Deeply Devoted

This is another Christian historical romance characterized by shoddy historical research. It's the 1880s, and women wear overalls (and think it's cute). Like I've said in previous reviews, women in the 1800s absolutely did not wear overalls. When I read a book set in the 1800s where a woman wears overalls and thinks it's a normal thing to do, the author is immediately discredited.

Catharine, Greta, and Anna are Dutch, but their surname is Olsen. Another Dutch character is named Karl Johnsen. Neither of those surnames are Dutch; they are both Scandinavian. Again, this kind of error discredits the author and makes it look like they couldn't be bothered to do basic research.

Greta is 17, and the other characters make a big deal out of her turning 18, because then she'll be an adult and they can't tell her what to do anymore. First of all, that attitude is very modern, and secondly, the age of majority back then was 21, not 18.

Other annoying things include Peter and Catharine having a "cute" mud fight (this stupid cliche needs to die), characters referring to the "weekend" (I don't think they had weekends back then), the twins calling Catharine "Miss Catharine" instead of "Mrs. Andersen" (wouldn't have happened), Mario offering "refills" at his restaurant (sounded really modern), very modern attitudes towards divorce, Catharine wanting to name a daughter Willow (not impossible, but very implausible), and several over-used plot devices (Big Misunderstanding and Failure to Communicate).

Some things that didn't make sense aren't necessarily related to historical research. For example, Peter is a wheat farmer. He has a nice house, but no servants. Last year's wheat crop got eaten by locusts, and this year's crop is threatened by locusts. So, do Peter and Catharine economize? No, they stay at luxury hotels, go to the opera, and throw Greta a birthday party catered by an Italian restaurant. The scene at the end of the book where Peter gives Catharine the dishes also didn't make any sense. Why is he giving Catharine so many valuable dishes to hold at one time? In real life she would have dropped them.

Finally, how in the world did Peter and Catharine even find each other? Did Catharine subscribe to Wyoming newspapers in Holland? Did Peter place an advertisement in a Dutch newspaper?
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DEEPLY DEVOTED by Maggie Brendan is an exciting inspirational historical romance set in 1887 Cheyenne Territory, Wyoming. The first in “The Blue Willow Brides” series. What an amazing story of diversity,forgiveness,healing,secrets,faith,romance, where a highborn Holland lady and a simple wheat farmer learn love,to let the past go and move forward to their future together. Catharine Olsen leaves her homeland in Holland with her two sisters to become a mail order bride in Wyoming.She leaves behind a tragic past,and sets out for a future with a wheat farmer,her two beloved sisters,her mother’s set of Blue Willow China,and her faith. Her new husband,Peter Anderson,is unaware of her companions,while a bit perturbed by this unexpected surprise,he is not disappointed to find Catharine to be everything he thought she was…until his mother has her investigated. This is a fast paced story with vivid characters and is filled with romance,and faith.A must read for any historical,romance readers.While,this is an inspirational story it is not “preachy” story,but a story of love,forgiveness,and healing. This author has done in again in “The Blue Willow Brides” series with “Deeply Devoted”as a wonderful start to a sure to be wonderful series.This story will touch your heart as two different culture comes together to find love and peace. Received for review from the pubisher.Details can be found at Revell,a division of Baker Publishing Group and My Book Addiction Reviews. ( )

Deeply Devoted
Maggie Brendan

Catharine Olsen becomes a mail order bride, leaving Holland for the USA, travelling by train to prairie land WY with her 2 young sisters in tow. Catharine became the guardian of Anna 15, and Greta 17 when her parents perished in an accident.

Peter anxiously awaits the arrival of Catharine and is surprised when he sees her arrive with her two sisters. She kept that from him for fear he wouldn’t want her if he knew she had to care for them. Secret number one.

Peter’s mother Clara had high hopes for him to marry Dorothy and is struck clueless when she runs into Peter and Catharine on their way to be married. Clara hires a PI to find some ‘dirt’ on this ‘gold digger’ that is taking up with her son. Secret number two.

