Laura's Shadow by Allison Pittman Review

 Hello Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you decided to drop by The Preppy Book Princess for another book review today.

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, then you'd probably be quite familiar with my love for the multi author Doors to the Past series. 

It's been such a wonderful treat to get to read about so many beloved pieces and people of history, and how the authors tie it all into mysteries concerning both the past and the present.

I've read and reviewed quite a few of the titles in this series on my blog already, and if you're interested in checking out any of those reviews, you can do so using the links below:

The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman

Hope Between the Pages by Pepper D. Basham

Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse

Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Behind Love's Wall by Carrie Fancett Pagels

High Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt

Love's Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik 

A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma

In Spotlight and Shadow by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Otherwise, let's jump right into today's review!

Laura's Shadow by Allison Pittman:

Source: Library

Publisher: Barbour Fiction

Publication Date: August 1st, 2022

Genre: Christian Fiction/Dual Timeline

Series: Doors to the Past

Synopsis:

Family Secrets Spill One Conversation at a Time
 
Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

De Smet, South Dakota—1890 
Young women growing up in De Smet live by two rules: don’t go out in a snowstorm and don’t give your heart to Cap Garland. Young Mariah Patterson only managed to obey one. Orphaned and having devoted her youth to scrapping out a life with her brother Charles, Mariah finds herself with no option but to marry the devoted—but dull—Merrill Gowan. Throwing caution to the wind, she seizes an opportunity to lay her feelings at Cap’s feet, even though she knows Cap sees the world through the torch he carries for Laura Ingalls. Mariah is certain her love for Cap will be strong enough to break both bonds, and she’s willing to risk everything to prove it. 
 
De Smet, South Dakota—1974  
Trixie Gowan is the fourth generation of living Gowan women residing in the sprawling farmhouse on the outskirts of De Smet. Well, former resident. She’s recently acquired her own bachelor girl apartment in Minneapolis, where she works writing ads for a neighborhood paper. She might live and work in the city, but her co-workers still call her Prairie Girl. Thus the inspiration for her comic strip—"Lost Laura"—in which a bespectacled girl in a calico dress tries to make her way in the city. The name is a quiet rebellion having grown up in a household where she’d been forbidden to mention the name, Laura. But when her great-grandmother Mariah’s declining health brings Trixie home for a visit, two things might just keep her there: the bedside manner of Dr. Campbell Carter and the family secret that seems to be spilling from GG’s lips one conversation at a time. 

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

Doors to the Past has become one of my favorite series of all time, and I've loved every title in this multi author series, with the exception of one. The only one I didn't end up enjoying was Allison Pittman's first contribution, The Lady in Residence. I was a little hesitant to pick this one up, but I honestly wanted to be able to say that I've read all the books in the series, and I was intrigued by the Laura Ingalls Wilder connection. I dove right into it, hoping for a much more positive experience. Unfortunately, I really didn't end up enjoying this, and I think I've come to the conclusion that this author just isn't for me.

It took me almost two full weeks to finish this one, and that's almost unheard of for me, especially considering it's a well under 300 page novel. The plot is lackluster and not developed very well, the story lags in the middle for quite a bit, and I couldn't stand either of the main characters. The content was atrocious for a title labeled as Christian fiction, and I was very turned off by that fact. Certain situations go against what I would have expected to be included in a title in this series, and even worse, none of the characters seem to show any remorse for their actions. Not one of the female characters is likeable, and I couldn't root for any of them. I felt like I was a reading a title that largely promoted feminism in a non Biblical manner, and certain passages really gave me a terrible impression.

Lastly, the reason I picked this one up in the first place was because I was intrigued by the connection to one of my favorite childhood series. Unfortunately, all I felt happened in this title connected to that was that beloved literary characters were portrayed in a horrible light, for reasons that didn't truly even make sense.

The only reason this title is getting two stars from me instead of the one I initially planned to rate it is the fact that I did appreciate the amount of research the author put into the story, and I did learn a few new to me tidbits along the way.

All in all, I did not enjoy this one in the slightest, and I won't be personally recommending it.

Final Rating: 2/5.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photos do not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.