Review
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Title: Spires of Stone
Author: Annette Lyon
Publisher: Covenant
Genre: Fiction
Year Published: 2007
Number of Pages: 327
Binding: Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-59811-448-5
Price: $15.95

Reviewed by Holly Jones

"Spires of Stone", Annette Lyon’s fifth novel, is a historical romance set in Utah during the years of the Salt Lake temple construction.

Three handsome brothers return from their missions in the east. The oldest brother, Ben, has had a falling out with a witty girl named Bethany, and now they can’t speak to each other without insults and sarcasm. . . but neither can they stop thinking about each other. Their families scheme to bring the two hotheads together despite their verbal fireworks. Meanwhile, Ben’s two younger brothers have both fallen in love with the same girl, Bethany’s younger sister. Which brother will win the girl? Or will fate take her from both of them?

The author credits W. A. Raynor’s BYU thesis about the Salt Lake Temple for providing the historical information that supports this novel. The characters are fictional, but their conversations about the temple and their work on the temple reflect accurate conditions.

Lyon’s writing is often clichéd: there are “sinking sensations” and people who “skid to a stop.” The first time the heroine ground her heel into the toe of Ben’s shoe, it was a dramatic gesture; the second time was less effective. Also, a suspicious reader might find too much coincidence in the fact that both sisters had the same basic problem: the beau over-reacts and denounces his former sweetheart in public. Despite these weaknesses, the plot keeps moving and the dialogue is appealing. Lyon’s writing style keeps a fun plot in motion to the end.

This is a positive story, full of cheerful moments and hope. Religious ideas are not preachy, characters are likeable, and there are not any unsavory distractions in a well-paced plot. The backdrop of interesting temple history will appeal to many LDS readers. Lyon has produced an entertaining book, recommended for readers who, like Lyon, enjoyed the 1993 film version of “Much Ado About Nothing” on which this book is based.