Book Review: A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears

 Here it is! The long-awaited review of my best friend's (not quite so long awaited) novel.  A Bride for Keeps was released in October 2013. I won't comment on what sort of friend it makes me that I'm just now reviewing it. You can trust the delay speaks ill only of me and not Melissa's story.

Without further ado... A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears...


From the Cover:
Although Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won't humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again--not after being jilted by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She's the prettiest woman he's ever seen, and it's just not possible she's there to marry a simple homesteader like him.

Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. Having finally worked up the courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she's determined to find a place where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas.

Everett is skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains, while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in love?

Andrea's Take:
I read this book more than once during its journey from Melissa's imagination to the printed page, and I must say it gets better every time. A word on the cover art...Perfect. They look exactly like I pictured them when I first read the manuscript of this novel years ago. Way to go, Bethany House art department!

Who doesn't love a mail-order bride story? Hard-working farmer in a harsh, untamed land that's short on women--pretty or otherwise--places an advertisement for a wife. Beautiful (or not), down on her luck Eastern girl with nowhere else to turn answers the ad and heads west to face whatever adventures life has in store. It spells a page-turner every time. But what will that farmer do if the girl decides the farmer, or his farm, is just not good enough and she backs out? How many times will he try? 

That's a story I had never read until A Bride for Keeps.

Melissa Jagears has taken the well-loved frame of the mail-order bride story and turned it on its ear with a jaded hero who has sworn off mail-order brides, and a wounded heroine who wants nothing to do with intimacy of any kind. Mix in Everett's irresistible goodness (that shows through despite his best efforts to hide it)--to say nothing of his good looks--and Julia's beauty and vulnerability, and you have a tale sure to win a place in readers' hearts, and on their keeper shelves.

I loved Everett and Julia. My heart broke for the pain that stood between them and happiness. I constantly rooted for them to overcome it and grasp with both hands the love that was staring them in the face. When they finally do, it's in a scene that may be one of the most beautiful romantic resolutions I've ever read...and that's saying A LOT!

The secondary characters are beautifully done as well. From Dex and Rachel Stanton, whom we met in the novella Love by the Letter, to some of the ladies who jilted Everett before Julia's arrival, the minor characters create a community that not only anchors this story in time and place, but also beckons readers to return for more in future novels.

I, for one, have been dying to return to Salt Flatts since I turned the last page of A Bride for Keeps. Not to worry, we'll soon get our chance. Book 2 in the series is slated for release this fall. I'll do my best to keep updates posted here as they come available.

If you've read the book leave a comment about your favorite character or scene. If you haven't read the book...Read it, already!

First Friday Debut: Sanctuary for a Lady by Naomi Rawlings

Okay, here's the idea...I'll review a debut novel on the first Friday of the month. The author might be brand-spanking new, a long-standing favorite, or somewhere in between. Whoever the author is, First Fridays will be reserved for the debut offering.

I confess this idea has been rattling around in my brain for many months. I've missed several perfectly good First Fridays out of procrastination ("Yes, the first Friday is coming up, but I've got plenty of time.") or inattention ("Oh, fiddlesticks! I missed the First Friday again!") Well, today the mood struck at just the write moment, so here I am.


This month's debut is from a personal, cyber-friend of mine, Naomi Rawlings. It was published in April 2012, and her second offering, though in the works, is not yet available. So she still falls under the "Brand-Spanking New" category. We were "introduced" by a mutual friend and fellow writer, and we have tons of things in common. Listing them would be boring (to you, though it tickles me pink), so I won't. Suffice it to say, I'm taking great interest in the career of this promising new writer.

Without further ado, my review of Sanctuary for a Lady




From the Cover:
(Just look at that beautiful cover) --->

Rescued by the Enemy--The injured young woman Michel Belanger finds in the woods is certainly an aristocrat. And in the midst of France's bloody revolution, sheltering nobility merits a trip to the guillotine. Yet despite the risk, Michel knows he must bring the wounded girl to his cottage to heal.

Attacked by soldiers and left for dead, Isabelle de La Rouchecauld has lost everything. A duke's daughter cannot hope for mercy in France, so escaping to England is her best chance of survival. The only thing more dangerous than staying would be falling in love with this gruff yet tender man of the land.  Even if she sees, for the first time, how truly noble a heart can be...

Andrea's Take:
Take the Good Samaritan, plunk him down in war-torn Revolutionary France, and make his patient the beautiful daughter of a slain aristocrat, and you have the basic description for this novel.

This was my first impression, though Naomi later told me that theme hadn't occurred to her while she was writing it. (I love finding "accidental" themes in novels. :) Other prevalent (and likely purposeful) themes are healing and forgiveness. Both characters suffer spiritual wounds in connection with the ongoing Revolution, and the healing of those wounds is a spiritual parallel to Isabelle's physical healing. Forgiveness is a necessary stop on their path to true love.

Their stations in life make them natural enemies, thus they must learn to lay aside the broad brush of generality, and see one another as individuals rather than one of a collective. She is more than an aristocrat. He is more than a peasant. While neither can control the world around them, they can, and do, strive to view that world from the other's perspective. In a surprising twist (which I absolutely loved!), Isabelle has the opportunity change roles, from patient to Good Samaritan.

I won't give away the ending, but I'll say that it was fresh and satisfying, certainly not the run of the mill happy ever after.

My readers may or may not know that I'm a  proud Anglo-phile (which tends to make me a natural Franco-phobe). British literature and history enthrall me. French? Not so much. That this novel was able to draw me so fully into the time and place of the French Revolution (not to mention leave me wanting stories for more of these amazing characters) is a definite feather in the author's cap to my way of thinking.

Rating: 
5 Stars * * * * *

I gladly award Sanctuary for a Lady five brightly shining stars because I cannot think of one thing I would have changed in this story.

Naomi's second novel is due out sometime, but I don't know when. (Perhaps I can persuade her to come by the comments section and let us know.) I do know it is set in 19th Century America, not Revolutionary France. What I've heard of it sounds wonderful. But I hope she'll return to the cast of Sanctuary for a Lady in the future. There's a brother in this book who really needs his own story.

