Happy Wednesday!
I’ve been enjoying reading more fiction (and finally catching up on reviews) lately, and thought today would be a great chance to share one of the great new reads I’ve discovered in the past few months!
So without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to Like a Ship On the Sea by Kellyn Roth! I was honored to receive an ARC of this lovely book. While I didn’t know what to expect, as this was my first book of Kellyn’s and historical romance is not usually my genre of choice, I was so pleasantly surprised!
I can’t wait for you to learn more about it!
To start, you can find Like a Ship On the Sea (the first book in The Hilton Legacy series) by going to Amazon here (click these words).
The Blurb
If God asks you to confront a storm, how dare you stay in the harbor?
Lady Mary Cassidy O’Connell has a dream that can be summed up in three connecting ideas: a loving husband, adorable children, and a home of her own. Her mother’s lack of care makes life difficult for Cassie, and an escape is necessary. The plan? Marry Aubrey Montgomery, the man her parents have chosen for her, and find the peace she craves.
Unfortunately, Cassie is uneasy about marrying Aubrey. Her apprehension grows as she witnesses her dearest friend’s loving marriage take place. At this wedding, she catches the eye of Patrick Hilton, son of a wealthy American. Like Cassie, he’s also set to marry a woman chosen by his parents—only, Patrick claims, he is content with this choice.
Torn between her desire for happiness and the knowledge that God is leading her in a different direction, Cassie confronts the impossible decision. Is a loveless marriage of obligation better than being alone, or will she set sail on a voyage without a safe harbor?
Like a Ship on the Sea is the first novel in The Hilton Legacy, a stand-alone trilogy featuring characters from the author’s first series, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy.
When I first received my ARC from Kellyn, I was not expecting to read this entire book in one sitting. However, once I started reading, thinking I’d just get a taste of it, several hours breezed by and I found myself at the end. That rarely happens for me if it’s not a fantasy or dystopian book, so I was shocked!
As I said, this is the first book of Kellyn’s that I’ve read, as most of her books are primarily romance, and that’s a large step outside my usual genres. However, between the Irish influences and all the good things I was hearing about it, I couldn’t resist giving it a try. I’m so glad I did – I loved it!
Without having read any of the other stories involving some of these characters, I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to catch everything in the story. But that wasn’t the case at all. I never felt like I was missing or couldn’t understand anything, and the story introduced all of the characters to me very well.
The characters were my favorite part, overall. I love how Kellyn gave each of them real and relatable passions, struggles, desires, thoughts, and dreams. There weren’t any that fell flat or didn’t seem real. I could relate to almost all of them, and quickly became attached, especially to the protagonists.
The settings were beautiful and precise, and I don’t have a clue how Kellyn kept all of the spot-on historical details straight, but they all made perfect sense to me. Her descriptions were vivid, and I could picture each of the locations easily. I enjoyed the change of ‘vibes’ and aesthetic that I could feel as I read. Each place felt different and interesting, which is a huge plus in my book.
As a rare romance reader, I can’t comment on how it compares to typical romance genre books, but I enjoyed it. There were a couple of decisions that the protagonist made early on that I admittedly didn’t agree with, but as the story continued on, I could see why that was actually the right choice, and admired her for it. I was more than ready when the true romance of the story came about, and found them extremely cute and well-made for each other.
Besides the characters and how real they are, my other favorite aspects of this book are the Christian themes. They were prominent from the very start of the story, but not obnoxiously so. As a Christian, I want to read more fiction that simply and unapologetically contains Christian themes and morals, without also trying to shove them onto the reader (even if they don’t fit the story). This story was wonderful about that, and I could respect and relate to the characters’ faiths without cringing at how it was portrayed.
I also appreciated the few deep and heavy topics that Kellyn covered in this story. They hit very close to home, personally, and I felt she portrayed them accurately and gracefully. Real life isn’t neat and easily resolved, and she did a great job communicating that, while also interlacing hope that comes from Christ.
Overall, I’m very glad I received the opportunity to read an early copy of this story, and will stay tuned for the future installments! If you’re a fan of historical, Christian, Irish, English, or romance fiction, I’d recommend checking this book out. You might just find a new favorite.
Content warning: Non-described kisses, one tactful discussion about marital intimacy, discussions about miscarriage, stillbirth, and port-partum depression, one minor character attempts suicide (off-screen) and has depression.
**I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.**
About the Author
Kellyn Roth writes Christian historical romance stories that shine hope without pretending darkness doesn’t exist. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.
When not building her author career or working with authors at her indie publisher, Wild Blue Wonder Press, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collies, or spending time with her husband.
Visit her website at https://kellynrothauthor.com/!
Have you ever read Like a Ship on the Sea, or any of Kellyn Roth’s books? If so, what do you like most about them? And if not, do they sound like your kind of books? I encourage you to check them out!
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