Book Review: The Sound of Diamonds by Rachelle Rea

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Synopsis of the book:

Her only chance of getting home is trusting the man she hates.

With the protestant Elizabeth on the throne of England and her family in shambles, Catholic maiden Gwyneth seeks refuge in the Low Countries of Holland, hoping to soothe her aching soul. But when the Iconoclastic Fury descends and bloodshed overtakes her haven, she has no choice but to trust the rogue who arrives, promising to see her safely home to her uncle’s castle. She doesn’t dare to trust him…and yet doesn’t dare to refuse her one chance to preserve her own life and those of the nuns she rescues from the burning convent.

Dirk Godfrey is determined to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk knows he has only one chance at redemption, and it lies with the lovely Gwyneth, who hates him for the crimes she thinks he committed. He must see her to safety, prove to the world that he is innocent, prove that her poor eyesight is not the only thing that has blinded her–but what is he to do when those goals clash?

The home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, the saint and the sinner must either dare to hold to hope…or be overcome.

My review:

I was intrigued. How would Gwyneth overcome her hatred of Dirk in order to trust him enough to save her? This story was filled with emotion as she struggles with her feelings for Dirk and her relationship to God.

I really enjoyed the developing relationship between Dirk and Gwyneth in the midst of their struggle to get to safety. I also liked the historical information that I learned about the Protestants and Catholics during that time frame.

Since I wear glasses, I could really relate to Gwyneth’s struggles when she wasn’t able to wear them. It made me thankful that my vision is a little better than hers was and that I live in a time frame when the technology is right at your fingertips. The vulnerability that comes from her needing the glasses coupled with her feisty personality made for an interesting story.

I had to say that I really liked Dirk. Oh, how I wanted him to not be guilty of the sin that Gwyneth thought him guilty of. You will have to read the story to find out if he is or isn’t. 🙂

What I enjoyed most about this book:

The developing relationship between Gwyneth and Dirk.

What I didn’t like about this book:

I liked that the villain was defeated in the end, but I did feel like it was a little quick and tidy.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. I really enjoyed the main characters getting to know one another. This is the first book in the series. It ended very well and the other books in this series follow Gwyneth and Dirk further.