This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Jude Berman grew up amid floor-to-ceiling shelves of books in many languages. In addition to a love of literature, her refugee parents instilled in her a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and social justice. Jude has a BA in art from Smith College and an EdD in cross-cultural communication from UMass Amherst. After a career in academic research, she built a freelance writing and editing business and ran two small independent presses. In her free time, she volunteers for progressive causes, paints with acrylic watercolors, gardens, meditates, and blogs at www.judeberman.org. Jude lives in Berkeley, California, where she continues to work with authors and write fiction.
Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite
Even though it is clear from her paintings that Angelica Kauffman has talent, other painters reject her because she is a woman who dared to break into a field thought to be the sole domain of men. Angelica swears she will never get married so she can perfect her talent in a society where women have almost no rights. At her lowest point, she struggles to secure new clients until she is introduced to the London art scene by the mysterious Lady Wentworth, who takes the young prodigy under her wing. The Vow by Jude Berman tells the tale of her ascent to fame and the men who came dangerously close to ruining her plans.
Jude Berman explores the life of a truly gifted woman. The author adds emotion to a life story while remaining as faithful to the facts as possible. Berman strikes a balance that few other writers can quite as successfully match when examining the imaginative exchanges between the characters and the use of language appropriate for the period. The Vow has a distinct tempo because of the novel's pace, which is calm when Angelica interacts with her friends and possible love interests and escalates when she is having intense conversations with professional colleagues about her artwork. Berman's narrative style is impressively fluid, skillfully balancing suspense and drama in just the right amounts to entice the reader into this beautifully written novel. The Vow is a must-read for all readers looking for an inspiring story of succeeding against the odds.
