This is my first book to read of Ms. Jagears and I was very impressed. Her subject was unique to most novels; prostitution in the early 1900’s. It was as destructive a lifestyle then as now.
Evelyn Wisely had a heart for those affected by it, not only the women but also the children born as a result and the men who paid for the services. You would think she would be applauded by the people of her town but most people during that era were quick to judge and reject the sinner than to help. She faced great opposition. This did not deter her from pursuing the ministry she felt called to.
David Kingsman, a business man, joins her by allowing the women to earn honest money by cleaning his factory after hours. He is also attacked in his efforts by his employees. Both are strong Christians and determined to help no matter what the cost. To say the obstacles they face are formidable is putting it mildly.
The conditions the women and children lived in was tragic and even more so knowing the same things are happening in our day and time. Morality and Christianity, during that era held very high standards but tended to be snobbish and repulsed by those living in sin. There was definitely a “holier than thou attitude.” They failed to hate the sin and love the sinner.
David truly impressed me and I enjoyed him. Even though he exuded wealth and good looks his humility and respect for the prostitutes and children was a beautiful testimony. I love how at ease he was with them and did everything to make them feel comfortable.
I also admired Evelyn and David because the each was struggling with difficult and painful personal issues but that did not deter them from giving 100% of themselves. Most people go inward with self-pity and selfishness rather than looking outward. A great story with a strong Christian message. It brought to my mind Philippians 2:3. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
I received this book from Bethany Publishers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.

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The Main Characters:
Gotta love characters with quirks! From Evelyn's unhealthy penchant for wandering the bad side of town, alone, with a gun hidden on her person, to David's dear love of food and offense at one's leaving a piece of bacon uneaten, these characters gave me so much to look forward to while on this book-journey! Evelyn is a strong female character that carries a mysterious secret. I enjoyed getting to know her and related to her in her age, longing for children of her own, and her people-pleasing tendencies. But I actually related to David’s character the most in this story. Both David and Evelyn are people-pleasers to a fault, though from different angles. David wonders at Evelyn’s cool treatment of him and cannot abide the thought of someone disliking him without wanting to make it right. He is a unique hero and Evelyn complements his personality even as they clash because of her secret. Their interactions brought more than one giggle, and the more I read, the more reluctant I was to leave these characters.


The Secondary Characters:
We get to revisit our favorite characters from A Heart Most Certain, including Nicholas and Lydia Lowe, Caroline O’Connor, Henri Beauchamp, Sadie, and Charlie. Also, the orphanage children play major roles in this story. Comical scenes involving orphanage staff and the ever-crying baby help bring Evelyn’s goals to life, while struggles with the children and Evelyn’s aging parents ground this ministry in hard work.


The Romance:
David and Evelyn’s relationship grows from animosity to a tentative acquaintance, then slowly to friendship and love. The plot necessitates this slow discovering of character and personality, which builds a beautiful foundation for a lifetime of commitment.


The Pace:
This novel develops gradually, allowing many facets of the different characters to be explored. The gentle flow of the characters’ internal thoughts reveal relatable struggles and connect them with the reader.


The Faith Element:
Throughout this novel, the hero and heroine are required to make hard, life-altering decisions because of their faith. They are put through the refining fire of circumstances and the ending of the book shows us the results. I always enjoy the journey of the faith message in Melissa’s books, and this one tackles an especially difficult subject while making the reader think.


The Stakes:
Along with the lives of suffering orphans and women trapped in the red-light district, the desire for acceptance from others, including family, society, love interests, and God, is a strong influence in A Love So True. The lengths each character will go to keep or attain this acceptance is challenged on many levels and stretched until the climax of the story when the characters grow into the new truths they’ve learned.


The Author’s Trademarks:
Deep exploration of character emotions and reactions, strongly reminiscent of Lori Wick’s style, make Melissa Jagears books some of my favorite to sit and digest with a cup of tea. Her tackling of tough subjects with a gentle approach and her Biblical accuracy make every book a heart-journey for the reader.


The Overall Impression:
From chapter to chapter, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Evelyn, David, and their friends. The intrigue and dynamics of their gentle friendship kept me turning pages and wanting more time with the characters.


