My Review (and Giveaway): The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman

The Bridegrooms

by Allison Pittman

Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance

Waterbrook Multnomah

Copyright 2010

Pages:  335
ISBN:  9781601421371

From the Publisher:

It Only Takes an Instant for Love to Strike

 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:

This is my first time reading anything by Allison Pittman, though I have her other books on my bookshelf, just waiting to be read.  I must say that I have very mixed emotions about The Bridegrooms, and the baseball aspect did nothing to help that--it seemed a little random to me.  The first half or so was really hard for me to get thru, but the second half moved a little quicker.  It has the potential to be a great story, but I'm thinking it would have been a lot better had it been a series, or even an anthology.  

Each of the Allenhouse daughters deserve their very own story, with plenty of time to flesh out their foray into falling in love.  Each story would have been completely different, just as each daughter is different.  Let me try to explain...

Vada Allenhouse is the oldest daughter, and has pretty much been a mother to her three youngest sisters since the disappearance of their own mother when Vada was only eight.  She has been in love with Garrison Walker for over three years, but he doesn't seem to be in any hurry to ask for her hand in marriage.  Vada is starting to feel as though he doesn't love her, and she herself is beginning to doubt if she really loves him.  Her and Garrison's story is the most prominent in this book, so their story could have been the start of a series.  Perhaps it is, and we were only given glimpses of the other three sister's love interests in preparation for the rest of the series.

Hazel Allenhouse is the next daughter, and she despairs that she will never marry because she doesn't feel as pretty as her other sisters.  She thinks that she is 'fat' and no man will ever find her attractive, so she has decided to take matters into her own hands, so to speak.  She wants to move to Wyoming, where she will have the ability to vote (she is a suffragette), and is in the process of looking for potential suitors via correspondence.  In my opinion, Hazel's "book" would have a "Mail-Order Bride" theme.

Althea Allenhouse is the silent sister.  She hasn't spoken a single word since being told that her mother had disappeared; she instead uses a notepad, suspended with string around her neck, to communicate anything that can't be said using either her facial expressions, or her hands.  She is completely innocent when it comes to love, but is very talented at penning amorous poetry.  Althea falls hard for a patient of her father's who is lingering at death's door.  I would classify her "book" as a heartwarming Historical Romance.  Althea is my favorite sister and I would love to read a more detailed version of her story.

The baby of the family is Lisette (Lissy) Allenhouse, and she is a true spoiled brat!  She made me want to paddle her behind, or just slap her, more than once.  I couldn't believe how rude, even heartless, she was at times toward her sisters.  At first, Lisette is completely surrounded by boys--falling all over themselves to get her attention.  The girl is only seventeen, but seems to think she deserves to be fawned over and even encourages it.  She finally has a change of heart towards one of the young men, quite quickly I might add, after treating him like the dirt under her dainty shoes.  I don't rightly know how I would classify her "book", but I don't see it as one I would bother reading.  I didn't like her at all.

Though God is mentioned quite frequently throughout the story, I didn't feel that the characters had a very close relationship with Him.  It seemed almost like He was added as an after-thought since this is a Christian Fiction romance.  I don't mean to sound harsh at all, I'm just trying to be honest with my review.  

If you enjoy Historical Romance, or baseball, perhaps this is just the book for you!  I was given the opportunity to give away a copy of this book, so here's your chance to read it and form your own opinion (see the rules below).

To find out more about Allison Pittman, or her other books, please visit her website.

 *** This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  Thank you! ***

GIVEAWAY!!

To enter my giveaway for your very own copy of The Bridegrooms, here are the rules:

* Leave a comment --- don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you!

 
* U.S. residents only please (w/a valid mailing address)

* Entries can be submitted until 11:59 pm (EST) on April 27th

* I will post the winner on April 28th, as well as notify them via the email address provided.

Good Luck!!