What I Read Wednesday: Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

From the Cover:

Over committed and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife—but she just feels exhausted. And then, the miraculous happens.  Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her.  It’s just the break Julie needs.

But the summer adventure in simple living soon proves anything but simple.  With the camera watching every move, Susan’s drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or dressing differently, each new Amish challenge raises new complications…and soon each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

Andrea’s Take:

Almost Amish is a departure from my usual preference of historical romance, but when Kathryn Cushman broadcast the back cover copy and called for influencers, my reply to her was something like, “This woman sounds so much like me that I really think I need to read this book.”

Almost Amish is a character driven story, and the characters are amazingly compelling. Julie and Susan are easily likened to the Biblical Mary and Martha. Julie’s continual feeling of, “What am I good at? What am I supposed to be doing?” struck a chord in my heart, and resonated with me throughout the story. Often, her scenes brought tears to my eyes because I saw so much of myself in her. She comes to realize strengths in herself that have been hidden under layers of busyness and urgency. 

Susan’s perfectionist-induced stress rolled off of her in waves. At times, just reading her point of view was enough to make my shoulders ache with tension. Circumstances at one point forced Susan to view her life and family from a very different prospective, and she began to realize weaknesses in herself, and strength in others, that she had never understood before. Though I didn’t readily identify with Susan, I did understand her.

After learning some hard lessons about their relationships with each other, their families, and God, both women return home with new determination to simplify their lives in all the ways that count.

Characters to Watch:

Whitney, Brian, and Angie – Julie’s children and Susan’s daughter.  All the children are wonderful, and Angie is instrumental to Susan’s transformation. But thirteen year old Brian stole my heart. He bears an uncanny resemblance to a young man in my church. His dry, intelligent humor had me chuckling often.

Chris – A production assistant for the TV show. Chris doesn’t get a lot of “screen time” in the story, but his presence serves as a catalyst for much of the family drama that unfolds.

Kendra – The show’s producer. Smug and self-serving, Kendra very often had me seeing red.

Some details of the production of the TV show struck me as not quite right, and I didn’t like that Julie’s husband (Susan’s brother) Thomas didn’t accompany the family on their summer adventure.  Since I don’t know anything about TV production, I let that slide with little trouble. Thomas’s presence would have drastically altered the group dynamic. It would have made for an entirely different story, which would have made me very sorry indeed.

Overall, I enjoyed Almost Amish very much. I started reading it early in the morning, read every spare moment, and finished before the wee hours of the morning. It was a day well spent.

I give it Four Stars

What I Read Wednesday: Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

From the Cover:
No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a long-standing debt compels her to take the risk.

Years of constant vigilance harden a man. Yet when Travis Archer comes across a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt prompt him to attempt to rescue her once again.

Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she vows to stand by his side. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her as merely a short-straw bride?

Andrea's Take:
I read Karen Witemeyer's third novel To Win Her Heart after a trusted friend said it was one of the best she had ever read. And I concurred. So when Ms. Witemeyer put out a call for influencers for her fourth book (which I was chomping at the bit to read anyway), I leaped at the chance to own a free copy of Short-Straw Bride, knowing I would love it.  And whad'ya know, I was right!

Karen Witemeyer has created a cast of characters who both tug at and warm your heart. That cast is lead by Travis Archer and Meredith Hayes. Both are orphaned and have good reasons to withhold trust from others. Their brief but memorable history from years ago, combined with the urgency of the threat they both face, compels them to trust one another.

As they learn greater trust, they build on that trust and teach each other to open up in ways they never would have on their own.  Both are Christians from the beginning, but their budding relationship leads them to greater trust in God as well. In the exciting climax of the story, Travis and Meredith face the greatest test yet to their trust in each other and in God.  Both falter a little at the obstacle in their path, but they never really take their eyes off the goal.

Witemeyer is a master at what I call squeaky-clean sizzle. The romantic tension between characters is palpable and sometimes leaves the reader with goosebumps, all the while remaining conservatively PG. As a former devourer of secular (read here: steamy) romances, I find this talent extremely valuable.

Characters to Watch:
Travis's brothers - All of them! Jim was especially endearing to me. He reminds me of a clueless-about-women, man's man Mary Coneally hero. This is a good thing! Though Ms. Witemeyer hasn't published a series or sequel to date, I'm sure her readers would welcome a story (or two) devoted to Crockett and Neill's romances. I know I would!

Cassie - Meredith's cousin and best friend is courageous and fiercely loyal. Clueless cowboy Jim Archer gets a clue real quick when she comes on the scene.

Moses and Myra - Two old and dear friends of Meredith's. They are integral in the growth of Travis's trust of both God and his neighbors. They are the kind of friends who fully warrant that trust.

On my second read through of Short-Straw Bride, the villain fell a little flat for me. Since I don't read romance for it's lifelike villains but rather for that squeaky-clean sizzle, that doesn't affect my enjoyment of the story one bit.

I give it Five Brilliant Stars.

A huge thank you to Karen Witemeyer and her publisher Bethany House for the complementary copy of Short-Straw Bride.

What I Read Wednesday: Longing for Home by Katherine Springer

From the Cover:
It seems like the perfect solution: hotel mogul Alex Porter will manage his sister's small-town bed-and-breakfast while she honeymoons. But he gets more than he bargained fore when he finds himself clashing with feisty cafe owner Kate Nichols. Suddenly he's organinzing church outings and playing surrogate dad to the foster children Date takes in. Alex is used to taking charge--but not like this! If he isn't careful, this big-city executive just might lose his heart to Mirror Lake's favorite hometown girl.

Andrea's Take:
Longing for Home is the fourth book in Kathryn Springer's Mirror Lake series. Alex and Kate clashed--I mean met--for the first time at the end of A Place to Call Home, the first book in the series. Right away, I thought they should get their own story.

I love when an author takes a character I can't stand, shows me what makes him tick, and makes me love him. Alex Porter is one such character. To this point in the series, he is the rich city boy who thinks he knows better than everyone about everything and has no use for the small town where his sister has chosen to settle. Not exactly a likable guy.

