Series: The Everstone Chronicles Book #5
Category: Adult Fiction, 176 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Whitaker House; Novella edition
Release date: September 9, 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

In this captivating novella by Dawn Crandall, Nicholette Everstone is already a widow at the age of twenty-two: her husband was murdered on their wedding day. She has just returned to Boston after two years of mourning in Europe. Although her husband was loving, the marriage was an arranged one, and Nicholette would like to wed again--this time for love...and to someone safe

As she acclimates to life in Back Bay again, Nicholette meets someone she can't help but fall for. But when she learns of the danger and sacrifices Cal Hawthorne takes on for the safety of others, will her heart be strong enough to keep her fears of "what if" at bay?

Enchanting Nicholette was another delightful read from The Everstone Chronicles. I read The Cautious Maiden and enjoyed this one just as much. The books in the series are all stand-alone with appearances from past characters in the stories.

This book is shorter than the other books in the series and was a quick fun read. Nicholette is a widow who returns home after two years abroad for her mourning period. She would like to remarry, but she is not a social butterfly and is still a little traumatised from the murder of her groom on their wedding day. She is wealthy, comes from a reputable family and can speak her mind when she has to. She becomes attracted to Cal Hawthorne, but is cautious because of her past experience.

This Christian historical romance was well-written and engaging throughout, without being preachy. Cal was swoon-worthy and the romance was satisfying. I enjoyed every bit of it, including the clandestine sneaking around from Cal's more exuberant sister.

I'm a fan of Dawn Crandall and I'm itching to read the first three books in this series, hoping to do it soon. If you like Christian historical romances, these books in the Everstone Chronicles are sure to please.



Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden.

As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiance who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust and who to leave behind.

My Review

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

The Cautious Maiden was a delightful read. I love a good historical romance novel every now and then and this clean, sweet Christian novel was refreshing. Although this is the fourth book in the Everstone Chronicles, it is a stand-alone novel with new main characters, including some of the characters from previous books as secondary characters. I did not ever feel like I was missing out by not having read the first three books.

Violet meets handsome and well-to-do Vance Everstone, a former Boston society rake turned Christian, and ends up in a compromising situation with him after he tries to help her. This leads Vance to propose to her to save her reputation and she accepts. Throughout their engagement their attraction to each other is mutual and Violet must decide if she can trust him.

Both Violet and Vance were great characters because they were flawed and well developed, although it seems Vance had more issues because of his past womanising habits. He was somewhat of a tortured soul and Violet's kindness, honesty and bold ways of dealing with things was refreshing. She did not act like a damsel in distress and was not intimidated by Vance's past.

This is very much a character-driven novel. I enjoyed the story and the element of danger introduced toward Violet in the beginning, although it was a little underplayed once she got engaged to Vance and I no longer felt Violet was in danger until the end of the story. I was expecting Rowan Steele to show up sooner in the story.

Well-written and engaging, this fourth instalment in the Everstone Chronicles is a delightful read for all fans of Christian historical romance.

I look forward to reading the first three books in this series. Be sure to check them out!

Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. 

Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.

Connect with the author:  Website