The Measure of a Lady (2006) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“More like a 2.5 for me. This was her second novel, and it seemed like a cacophony of events all jumbled together. Perhaps that reflected the times. Parts of it seemed a bit too contrived. How was it the Heroine would go unchaperoned and that was ok? Not too sure about that one. The greenhouse/tree thing seemed like an afterthought.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Not really crazy about the book, the ending did redeem it to a 3-star. ”

• Rated 1 stars

“The main character is the purist, rigid, dried up old woman in the body of a lovely young lady. Every other page of her saying, “It is improper” and “this will not be tolerated” really wears on the reader. Someone give the main character a bottle of wine and perhaps the rigid plot would be more tolerable. I cannot stomach hearing her lecture everyone in town about propriety among the mish mashed love story. The gold rush is a colorful period in history, but this book made it unbearable.”

• Rated 2 stars

“A book trying to show growth in Christian principles but by the time I read half way, I couldn't stand ANY of the characters! ”

• Rated 5 stars

“I loved it!”

• Rated 3 stars

“I like these silly books. They are romantic but not sex-filled. They're better than People Magazine for light brain candy.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Great book the way the author describes the time and place just makes it feel more real. I got sucked in and couldn't put it down had to hunt down all her books to read!! A must read book great christian story.”

• Rated 5 stars

“A beautifully written historical fiction. Takes place during the Gold Rush years in San Francisco, when the main charactor - Rachel - discovers that the measure of a lady is determined not by others but by God's never-ending mercy and grace. Highly recommend this book.”

• Rated 2 stars

“I was really disappointed in this book. I had heard good reviews of it...but it fell far short for me. I stayed up into the wee hours finishing this, but the only thing that spurred me onward was to see if Lissa ever repented and if Johnnie came to Christ and married Rachel.

Well, the two did marry, but I never saw any indication that he returned to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ before he did so. And after Rachel so firmly stating that she would not marry an unbeliever...it was disappointing. When I first read her determination not to marry an unbeliever OR someone who owned a gambling hall, I thought it would end up with a neat end - showing Johnnie's conversion and convictions not to own a gambling hall. He did sell his gambling hall, but I didn't see it as because he felt very convicted (besides guilt for the man who committed suicide), but because he wanted Rachel to marry him. Towards the end, all of Rachel's firm convictions blurred until she just finally seemed to give in.

All the touchy/feely stuff wasn't agreeable to me either. I felt that Johnnie was after her only to satisfy his own desires - all his actions didn't speak of love and devotion, but of fleshly desire and passion. I was really uneasy with all the steamy scenes - especially the one in the tree! I could feel my face flush as I read it! :-o If anyone tried such bold liberties with me, he'd end up in the hospital! (Well, first off I would never put myself in the situation Rachel did - riding off alone with him in the early morning when she knew he desired her.) What liberties he took and enforced on her when he knew she was so innocent and didn't know what she was getting into. If he really did care for her and love her, he would be more concerned for her purity and peace of heart that his own fleshly desires.

Another thing I didn't care for was the story with her sister, Lissa. In the end, she gets what she wants - her man dumps his wife and returns to her and she continues to live in sin. A sad ending. And it came across to me as if the author (and even Rachel, a bit) was okay with Lissa's contentment to remain in sin.

All in all, I didn't care for this book. I am sorry to give a bad review, but many things in this novel just went against my personal convictions.”