Kate Nichols is the rare small town girl who never wanted to be anything else. Her town, her diner, and her church are her life, and she's happy with things as they are. Alex's dismissive attitude regarding all those things infuriates her. The resulting fireworks are certainly a sight to behold.

In Longing for Home, we see behind Alex's icy facade to the big brother who only wants to protect himself and his sister from the hurts of life. When those protective instincts rise up and encompass Kate and the two children she's fostering, she can't help opening up to him as well.

Just when you think they've got it made, a final speed bump slows them down and makes them think it over  one last time. Their road to Happily Ever After is by no means smooth, but in the end it's definitely worth the trip.

This book is my favorite in the series so far. I give it 5 brightly shining stars.

Longing for Home is a January 2012 Love Inspired release, and may be unavailable in print. It is available in digital format. Click here to purchase it at Barnes and Noble.

What I Read: Heart's Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes

From the Cover:

All Phoebe Lee wants out of life is to practice midwifery in Loudon County, Virginia. But when she refuses to accompany her pregnant sister-in-law to help save her husband from prison during the War of 1812, Phoebe finds herself pressed aboard a British privateer.

Captain Rafe Docherty promises to get Phoebe’s brother-in-law out of prison in exchange for information Rafe needs to exact revenge on the man who destroyed his family.  As he realizes his attraction to Phoebe, she determines to get ashore before her patient goes into labor—and before her own heart is in danger. But an enemy in their midst threatens to end their plans—and their very lives.

Andrea’s Take:

I read the first book in The Midwives series, Lady in the Mist, and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when Laurie Alice Eakes asked for influencers for book two, Heart’s Safe Passage, I was all over it. And I was not disappointed.

Phoebe is a woman trying desperately to give the pain of her past to God and allow Him to fill her heart. Rafe is a man trying desperately to hold onto his pain, shutting out God and all echoes of conscience. Both think they have succeeded.

When they are forced together, they learn how wrong they are. Phoebe is a loud and insistent voice of conscience that Rafe cannot silence. Rafe’s lifestyle and actions bring to the surface feelings Phoebe thought long-conquered. He says to her at one point, “Perhaps God has used me to lance your wounds so they can truly heal.” Similarly, God uses Phoebe to salve Rafe’s wounds in spite of his determination to keep them festering.

Rafe is a most compelling hero. The tragedy that struck his family, through the machinations of a wicked and greedy man, is truly appalling. The reader can easily understand—and almost applaud—his need for vengeance. Almost.

Phoebe is an admirable heroine. When she realizes she still harbors anger and fear over things in her past, she confesses it, “I want to save your soul, but now I see mine for the tarnished vessel it is.” She learns that God can use even a tarnished vessel if it is willing, and in the using of it, shines it up so it will reflect Him all the better.

Character to Watch:

Melvina: A young lady who has the run of her father’s heart, and his ship despite his efforts to corral her.  She’s a good girl; though getting her way sometimes leads to serious trouble. But God uses the trouble to achieve His goals, and Melvina, though a little worse for wear comes out well in the end.

I thank Laurie Alice Eakes and Revell Publishing for my complimentary copy of Heart’s Safe Passage. The only compensation I received is the sweet satisfaction of enjoying a story well told.

What I Read Wednesday: Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK by Betsy St. Amant

From the Cover: 

Addison Blakely has never had much trouble pleasing her widowed, overprotective father. After all, he’s a pastor, and she knows her reputation is closely linked to his.  But when the bad boy next door, the cute but arrogant quarterback, and a charming new guy all vie for Addison’s attention, she begins to doubt her resolve. To make matters worse, Addison’s best friend suddenly seems to hate her, a talent show has the entire school at odds, and an exotic foreign exchange student from Germany is shaking everyone up.

Join Addison as she attempt to separate love from lust, facts from faith, and keep her head above water in her murky fishbowl existence.

Andrea’s Take: 

I found myself intrigued with this story when Betsy St. Amant sent out the call for influencers. You see my husband is a pastor, and we have a five year old daughter. In a decade or so (that will seem much shorter, I’m sure), she may find herself  in shoes very similar to Addison Blakely’s, though I hope I’m around to help her then, unlike Addison’s mother.

So, though I’m several years past Young Adult (unless “young at heart” counts), I answered Ms. St. Amant’s call, and I am so glad I did!

This story made time travel possible. It transported me back to the years of high school. I lived again - in a thankfully shorter version - the overwhelming angst and temptation of that time. Addison's struggles are very true to life. And she is a delight to read.  She’s good, but not a goody-two-shoes. She has her little rebellions, but she doesn’t fit the image of PKs gone wild that is often stereotyped. She manages to take the high road mostly, but not always the first time. She is sixteen, after all. 

The story, at its bottom line, is about Addison’s struggle to answer - for herself - the question, “Why Jesus?”  She learns answering that question is the key to answering all the others.

Characters to Watch: Betsy St. Amant has written a wonderful supporting cast for this story. I enjoyed them all, but here are my favorites.

Marta: She is an amazing blessing to Addison. She needs to come back to America and get her own story.

Wes:    Local bad boy, but so much more. I loved him.

Luke:  Every girl should have a friend like Luke.

Claire: That I dislike Claire through much of the book is not surprising, but she comes around. I’d love to see her get her own story too.

*****5 Stars 

I love to give 5-star ratings! And this book earned it. I would not have changed a single thing about it. It’s a great pleasure to say so. Great work, Betsy!

 I received my copy complementary from the publisher, but was not compensated in any way. All opinions are genuine.

What I Read Wednesday: The Rose of Winslow Street

 From the Cover:

In the small town of Colden, Massachusetts, Libby Sawyer leads a quiet, predictable life. Yet beneath the surface, she is haunted by a secret.

Newly arrived on American shores, Michael Dobrescu is far from predictable, and his arrival in Colden is anything but quiet. Michael's shocking claim to be the rightful owner of Libby's father's house immediately alienates him from the appalled citizens of Colden.

Despite her own outrage, Libby is unwittingly fascinated by this enigmatic man who seems equally intrigued by her. As the court's decision about the house looms and the layers of mystery surrounding Michael's past are unveiled, Libby's loyalties are tested in ways she never imagined.

