Thursday, May 10, 2012

Susan May Warren's Baroness ~ Reviewed

By Susan May Warren
Published by: Summerside Press
ISBN# 978-1609362188
380 Pages

Back Cover: 

Coming of age in the turbulent Roaring Twenties, two daughters of fortune can have anything they possibly want—except freedom. Expected to marry well and take the reins of the family empire, Lilly and Rosie have their entire lives planned out for them. But Lilly longs to flee the confines of New York City for the untamed wilds of Montana. Her cousin Rosie dreams of the bright lights of the newly emerging silver screen. But following their dreams—to avant-garde France, to dazzling Broadway, to the skies of the fearless wing walkers—will demand all their courage.

When forced to decide, will Lilly and Rosie truly be able to abandon lives of ease and luxury for the love and adventure that beckons? At what cost will each daughter of fortune find her true love and a happy ending?

Review:  

I loved book one, Heiress and was thrilled to receive a review copy of Baroness Book two in the Daughter of fortune series. The first book dealt with two sisters and one stealing the birth right from the other. Susan May Warren said that it was loosely based in the story of Jacob and Esau in the bible.

Baroness deals with the children of sisters Esme and Jinx, daughters of a prominent newspaper publisher and takes the reader for an inside look at the “Roaring Twenties” with the flappers, jazz, airplanes, post-WWI, bold makeup, short dresses, gangsters and baseball. Susan does a great job of capturing this era and letting the reader experience it.

Cousins, Lilly and Rosie take in the streets of Paris in different ways. Rosie hungers for the glitz, glamor, and romance of the city. Lilly doesn’t care for all that. She wants adventure of a different kind, similar to what she found in Montana.

These cousins each rebel their social status. Their family fortune assures them of every material thing they could ever want, yet each desires to strike out on their own, be independent! They had to prove they could make a name for themselves.

Lily turns to planes, flying and the circus to find her independence. Rose rushes into the arms of one lover after the other, finally embracing the world of baseball and all it has to offer her.

The novel follows these daughters of fortune and the decisions they make to walk in the opposite direction their parents wanted them to. Both cousins were desperate to get away from their families and their pre-arranged lives. They make poor whimsical choices after the other, which leads to anguish and heartache.

These girls weren’t struggling with their faith nor were any other characters in this book.  None of the characters I noticed came across as Christians although there was a brief mention of a tent revival. I missed the uplifting and most times encouraging that aspect of a Christian Fiction novel; these girls were just out to do as they pleased with no care for family, faith or friends. They soon discovered that happiness could not be found this way or indulging in money.

This book could be read as a stand alone as it really doesn’t refer to events from books one, the author fills in what you need to know about this sisters from book one. But DO NOT miss experiencing Heiress, it was great! If you are looking for something gripping, a little different and historical then Baroness is the book for you!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

2 comments:

  1. Funny, but I saw a spiritual struggle for them that sometimes mirrors our own relationship with God. It was more allegorical again, like in the first book, but one was refusing to let God love us and running away from Him.

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  2. There was that aspect in there. The running away part and I can see not that you mention it that they were refusing to let God love them.

    Thanks Michelle!!

    Nora St.Laurent
    The Book Club Network

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