Review & GIVEAWAY: The Bridegrooms

Title: The Bridegrooms

Author: Allison Pittman

Description: Tragedy hits the Allenhouse family on a hot summer night in Ohio when a mother of four vanished. Eight-year-old Vada virtually grew up overnight and raised her three younger sisters while her father lost himself in his medical practice in the basement of their home.

Now, Vada is a grown woman, still making her home with her father and sisters. Her days are spent serving as an errand girl for Cleveland’s fledgling amateur orchestra; her evenings with Garrison Walker, her devoted, if passionless, beau.

Dizzying change occurs the day the Brooklyn Bridegrooms come to town to play the Cleveland Spiders and a line drive wallops the head of a spectator. The fan is whisked to the Allenhouse parlor, and questions swirl about the anonymous, unconscious man.

Suddenly, the subdued house is filled with visitors, from a flirtatious, would-be sports writer to the Bridegrooms’ handsome star hitter to the guilt-ridden ballplayer who should have caught the stray shot. The medical case brings Dr. Allenhouse a frustration and helplessness he hasn’t felt since his wife’s disappearance. Vada’s sisters are giddy at the bevy of possible suitors. And Vada’s life is awakened amid the super-charged atmosphere of romantic opportunity.

My Thoughts [MILD SPOILERS]: I will start by saying that I was quite pleased with the way the story ended. Based on that alone, I almost gave the book a higher rating! But, I found this book slow to really get going. It wasn't a chore to read, but it didn't have me wanting to read more until I got to the last half or third (it's hard to know when I got sucked in) of the book. In short: It took me FIVE DAYS to read this book. If a book really grabs me, I will finish in half that time – if not less.

The characters were OK. Vada was mostly likable, but I was really wanting her to put Lisette in her place a few times. I couldn't believe the rudeness and abuse she took from her! Hazel was sweet, and I was really hoping that Althea would say something by book's end.

One big plus was that the Christianity in the book was very natural. No preachy religion, which I greatly appreciate. Overall, it was an enjoyable read! I would recommend it to fans of Christian fiction.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Get It: Purchase your own copy of The Bridegrooms HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the form below. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Monday, May 3. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from ramblings.more(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

The GIVEAWAY for This Little Prayer of Mine ends TODAY! (This is hosted on my other blog because it was posted before this blog was created!)

Enter to win Forget Me Not by April 26 HERE!