Andrea's Take:

I approached this, Elizabeth Camden's second book, with caution.

Why?

It's simple, really. I absolutely loved her first one (Click here to read my review of The Lady of Bolton Hill. ). She set the bar pretty high, and I wasn't entirely convinced she could live up to it in her second book.

I needn't have worried. She absolutely did do it again.

The Rose of Winslow Street has a cast of the most interesting and unique characters I've ever read. Libby has an amazing talent as well as secret she's ashamed of, and she has a father who takes advantage of the first and never lets her forget the second. Even so, she loves her family deeply. Her loyalty to them - though severely tried - remains strong, even if they don't always return it.

Michael has an unusual gift, which I would never have thought to give to such a big, tough-guy hero. But it is as much a part of him as his large stature and rough, foreign ways. He too is fiercely loyal to and protective of his family, so much that he will, and does, alienate himself from his neighbors and the Sawyer family. His audacity is jaw-dropping in several scenes.

Though their loyalties clash and they drive one another crazy, Michael and Libby share a sense of fair play that won't allow them simply to write each other off as enemies, no matter how badly they want to.  It is on this foundation that Camden builds their romance, and it is a lovely thing to watch. 

All the while, the subplots are unfolding in the background that seem unconnected to the romance. But when they come together, they show how God, in his great love for his people, weaves every detail of our lives into a most beautiful tapestry.

Sibling rivalry plays a part in the lives of both characters, especially in Michael's, where I noticed parallels to the biblical story of Ishmael and Isaac.

I recommend this story to anyone who wants to read a captivating story of the love between a man and a woman and the love of God for his children.

Character to watch: Mirela - Overcoming unspeakable pain, she blooms where God plants her, much like her family's famous roses.

***** 5 brilliantly shining stars

(Note: I gave away my copy of The Lady of Bolton Hill in my birthday bash last fall. Don't look for this one in the next giveaway because I have no plans of letting it go. :)

What I Read Wednesday: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller

I'm Baaa-aack! 

After a long hiatus, that wasn't much of a hiatus for this painting, cleaning, packing, moving...tired...lady, I'm back. 

A couple of plusses...

1.   All of our belongings (that we intend to keep) have been moved from the old house to the new. Many of them are still packed (a fact that is beginning to grate on my poor husband's nerves), but they are moved.

2.  I lost 6 pounds in the last six to eight weeks of work...and that was living on McDonald's and Taco Bell for about two of those weeks. Not too shabby.

It's not completely done. I still have painting to do...perhaps someday I'll share that story, but not today. And of course there's the hanging up of all the pictures, shelves, and knick knacks. But we're in, and there's time to get settled (though not much if I want to keep my husband happy). ;-)

One thing I have found a little time for in all the ruckus is reading. I have a small tbr (to be reviewed) stack of books (not to be confused with the much larger TBR - To Be Read - shelf, which at a rate of one a week, is full enough to keep me busy for over a year, no kidding. But I digress).

So now I'll bring on the first post back What I Read Wednesday: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller.

The image I display is from Barnes & Noble's website. My copy is very old and was published especially for a Billy Graham Crusade, which I think is kinda cool. 

The short blurb on the back of the Crusade Edition says, "Experience Psalm 23 in a new way: see with the Shepherd's eyes, touch with His hands, feel with His heart through this intimate look into the full life of our Lord--the Great Shepherd."

Andrea's Take:

A wonderful lady at our church recommended this book to me years ago when my family was living in her house (Yes, living in her house. It's a huge house...and I already mentioned she is wonderful.  Yes, that wonderful). This wonderful lady bought a book for my husband and me that we thought at the time was this one, but it was more of a "highlights of..." kind of book, not the real thing.

Fast forward a few years to last fall's Friends of the Library book sale. You know, the sale where hardbacks are a dollar and everything else is less? On the last day of the sale (when even hardbacks are only a quarter) I found this 142 page treasure, and the lady running the till gave it to me...for free.  Yeah.

Well, it's worth so very much more.  Mr. Keller, himself a shepherd for many years of his life, examines the lines of the Psalm one by one, expounding on what they mean to a shepherd and the shepherd's motivation for so many of the things he does for, to, and with his sheep. 

A couple of my favorite chapters are Chapter 2, "I Shall Not Want," in which we learn how human beings are indeed very like sheep; and Chapter 3 "He Maketh Me to Lie Down in Green Pastures," in which Mr. Keller reveals the state of sublime perfection a sheep must experience in order actually to lie down, and explains that sublime perfection is what our Good Shepherd offers, if we will only accept it.

By far, for me, the best part of this book is Chapter 10 "Thou Anointest My Head With Oil..." It is not exaggerating to say this chapter changed my life. In it Keller tells how summer insect infestations often lead sheep to seek relief in self-destructive ways. The watchful shepherd will see the early signs of irritation and apply to each sheep's head and nose an ointment that will repel the pestering bugs.

"What an incredible transformation this would make among the sheep. Once the oil had been applied to the sheep's head there was an immediate change in behavior...she sheep would start to feed quietly again, then soon lie down in peaceful contentment" (116).

The Christian parallel to the ointment applied by the shepherd is the Holy Spirit, "...Christ Himself, our Shepherd, urges us to ask for the Holy Spirit to be given to us by the Father." When life's little irritations bug us we can pray, as Mr. Keller recommends, "O Lord, I can't cope with these petty, annoying, peevish problems. Please apply the oil of Your Spirit to my mind. Both at the conscious and sub-conscious levels of my thought-life enable me to act and react just as you would" (118).

Or if you are me (or like me) you can pray, "Anoint my head with oil. Anoint my head with oil..."

Mr. Keller says, "It will surprise you how promptly He complies with such a request made in deadly earnest" (118). It's true. In the past months of buying a house, painting a house, and moving into a house, I've had ample occasion to try it. It really does work.

I intend to re-read this book. Often.

Here's a link so you can buy it and read it for yourself. Often. It's the best $4.99 you'll ever spend.

I give this book 6 stars because 5 just isn't enough. 

