Review: Beneath the Dover Sky by Murray Pura

September 6, 2013

Title: Beneath the Dover Sky
Author: Murray Pura
Publisher: Harvest House
Pages: 377
ISBN:978-0-7369-5288-0
Publication Date: August 2013

Synopsis:
For fans of the hugely popular Downton Abbey television series and lovers of British historical sagas, award-winning author Murray Pura continues the enthralling story of the Danforths of Lancashire.
The second book in the series (following Ashton Park) transports the reader back in time to  1924 as Sir William—recently named Lord Preston—celebrates his sixtieth birthday at the Danforth summer home in Dover.

Although the ravages of World War I are in the past, new threats loom as a man named Adoph Hitler publishes a book called Mein Kampf.  Is he a danger to Europe? And what of Lord Preston’s growing friendship with an up and coming political leader named Winston Churchill?

On the home front, one of the Danforth daughters, the recently widowed Catherine, sells her home in Belfast to spend more time at Dover—where she finds herself annoyed at the impertinent German theologian her father has befriended.

The entire Danforth family faces many changes as illness and tragedy strike. Young Edward finally makes his move into the political arena while Michael and Libby welcome a new family member.

Readers will be captivated by the upstairs/downstairs interplay as they once again savor this compelling saga of the well-loved Danforth family overcoming obstacles by placing their trust in the God who has always been faithful.

Book 2 in The Danforths of Lancashire series

Review:
Beneath the Dover Sky was a very interesting story. It takes place over a ten year time frame. The main focus is on the Danforth family. From the patriarch William Danforth, the Marquess of Preston to his children and grandchildren. Over this time we watch the family change through births and deaths. Through happy and sorrow filled times.All set against the backdrop of Dover Sky, the Danforth families country estate.

The Danforths weren't the only story in this book. Murray Pura was able to weave the uncertainties of the time through out the whole story. In the late 20's we watch as Hitler slowly makes his inches his way to power and the birth of the Nazi party. We are also able to see the unrest in Jerusalem between the Jewish people and the Arab Muslims. It in Germany and in the Middle East is a slow building boiling pot, waiting for the final push, which happens when America suffers the crash of Wall Street and start of the Great Depression.

Beneath the Dover Sky was a book that followed many characters, it was a little tricky once or twice to figure out who had lead for a section, but it didn't take away from the story. Murray Pura kept the story going with a fast paced writing. When there was a period of time skipped he was able to bring the reader up  to date in short order. He also made this story unpredictable, in a good way. Just as I got settled into a person's story, I had the rug jerked out from under me. Not knowing what is coming is a fantastic thing for me and Murrary Pura kept me guessing. He wasn't afraid to shake his characters up.

 Life between the two World Wars was a hard time for some and Beneath the Dover Sky captures it well. The characters in the book were each their own person. Each battling something. None were perfect. The Danforth family showed a family that yes, they do love each other, but they can also be at each others throats for selfish decisions. They portrayed a real family with all of their quirks and each member with their own ideas and their own beliefs.

It was a very well written story woven with fantastic historical detail that leads you up to World War Two.

Too Read!
4 out of 5

You can purchase Beneath the Dover Sky at Amazon, ChristianBook, and Mardel.

About the Author:
Murray Pura earned his Master of Divinity degree from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and his ThM degree in theology and interdisciplinary studies from Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more than 25 years, in addition to his writing, he has pastored churches in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Alberta. Murray’s writings have been shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award, the John Spencer Hill Literary Award, the Paraclete Fiction Award, and Toronto's Kobzar Literary Award. His novels for Harvest House include Face of Heaven, The Wings of Morning, and Ashton Park. Murray pastors and writes in southern Alberta near the Rocky Mountains. He and his wife, Linda, have a son and a daughter.

Thank you to Harvest House, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

1 comment

  1. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier.

    Have a great weekend.

    Happy Hopping!!
    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog Hop Answer

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