This book was ok--but it could have been so much more. The things that bugged me were little things---but they all added up to make it just kind of a "meh". I loved the idea of the adventure---but there was a LOT of "adventure"---to the point that it became ridiculous and unrealistic. I loved the symbolism of the characters' experiences in the Holy Land---but they had experiences in every place. They saw everything. Sometimes in the matter of just a few pages. It didn't seem real. The characters were fleshed out well, but there was a LOT of melodrama that made it difficult to imagine them as real. The dialogue was fairly good---except that almost every phrase was backbiting or dramatic and there were enough idioms "sprinkled" throughout to choke Jonah's big fish.

There were little inconsistencies that bugged me---like the fact that the housekeeper would have capped Paul's pen or Bianca's sudden "death wish" when things didn't go her way. I did mention melodrama, didn't I?

Finally, I felt like the end really dragged on. I'm not really sure where the climax of this story actually was...but I do know I was way past it once the two characters finally worked out their issues. What should have been a romantic and impactful moment came too late with nauseating predictability.

I would have loved to have read a lot more history of the places they stormed through (I can't say visited because there was way more time spent traveling or conversing in rooms than there was on this supposed Holy Land tour). Maybe take out about 25 adventurous and dramatic scenes and add in four or five interesting and educational scenes and it might be something I would have enjoyed a little better. ( )

I was first captured by the title. Then the cover. Then the blurb.

Then I heard this book was 14 years in the making. Fourteen YEARS.

I alternately wanted to weep and gape at the literary genius I was certain these pages would contain . . .

I was not disappointed.

Read my breakdown of this novel (Heroine, Hero, Baddies, Plot, Setting, The Ending, Overall Effect) here:
http://sweetsouthblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-covered-deep-reviewed.html

And ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR A PAPERBACK COPY. Giveaway ends 1.31.15. ( )

Title: The Covered Deep
Author: Brandy Vallance
Pages: 403
Year: 2014
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
She must win the contest. Bianca Marshal has entered a writing contest with the winner receiving an all-expense paid trip to the Holy Land. Bianca now lives in rural Ohio and the year is 1877. She is 25 years old and her mother is hounding her to marry anyone, but make it soon! Bianca is holding out for a love match, but in her small town her choices are limited. She just knows that if she can win this contest, God is going to lead her to meet her future husband somewhere along the way. She does win the contest along with three others. She travels to England to meet her host. She also meets the three winners. She meets one man in particular who immediately garners her attention and affection. As the trip progresses, she falls more and more in love with Paul. He appears to be the perfect man for her and Paul feels the same for Bianca. However, Paul has a devastating secret that he is keeping from Bianca. It is something that happened over two years ago before he became a Christian. He hopes Bianca will never find out, but their host for the trip is constantly saying or doing something that aggravates Paul so he contemplates leaving the tour. What would Bianca think of him if she were to ever learn his secret?
This story plumbs the depths of forgiveness and presses the limits of faith. Can Bianca’s proclaimed faith stand up against deception and cruelty? Can she truly forgive as she has said she would? It has a very interesting premise that partially remains hidden for most of the story. The host of the trip is a very desperate, lonely and manipulative man. He has done many criminal acts, but this time he has put himself in the position of observing how the four contest winners interact with each other. They each share a connection, but how? You’ll have to pick up a copy of the book to find out, but I’ll tell you it is very intriguing how the author has assembled the cast of characters and how the plot plays out.
My rating is 4 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/. Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

MY GENERAL THOUGHTS: I really, really liked this book. It was different yet exciting at the same time. The writing is so beautiful and easy to follow and the characters were well made, even though they seemed to be flawed at times, which only made them that more realistic. The history facts throughout this book were also fun to read about. Though, at times I did find Bianca to act a little like a child concerning her naivety, she put herself in potential danger by walking around alone with men in only her nightgown (?) just to attempt capturing the attention of a man she had decided was her future husband. But I suppose that the author wanted to show her grow into maturity towards the end of the book, which was very well demonstrated in my opinion.

QUESTIONABLE CONTENT: As I previously said, Bianca did often place herself into potentially dangerous situations in the order of capturing the attention of a man. There were some sexual issues such as adultery, in addition to stealing and sneaky schemes. However, there was not much violence, if any.

RATING AND RECOMMENDATION: Overall, I did enjoy The Covered Deep and rate it 4 out of 5 stars for a very well read. I recommend it to anyone who loves Historical Romance!

"I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are my own." ( )

A debut novel? Really?! The Covered Deep is Brandy Vallance’s first novel, but it sure didn’t feel that way. This well-researched historical novel has it all — a wonderful sense of place and time, well-developed characters, and a twisting plot that will keep the reader on her toes. If this is what you get with a first novel, I can’t wait to read more from Brandy Vallance.

Bianca Marshall knows what she wants. She just can’t find it in her small, southern Ohio town. Romance, love, adventure — she wants to experience it all and find her soul mate in the process. Urged by her father, Bianca enters and wins a contest that will whisk her away from small town life to sophisticated London society and the exotic locales of the Holy Land. But Bianca didn’t count on heartbreak, danger and God’s challenge of forgiveness.

As I said, The Covered Deep has it all. Vallance does a great job of capturing the life and times of not one but two locations — London and Jerusalem of the 1870s. I felt like I was traveling right along with Bianca as she left America for adventure and romance. Vallance’s characterizations are strong as well. The good characters, Bianca and Paul, were credible with real life flaws and faults. But it was the bad guys who I really loved. And while forgiveness and redemption were strong themes, not all the characters would accept the gift from God. The mysterious machinations of Sir Adrian had me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat. There were plenty of times I held my breath along with Bianca.

I highly recommend this not just good, but excellent debut from Brandy Vallance.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults

(Thanks to Worthy Publishing for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )