Dear Mr. Knightley

I've always been a Jane Austen fan. There was always something about her writing that intrigued me. Maybe it was because I was always in love with times gone past and am a romantic at heart.

When I first read the book, I was hoping it was going to be something like the book "Austenland" (which is actually mentioned in the storyline a few times, along with other Jane Austen tales and classics of the time). The story is written in a series of letters to a man named Mr. Knightley. It took me a little bit to get into it, but as the story started to develop, I found it easier to follow along. I was almost ready to throw the towel in. Then...Alex came along. And it was much better from there. A little slow starting (for me at least) but over all a good read.

Redeeming Love

When I first read the back of the cover of the book, I noticed the parallels resembled the story of Hosea and Gomer. I was also a bit daunted by the size of the book. I haven't read any book, other than a text book, over 400 pages other than Harry Potter....but, I still dove in.

I was thoroughly pleased with the writing. I was easily drawn in (I'm a sucker for romance novels and period pieces as well...) and I had a hard time putting it down. I was so drawn in to the story, the characters, the writing, the atmosphere of the book... It took me on an emotional journey-not with just the characters, but within myself as well. This book is about love and redemption. Extraordinary love. Something that I needed in a very difficult time in my life right now...to show that God is good and bigger than anything I've ever imagined. And he can take something we think is nothing and turn it into something beautiful.