to say goodbye to them yet.
Very, very well done,
Dina!Buy Dina's books at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
GIVEAWAY: The winner of this contest can win Dina Sleiman's debut novel Dance of the Dandelion, or Love in Three-Quarter Time (ebook only), or a beautiful quill pen set!
A good and informative review.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds really good!
Marian, it really blesses me to read how much you were touched by the spiritual elements of the book. I actually was pleaseantly surprised by how strong the spiritual part of this book became as I wrote it.
ReplyDeleteI really hope to write book two and three with the other sisters. I book 2 started, but that partly depends on the publisher at this point.
Yvon, thanks.
ReplyDeleteMARIAN, a really great review!! I'm absolutely itching to read this. And I know if it is your fave book of the year, we are in for a real treat!
ReplyDeleteMarian, you made me want to read this book. I'll be dancing on air if I win it.
ReplyDeleteSusan, the giveaway is actually for my first novel, Dance of the Dandelion, or a quill pen set. I don't have a print version of Love in Three-Quarter Time yet, but the ebook is only $3.99, less than a cup of coffee ;) Print version should be coming.
ReplyDeleteMARIAN what a marvelous review!! I think you must have really enjoyed this one!! It is terrific! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a terrific book. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteKatie J. (johnsonk133@yahoo.com)
DINA, I'm glad you were blessed by my review, because the book surely blessed me! It's good to be a blessing to each other.
ReplyDeleteI pray this book sells well and that your publisher is willing to publish the second book! :)
Thanks YVON! Hope you'll enjoy the book as well when you get to read it.
ReplyDeleteDIANA, I'm sure you are going to enjoy this book! Hope you get a chance to read it SOON!
ReplyDeleteSUSAN, like Dina said you can win Dance of the Dandelion. Haven't read that book yet, but heard great things about it. It's on my bookshelf, so now I only need time to read it, but after reading Dina's new book I'm surely going to make time for it soon!
ReplyDeleteDINA - you have a fan in the Netherlands! :)
TERESA, I surely did enjoy this. After reading some boring books for the publisher this book was a feast!! Enjoy reading it!!
ReplyDeleteKATIE, thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review. I downloaded this book on my kindle, I love finding new authors.
ReplyDeleteThank you J.GRACE. Glad to hear that you have downloaded Dina's awesome book. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteMarian, I definitely appreciate the prayers. I really want to write this sequel, it's all mapped out in my head. But I also have some other ideas for some intersting Virginia set historical romances.
ReplyDeleteDance of the Dandelion is a little different. Less humor and not a straight forward romance plot. More of a romantic coming of age story, but if you like spiritual depth in a book, I think Dandelion goes even deeper. Of course, it's set in the medieval period, which is different, but so far my readers have all ended up enjoying that time period even if they don't typically read that setting.
J. Grace, yay, that makes me happy to hear!!! This book is through Zondervan's new direct to digital program, and it's a little harder to get the word out when it's not sitting on bookstore shelves. Plus, although it's technically my second book, my first was with a small publisher, so I'm still trying to get my name out there.
ReplyDeleteI love historical fiction and this book sounds fantastic. Dina may be a new author but sounds like she may have hit the ground running. My best wishes for her success.
ReplyDeleteLORAINE, thanks for taking the time to read my review!
ReplyDeleteMarian, I would love to win this book. Historical fiction is my passion [along with a few other genres :)] Your review is just outstanding and I am quite anxious to win a copy. Please put my name in! Blessings! Darlene
ReplyDeletespangldlady[at]gmail[dot]com
Thank you DARLENE, so happy to see you! I hate to disappoint you, but we are not giving away the book I reviewed, but Dina's earlier book Dance of the Dandelion - which was also great I hear!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the review, Marian! Your review highlights the best part of the story without giving away spoilers, good job! I always enjoy hearing about a new author on this website and Dina's book sounds sooooo refreshing :)
ReplyDeleteDina, welcome to OTT-WGH, it's so nice to "meet" you :) Love in Three Quarter Time sounds like a wonderful read and I pray your publisher will allow for book 2 as well.
Please don't enter me in the giveaway, just wanted to say hi :) Hugs and blessings to you Marian and ladies!
Thank you KARA. It's always a pleasure to read your comments. :)
ReplyDeleteHugs back! ♥
Loraine, here's hoping :) This is actually the third full novel I've written. My problem in the past had just been in the area of writing something marketable. Hopefully this time I got it right :)
ReplyDeleteDarlene and others, sorry about the confusion. Maybe I should just go ahead and add a digital copy of Love in Three-Quarter Time to the prize options. LOL. This seems to be causing some confusion. I just don't have a print option to offer yet. But everyone please remember that Love in Three-Quarter Time is a great deal at $3.99. If you don't win, make sure you download it while it's still fresh in your mind :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kara :)
ReplyDeleteThis story sounds fabulous! Thanks for sharing your review!
ReplyDeleteJes
jswaks at gmail dot com
JES, thanks for stopping by! Good luck in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteDINA, do you want me to add a digital copy of LITQT to the giveaway options?
ReplyDeleteMARIAN, that might be a good idea. I don't want anyone to be terribly disappointed.
ReplyDeleteThank you DINA!
ReplyDeleteoh, thanks for the chance to win my daughter would love the quill pen
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Hi Apple Blossom. I see you visited all three posts. Thanks for stopping by :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book, for I love anything about the plantations. And, will be interesting to see what happens between Constance and Robbie. I cannot use the ebook tho. Thanks girls. Maxie ( mac262@me.com )
ReplyDeleteHi Maxie, currently Love in Three-Quarter Time is only available in ebook, but we have some other nice prize options.
ReplyDeleteNice review Marian! I am glad to see Dina's book doing so well. I loved the inspirational journey ... such a great package wrapped up in beautiful prose, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb.
ReplyDeleteI am a print reader so Dance of the Dandelion! "Books and beautiful fabrics," I dream with her. Love your cover with your loved one! Kathleen
ReplyDeletelanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
MARIAN it's great to read these different reviews to see different individual perspectives on them, and yours reveals the depth of emotions I just know I'll experience too, and shows the enormous pleasure it gave you reading it, which only spurs me on to making it a priority to read it as soon as I can!!
ReplyDeleteWell done DINA! :)
DEBRA, it surely was!
ReplyDeleteI loved it so much that I want this book in paperback as soon as it is available. I usually don't buy the paperback after I read the ebook - unless the story touched me in some way. There were only 2 other books this year that I bought after I read the ebook, so that says enough about how much I enjoyed this book. :)
KATHLEEN, good luck in the drawing!
ReplyDeleteNOELA, I surely hope you will enjoy this book as much as I did and experience the same depth of emotions. This book was such a nice surprise!! Enjoy when you get to reading it!
ReplyDeleteThe WINNER of this contest is KATIE. Congrats KATIE!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathleen and Noela.
ReplyDeleteYAY! Congrats, KATIE! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting, ladies. Please let me know whick prize Katie chooses.
ReplyDelete