Dorothy Clark (1) (1929–)

Trace Warren is a widower doctor who was unable to save his wife and unborn child from a viral illness. He's moved to a town in Wyoming where he signed a contract saying he'd live with his family for 5 years and run the town's apothecary (and he's hiding that he's a doctor). He thought his widower status would fulfill the contract provisions, but finds out differently, so he makes a deal with Mrs. Howard to enter into a marriage in name only with her and provide for her and her infant son. show more Unfortunately, Mrs. Howard is very ill and passes away while on the train on her way to Trace's home. She leaves her son in the care of Katherine Fleming.

Katherine delivers the baby to Trace. Together they decide to name him Howard to honor his mother. Trace gives Katherine enough of an explanation of his circumstances to get her to marry him "in name only".

While I do realize this is set in a historical time when unwed mothers are ostracized (so the idea of a legitimate looking marriage would be desirable), I don't really agree with pretending to be married. I also didn't understand how Trace planned to annul his marriage to Katherine and then marry someone else to fulfill the contract without the townspeople talking. Was he planning to tell them Katherine died? Or that she couldn't handle Western life and went back to New York?

There's little meaningful communication between the two. Trace is trying to steel his heart because he's lost faith in himself and his abilities, he doesn't want a situation he can't control, and he doesn't want his heart broken again if he loses someone he cares about. He's got a million excuses why he can't love Katherine (or Howard). Katherine seems to feel that she's already had her one great love in Richard (who was lost at sea before they were married) and maybe she feels loving someone else would be disloyal to him. Instead of talking to each other and admitting that feelings have changed or that there might be some sort of relationship between them, there are just reasons why they can't love the other person (even when it's totally obvious to all us readers that they're just fooling themselves).

In a twist of irony--Trace reveals he is a doctor to the town and the town's founder (the one who wanted the contracts) is so thrilled that a real doctor is willing to live in the town that he negates the family clause of the contract--at the same time that Trace realizes he wants to make his marriage to Katherine a real one.

Another reviewer pointed out that Trace, as a doctor, should have known how many people die even with the best care during the time this is set. True, but he did have a personal stake with his wife dying and I can see where that might shake his confidence a bit. show less

Oh, I just had to read this book once I stumbled upon the summary on another site. The heroine is a former prostitute (seriously, a heroine in a Christian romance novel who isn't as pure as the driven snow - someone call the press!) who falls in love with the pastor who led her to Jesus. Except she's not quite over being a prostitute, and it takes a lot of angst for her to realize that that's all in her past.

I honestly have no idea how to rate this book. On the one hand, the heroine is show more definitely non-traditional. On the other hand, there's still a lot of slut shaming done in this book (except, you know, she didn't choose to have sex). Angela, the prostitute-turned-choir-girl, keeps talking about how ashamed she is of "her" sin. Except the reader rather quickly finds out that she was forced into prostitution; it was never something she chose. Her mother sold her into the life and she was repeatedly raped. Angela eventually ran away at 18, as soon as she could manage to get away. So...how exactly did SHE sin?

And even if she HAD chosen to be a prostitute (except, really, who genuinely does that?), why all of the "I'm unworthy, no one will ever love me, god is trying to punish me" crap?

Yeah, no idea how to rate this book. At least it was entertaining, in a train wreck sort of sense? show less

It's a bit better than most Love Inspired titles--at least it had some Christian lessons in it that different characters had to learn. I don't know if I've read anything by this author before. A friend sent me this book in a box of books, but when I started it, it hardly seemed like it had been read before.

WARNING: REMAINDER OF REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

****

Likes:
The church's response to Gelina's decision.

The lady who helped Gelina asking Gelina to pay it show more forward rather than taking money.

Angela's choices made to pay the good deed forward: helping a shelter, visiting the elderly and buying items for them, helping Cathy to attend college and get out of a bad situation.

Hosea's response to Angela's past. It's nice to know there are people out there who can hate the sin but love the sinner, who can walk the "God makes everything new and clean" talk.

Cathy's making the most of the chance offered to her. The church's response to Cathy's plight. (I do wonder what happened to or became of her father--I wonder if he will show up in another book? I hope he finds salvation somewhere along the way.)

Cathy paying the good deeds shown to her forward by being a friend to Diana and even staying over the Christmas holiday at school with her.

Frank and Greta--nice caretaker, grandparent/parent figures.

That many characters see and think that God is working in their lives: Hosea recognizes it in his life and counsels Leigh in it, Angela wonders if God is trying to prevent her from calling a realtor.

Seeing Hosea struggle--pastors aren't immune to the struggles the rest of us humans have. Also seeing Hosea turn to his parents (believers) and to God for counsel.

The lessons characters learn throughout the story.

Dislikes:
Angela's resolution to her mental struggle occurs abruptly. After all the wrestling with it that she did, I have a hard time believing that a short conversation resolves it for her.

Hosea's response to Angela's past: while I like his response overall, it's not the norm to a situation like that. I wonder, did he struggle with it in the years between his guest preaching stint and his acceptance of the pastor position in Harmony, Colorado? Because if his only struggle with it is what's portrayed in this book, then I'm not sure how realistic the struggle is/was.

I didn't get the leap of logic that allows Hosea, Leigh and Phil to connect Cathy's comment about the cabins with where Angela would have gone when she fled Harmony. show less

4 stars

The setting for this story is 1841 Pinewood Village New York
Sadie Spencer comes home after four years away. She has to deal with lots of problems right off the bat.

It deals with some issues of blame, forgiveness. memories and illness.
Sadie was attacked four years ago in the woods by her house by Payne Aylward. She still suffers nightmares and does not want to touch any man. Has no plans to
ever marry. The whole community knows about it. Payne was never caught.

Sadie has come home show more because of news of her grandparents health problems. Sadie was raised by her grandparents when her parents died when she was little.
Her grandmother has memories problems. Sometimes not even recongizes her. Her grandfather Manning had a stroke. (Not sure if they called it that) his one side
is useless.

She finds a stranger in her grandparents house Cole Aylward. Cole comes a lot since Manning can't get around. He also eats with them most days. Cole got to town right after
the attack and even tried to track his brother. He has tried to make up for the trouble his brother caused. He comes carrys Manning from bed to table to different
rooms. (I have dealt with a stroke leaving me so half my body did not work. Never thought how hard that would be without wheelchairs and modern medicines)
Cole even manages the Townsend mill and lumber camp.

Sadie does not want him around since he looks a lot like his brother. She does not trust him. She thinks he must have ulter motives. Like stealing from the mill.

Cole is smart and a hardworker. He has tried to makeup for what Payne did. He wants to know why Payne has changed since he last saw him. He has gone out of his way to
the Townsend family. The town was not very welcomed to him and blamed him too for his brothers fault.

Sadie has some good friends from childhood that have had their own stories told in other books of this series. I would love to read them too.
It is a clean read.
I was given this ebook to read and asked in return to give honest review when read by Netgalley & Harlequin.
publication: September 3rd 2013 by Harlequin Love Inspired Historcal 288 pages ISBN:0373829795 show less