Afbeelding van de auteur.

Erin Bartels

Auteur van We Hope for Better Things

9 Werken 625 Leden 203 Besprekingen Favoriet van 1 leden

Over de Auteur

Bevat de naam: Erin Bartels

Werken van Erin Bartels

We Hope for Better Things (2019) 196 exemplaren
The Words Between Us (2019) 178 exemplaren
All That We Carried (2021) 90 exemplaren
Everything Is Just Beginning (2023) 56 exemplaren
The Lady with the Dark Hair (2024) 13 exemplaren

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female

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I'll admit that I pick up very few split-timeline novels these days. Why? Because I've found that, in my case, it's usually only one of the timelines that really has and holds my interest. Which means I'm only enjoying half or a third of a book.

Well. The stunning, slightly mysterious cover art of this historical/contemporary women's ChristFic novel hooked me. I decided to give the book a go, even with its two timelines.

And, my goodness. Both heroines' journeys in the book spoke to me. For real. The well-woven themes on truly being seen and also uniquely seeing, as a unique human being. And a crucial tie between artistic creation and hope. And the theme of hope to live in and live out one's authenticity. To also realize the value in the pursuit of a dream.

All of it spoke to me.
As a thinker.
As a writer.
As a woman.

Now, indeed, even though I was disappointed in a couple of the heroines' actions, my lifelong book-loving self did enjoy this as a quality work of fiction. Still, there are certain occasions when my connection with a story is on quite a different plane, beyond my usual levels of observation and commentary as a bibliophile. Certain occasions when a timely written work intersects profoundly with my time.

This was definitely one of those occasions.

Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
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Gemarkeerd
NadineC.Keels | 10 andere besprekingen | Mar 28, 2024 |
“The human body was meant for movement, as was the human life.” Two women connected through time by one amazing painting. The Lady with the Dark Hair was such a unique, well written, intriguing read! I loved the dual time period mystery with a hint of romance. I was swept away by the vivid, beautiful descriptions and the heartfelt stories.

Present day art history graduate Esther Markstrom runs her family museum dedicated to her mother’s ancestor, painter Francisco Vella. His most prized work, a portrait entitled The Lady with the Dark Hair comes into question when Esther’s former professor visits. As Esther discovers more about her ancestor’s past, everything she thought she knew is turned upside down.

In 1879, Vivianna Torrens is a Catalonian orphan on the run. She’s found a place as a servant in the home of a painter in Southern France from whom she learns much. When she’s asked to pose for a painting, she meets Francisco Vella, a merchant who sells art pigments. The instant attraction between them is palpable, but Vivianna is skeptical. When her past resurfaces, she’s forced to go on the run with him posing as his sister. Her travels will take her across the Mediterranean from Morocco to Gibraltar as she uses her new found skills to create captivating masterpieces.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved the gorgeous settings I could easily picture in my mind. I also enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of art and painting. Both Esther and Vivianna are compelling characters who are easy to connect with. Esther struggles to keep the family museum going while also trying to care for a mother suffering from mental illness. I appreciated her struggle as she tries to keep her mother alive while her mother strives to find her own voice and control over her life. Vivianna’s life was filled with pain and difficulty and bares both physical and mental scars from what she experienced from a young age. I loved how she found a new voice through painting.

The mysterious way these two women’s lives intersect was so fun to discover throughout the story. I found myself eagerly turning the pages and loved how each event that happened in the past was discovered in the present day. The ending was completely satisfying and paid tribute to all the women in the story. It’s a story I’ll be thinking about for a long while after reading and look forward to what this author writes next. I received an advanced complimentary copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4 1/2 stars!
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½
 
Gemarkeerd
Melissas-Bookshelf | 10 andere besprekingen | Mar 27, 2024 |
Deze bespreking is geschreven voor LibraryThing Vroege Recensenten.
As a historical fiction novel, this book delivers in terms of pacing, interest, and character development. I loved getting to know Esther Markstrom and discovering the parallels between her story and that of Vivienne Torrens. Seeing both women confined by different circumstances and seeking ways to emerge from them with purpose and grace, I could appreciate how the act of painting conveyed this struggle. Both women paint with longing and hope beyond what’s present, and Erin Bartels deftly explores this through richly detailed landscapes.

Faith is not prominent in The Lady with the Dark Hair, though the Catholic faith is referenced a handful of times along with mentions of the Bible regarding Esther’s namesake. If you aren't looking for a Christian fiction book, this is an encouraging story of what it means to be a caregiver and how to live beyond limiting barriers, physically and emotionally. The dual-timeline narrative moves quickly, which adds movement and action to a family history that contains multiple twists and turns. I liked that the focus of the story was not on romance, but rather on breaking free at various points in history. Esther and Vivienne embody faithfulness and perseverance without becoming martyrs, demonstrating a deeper strength, which we can see comes from God.
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heymay | 10 andere besprekingen | Mar 21, 2024 |
I truly enjoyed this book. I think it is my favorite one by Erin Bartels. She has a unique style of writing and I have enjoyed most of her books. With that being said, I would NOT consider this a Christian book. It is unoffensive, but as far as Christian, not in my opinion. God and prayer are mentioned in a superficial, religious sort of way.

The story flows well and the main characters are well developed. The book goes from past to present every other chapter. It is not a time travel book, only some characters are present day and some are from the past. It also deals, in a minor way, with mental disease.

I recommend this book if you want a clean, well-written story. If you are looking for a Christian book, keep looking. I'm not sure why Baker Publishing publishes non-Christian books.

The editing was very well done. I think I noticed 2 minor errors. I give this a 4 out of 5-star rating.

I requested and received an ARC copy of this book through the Revell Reads program. This review is freely given and my own opinions.
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Gemarkeerd
grammy57 | 10 andere besprekingen | Mar 20, 2024 |

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Statistieken

Werken
9
Leden
625
Populariteit
#40,302
Waardering
4.1
Besprekingen
203
ISBNs
38
Favoriet
1

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