The Mark of the King Book Review

SUMMARY:

LIFE IN THIS NEW WORLD 

REQUIRES MORE STRENGTH 

THAN SHE EVER IMAGINED.

     After the death of her client, midwife Julianne Chevalier is imprisoned and branded, marking her as a criminal beyond redemption.  Hoping to reunite with her brother, a soldier, she trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling French colony of Louisiana.  The price of her transport, however, is a forced marriage to a fellow convict.

     New Orleans is nothing like Julianne expects.  The settlement is steeped in mud and mosquitoes, and there is no news of her brother, Benjamin.  When tragedy strikes, she turns to military officer Marc-Paul Girand for help, but does he know more about her brother than he will admit?

     With her dreams shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous land, where only grace - and love - can overcome the stigma of the king's mark upon her shoulder.

REVIEW:  In Jocelyn Green's book, The Mark of the King, the author portrays the difficulty of life in the new Louisiana Territory, especially for a woman who was wrongly convicted of murder.  Forced into a marriage she didn't want, then having to prove herself over and over again, Julianne doesn't let her difficulties bring her down but does her best to help those around her and make the best of seemingly endless bad situations.  I like how the author portrays Julianne's strength without making her too independent, choosing to see the best in everyone and doing what she can to make her forced marriage one of tenderness and respect.  She learns to embrace the brand she wears on her shoulder (marking her as a criminal beyond redemption) as a sign marking her a cherished child of God's grace as it brings her closer to the ones she loves. 
     The story is well written and kept my attention.  There is just enough action to keep the story moving without bogging it down in details.  There are also twists and turns I saw coming and quite a few I didn't and enjoyed.  The author does use a lot of French words and phrases without explaining what they are in the dialog or in the setting.  Having a French dictionary or translating app is really helpful as it helps the reader fully comprehend what is being referred to and gives the reader the full effect of what the author intended.  I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Jocelyn Green.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without any compensation.

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including Wedded to War, a Christy Award finalist in 2013, and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman.  Jocelyn lives with her husband and two children in Iowa.  Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.

The Pelican Bride Book Review

Gulf Coast Chronicles

Book One

SUMMARY:  She's come to the New World to escape a perilous past. But has it followed her to these far shores?

     It is 1704 when Frenchwoman Genevieve Gaillain and her sister board the frigate Pelican bound for the distant Louisiana colony.  Both have promised to marry one of the rough  men toiling in this strange new world in order to escape suffering in the old.  Genevieve knows life won't be easy, but at least here she can establish a home and family without fear of persecution for her outlawed religious beliefs.

     When she falls in love with Tristan Lanier, an expatriate cartographer-turned-farmer whose checkered past is shrouded in mystery, Genevieve realizes that even in this land of liberty one is not guaranteed peace.  Trouble is brewing outside the fort between the French colonists and the native people surrounding them.  And an even more sinister enemy may lurk within.  Could the secret Genevieve harbors mean the undoing of the colony itself?

     Gulf Coast native Beth White brings vividly to life the hot, sultry South in this luscious, layered tale.

 

REVIEW:  The author does a wonderful job making her readers feel like they are there in Fort Louis, showing just how difficult life was in the New World when the colonies were being established. French colonists had to deal with the oppressive heat, flooding, insects, disease, shortages of supplies, and a shortage of money, along with Indian uprisings and problems with the British, who also wanted control of the land and ports.  I like how Genevieve is a take-charge kind of woman, trying to make the best out of a difficult situation, by visiting a local Indian tribe to learn how to best use the corn meal and other items indigenous to the area and opening her own bakery, making the croissants, sweets and other specialties usually only found in France.  She even draws the attention of Tristan, who has determined not to marry again.

      The story has some great twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing as to what will happen next. It did seem to end rather quickly, leaving me with a few questions that were unanswered.  This was a marvelous story and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 

Beth White's day job is teaching music at an inner-city high school in historic Mobile, Alabama.  A native Mississippian, her passion is writing historical romance with a southern drawl.  Her novels have won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers' Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award.  Learn more at www.bethwhite.net.