Book Review: The Ribbon by Cara Grandle

About the Book:

Life rips away hope and sweeps her along…until she finds a future worth fighting for.

On the day her mother passes away, Heather Keeton weds a neighbor who promises to provide for her. They journey along the Oregon Trail, but tragedy strikes again. Widowed, alone, and far from home in Oregon Territory, Heather needs work. But where? She determines to use her cooking and baking skills at a logging camp to earn enough to remain independent and, eventually, reach her Porcelain Doll sister, Rebecca.

Land surveyor Zeke Bradley misses being part of a family. A surprise inheritance might open the way for him to settle down and begin a courtship, but he tries to come to the aid of an injured man only to be accused of murder. One wrong move, and he could unjustly swing by his neck from a rope. He flees and hides in a logging camp, waiting for his name to be cleared.

Nothing comes easy at Camp 13 Logging Company, where the work is hard and hazardous. Heather hopes to move on soon, and Zeke longs to be free from his worries. Can these two survivors learn to trust each other before their pasts destroy their future?

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My Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading The Ribbon by Cara Grandle. The good characters were likable and the bad characters were dislikable. Heather, the female lead, experienced great loss and grief kept her broken for a long time. This extended period of adversity allowed for beautiful character development that blossomed toward the end of the novel.

Liza, Jiggy, and Moses, all side characters in The Ribbon, made me smile. Liza had spunk. Jiggy might be the ultimate flirt. Moses was highly interesting with a mysterious backstory. On the flip side, I disliked David from the start due to his creepy thoughts and evil intentions.

The Ribbon lands as the second installment in Cara Grandle’s Sisters of the Porcelain Doll series but could be read as a standalone. Book one, The Rock, contained the porcelain doll promise scene, but the pact was explained in The Ribbon as well. Like the first book, the main couple in The Ribbon met later in the story than I expected, but this novel held my attention from the start anyway.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: The Rock by Cara Grandle

About the Book:

After a whiskey still explosion destroys her home and nearly her life, Rebecca Packwood and her father must leave Missouri and her dear friends behind. After crossing The Oregon Trail, she sets out to discover her family’s secret history and to forge a home and community out of the raw farm land of Eagle Creek, Oregon Country, never suspecting a ruthless enemy is seeking to thwart her plans.

Hard-working banker’s son, Clark Sutherland, thought the toughest test he would face was getting out from underneath his father’s thumb. The last thing he expected was to be penniless, homeless, and smitten with a shy, dark-eyed stranger. With nothing to offer her, will he find a way to support himself and still pursue his dreams before they’re pulled apart?

When a man in shadows sets his eyes on their coveted prize, danger descends. Rebecca and Clark must act to protect the desires of their hearts before harm befalls them all. Will they learn to trust their future to the God who heals and sets the lonely in families?

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My Thoughts:

The Rock by Cara Grandle had a slow start and the characters had to grow on me. Clark’s privilege and entitlement annoyed me. I sympathized with Rebecca’s situation and desire for a home, but nothing about the beginning hooked my attention. Then, Joe (the villain) received page space for his mental instability and wicked plans. In the first 100 pages, Clark and Rebecca met briefly once. Shortly after page 100, the two main characters start interacting regularly, but it was a long wait. 

All that being said, once Rebecca and Clark began spending time together, I started truly enjoying the story. The descriptions of farm life with fresh veggies and homemade meals made me want to start my own garden. Clark’s time at the farm increased his maturity. Rebecca’s search for belonging and stability continued to drive the plot throughout the novel and made for some excellent character development.

The Rock held some beautiful themes amidst the ugly moments of Rebecca’s life. I have to give a trigger warning that there was an on-page depiction of attempted rape and the glimpses into Joe’s mentality were disturbing.

The Rock by Cara Grandle is probably best for Christian fiction readers in the mood for a gritty story with a delayed slow-burn romance. The novel starts the Sisters of the Porcelain Doll series and works as a standalone. The Ribbon (book two) is currently available, and enjoying it made reading The Rock worth the challenge as I highly enjoyed The Ribbon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.