Review of The Laundress
Posted: 29 Jan 2023, 15:20
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Laundress" by Mary Hagen.]
The Laundress by Mary Hagen is a romance novel about a woman named Phoebe Marshall. Phoebe spent her childhood on a plantation as the affluent daughter of a slave owner. She and her family moved west in search of gold after the end of the Civil War left them penniless. Phoebe’s father gets murdered over his mining claim, leaving Phoebe fighting for her own survival. When the book starts, she is living in a mining camp, working as a laundress to earn enough money to survive.
Phoebe’s life is hard. She earns pennies doing laundry for the miners. One day, an English gentleman named James Thompson walked into the laundry shop to have his clothes cleaned. He is in the United States to look after his family’s holdings and is soon to marry a woman that he can’t stand. James knows that the only way out of the arranged marriage will be to marry someone of his own choosing first. Phoebe is one of the few eligible women in town, and James is desperate. So he invites her out to dinner and proposes marriage. Phoebe, who is destitute, eventually says yes. But they agree to specific terms of marriage, including a settlement for Phoebe that will allow her freedom and money to pursue her dreams when the marriage ends.
I enjoyed reading this book. The author did a wonderful job of capturing life during this time period, and I found myself transported as each scene unfolded. The author also built a compelling and heartening character arc for Phoebe that was enjoyable to follow. We witnessed her fight for survival, her aspiration to open a dress shop, her care for others, and her slow-building love for James. We also watched her evolution in thinking about slavery and the treatment of the diverse swath of humans that arrived in Colorado to find gold, build railroads, and chase the American dream.
Unfortunately, the book needs a good editor. There were formatting issues, misspelled words, and errors in the text. At one point, one of Phoebe’s family members is given the wrong name. I can’t get more specific without spoiling the plot. These errors were distracting to me and made the book more challenging to read. I also would have loved a bit more of an ending for the book! The ending resolves the tension in the book but leaves the reader wanting more. An epilogue would have been a welcome addition to the story.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. The plot and the characters were original, and the author knows how to craft a great story. I found myself not wanting to put the book down; I wanted to know what happened next! However, there were many formatting issues and errors in the text, which took away from the story. And I felt like the author could have given the readers a bit more at the end to resolve the story. I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in reading about life in the West post-Civil War. The book discusses slavery and the impact that the end of slavery had on slave owners and the slaves themselves. This is a romance novel, but the romance is just one part of the story. This book features a strong protagonist and captures her efforts to rebuild her life. This book has mild profanity and one slightly sexual situation, so it could be considered appropriate for readers of all ages.
******
The Laundress
View: on Bookshelves
The Laundress by Mary Hagen is a romance novel about a woman named Phoebe Marshall. Phoebe spent her childhood on a plantation as the affluent daughter of a slave owner. She and her family moved west in search of gold after the end of the Civil War left them penniless. Phoebe’s father gets murdered over his mining claim, leaving Phoebe fighting for her own survival. When the book starts, she is living in a mining camp, working as a laundress to earn enough money to survive.
Phoebe’s life is hard. She earns pennies doing laundry for the miners. One day, an English gentleman named James Thompson walked into the laundry shop to have his clothes cleaned. He is in the United States to look after his family’s holdings and is soon to marry a woman that he can’t stand. James knows that the only way out of the arranged marriage will be to marry someone of his own choosing first. Phoebe is one of the few eligible women in town, and James is desperate. So he invites her out to dinner and proposes marriage. Phoebe, who is destitute, eventually says yes. But they agree to specific terms of marriage, including a settlement for Phoebe that will allow her freedom and money to pursue her dreams when the marriage ends.
I enjoyed reading this book. The author did a wonderful job of capturing life during this time period, and I found myself transported as each scene unfolded. The author also built a compelling and heartening character arc for Phoebe that was enjoyable to follow. We witnessed her fight for survival, her aspiration to open a dress shop, her care for others, and her slow-building love for James. We also watched her evolution in thinking about slavery and the treatment of the diverse swath of humans that arrived in Colorado to find gold, build railroads, and chase the American dream.
Unfortunately, the book needs a good editor. There were formatting issues, misspelled words, and errors in the text. At one point, one of Phoebe’s family members is given the wrong name. I can’t get more specific without spoiling the plot. These errors were distracting to me and made the book more challenging to read. I also would have loved a bit more of an ending for the book! The ending resolves the tension in the book but leaves the reader wanting more. An epilogue would have been a welcome addition to the story.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. The plot and the characters were original, and the author knows how to craft a great story. I found myself not wanting to put the book down; I wanted to know what happened next! However, there were many formatting issues and errors in the text, which took away from the story. And I felt like the author could have given the readers a bit more at the end to resolve the story. I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in reading about life in the West post-Civil War. The book discusses slavery and the impact that the end of slavery had on slave owners and the slaves themselves. This is a romance novel, but the romance is just one part of the story. This book features a strong protagonist and captures her efforts to rebuild her life. This book has mild profanity and one slightly sexual situation, so it could be considered appropriate for readers of all ages.
******
The Laundress
View: on Bookshelves