What I Read Wednesday: Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot

From the cover:
Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister.  Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims the nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads west to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day.

Abigail plans to marry when she returns to Vermont, just as soon as she attends to her sister. As the summer passes, she finds herself drawn to this rugged land and to a certain soldier determined to persuade her to stay. When summer ends, will she go back East, or will she find her heart's true home?

Andrea's Take: ****4 Stars
Once again, I'm reviewing a book by an author brand new to me.  I just love "meeting" new writers and their characters.

Summer of Promise is the first in a trilogy called Westward Winds that will follow three sisters in their adventures as they find love in the American West. Abigail is the first Harding sister to grace us with her story. Abigail is what I might call an adventurous homebody.  She thinks she wants to settle down in a pleasant marriage and live in the same house for the rest of her life.  She doesn't even know the adventurer is buried deep inside until instinct tells her that Charlotte needs her desperately.  This untamed side of Abigail is evident in her impulsiveness, but it is driven by her love for God and her desire to help others know and love Him too.

Ethan is on the receiving end of Abigail's impulsive, problem-solving bent...much to his benefit.  His past has left him little understanding of the truth about God's love and sacrifice for him.  Old wounds have left him blind to the love of those who should have been closest to him. With help from the Holy Spirit, along with Abigail, and a puppy named Puddles, Ethan discovers the truth about God's love, his family's love, and of course, Abigail's love.

Storylines for supporting characters give the book a full and satisfying feel. Characters to watch include Charlotte Crowley, Abigail's older sister (whose story we will have the pleasure of reading in 2013), and Puddles, the cutest little mutt ever, among others.

The one thing about Summer of Promise that I might have changed is that the resolution of the romance came later than I like it to.  The ending felt a bit abrupt to me. Faithful readers here have heard me say - so to speak - that I like for the couple to encounter the story's final conflict knowing they are committed to each other come what may. The resolution doesn't happen that way in this book.

This is a matter of taste for me, and I'm sure there are as many opinions on this as there are readers who enjoy the stories.  It will in no way prevent me from keeping a sharp eye open for Charlotte's story when it comes out in a year or more (a tragically long wait!).

Thanks to Amanda Cabot and her publisher Revell for a complementary copy of this book. I hope to get on their list again sometime (say, early in 2013?).

Booksneeze Review: Be the People by Carol M. Swain

From the Cover:
Without a doubt, America's foundation is shifting. Over time our nation has adopted policies that have broken our founders' vows of faith. We have educated a generation that does not understand it unique destiny. We have banished the virtues we no longer find relevant. But it is time to think clearly. Who have we been historically, and what kind of nation are we becoming?


Be the People sounds a rallying cry for "We the People of the United States" to stand up and reclaim the life, liberty, and justice envisioned by our forefathers.  Drawing on her training  in political science and law, author Carol M. Swain, PhD, examines the religious significance of today's most pressing issues and courageously exposes the cultural forces that threaten our cherished values and principles.


"Publishing this book is a risk well worth taking," Dr. Swain writes, " Because America is a nation well worth restoring." With expert analysis, action points, and an appendix that includes essential documents such as the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, this landmark book empowers We the People to Be the People who fight for the values and principles that helped make our nation one of the greatest the world has known.


Andrea's Take: ****4 Stars
In Be the People, Dr. Swain explores how the American government has moved slowly but surely away from the ideals of our founders so that they likely wouldn't recognize modern America as the same country they intended when they signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. "America's foundation is shifting. It is time to think clearly. Who have we been historically, and what kind of nation are we becoming?" (17).  She explores hot-button social issues (abortion, same-sex marriage, separation of church and state, racism, and illegal immigration) from a biblical perspective and a Constitutional perspective. As she overlaps these two perspective, the reader sees remarkable similarities between them that modern cultural elites would have us overlook - and have gone to great lengths to see that we do.


Dr. Swain discusses each topic in depth, giving details about our government's practices.Then she applies the Bible and the writings of America's founders to the issue to show how we've gone wrong and where we should be headed. I like that she included the appendices of the Ten Commandments, The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and The Constitution of the United States. While I own several Bibles in various versions, making the Ten Commandments readily available, I did not have copies of the other documents, and I really think every American household should have them handy.


The only negative I found in Be the People is that the academic style often slowed me down.  I found myself digging through academic speech to get to the nuggets of wisdom buried within it. This was enough to count off a star on my 5-star scale. However, those nuggets were pure gold, certainly worth the dig. This book earned every one of it's four stars.


* * * * *
Lovely Readers,


Don't forget to comment on Thursday's post for a chance to win Darlene Franklin's three books. And tune in next week for the third and final review on that trilogy.

What I Read Thursday (Again): Plainsong by Darlene Franklin

 From the Cover:

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in human beings. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

~Psalm 118:8-9

Michelle longs for a storybook romance. Homeless and jobless, Michelle Morris visits her friend Carrie in Denver to find a new job. She quickly envies Carrie's married life and wishes she could have a happily-ever-after of her own.  What she doesn't Realize is her knight in shining armor is about to sweep her off her feet--and love is much more complicated than she imagined.

Joe Knight lives by a code of chivalry and honor. As he spends more time with Michelle, he wants to protect her, fight her battles for her.  He wants to be her strong knight, but feels more like a bungling squire. Does he have what it takes to be the man Michelle needs?

As their picture-perfect romance starts to hit reality, can Michelle and Joe overcome life's obstacles and find a love that truly ends in happily ever after?

Andrea's Take: ****4 stars
The heroine in Plainsong is the character of note I mentioned in last week's review of Romanian Rhapsody.  I must apologize. I called her Michelle Miller. In fact, as you may have noticed her name is Michelle Morris.

Michelle is at an uncertain place in her life, and is listening for God's will. When her relationship with Joe grows serious, she wisely refuses to act on impulse. She waits and God opens--and closes--doors to show her His perfect plan. Joe, the impulsive one in the relationship, doesn't act quite so wisely, but he makes up for it in his dedication to chivalry. He struggles when circumstances move beyond his control, but Michelle, his family and friends are there to remind him of the truth of the verses quoted above.

