Jewel of Gresham Green, The (The Gresham Chronicles Book #4)

This book is a follow up of the Gresham series

I love Blackwells Gresham books, they are fun to read and keep your interest. I like books that have good values with lessons you can learn. They even include a bit of historical value from them.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Return to Gresham

As a huge fan of the the Gresham Chronicles and Lawana Blackwell's works, I was thrilled to hear that there was going to be a fourth book in the series. I had devoured the three books in the series several times (they're one of my favorite book series to reread) and was looking forward to seeing what was going on with the village and its inhabitants. It was pleasant to return to the peaceful village where everyone knows each other. We're introduced to new characters and are reunited and caught up to date with old friends. I will admit it was a bit jarring to see the children now grown up with their old families but the Hollis and Phelps family are still the same as ever. I liked Jewel and her daughter and was sadden at their plight. The treatment of a single mother in England during that time period was very rough and justice was not served properly to those who needed it.

While I enjoyed this book, I felt that it wasn't on the same level as the author's previous books in the series. I never really felt connected with the new characters in this book and I felt like the old characters were just thrown in for good measure. The other books in the Gresham series (as well as Blackwell's other two Victorian series) had a certain charm and comfort feeling. You felt as if you were literally swept up into the story and transported into that time period along with the characters. This book however, gives sort of a standoffish feeling. I felt as if I was looking at the story from a distance. The romance in this story seemed to happen very fast and almost as an afterthought. After the quirky and accidental romances in the past 3 books, the one in this one fell flat and was not very believable.

That being said, this is an enjoyable book. Fans of Jane Austen and other regency era type books will find this book a pleasure to read. If you've never read any of the other books in the Gresham series, you won't be lost reading this one as it can be read as a stand alone. However if you're a fan of the original series, this book is a nice way to catch up on everyone and is a good addition to the series. Hopefully this won't be the last we will see of Gresham and it's inhabitants.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Terrific

Love everything about this book

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Step away from former books in series

I really enjoyed the simplistic, very pure books that preceded this one in the series... and still prefer them to this one.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent read!

I loved this book. It is a continuation of the Gresham series. Lawana Blackwell does such a great job of describing the characters. You feel as if you know each one. The entire series is a great read!

The Best for last!

The fourth in the series, Lawana Blackwell does not let the reader down! And saves the best in period Christian living for last. How wonderful to have enjoyed this entire set. My only disappointment is that it has ended. I could continue reading about this community and family forever. Thank you Ms. Blackwell!

So nice

I love this series. The story is engrossing but gentle, free of smut and filled with faith.

Good book.

I thought that the beginning of the book started of a bit slow. It was a long time sense I had read the other books that included many of these characters. So I found a lot of the information a bit confusing in the beginning. Otherwise that book became a lot better after the first fifty pages or so.

Come to Gresham

Set in a small town outside of London, in 1884, this historical fiction is an interesting tale to read. I've always loved British literature, as it is fun to read the differences in language. I can be transported to another land. Of course, there are references to the water closet, and taking of tea, but also before a meal there's the "laying of cloth." Some allowances must be made I suppose for the author writing about taking a "nap." I believe Englanders are said to "have a lie-down."<BR/><BR/>This is a stand-alone novel, but because it is the fourth in a series, it would be better appreciated read it in order. However, I had not read any of the Gresham Chronicles before, and I did not feel at all left out. That speaks to the talent of the author.<BR/><BR/>As expected in a series, there are a number of characters and sub-plots. The dialogue is well-written and easy to follow. The characters are a bit flat: the good ones are good--through and through, while the villain is a scoundrel indeed! He even has a thick, black moustache! Still, it's a fun read. I loved Jewel and her daughter, Becky. Who wouldn't? Jewel seems to be a perfect Christian and mother, and five-year-old Becky lives to charm. I'm sure readers will be treated to more from them in a future work. Philip's marriage is an interesting sub-plot, and I suspect more will be heard about that. The reader is permitted the pleasure of peeking into Aleda's novel--another sub-plot with a promising future. The future of Gresham seems to be guaranteed.

Take a trip to Gresham...

I have finished this book and it was a lovely, historical romance with a lush setting in Gresham, deep characters, risky conflicts 'especially for the time period' and an all around great final product. I own the Gresham Chronicles by Lawana Blackwell and had been waiting for a downtime in my TBR pile so I could dive into them... that hasn't happened yet so I dove straight into this book instead. It took me just a couple chapters to orient myself to the characters that Lawana has developed over the course of three other books and then settled myself back for an interesting romp through Gresham. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I connected with the characters and how well Lawana was able to keep different plot lines and stories going along so smoothly. She also brings up to very edgy conflicts that she never names but innuendos well enough that it is clear and yet not crass. It made it easier for me to identify with some of the characters because they are modern topics that you don't always think of as being issues back then but in reality were probably even more prevalent. 'There is a teaser for you!' So come to Gresham and see what you have been missing and I truly hope that Lawana takes all of us back to Gresham soon!

A reviewer

Fearing for the safety of her daughter though she too is in danger, Jewel Libby flees her home heeding the advice of trusted friends she journeys to rustic Gresham to ask the Vicar Andrew Phelps and his wife Julia Hollis for sanctuary for her and her child. They take the newcomers into their home. --- Meanwhile Andrew and Julia are concerned about their relationship with her two adult children. Aleda the writer has become a hermit who wants nothing to do with anyone even her mother. Philip the surgeon is being pulled into opposite directions as he his wife loathes his closeness to his extended family and makes efforts to pull him away from them. When Andrew becomes ill, he needs Philip¿s medical skills, but efforts to help his stepfather angers his spouse. Meanwhile, Aleda inadvertently abets a nasty individual causing problems for the Gresham villagers especially her mom and ailing stepfather. Ironically fearful in hiding Jewel becomes a gem as she brings compassion and caring to a family in trouble. --- Fans of the Gresham Chronicles will relish this jewel of a tale as Lawanna Blackwell continues the account with more of a focus on Aleda¿s two adult children. The story line is character driven by the extended family which also includes Jewel and her daughter. Ironically they provide the lesson and inspiration to the extended Phelps-Hollis households of second chances and everyone needs someone who cares them and who they can care about too. THE JEWEL OF GRESHAM GREEN is a strong addition to a great saga. --- Harriet Klausner

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