From This Moment

Happy Wednesday!  We are halfway through the second week of July.  It is another scorcher today at 103 degrees with 69% humidity (too hot).  I actually got my mother out for her blood work and her doctor's appointment (a minor miracle).  She tried to delay and took quite a long while to get ready (three hours).  She had to finish getting ready in the car (her hair was still not done). Unfortunately, I now have to take her for a test tomorrow.  Wish me luck!  

From This Moment by Elizabeth Camden is set in Boston, Massachusetts in 1897.  Stella Westergaard is determined to find out what happened to her sister.  She has been told that her sister drowned, but Stella knows that is impossible.  Stella wants the truth and has moved from London to Boston to get it.  Stella has given up her career as an illustrator while she searches for the truth.  Stella is working as a stenographer at city hall (her sister, Gwendolyn did this as well).  Stella is using West as her surname to avoid suspicion.  Romulus White is the editor of Scientific World (and co-owner).  He has been trying to hire Stella West for years.  He is surprised when he finds out that she is in Boston (she said she never wanted to leave London).  Stella originally tells him no, but then discovers that Romulus’ connections will help her get the answers she seeks.  Stella slowly finds out what Gwendolyn was doing and how it led to her death.  Will Stella be able to get justice for her sister? 

From This Moment was a good story, but I had a few problems with Stella.  Stella was a little too independent, stubborn, determined in her single-minded crusade (I like independent women, but Stella was a little over-the-top).  I found her a little overbearing.  Romulus seemed overly concerned with appearances.  From This Moment is nicely written and easy to read (the novel has a good pace or flow).  There are long-winded descriptions of everything (I am glad I learned to speed read).  I give From This Moment 4 out of 5 (I liked it).  I thought the book was a little too long (it could have easily been shortened a wee bit and it would have enhanced the book) and it really did not need the additional problem of Evelyn and Clyde (Evelyn is Romulus’s cousin and her husband).  They were experiencing marriage problems and then an accident brought them back together (predictable).  I understand why it was added after I read the book (to tie it in with a prequel).  I enjoyed the mystery in the book.  I liked the twists and turns as the pair tried to get at the truth.  I hope Ms. Camden’s writes more books with a mystery in them (she does a good job with them).  From This Moment has a light Christian theme, but I did not feel that either character was a Christian (it just did not come across).  I will be reading the next book by Elizabeth Camden.

Summer of Dreams is a prequel to From This Moment (and is currently free on Amazon).  I personally have not read it, but other people suggest reading it before From This Moment.  I received a complimentary copy of From This Moment in exchange for an honest evaluation of the book.  The opinions and comments expressed are strictly my own.  

I want to thank you for stopping by my blog and reading my book review. I am going to go fix dinner and finish my book.  I discovered a book that was missing from main list (again--I blame my Excel spreadsheet and not the person entering the data).  I am currently enjoying The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling.  I will be back soon (fair warning) with another review.  May all of you have a delightful evening.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader