My 2021 reading is off to a phenomenal start! Sing in the Sunlight by Kathleen Denly was my first read of the year (the first one that I both started reading and finished reading in 2021) and I am so happy to say that I LOVED IT!!
Richard Stevens isn’t who he thinks he is. Neither is the woman who now claims his last name.
Disfiguring scars stole Clarinda Humphrey’s singing career, her home, and her family, but she refuses to let her appearance steal her future. While attending The Young Ladies Seminary in 1858 Benicia, California, she finds a man who promises to love and cherish her. Instead he betrays her, leaving her with child, and Clarinda must take drastic measures to ensure her child doesn’t suffer for her foolishness.
Richard Stevens’s life hasn’t turned out as he expected, and when a shocking letter turns even his past into a mystery, he travels to San Francisco in search of guidance. On the way, he encounters a mysterious young woman hiding beneath a veil. That night he experiences a dream that sends him on a quest to find the bride God has chosen for him. He never imagines she’s already told everyone they’re married.
Unwilling to lie, nor accept a marriage of mere convenience, Richard wants the real thing. Yet Clarinda’s not interested in love, only a chance to save her child. Can he help her rise above the pain that runs deeper than her scars to accept a love worth every risk?
When Kathleen reached out to me on Instagram about a month or so ago about reviewing one of her books—either her first book, Waltz in the Wilderness, or this one, which releases this March and is book two in her Chaparral Hearts series—I was happy to be of help. Something I’m wanting to try to put an emphasis on this year is helping promote more small press authors and fellow indie authors. These writers have to do so much more work to get their books in the hands of readers than traditionally published authors, but oftentimes they are as equally amazing as any book you’d find from a big name publisher, and they deserve to be read!
But of course, since I’d never heard of Kathleen before and knew nothing about her writing, it was still a risk to agree to read the book. If I’m going to help promote a book, I want to know I’m really going to love it so that I can share positive things about it. I chose Sing in the Sunlight because the synopsis stood out to me the most… and I’m really glad I did,because my “risk” totally paid off!
I was so pleasantly, delightfully surprised by how much —and how quickly—I fell in love with this book! From the very first chapter, I was sucked into the story, immediately invested in Clarinda’s struggles with self-worth. Painful events from her childhood have marred her in more ways than one, leaking their effects into every area of her life. When her desire for love and acceptance leaves her more hurt than ever and in a scandalous predicament, Clarinda has to think fast to preserve her reputation and create a good life for her unborn child. The results were surprisingly comical! I found myself literally laughing out loud a time or two, particularly when poor Richard arrives in town to find out the girl he met briefly on a ferry ride is claiming to be his wife. It reminded me of something you’d see in a Hallmark rom-com, but in a historical setting and not nearly so cheesy.
Richard… dear, sweet, patient Richard handles everything in stride and proves to be the kind of romantic hero everyone dreams of having! He is the epitome of good, but still comes across as human and realistic. I love marriage-of-convenience love stories, and this one, thanks to Richard’s sweet and gentle wooing of his wife, is as good as they come.
Clarinda herself is an equally well-written character. She has flaws, many hurts, and countless misconceptions about those around her that she has to work through, and her growth and transformation is beautifully portrayed. I could sympathize with her fears and insecurities that kept her feeling like she needed to hide away in the shadows, and rejoiced with her when she learned to “sing in the sunlight”.
Overall, I am so completely impressed by this page-turner of a novel, and look forward to reading more by this talented author! Even though I’ve enjoyed my recent reads, it’s been awhile since I’ve had one that I just could not put down the entire time I was reading it. It was so refreshing and just what I needed to kickstart my reading this year! A huge thank you to Kathleen for giving me the opportunity to review this! I will be happily sharing about this book with fellow book lovers for years to come!
If you enjoy historical romances set in 1800’s western America, especially marriage-of-convenience stories, do yourself a favor and READ. THIS. BOOK! 5/5 Stars!
**I received a copy of this book for review from the author, but was not compelled to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.**
