Book Review: By All Appearances by Dawn Kinzer

It’s been a while since I’ve done a book review. I actually read this novel a couple of months ago and did a review for other sites but didn’t get it put here, so…IT’S ABOUT TIME! 🙂

I’m always a little nervous when I commit to reviewing a book by a writer friend…for obvious reasons. However, I had read Dawn Kinzer’s Daughters of Riverton series—all historicals. I knew she was a good writer, so I jumped at the chance to read her latest, By All Appearances, a contemporary. As I’d expected, it didn’t disappoint.

How refreshing to read a novel without an oh-so-hot hero and gorgeous heroine. By All Appearances gives the reader a hero badly scarred by burns and a heroine who believes she can’t compete with her knock-out mom and sister. It’s a reminder that no one is, as a whole, what they look like. It’s also a story of seeking God’s desire for our lives rather than relying on fear and our own flawed judgement.

I absolutely adored Bryan’s sweet spirit, even as he struggled to accept his losses and face the fear of taking part in society again. I sympathized with Liana’s desire to please her demanding mother, convinced she’d never live up to the woman’s standards.

In itself, the way the theme is presented deserves five stars. Then there’s the romance, the heart wrenching scenes, the description and lovely writing. I highly recommend this book!

Enjoy and read on!