Great story, great characters

Yes, there were issues with editing (missing letters in words frequently on the Kindle edition). Yes, some of the wording was redundant. I read other reviews of this book prior to reading and I feel they were unfair. Despite the issues, I really enjoyed this story. I felt that the two main characters had great chemistry. I loved all of the supporting characters as well. I’m glad I gave this story a chance. ( )

The starting pages of promise a good story. The heroine is Noelle, a young lady at the end of the 19th century who is blind following an accident. Noelle and her aunt Henrietta are out for a drive on a winter’s day when their horse bolts and they are only just rescued before plunging into the river.

The rescuer - by remarkable coincidence - is a young man called Thad who just happens to be the man who jilted Noelle some years previously, and disappeared without a trace, leaving her heartbroken…

So far, so good; the outcome is predictable, but I don't mind that. I was a bit confused by an abrupt viewpoint change without warning; instead of the story being entirely from Noelle’s viewpoint, it suddenly switches to Thad’s, and back again; this continues through the book and left me rather bewildered at times. However, had that been the only problem with this book, I wouldn't have minded too much; it does give the reader the chance to get into the heads of each of the two main characters.

Unfortunately, not much actually happens in the book, other than a lot of repetitive soul-searching and quenching of longings. Circumstances throw this pair together and a tentative friendship begins. However almost every page has far more unspoken thoughts than action or speech; Noelle feels useless and is convinced nobody could ever want to marry her. Thad had reasons for what he did, and doesn't want to fall in love with Noelle all over again… and they go over and over the same inner arguments and ponderings, page after page.

Yes, there are different scenes, and another dramatic incident which draws the young couple closer around the middle of the book, but their constant heart-searchings and convictions that their dreams are over just become irritating. Their friendship is believable, but their lack of communication about their feelings and intentions make no sense at all.

I could empathise with Noelle, despite her unbelievably low opinion of herself, and thought the author did a good job of showing what life would have been like for somebody without sight in this era. Thad was well-drawn too, with good strength of character; I just wish his every thought hadn’t been included. Most of the minor characters are two-dimensional and add little to the story.

I couldn't read more than a chapter at a time without being annoyed by the repetition, but I did keep reading, out of curiosity to discover how the couple would eventually discover that they loved each other. With some significant editing, cutting this down to perhaps half its length, it could be a very good novella. ( )

ugh. i got this for free and tried to give a fair chance, but it was just every kind of awful. Let me save you the time- there was not a single redeeming thing about this book. Not one.

the characters are one dimensional. any "change" occured before the book started.

the characters are the authors idea of flawless. the only thing that stands between them is a simple misunderstanding: *spoiler alert, which is revealed in like, the first page* Thad left her the night they were supposed to elope, and subsequently stayed away, because her father threated to take -everything- from his ailing and dependent family. This is easily overcome when a) the father dies and b) he returns so that the truth can come out. There are no actual character flaws or mistakes that either makes, unless you count self-denial to a fault and being totally oblivious of the other person's love. Totally unrelatable and boring.

The flip from one persons thoughts to the other was disorienting. Few books can pull it off. This one had enough troubles as it was. Thad was not at all believable as a man.

What was the point? I've read a lot of historical fiction, never one about a blind woman. The storyline -could- have been something. Why did the author relegate the personal struggles in loss of sight, family, love and faith in God to a blip of background info summed up in a couple of sentences and then spend almost THREE HUNDRED PAGES writing what was essentially the last scene?!

Torture for the reader. Not in a good way. I read my favorite love stories over and over again. I understand wanting that moment where everything becomes perfectly understood between the two to last forever, to want to draw it out sometimes. But that's only for characters that you're emotionally invested in! As far as I could understand, Thad loved Noelle because she was sweet and had emerald eyes. And Noelle loved Thad because he was caring. Urgh.

To top it all off, the writing was bad too. Repetitive and melodramatic in description of EVERYTHING.

I cannot forget this book too soon. ( )

I liked it. Was a different approach. ( )

2018: Late 19th century Montana. Noelle lost her 1st love years ago. Now blind, she and her Aunt are saved by a "stranger", her 1st love. A very cute story that gave me butterflies. I adored the characters. Perfect for what it was - a Christian based, historically based, love story.
2013: I really couldn't get into this book until the end. The writing gave too many details in places where it wasn't necessary and not enough in others. However, towards the end I did start to feel the characters come alive. ( )