I enjoyed this sweet story. I generally like to know more about the characters' pasts than we learn of Michelle's in this book, but I understand the need to use words wisely in the short format offered by Heartsong Presents. As in the previous book, Darlene Franklin does this beautifully, using her words for the more important purpose of moving the story forward.

I love how Joe's hometown of Ulysses, Colorado celebrates their namesake (who happens to be one of my favorite Greek heroes) with their Odyssey Days Festival.

Characters to Watch:
Nel Knight - An eccentric Anglo-phile, Joe's mother heads her family with grace and love that comes from her deep faith in God. She is a joy to read.

Sonia Oliveira - a close friend of Joe's who helps him come to terms with some issues he hasn't given over to God.

The comment section is open starting now.  Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for all three books in this series, Romanian Rhapsody, Plainsong, and Knight Music (which I will review next week).

You get one extra entry for following my blog through GFC or on email. US addresses only please.

The drawing will be open until 11:59 pm, Thursday, January 5, 2012. I will announce the winner on January 6, during a week of posts devoted to that day - Epiphany. I hope to post an interview with the wonderful author of these books, Darlene Franklin, on that day as well.

If you don't know much about Epiphany, come back next week and we'll learn about it together

What I Read Thursday: Romanian Rhapsody by Darlene Franklin

From the Cover:

"The Lord is good unto them that wait for him...It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."

~Lamentations 3:25-26

Haunted by the orphans she met in Romania, Carrie Randolph returns to work in an orphanage. Soon she finds herself mothering five toddlers full-time and dreaming of adopting on of them when her two-year mission is finished.

Steve Romero's wife and son died in tragic circumstances in Romania, and he struggles to put the past behind him.  When he decides to adopt a child, he returns to Romania and the orphanage where Carrie works--breaking her heart when he chooses Viktor, her favorite.

Will Carrie trust God to fulfill her dreams in His time? Can Steve let go of grief and love again?

Andrea's Take: **** 4 Stars
Romanian Rhapsody is the story of two people whose lives change irrevocably after one shocking, tragic event.  It is the story of how their paths crossed, and parted time and again until the time--God's time--was full for them to join forever.

After grieving his losses for a time, Steve finds his heart once more open to give and receive love. He decides to adopt a child and proceeds prayerfully through the necessary channels.  Carrie finds her heart likewise open to love as she's surrounded by affection starved orphans.  Both Steve and Carrie set their hearts on the same little boy--Viktor. Apart, one of them is destined to suffer. Together, perhaps they can find happiness, and God's perfect will for all of their lives.

Romanian Rhapsody is a very good story, the characters and plot well-developed in the short format of Heartsong Presents. Though there is little room for extensive back story, the author uses her words wisely and gives the characters a close connection early on.  Carrie's youthful preference for action over prayerful consideration causes her some heartache, and she suffers loss akin to Steve's during her work in the orphanage. She learns to wait on God and trust Him with her plans and is blessed for it in the end.

Characters to watch are Viktor Groza, the little boy who captures both Steve and Carrie's hearts, and Michelle Miller, Carrie's friend and fellow mission worker.

* * * * *

Well, that was the promised book review. And now for the announcement.

Romanian Rhapsody along with its two sequels Plainsong, and Knight Music will be the subject of a special giveaway on this blog after the first of the year. I will be featuring those two books, also by Darlene Franklin, in the next two editions of What I Read Wednesday. "Stay tuned" for more information on this giveaway next week.

What I Read Wednesday: From This Day Forward by Margaret Daley

From the Cover:

Rachel doesn't believe her situation could get any worse—until she meets her new neighbor.

Shortly after the War of 1812, newly widowed immigrant Rachel Gordon arrives in Charleston, South Carolina.  Though frightened and alone, she is determined to establish a home for herself and her child in a new country.

Weary from fighting a war against England, Nathan Stuart is content with his self-imposed isolation.  But then desperate circumstances force him to care for his lovely, helpless—and very English—new neighbor.  Can the battle-scarred American physician who comes to Rachel’s rescue also heal her wounded heart?

Andrea’s Take:

All the books I’ve reviewed for influencing purposes to date have been written by authors entirely new to me. This book is not. I’ve read several books by Margaret Daley. All of them were category romances from Love Inspired, and all were contemporary stories. She has also written many romantic suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense. I’ve heard that it can be a struggle for an author to switch between genres and/or time periods. If it was for Margaret Daley, she conquered it thoroughly. In From This Day Forward. Margaret Daley proves to possess a versatile talent for storytelling in any time and setting.

From This Day Forward is a story of understanding and submitting to God's call on your life.  Rachel understands her calling to be a particular thing at the beginning of the story, with good reason. The circumstances she is in would probably lead anyone to believe what she does.  She trusts God and acts according to his calling as she understands it. When it seems that God has something a bit different in mind, Rachel wears herself to a frazzle for a while before she fully catches on.  

Nathan is well aware of God's calling on his life and is running from it - also understandably so. The healing nature God gave him is battered and bruised by the horrors of war, and he needs time to heal.  He also runs from conflict within his family. Circumstances force him to face both of these issues all at once

When they both stop insisting--to God and one another--that they know best, they find God's true plans for them are better than either of them ever could have imagined. 

My favorite supporting character is George Baker. After an exciting introduction to Rachel and her household, the backwoods neighbor takes in stride everything they throw at him. He proves to be an invaluable source of support and a dear friend.

Many things make this book a truly good read. Both main characters are sympathetic. I really did ache and rejoice with them. It is set in a time period with which I am woefully unfamiliar, and I benefited from the fruits of Ms. Daley's research efforts. The story line followed a natural yet unpredictable path.  These are all very good things to my way of thinking.

In fact, I recommend this book so strongly I'm going to give it away to one lucky reader. 

Please return tomorrow for an interview with the author Margaret Daley. The comment section will be open for entries.

Though I received this book free from Summerside Press for influencing purposes, the opinions expressed herein are my own and they are genuine.

What I Read Wednesday: A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman

I confess to you that I read this book months ago and am only now getting the review written...and late in the day at that. Please forgive my tardiness and enjoy the book review.

