Review of Maaijke

[João Ramos]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Maaijke" by Thomas J. Vander Salm.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Maaijke by Thomas J. Vander Salm is categorized here as a "Romance," but it could just as well be classified as "historical fiction." The book has a very original plot: the protagonist, who gives the book its name, is a young Dutch adult who lives in the 19th century. She discovers that she has the power to travel through time. After realizing that her arranged marriage has failed, she begins a relationship with a U.S. Navy pilot from the future. That's indeed what you read: the main character can travel through time and interact with people from the future. The most intriguing thing is that she will discover that she has a specific connection with this American.

What I liked most about the book was the author’s ability to describe different perspectives and contrasting times. The book has two protagonists, and time after time, the same scenes are described from their perspectives. It takes a skillful author to do that. To give a practical example, the Dutch protagonist thought she was fluent in English, but the American protagonist found it funny how she changed her words. Describing situations and scenarios from different centuries also takes a lot of skill. That was what I liked most about the book.

There's nothing I didn't like here. The book delivers in many different areas: as a romance, as historical fiction, and the attentive reader may even notice some hidden social criticism. I didn't find a single grammatical error: the book's editing is flawless.

Overall, Maaijke is a very well-thought-out and structured book. The author managed to do something complex: create a story with two protagonists who interact in divergent scenarios. Given the fantastic nature of the situation, the reader is left wondering about the miraculous ways that the two could be together. As mentioned, I found no defects in this work. Therefore, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

This book may appeal to an extensive audience. Since I want to avoid a generic recommendation, this book is best suited for those who enjoy romance with a historical tone. However, the book contains a lot of profane words and sexual content. Therefore, it should not be read by anyone under the age of 18.

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Maaijke
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Maria Loukaidou]

I read your review, I am thinking of reading the book. Your review is good.

[Benita Ogarekpe]

Two of my favorite genres are romance and historical fiction. This book is a combination of both from your review. And since I fancy a little bit of the steamy deeds too, I’m definitely looking forward to this read.