The PI finds that Catharine was married prior to coming to the USA, and she had not mentioned that to Peter either. Secret number 3.

Secret after secret are kept between the couple, that slowly begins to tear at the trust that they had built up through their correspondence and courtship. They both seem deeply devoted, but are they enough so to reveal all the burdens that they are carrying, and bring them into the light?

Rich in Wyoming history the novel felt like I was walking down the streets of WY in the late 1800’s. Mail order brides was an actual happening in America where there were hard working men, but no women to share their lives with. This is why I love historical fiction so well. Not only do you get a glimpse of history, of a different way of living, a different economy, dress, etc, but you also get a story that helps make that time period more real to the readers mind.
I sure hope Maggie Brendan continues the series right where she left off. I can’t wait to see what happens to the sisters as they grow up on WY, and how deeply devoted Peter and Catharine can become to one another.
I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Peter Andersen is a simple farmer who longs for a bride of his own. Overlooking the local girls, Peter corresponds with a mail-order bride from Holland. Each letter he receives convinces him more that Catharine Olsen is the right woman for him. When she arrives, he is pleased with her beauty and sweetness. However, she failed to mention that she would be bringing her two younger sisters to live with them. Frustrated and unsure about this turn of events, Peter takes a leap of faith and marries Catharine the day after she arrives in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Settling into life as a married man and older brother-figure is undeniably difficult, but quite satisfying. However, when Peter's mother, Clara, conducts a private investigation, Catharine's secrets are exposed. Will their new relationship survive? Can Peter and Catharine learn to trust God and each other?

Deeply Devoted is the start of Maggie Brendan's Blue Willow Brides series. Filled with a tender romance between Peter and Catharine that many readers will enjoy, Deeply Devoted also addresses deeper issues of Catharine's previous failed marriage. This drama adds tension to the plot and keeps the plot from stagnating. Personally, I thought the story moved a little too slow, but other readers may feel differently. The characters of Deeply Devoted were well-developed and Clara's internal conflict was especially intriguing.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." ( )

I can't remember the last time I stayed up into the wee hours of the night to finish a book. I could NOT go to bed last night until I had read the last page and I started in the afternoon. You know it's a fantastic book to hold my attention for over 300 pages, make me skip dinner, and then make me unable to rest until I finished to whole thing. I think it was about 2AM by the time I went to bed. This story was awesome! It started out sweet like any other Christian book but kept intensifying with each chapters. Important elements to the story slowly trickled out over time and made it impossible to put down.

I had not read any books by Maggie Brendan before and figured this would be like any other typical Christian prairie romance, but I decided to give it a try anyway. Boy, was I wrong about that! It was anything but typical. I am so glad I joined the blog tour for this book because this is one of the few Christian fiction titles available that deals with mail order bride issues that doesn't make you wait for the entire book while they "get acquainted," if you know what I mean. I was thrilled about that. I always figured in real life it didn't work that way, only in Christian books, LOL! And unlike many novels that deal with secrets, this one had situations that were believable and worked for me. I absolutely loved the characters. All of them. Even the meddling mother/mother-in-law.

This novel is not only incredibly romantic with a hero that is swoon-worthy, but it makes you think about communication in marriage and makes you want to be a better spouse. Seriously. I loved Peter. Absolutely adored him. And when he got upset I understood it. Rather than getting ticked off at him I just hurt for him. Same for Catherine. She wasn't a petty wife with dumb issues that are supposed to carry an entire story. She was like a real person to me. I loved her and her sisters. I especially loved the scenes with her and Peter and their coming together as husband and wife. Tastefully done, yet enthralling at the same time.

I wish all Christian historicals were this yummy and inspirational. I think more people would switch over from secular fiction if they found more books like these on the inspy shelves. The scriptures all fit perfectly, too, and there was nothing sappy about the faith element. It wasn't heavy-handed, but was clearly present. I can't say enough good things about the book. The writing was stellar, too. I highly recommend it. It's making my best fiction list for this year! ( )