Complex and engaging | Now Face to Face: A Novel

Don't Expect a Romance Novel | Now Face to Face: A Novel | Karleen Koen

books:


	• Now Face to Face: A Novel Karleen Koen Three Rivers Press, 2008 - 734 pages average customer review:based on 51 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

A satisfying end to a richly detailed story of life and love

Now Face To Face extends the complex story of strong Barbara Devane and her quest in untamed Virginia for stablility and another chance at life and love. An incredibly engrossing and detailed story, Ms. Koen pulls the reader into a tumultuous whirlwind of desire and despair, triumph and tears. It is the perfect conclusion to the lives that we have been compelled to know and love, or love to hate.

Complex and engaging

The day before yesterday I finished NOW FACE TO FACE, which I ended up LOVING. It's an historical novel, which isn't my normal fare. But I really enjoyed watching how Koen maintained a 700 page narrative. I was surprised how she easily and effectively switched the setting from America to London. (In her previous book, THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY, she kept her main characters in London until, I believe, the end of the story when they were to go to America.) I enjoyed watching how she filled in her characters. One of the minor characters in her first book (THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY) played a rather important role in this one. I noticed how little she entered that particular character's head, and how that tactic made it easier to make the character a villian, but the fact that she did, in a minor way, enter his head in the first book, and maybe even at times in the second, made him more complex and made me care more that he was a villan. It was harder to dismiss him and wish him ill. Even so, because Koen entered his consciousness so briefly, I was able, finally, to let him be the villan he was. What I like about her technique is that it created a wonderful tension for me. And she also touched on spiritual/Christian values in a way that didn't put me off. She wasn't preachy, yet she effectively used scripture now and then--which would have been historically authentic.

Though I liked the first book, THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY, I much prefer its sequel NOW FACE TO FACE. Is she going to write a third novel in the series? I hope so.

for more information click here

Don't Expect a Romance Novel

There were some really nice things about this book. The language of the book was beautiful. The way the characters thoughts were conveyed was particularly good. The story made me cry at times. But I had picked it up remembering how infatuated I felt when I read through "A Glass Darkly" six years ago and hoping that this book would be just as romantic. I read through the first half of the book rather entertained by what was happening to Barbara in Virginia, and rather confused at what was happening to the people she knew back in England since it took me a while to figure out who was who. But all the while I was waiting for the romance to begin. It was only half way through that I finally realized this book wasn't intended to be a romance novel. When the romance in the story finally came along, it happened to quickly for my taste. At least by that time, I knew the characters well enough to enjoy the rest of the story.

for more information click here

for more information click here

Karleen Koen

On the surface, Karleen Koen's books may appear to be nothing more than historical romance fluff. You know, the typical muscle-clad hero meets independent but distressed damsel; the two parry and thrust (if you will excuse the phrase) and then, finally, succumb to the throes of passion. Natuarlly, this all occurs in some exotic, historical loacle. Koen's books have the fluffy exterior but the interior is much,much meatier than any historical romance I have ever read. "Through a Glass Darkly" is set in 18th century England and France. The main character, or heroine, is a young girl in love with an older, fatherly type gentleman. As is the case with most young , headstrong girls, the heroine's passions rule her actions and cloud her judgement. After marrying the man of her dreams, she learns the shocking and devestating truth about his character. Because I hold this book in such I high esteem, and because I would like you to enjoy it as heartily as I did, I will not divulge any more of the plot. I will say that there are more turns and twists in this novel, and the sequel "Now Face To Face," than the most harrowing and breathtaking of rollercoaster rides! As trite as it may sound, expect the unexpected in these books. The hero and heroine's are not nearly as pretty, the locales not nearly as exotic. Nevertheless, there is more substance to this book than any fluffy Harelequin. If you love history, and Koen loads her books with fascinating historical anecdotes and trivia, then you will love these books. However, if you are looking for the formulaic boy meets girl and lives happily ever after in fairyland, don't even consider these books. The characters are colorful, diabolical, interesting, and admirable...far from formulaic. Happy Reading. Let me know what you think.

for more information click here

Not as good as The First Book

I loved Through a Glass Darkly, I fell in total love with all the characters, felt i was a part of the story, cried, laughed and couldnt book the book down at all!! After I finished it and found out there was more to the story, I ran to the Library to get Now Face to Face, and was heartbroken. The book was not as good as the first one at all. I was happy to find out what was going to happen to all the characters in the book, but read it slowly and it did not keep my interest at all.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, page 10, 11

hot