Book Reviews

The Trouble with Patience
by Maggie Brendan
Rating: 4/5
Virtues and Vices of the Old West #1
Revell – Fiction | Historical Romance

Patience Cavanaugh is not a typical woman. After losing the man she wanted to marry, she inherits her grandmother’s run-down boarding house in the West. Moving away from all she knows and her mother’s critical eye, Patience is determined to make the boarding house successful again. After cleaning what she can, she still has many repairs to do but is ill-equipped to handle them alone. The new Marshall in town, Jedediah Jones, comes up with a simple arrangement that should be mutually beneficial. Patience would cook food for Jed and his posse and any prisoners while Jed would help her out with repairs. Although Patience and Jed didn’t meet on the best terms, the attraction between them is undeniable. While Patience still struggles with the tragic death of her beau, Jed’s secret might be the one thing that keeps their relationship from blossoming. Will Patience ever realize she is beautiful and is Jed the one to convince her? Can Jed learn to trust his heart with another woman? Can the two of them uncover the truth about the trouble that’s been brewing in town?

I really enjoyed this story about Patience and Jed because the story was very easy to read and fun. The banter between the two of them is fresh and thoroughly entertaining. Patience is a really strong woman who can’t see how beautiful she is. She treats those around her with respect and mercy; she’s definitely someone worth emulating. Jed is full of regrets from his past, which is something that everyone can relate to. The character development is beautifully done, but the pacing at the end is a little rushed in my opinion.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance with good character development.

I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

A Light in the Wilderness
by Jane Kirkpatrick
Rating: 4/5
Revell – Historical Fiction

Although she cannot read, Leticia treasures the papers that prove she is free and no longer a slave. When she decides to marry Davey Carson and travel with him along the Oregon Trail, she is determined to build a new life for herself. Davey is an Irishman who has his own secrets but is loyal to Leticia.

On the trail, the Carsons meet and bond with Dr. Zachariah Hawkins, his wife, Nancy, and their large family. Nancy loves her husband so much that she’s willing to leave everything she knows to follow her husband across the country to Oregon. Nancy and Leticia form a special friendship that both come to rely on when tragedy strikes.

Did Leticia do the right thing? Should she have stayed in Missouri? Can she trust Davey to write her into his will? Could Davey ever care for her and look past the color of her skin?

I loved that the book was based on the real life story of Leticia Carson. The historical aspects of the story are so well realized and described. I was completely caught up in the story and transported to a different time and place. The first 1/3 of the story is a little slow but once I really got into the book, I couldn’t put it down. Kirkpatrick did an amazing job with the setting and the characters. I really enjoyed reading about Leticia’s character and her triumphs and struggles. She was someone I would have loved to have met in person.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history and is interested in learning about life on the Oregon Trail and in Oregon Territory.

I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

The Crimson Cord
by Jill Eileen Smith
Rating: 4/5
Daughters of the Promised Land Book 1
Revell – Historical Fiction

Marriage to an injured soldier-turned-gambler was not what Rahab expected when she dreamed of love. When her husband’s debt becomes more than they can manage, Rahab is auctioned off and begins to live as a prostitute. Even when the prince of Jericho starts favoring her, she still feels dirty and unlovable. Feeling trapped in a life she did not choose, Rahab is hesitant to trust any man. When two Israelite spies seek her help, she chooses to deceive her own people. She has heard all about what their God did in Egypt and in parting the Red Sea. She knows there is something different and real about the God that the spies serve. She secures a promise from the spies that their God will spare her life (and her family’s) if she hangs a crimson cord from her window and if she doesn’t betray the spies. Even if what they are saying is true, can Rahab trust them? Can she trust their God to keep His word? Can she learn to trust and love again when she’s been so hurt and misused?

Since many people are already familiar with the biblical account of Rahab, I was curious to see how the author explained her lifestyle. I really enjoyed the background story because it painted a fuller picture of who Rahab was and why she was the way she was. I’ve always loved that God chose to use the least likely person and place her in the lineage of Christ. His redemption is so much more powerful when seen through the process she went through.

I read through this book in a few hours because I had to know how the author would end the story. I was not disappointed. The characters are authentic and not over-the-top. We see their struggles and failures. I was very impressed with the character development and how the main characters made me want to like them.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a biblical background. This is more a story of redemption than a story of romance.

I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.