Official Review: Olivia's Promise

[Ellie Gatillo]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Olivia's Promise" by Diane Merrill Wigginton.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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I have developed a liking in historical romance books, and as of late, all my readings fall under this genre. The thrill is starting to wear off, as I have detected a pattern on how these stories start, develop, and end. That is why I had some apprehensions when I chose to review this book. Thank heavens for Diane Merrill Wigginton for proving me wrong in all ways possible! Wigginton created a masterpiece in her book entitled Olivia’s Promise. This is the third book in the Jeweled Dagger Series.

The story introduces Olivia Townsend, the first daughter of the Earl of Buckinghamshire of Ireland. Olivia has the gift to see and talk to spirits. Because of her powers, people avoid her. Olivia tries her best to hide her gift from everyone so she can live a normal life. When an unexpected visitor wakes her up in the middle of the night, Olivia knew she has to use her powers again. With no recollection why and how she died, her best friend, Lilly, is stuck on earth for the time being. Olivia knows she is the only one who can help Lilly, but will she be able to succeed if an evil spirit stops her from finding out the truth?

Olivia’s Promise hooked me right off the bat. My initial worry that I might need to read the first two books in the series flew off the window as I read the first few pages of the novel. Despite being the third book in the series, this is a stand-alone book. Written in third person point-of-view, the story is magnificent and engaging. It was hard to stop reading once I started. The bulk of the story happened in a span of days, but it did not feel rushed. If anything, it made the story more real to me. The suspense buildup was superb, and it kept me on my toes.

The novel also boasts a group of interesting characters. I love Olivia and Margot because of their candid and strong principles. There are also other characters worth mentioning: the Beaumont men, the enigmatic Father Timothy, and his assistant, Mary, the helpful Coco, the comic but regal Prince William and more. I love the banters between the characters. Not only does it emphasize their closeness, but it also keeps the mood lighter. I found myself laughing at these times.

My only concern is the number of errors I found in the book. I did not find them until I was halfway through the novel. There were a few misspelled names, wrong use of words (e.g. antidote instead of anecdote and affect instead of effect), and a few other minor errors. With another round of polishing, it will be perfect. Because of this, I award Olivia’s Promise by Diane Merrill Wigginton 3 out of 4 stars. I would have liked to give it 3.5 or 3.9 stars but as we are giving full stars, I have to take a full point off.

I rarely come across books that are unputdownable. I am so lucky to read a rare gem like Olivia’s Promise! Fans of paranormal, historical romance or regency romance will enjoy this book without a doubt.

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Olivia's Promise
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Like ellieonline03's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Dentarthurdent]

Such a shame about the errors! The book sounds so compelling. I've never had the chance to use the word 'unputdownable' in a review, but I'm glad you have. Great review!

[CharlizeGwapa]

I like that special ability of seeing ghosts..That added spice to the story

[kandscreeley]

It's too bad about the errors, but this sounds intriguing. I'm glad it proved you wrong. Even though it's the third book, it's nice that it stands alone. Thanks for the introduction.

[Julie Petitbon]

This sounds like a fantastic book! I especially like the integration of the supernatural. It is a nice addition to an already intriguing premises. I am glad it reaffirmed your interest in the genre!

[danielleamy]

I would never usually read a book series out of order. However as this can be read as a stand-alone novel, I think I would like to read this. Well done on a convincing review!

[AntonelaMaria]

I love that the plot line is centered around Ireland. Might give it a chance but I will probably read first two books.