Blog Tour: The Shipbuilder's Wife by Jennifer Moore

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 The Shipbuilder's Wife by Jennifer Moore

Book Description:

The day of her parents’ garden party dawns bright as Lydia Prescott eagerly anticipates a marriage proposal from a handsome and wealthy plantation owner. The lovely debutante plans to steal a moment away with her beau, but her plans go terribly awry. Instead of her intended, she is joined by a stranger—the largest man she’s ever laid eyes on. And it is clear Jacob Steele is there for reasons far more sober than the party. With British raids erupting all around them, it is his job to reassure plantation owners of their safety. In reality, however, Jacob is an espionage agent, and the truth is dire: America is on the verge of invasion by the British. Blissfully unaware of the danger surrounding her, Lydia basks in the glow of her recent engagement. But her joy is short-lived—a surprise British attack results in a devastating wound, and her plans for the future are shattered. Lost in her devastation, Lydia could never dream that Jacob, that giant of a man she met so briefly, would prove to be her saving grace. And with a war raging around them, she may be called upon to save him too.

Andrea's Review:

I'm a fan of Jennifer's Moore's books, so I jumped on the opportunity to review her new novel, The Shipbuilder's Wife.

I don't care for the cover, but if you feel the same way, don't let that stop you from reading this book. It is an enjoyable, fast read.

There are a few surprises with this book, some intentional and others mostly likely not intentional. I enjoyed the intentional surprises, but I would have loved for the book to start out with an indication of what year this was taking place (so I knew right off that the conflict was the War of 1812). I didn't realize initially that this is a companion novel to Moore's last book, My Dearest Enemy. Hopefully if Moore writes another book in this time period, that will be clear from the first page.

Lydia and Jacob weren't immediately likable characters, but it didn't take too long to get to know them better. I especially appreciated the growth that Lydia had.

Alden wasn't a main character, but he was likable right off. I hope that Moore has a story in mind for him. I would love to know what happened to him that filled him with regret.

Rorie's Review:

Does anyone else think that the woman on the cover of this book kind of looks like Keira Knightley? That's who I kept thinking of every time I looked at the picture.

I have mentioned this a lot as I've read historical fiction books, but it is as true today as it was the other times I've written it. I don't know a whole lot about the War of 1812, but this book piqued my curiosity and I would like to learn more about that time period. I remember feeling the same way when I read Jennifer's previous book, My Dearest Enemy. Our state is currently making some changes to the social studies program and by the looks of things, will be taking a lot of important historical events out of the curriculum. This has prompted me to look into a curriculum that I can teach my kids at home so they can learn about these important events. This war will definitely be included in our studies.

Anyway, that's kind of a squirrel sort of way to start this review. So. Back to the book. :) I didn't know going into it that this book was a companion story to My Dearest Enemy, but as I read, I wondered if the stories were related. They are both stand-alone stories, so you don't have to read them in order.

Lydia wasn't my favorite person at the beginning of the story. She was raised to be very shallow and only concerned with status, and she seemed to be thriving in that way of life. However, when tragedy struck and she was shunned by people she thought loved her, her true colors started to shine through, and she was a much more likeable person. I loved how committed she was to her maid, Francine, and Francine's relatives.

Jacob is a hard character to get to know up front. He had a very rough upbringing, causing him to not trust people easily. At the same time, he is a very honorable, good man, and we get to see those characteristics pretty early on in the story. I have to say though that Alden made the story so much more enjoyable for me. Fun-loving, easy to get along with, and a really good head on his shoulders. (Talking to someone, instead of letting imagined problems fester! What an amazing concept!)

I have enjoyed several of Jennifer Moore's books and this one met up to my expectations. A quick read, some good historical facts thrown into the story and good character development. Definitely a keeper for me.

Tarah's Review:

Here's the thing. I kinda feel like the last couple books by this author have been...short. That's probably the wrong word. Maybe it's the depth that makes it feel like I'm missing something. Especially in this book. I don't really feel like we get to know anything about Jacob and Lydia as they get together. They are definitely thrown together, which works for the story, and then....nothing but they love each other. I was a little confused about how all that took place. It felt lacking. I wanted more development from both of them, not for their characters, but for each other.

I loved the story line, and it is definitely a quick fun read. The time period is interesting, and the story flows really well. Alden was by far my favorite character and I wonder what happened to him, and I want him to have a happy ending. I really hope he gets his own story.

If you have the time, and are looking for an entertaining Historical Fiction, I'd give this one a try.

Title: The Shipbuilder's Wife
Author: Jennifer Moore
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Published:September 2018
ISBN: 1524407208
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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