Phoebe Deane is the second novel in the Miranda trilogy. It introduces new characters such as Phoebe Deane, but also has beloved ones from the first novel- Miranda and Marcia and David Spafford.
Goodreads blurb;
“Day after day Phoebe is subjected to living a servants life in her brother’s home, picked on by her hateful sister-in-law, and forced to endure matchmaking schemes influenced by greed. Could a chance encounter in the woods change the direction of her life?”
*Warning- Spoilers*
Grace Livingston-Hill is not only a Victorian styled writer but many of her stories have a Christian or religious base. If you have read any of her novels, there are several mentions of God and other religious or biblical references. Out of all three novels in the Miranda series, Phoebe Deane is the most religious. That was not an issue and it did not deter my interest in the novel, but it was a main focus. So if you are not one who enjoys religious books or ideas, maybe skip or skim those parts of the novel.
The character of Phoebe Deane is respectable and innocent- a bit naive and stand-offish which can come across annoying. It is more of a Cinderella story, being able to escape her intolerable sister-in-law and arranged marriage in order to marry the man of her dreams.
To me the most important part of the book was the true introduction of Miranda and her growth from the first novel. Unfortunately, she is only in about ⅓ of the novel, but it shows her nature, her intent, and undying love towards those she admired and “adopts” as her family/projects. In the little amount she appears she makes an impact and truly makes the novel worth reading.
I enjoyed this novel, it was not my favorite from the trilogy, but I would read it again.
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