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Jewell

Enjoyable read except for inconsistent characters, too much melodrama toward the end

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2019

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I like romance, and this rather long novel held my attention, especially for the first half. However, two of the characters seemed inconsistent, and toward the end so many complications piled up that the plot, for me, became unconvincing.

In a Jane Eyre type of situation, at the end of the Civil War pretty young widow Portia (“Po”) leaves home to take a job as a tutor for the son of a handsome but bitter widower, war veteran Beau Stanford. A romance between them brews—but there are obstacles. Beau had fought for the North, Po’s husband for the South, but she is sympathetic to anti-slavery sentiments and that obstacle to their romance is overcome.

A bigger obstacle is Lydia, her rival for Beau’s affections. Lydia, the beautiful, voluptuous, rich cousin of Beau’s deceased wife, comes to visit Beau for an extended period. Lydia is sometimes portrayed as a spoiled, selfish (“I get whatever I want”) racist, other times as an actually good person in love with Beau and appreciative of all Po has done for Beau’s son. As for Beau, he is sexually attracted to Lydia and needs her money, but knows he really loves the good woman Po who teaches his son (and gets him to talk again), wins the hearts of his son, his father, and the servants, and helps with the housework and the gardening. Then there is still another conflict—Beau’s brother-like friend Harry Franklin, a morphine addict, sometimes portrayed as rakishly flirting with every woman he meets and sometimes as actually in love with Po; at least he flirts enough with her to arouse Beau’s jealousy. There were dramatic dinner scenes, dances, and the like with tensions among the four characters.

Then the book suddenly picks up speed like a runaway roller coaster ride with all sorts of melodramatic episodes: the appearance of a long-missing person, an attempted rape, an attempted lynching, fire, deaths, and murders. Still, after all these events, the ending is satisfying, and the background historical elements seem well-researched, so overall, if you like this type of novel, I’d recommend A Time for Everything as an enjoyable read.

Reader Lady

3.5 Stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2015

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My Musings

Let me say up front, I received this book from the publisher for an honest review. I have read many books written in this time period. A Time for Everything is very historically accurate, and I enjoyed that aspect of the book tremendously. The pacing is excellent, and kept my interest throughout. The book starts out well, but I did struggle with the many twists and turns of the plot as the story progresses. I am going to skip a synopsis since the book description gives the gist of the story extremely well.

I wasn’t sure I would like Portia’s character in the prologue. While her plight pulled at my heartstrings, she seemed to have given up, and wanted to succumb to her grief for her late husband and little daughter, but then she pulls herself up by her bootstraps and soldiers on. By the end of the book, I was rooting for her. I particularly liked her relationship with Jonny, the hero’s son. She is caring and patient with him and exactly what he needs to bring him out of his shell.

Jonny is a fantastic character, and I loved him from the very beginning. He is a sweet child who has had much to contend with in his young life, the loss of his mother and an indifferent father. For me, the relationship between him and Portia helped keep me engaged in the story. The scene where he has to put down his pony tore at my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I also enjoyed quite a few of the secondary characters as well.

There were many aspects of Beau Stanford’s character to admire. He is determined to save his horse farm, and he is loyal to his friend, even though Harry has major problems, and actually becomes one of the villains in the story. However, I have a problem with him giving into an attraction for the other woman, when he clearly has strong feelings for Portia. He shows more desire for Lydia, a woman—to put it bluntly—who is not a very nice person, than he ever shows for Portia.

A Time for Everything has Portia and Beau’s stories running parallel with the couple having some scenes together, but most of their feelings for each other come out during their introspection. They do not vocalize their love until very near the end. That kept me from fully seeing them as a couple desperately in love.

There are a great many sub-plots going on throughout this tale that definitely kept me reading. However, Ms. Parker struggled with keeping her villains truly evil. At the end, she almost tries to redeem them when neither one of them should have been redeemed in my opinion. I found this a bit too convoluted to be believable.

Nonetheless, I did enjoy this book, even with these issues. It showed a vivid picture of the racial tension that existed during the reconstruction period after the Civil War, and did it remarkable well. I could have easily given 5 Gold Crowns for that part of the story. On the other hand, the romance was so lackluster I struggled to give it 3. The plot also was problematic and only deserves a 3 as well. I have read some of the other reviews and many reviewers have loved this book, so you may as well. Happy reading!

Top reviews from other countries

Jackie

A well researched, intense historical romance.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2016

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A Time for Everything is a well researched, intense historical romance.
I was immediately drawn into an intricate and well researched story, full of passion; both love and hatred on all their levels. Of a time of war and the consequences for the survivors.
Immaculate word choices transferred me to another time, another country, another era; one I'd heard about, and read a little of. This story took me into the heart of the conflict between and because of the various characters. Ms. Parker painted sharp pictures of the events as they played out, from start to finish.
And with equal skill gifted me a clear picture of each of her characters, both good and bad. And believe me, there was plenty of bad her hero and heroine had to contend with. And all this was conveyed without graphic or explicit details. This author used her writing skills to lead her readers without hitting them over the head to the crux of every situation and still keep her story 'clean'.
There were times I did not find it an easy read, but couldn't find it possible to put the book down either. There is intensity in every scene. Some low-key, some heart breaking, and the rest that filled your heart with hope and joy.
The time setting of this story would automatically classify it as 'historical' but this author's dedication to her research shines from every page and provides a history lesson to readers who have never visited the area/country and have little knowledge of the conflict, other than 'it happened.'
I am pleased I did not miss the chance to read this book.

Cristella

TWO STRONG HEARTS....HOPEFULLY DESTINED

Reviewed in Australia on July 18, 2015

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5 PLUS Stars
A truly BEAUTIFUL story!!
It is full of emotion, kindness, unselfishness, genuine care and intriguing GREATNESS!!
YES! This story Rocks...
Its one of the best put together tales I have read in a long time..
Two people share a sadness from past grieving and then find each other.
But this is not a simple story as true love never does run smoothly and neither does this one. However, beyond all the twists and turns evokes a thrilling journey that ends ......(?????) YOU WILL HAVE TO READ AND FIND OUT!

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