From The Cover:

No man can resist her charms. Or so she thought.

Charity O'Connor is a woman who gets what she wants. Her stunning beauty and flirtatious ways have always succeeded with men. Until Mitch Dennehy, that is. Brilliant and dangerously handsome, Mitch is a no-nonsense newspaperman who wants nothing to do with her. Charity burned him once, destroying his engagement to the only woman he ever truly loved. He won't play with matches again. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat, hoping to ignite the heart of the man she loves. And she always gets what she wants--one way or another.

Or does she? Will her best-laid schemes win his love? Or will her seductive ways drive him away forever?

Book 2 in the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Redeemed will captivate your heart and stir your soul with a story of faith and redemption rising from the ashes of temptation, desire, and shame.

Andrea’s Take:

The title of this book might well have been “A Woman Redeemed,” for that is one of the major events in the story.  Charity O’Connor, no longer simply a spiteful, vengeful, and jealous younger sister, becomes real in A Passion Redeemed.

We find that she is fiercely loyal and deeply loving (qualities I feared at one time she lacked completely). We follow her on a journey into her past that is both tragic and liberating. It is a journey that teaches her (and us) the root of the jealousy and insecurity that plague her in A Passion Most Pure.

Through all of this, Charity tries again and again to redeem herself. Some of her schemes make me want to lecture her. Others make me want to shout at her.  But she is teachable.  With every failed scheme, she gets closer and closer to the Truth of Christ and what He offers.  When, finally, she reaches her lowest point, she knows without a doubt where to turn for refuge. It is surely enough to soften all but the hardest of hearts (and maybe even them).

Charity in A Passion Most Pure I would gladly have slapped had she been my sister. That same character in A Passion Redeemed, made my heart cry out with sadness at the hand life had dealt her. Julie Lessman is a masterful story teller to have created a character and story that evoke such a wide range of emotions.

Mitch, Faith’s well-loved fiance from A Passion Most Pure (sadly for him, not quite so well-loved as Collin), learned his lesson once with Charity. He means to have nothing more to do with her. Ever. But he simply cannot stay away.  Ultimately, he must face demons from his own past while helping Charity deal with hers. 

I think it’s not too much of a spoiler to say that both find their own answers. They learn that love is so much sweeter when we wait on God's timing.

I quipped about the title in my opening line, but in reality I think A Passion Redeemed is the perfect title for this book. Charity is a passionate woman. There is nothing wrong with being a passionate person. However, throughout both books, Charity often allows that passion to lead her astray. When she places that passion in God’s hands, He does indeed redeem it. He turns it into something pure and wonderful that she can use to glorify His name.

What I Read Wednesday: Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

From the Cover:

            When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren’t expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed—a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy’s trip to heaven and back.

            Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery—and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on.  He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born.  He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

            With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members.  He describes Jesus, the angels, how “really, really big” God is, and how much he loves us.  Retold by his father, but using Colton’s uniquely simple words, Heaven is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where, as Colton says, “Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.”

            Heaven is for Real will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child.

Andrea’s Take:

            I have a confession. I approached this book with what I considered “healthy skepticism.” I was determined not to be swept away by the drama of an amazing story. At the same time, I would keep my mind and heart open. I’m no Bible scholar, by any means. I am familiar enough with Scripture and secure enough in my own relationship with God to “try the spirits” as the Bible encourages. I intended to do exactly that.

            As I read, I learned something wonderful. The Burpos have no desire whatever to convince anyone of any radical idea about God. It seemed to me that, prior to the experiences recounted in this book, Todd Burpo and his wife would have approached similar stories with the same “healthy skepticism” with which I approached their story (Of course, I could be wrong). 

            When faced with a seemingly unbelievable tale, I ask two questions. Do I have a reason not to believe the person telling the story? And Can I point to anything in the story that I know is wrong (either uninformed or simply untrue)?

When I applied this test to the tale in Heaven is for Real, I found no reason to suspect this man’s honesty. And I found nothing in the story went against my knowledge of the Bible. Some things challenged my opinions, but there was no account I could point to and say, “I know that is wrong because the Bible says otherwise.”

            This story covers comforting things like God’s amazing love for us. It deals with painful things like the loss of loved ones or unborn children. It even touches very briefly on scary things we can’t fully understand about the end of time. Little Colton’s story (though he’s not so little anymore) touches on many issues, big and small, that Christians think about in passing, ponder at length, and spend lifetimes studying an writing books about. Everything he says at least makes sense, and much of it seems to hit the nail right on the head.

            I can’t tell you all the accounts I love in this book because I don’t want to spoil it for you. But I do want to share a short excerpt that deals simply with the admonition “Ask and ye shall receive.”

During that time, Colton had also become obsessed with rainbows….

So when, in the spring of 2004, the most brilliant rainbow we’d ever seen appeared over [our hometown], we called him outside to take a look.

Sonia was the first to see it…. “Hey, you guys, come see this!” she called.

From the kitchen, I crossed the dining room to the front door and was astonished to see a rainbow so bright, so vivid that it looked like an artist’s painting of the Perfect Rainbow. Or a kid with a brand-new box of crayons illustrating his science lesson: ROY G BIV. Every color sharply divided from the next, and the whole arc blazing against a perfectly blue sky.

“Did it rain and I missed it?” I asked Sonja.

She laughed. “I don’t think so.”

Colton was down the hall in the playroom. “Hey, Colton,” I called. “Come out and take a look at this.”

He emerged from the playroom and joined us on the front stoop.

“Look at that rainbow, Colton,” Sonja said. “There definitely should be a big pot of gold at the end of that thing.”

Colton squinted at the colors pouring across the sky.

“Cool,” he said with a nonchalant smile. “I prayed for that yesterday.”

Then he turned on his heel and went back to play.

Sonja and I looked at each other like, What just happened?...

Colton Burpo hadn’t seen a rainbow in a while, so he asked his heavenly Father to send one. Faith like a child. Maybe, Sonja and I thought, we had a lot to learn from our son.

