Flirtation Walk

Lucinda is a young woman who has recently learned that her father passed away. She is conflicted with feelings of affection for her father and gratitude that she no longer has to help him in his schemes as a con-man. She is looking forward to the opportunity to have a normal life and get away from fraud.

She finds her way to her mother's sister near West Point Academy. While there she learns about love, respect, friendship, family, gratitude, and God. Many of these are foreign attributes. She grew up on the run from one town to the next.

I loved reading about Lucinda. She is a good girl who thought that she was not of worth. She was used as a tool to get gain. She didn't know if she was worthy of love and forgiveness.

When you have a show more great female character it's nice to have a strong male character. Seth filled the spot well. He and his sister are victims of a swindler. This puts a twist on the story that makes it interesting. Both Seth and Lucinda are keeping secrets.

The beginning of the book was a little slow, but as it progressed it got better. I loved the way that Siri Mitchell was able to write a historical fiction novel that portrayed life a soldiers life at West Point and kept me entertained. show less

Lucinda Curtis didn’t have a typical upbringing. Her mother died when she was young. Her Dad was a con-artist and not only taught her everything he knew, but also employed her as part of his devious escapades. It is all she has ever known until one day she gets word he is dead.
She finds herself penniless and homeless. Her only option to go to her uncle’s house in West Point, New York. He cut all ties with her mother when she married her father. They are a very respectable family, and her uncle is a professor at the academy. Their reception of her is not quite welcoming, but they allow her to stay. She soon wins them over with her desire to help and charming personality.
Lucinda does her best to fit in and tries to turn around from show more her dishonest ways.
She is determined to change and put her past behind her but the old ways of thinking are hard to shake off.
She meets Seth Westcott a cadet at West Point. He is everything she has never been, upstanding, hardworking, and honest. He captures her heart but she feels she is not worthy of him. Seth has his own problems. He wants to go home and help his sister who has been swindled out of the family farm but the military will not give him permission. He decides to cast aside his good grades, perfect conduct and become a “bad” boy with the help of some not so upstanding cadets so he will be discharged.
This pre-Civil war historical novel is great. I love the characters, so many different personalities, and attitudes! Learning about the life of the cadets and some of the antics that went on was extremely interesting. I learned so much about the academy during this era. There are lots of unexpected twists and surprises along the way! The author beautifully shows how complete God’s forgiveness is and not matter how bad your past, He always has a new beginning!
.I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. show less

Saturday, March 12, 2016
Flirtation Walk by Siri Mitchell, © 2016

Lucinda Pennyworth longs for happiness and contentment. Built up fantasies appear to be so much more than what is seen in fact. Her widowed father had painted a different visual picture: “I suppose we could just go back to Buttermilk Falls . . .” Now she couldn't ask if he had spoken in jest. She had received a letter saying he recently passed on, prompting her to travel to meet her mother's family for the first time.

U.S. Military Academy ~ West Point
Unknown to Lucinda, a military academy was near Buttermilk Falls. Her father had always scorned men in uniform. As her Uncle Richard was a professor there, cadets came home for dinner with him occasionally. In the process, show more her uncle invited her to attend the hops with him and okayed to dance with cadets he had brought home. Seth Westcott, was one of the top academic hopefuls in the graduating class.

Lucinda and Seth are both tending new ground for them; Seth trying to become less than what he is, and Lucinda striving to become more than what she had been.

My favorite character is Lucinda's cousin, Phoebe. She is encouraging and draws Lucinda out. By asking questions, she inadvertently allows Lucinda to hear her responses aloud, clarifying her unspoken thoughts.

Siri Mitchell's characters are vivid and you get to know them. Secondary characters enter and try to persuade the main characters to lighten up a bit. Sorting out their true heart becomes an essential factor between what they would like and what is before them.

***Thank you to author Siri Mitchell and to Bethany House Publishers for sending me a copy of Flirtation Walk for review. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.*** show less

I usually am very fond of novels by Ms. Mitchell. This was a dog (sorry) and I almost didn't finish it.