Book Review: An Inconvenient Beauty
by Kristi Ann Hunter
Cover courtesy of overdrive.com
First Thoughts: "Finally, we get to hear Griffith's story." "I'm not sure if I'm going to like Isabella." "Sigh, practical Griffith is too practical." "Nevermind, I love Isabella."
How it made me feel: Hopeful. Encouraged. In love. Joyful.
Quick Synopsis: Griffith, the Duke of Riverton has decided it is finally time for him to fall in love and marry, so he chooses a bride like he chooses everything else, logically and without feeling. Enter Miss Isabella Breckenridge, his chosen woman's cousin, who he can't seem to stay away from or keep off his mind. Miss Isabella Breckenridge has no intention of finding love, just of saving her family, but once she meets the Duke of Riverton she begins to think she can have both.
More thoughts: I love how this series incorporated the Christian faith into these characters lives naturally. It doesn't feel forced like other inspirational fiction I've tried to read. These characters are real and broken but still God-honoring. That's hard to pull off in fiction.
We've come to know Griffith a little bit in the other books but it was nice to finally get to hear his thoughts and see how he ticks. As always I adore the healthy friendships this series shows, even if it wasn't as prominent in this book. Griffith calls on his male friends, brother, and his sisters for advice without shame. It is refreshing to see a positive family unit.
Isabella was so sweet. All of her actions were focused on taking care of other people. She agreed to help her uncle in order to save her family. When she felt she was pushed too far but was given the option to help her cousin Frederica, she took it. Even as she was falling in love with the Duke, she pushed him away to protect him due to spoilery circumstances.
Additionally, the side character of Frederica was a joy to get to know. She was a fun character in her own right, and it was nice for Isabella to have an ally in the messy business that is regency courtship. She had Isabella's back and was never bitter that Isabella received more attention than she ever did. There is one particularly good reason for this, but you'll have read the book to find it out.
Isabella was so sweet. All of her actions were focused on taking care of other people. She agreed to help her uncle in order to save her family. When she felt she was pushed too far but was given the option to help her cousin Frederica, she took it. Even as she was falling in love with the Duke, she pushed him away to protect him due to spoilery circumstances.
Additionally, the side character of Frederica was a joy to get to know. She was a fun character in her own right, and it was nice for Isabella to have an ally in the messy business that is regency courtship. She had Isabella's back and was never bitter that Isabella received more attention than she ever did. There is one particularly good reason for this, but you'll have read the book to find it out.
Conclusion: This is the fourth book in a series and it is so good. It can be read alone but there are technically spoilers for the other books in the series. However, the spoilers are just who ends up with whom, which can usually be discovered in the synopsis anyway. I'd give this series 4 out of 5 stars with this book in particular earning 5 out of 5 stars. I very much enjoyed reading this series, and I'd highly recommend this book even on its own.
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