~ ~ ~

            Some might say the idea of God suspending the laws of nature because a little boy wanted to see a rainbow is far-fetched. To that I say, what is far-fetched? That he could do so? Or that he would do so? I believe my God is more than powerful enough to create a rainless rainbow. And I believe he loves each of us enough to do that and more for us if we ask him. (Andrea is stepping down from her soapbox now)

            This book is an excellent reminder to sometimes forget everything I think I understand about the world around me and just let God show me what he wants me to see.

Definitely 5 stars on this one.

What I Read Wednesday: Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer

From the Cover:

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family’s farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promises adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he’s the man she’s meant to marry.

While she waits for the end of the Great War and Arthur’s return, her mother’s sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, sure that her glamorous and exciting life is about to start.

But the Spanish flu epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt’s sickness, Arthur’s indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah discovers she must choose between her desire to escape the type of life she’s always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

Andrea’s Take

Wings of a Dream is the debut novel from Anne Mateer. It is written in first person point of view, which slowed me down a touch at the beginning of the story simply because I don’t read a lot of first person work. Once I got used to it, I flew through the story.

Rebekah Hendricks is the viewpoint character. The entire story comes to the reader through her eyes. Ms. Mateer makes good use of this limited scope. Rebekah has a few men vying for her hand. With the first person point of view, the reader is as uncertain as she is what course she will take.

It is clear to the reader right away what Rebekah wants – adventure in the big city. This goal makes Rebekah a universally sympathetic character.  What country kid hasn’t dreamed of big city life? 

If her dream makes her sympathetic, her follow through is what makes her admirable.  When she commits to care for Aunt Adabelle, she has no idea what is in store. When the worst happens, Rebekah takes on four children. Later, when her dreams seem to be falling apart all around her, she remains steadfast, her faith assuring her that some things are more important.

Wings of a Dream is a romantic story, but it is so much more. It is the story of a young woman’s coming of age at a time in history when life held all the uncertainty of war and disease. When tradition was tested and sometimes discarded for new and flashy, Anne Mateer gives us a character willing to hold herself to God’s standards and lay aside her own plans in favor of His…trusting that He knows what will make her happy better than she does.

Anne Mateer is a new author worth watching.

I received my copy of Wings of a Dream complimentary from the publisher.  I have not been compensated, and all the above remarks are truly my own opinions.

What I Read Wendesday: The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

From the Cover:

When Clara Endicott and Daniel Tremain’s worlds collide after twelve years apart, the spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a romance neither of them thought possible.

But time has changed them both.

Daniel is an industrial titian with powerful enemies. Clara is an idealistic journalist determined to defend underprivileged workers.

Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts – and lives – hang in the balance?

Andrea's Take:
I just love it when I get in on the ground floor of something wonderful. Well I certainly have this time!

The Lady of Bolton Hill is the debut novel of bright new author Elizabeth Camden. I read it twice. The first time, I liked it. When I didn’t review it right away, I felt I should re-read it so it would be fresh in my mind for the review.  Something changed with the second reading. I loved it!

When Daniel and Clara meet again after 12 years with absolutely no contact, they pick up where they left off.  Or so they think…

They find themselves at cross purposes. In the excitement of renewing their youthful friendship, each  underestimates the other’s resolve. Clara believes she knows “all the sides of Daniel Tremain” (p. 164), but she has no idea of the depth of his hatred against his enemy. Daniel believes Clara to be delicate and “afraid of everything from horses to speaking in public” (p. 243), and he completely discounts her faith in God. 

It is that deep-seated and unshakeable faith that gives Clara the strength – in spite of her fears – to do something that will shock your socks off. If I told you what Clara does, Elizabeth Camden would have my head. So I won’t. But I’ll tell you that when I read it, I gasped aloud (even on the second read through, when I knew it was coming).

This book is good all the way through, but the last one-third is simply riveting (I tend to think that word is over used, but truly no other will do).  After about page 200, I simply could not put it down.

One last point to cover:

Bane – The young man named Alexander Banebridge is an amazing character. I want to know more about what he does between Chapter 23 and the Epilogue…a lot more. Like, he needs his own book.

If you haven’t read this book, you should. And if you’ll come back to this blog on October 13, you’ll have a chance to win my copy. I can’t believe I’m giving it away, but I am.

Isn't it pretty?

Also be on the lookout in a few months for Elizabeth Camden’s second release The Rose of Winslow Street. Available for pre-order now at Barnes & Noble.

I know I can't wait for it.

What I Read Wednesday: A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson

From the Cover:

Miss Fannie Rousseau is a young woman of privilege traveling west to uncover the truth behind a family secret.

Mr. Samuel Beck is on a mission to atone for past failures that still haunt him.

Their meeting aboard a steamboat to Montana sparks an unlikely attraction. They are opposites in every way…except in how neither one can stop thinking about the other.

Will the end of the journey bring the end of their relationship, or is it just the beginning?

Andrea's Take:

This book is my introduction to Stephanie Grace Whitson, and let me say she made a lovely first impression. A Most Unsuitable Match is an engaging story with plenty of surprising twists to keep the reader guessing. I stayed up long past bedtime, and got almost nothing done the next day because I didn’t want to put it down. 

Fannie Rousseau and Samuel Beck head up a delightful cast of characters. As they strive to reach their separate goals, both find faith and struggle to keep it alive in the face of painful revelations and trials. Friends they find—and lose—along the way point them toward God and each other. The ending is wonderful, and I love the epilogue.

Something I found truly delightful was the cover.  Before I read the book, I thought it was simply a nice picture of two people standing on the deck of a ship. After I read the book I recognized that the cover designers went to some trouble to outfit the models quite accurately according to the details of the story. I know Mrs. Whitson probably didn’t design the cover, but I thought it worth mentioning anyway.

I found A Most Unsuitable Match to be a lovely story wrapped up in a lovely package. It was worth the loss of sleep and buildup of housework it cost me to finish it quickly. I’ll start keeping my eye out for Stephanie Grace Whitson’s work in the future.

I received my copy of A Most Unsuitable Match free from the publisher for review purposes.  I was not compensated, and all opinions are my honest personal impressions.

A Most Unsuitable Match will be on the list of books for my big giveaway in October. Don't miss it!