The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise by Ta’Mara Hanscom

About the book: (from the publisher) First in a volume of five in the epic Caselli Family series. It begins in South Dakota in 1975 where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beers in a bar and loaded guns were kept under the counter. Frankie Valli sang “My Eyes Adored You,” and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.

It’s within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined—and had been for many years—yet they had no idea.

From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart—and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride’s deception.

About the author: Born and raised in South Dakota, Ta`Mara loves to write about the Great Plains and the beauty and people of Italia. While her husband and children manage their two pizza ristoranti, Ta`Mara works full time on The Caselli Family Series, and ministers to women. She lives with her husband, Jim, in Iowa, where they enjoy watching the Detroit Tigers, BBQs, and taking care of their rescues: two cats and one Pomeranian.

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Genre: Fiction/Christian romance

[bctt tweet=”Global suspense, Italian passion, & epic romance. Book 1 of @TaMaraHanscom’s Caselli family series @Litfuse ” username=”KatherineSJones”]

My take: I was drawn in by the unusual scope and concept of this novel, and eager to give a new novelist a try. But I am sorry to say I could not get into this book. I was immediately put off by the disregard for commonly held editorial conventions — unintentional, I’m sure, but distracting. I sense the bones of a good story within these pages, but it is obscured by a disjointed narrative and stylistic curlicues. Too many exclamations points, as one small example — two on the first half-page and four more on the next full one.

I feel there’s great potential here but un-honed technique. I would love to see how a different editorial approach could make the good heart of this story truly shine.

Thanks to Litfuse Publicity for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.

After words: What’s on your reading pile this fall?

Giveaway: Join Ta’Mara in celebrating the release of the second printing and new covers by entering to win her $75 prize basket giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Pretender
• A $75 Amazon gift card
• A decorative box containing measuring cups, ten recipes from the book, a potholder, a kitchen towel, pepper and salt grinders, kitchen utensils, and an olive oil dispenser

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on October 11. The winner will be announced October 12 on the Litfuse blog.