A Beauty Refined

A Beauty Refined by Tracie Peterson is the second book in the Sapphire Brides series. Graf Frederick Von Bergen (Graf is like an English Count) has come to Helena, Montana to purchase sapphires for his client, the Sapphire Duchess. Frederick has brought his daughter, Phoebe with him on the trip. Phoebe has always been an obedient and doting daughter. Ian Harper, a lapidary, is visiting the hotel to speak with his mother when he sees Phoebe from afar. Phoebe looks just like someone he knows (but he is also drawn to her). Phoebe is walking around the grounds of The Broadwater Hotel where they are staying and sees a woman who looks just like her mother. Phoebe was told that her mother, Elizabeth, passed away when she was twelve (and still feels the loss deeply). It turns out that Phoebe's mother is alive. There are aspects of her father that Phoebe is unaware of (or ignored). While the Graf is away for two weeks looking at a sapphire mine, Phoebe gets to know her mother and Ian. What Phoebe learns changes her view of her father and what she wants in life. What will the Graf do when Phoebe no longer bows to his wishes?

A Beauty Refined is a lovely story that focuses on truth/honesty, faith, and the power of prayer. It contains good characters (like Phoebe, Elizabeth, Ian, and Kenny), a lovely setting (of Helena, Montana), and interesting time period of 1907 (summer). The novel is well-written (as are all of Tracie Peterson's books) and easy to read. You can enjoy A Beauty Refined without having read the first book in the Sapphire Bride series (each book can be read alone). There is some violence in the books (fair warning) that can be disconcerting. I give A Beauty Refined 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I will definitely be reading the next book in the Sapphire Bride series (as well as any others books by Tracie Peterson).

I received a complimentary copy of A Beauty Refined from NetGalley (and Baker Publishing) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the book. The opinions and comments expressed above are strictly my own.