The More Factor:
I can’t wait to spend more time with these characters as they discover more about faith and their calling to help others. ( )

Evelyn loves working at the orphanage and is grateful to her parents form making it happen. But she feels a huge pull towards the women who work in the red light district and have no way out. She hopes to provide a home and occupational training so they have a way out of that life. She has a donor agree to help her, but she must get the support of two other business men before she can have his help. When she bursts into the office of David Kingsman she hopes that he will help her by becoming a supporter. But David is only there to sell the business and doesn't see a reason to go against his father's wishes just to leave the project in a month or so.

This was a fun book. The characters from the previous book were brought back, but the book was written in such a way that I think it would work as a stand-alone. The author uses the plot and characters to bring out some moral issues that sadly, still trouble us today. She touches on several things, but the one that stood out the most to me was the treatment of others and how we aren't better or worse that anyone else in God's eyes. While there is a lot of spiritual emphasis, I didn't feel preached at while reading. The two main characters mixed well together and their relationship was sweet. There were a few surprises that I didn't see coming and those were fun. Overall, this was a good story that spoke to me several times, while at the same time being a very enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my own. ( )

A Love So True is the second book in a series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Teaville, Kansas is a small community with a red light district. Evelyn Wisely is a 27 year old woman who is trying to better the lives of the children born to the "soiled doves" and try to help the mother's as well. She has made it her mission to help women get out of the life they are in. She has grand plans and tries to solicit help to achieve her goals. This puts her in the path of David Kingman, a wealthy business man. The attraction is there, but both hold on to secrets that could make a relationship impossible.

This book took me longer to read than planned. This book contains a lot of social issues, and it took me a little longer to fully appreciate all that it offers. The book deals with material that was taboo for 1908. Many tried to pretend that "houses of ill repute" did not exist and considered the women as beneath redemption. You can still see some of that in today's world, but I hope that we are a little more educated.

This book is not one that I could sit down and continue reading for hours at a time. I had to savor this one a little more to get all of the messages that Melissa Jagears was giving me.

I give this book a high recommendation. It does mention prostitution and the plight of the prostitutes. It also contains Christian themes and a little bit of kissing.

Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest thoughts and opinions. ( )

No one works more tirelessly for the orphans of Teaville, KS, than Evelyn Wisely. Her job at the orphanage puts her in contact with children few in their town will accept – the children of prostitutes. As she tends to their needs, she sees the trap that many of the women find themselves ensnared within. What if their town could build a women’s shelter to house any of the women who want to leave prostitution? What if they would teach the women another trade? Could they help both the children and their mothers with just one idea?
David Kingsman is sent to Teaville by his father to sell the glass factory his father has acquired. David, however, has a different vision. If he can make it more profitable before he sells it, the factory will be worth way more than his father expects to get out of it. Unfortunately, when he arrives he discovers that the man running the place is basically drawing a salary for doing the least amount of work he can manage. As David works to “clean house”, his long hours don’t leave him any time to pursue his first love – cooking. Worse yet, he can’t find a restaurant that cooks better food than he could make himself and the food provided by the boarding house he stays in is just plain awful. Searching for a restaurant in this new-to-him town, he follows the very respectable –looking Evelyn into the Hawk and Eagle “soda fountain”. At least, that’s what he thinks it has to be because no lady of substance would ever enter a saloon, right?
Intrigued by this woman who walks into not only a bar but the red light district alone and without fear, David makes it a point to get to know her. The cold shoulder he gets would - and has - made many men turn their attentions elsewhere. David, however, is only looking for friendship. He doesn’t plan to stay in Teaville and he’s not looking for romance. Since Evelyn has her own reasons for keeping all men at a distance, David’s temporary status in Teaville makes him a safe option for friendship. What happens, then, when feelings change and secrets come to light?
Welcome back to Teaville – where the Teaville Moral Society is THE Ladies club to belong to. Book 2 in Melissa Jagears’ Teaville Moral Society series brings readers a kinder, less judgmental ladies group than was in Book 1, A Heart Most Certain. While most of the ladies are on board with helping the orphans, few of them are willing to risk their reputations to help the town’s prostitutes – many of whom were forced into the life as mere children. It seemed to be almost a given that little girls whose mothers were prostitutes would inevitably gain the attention of some man bent on taking their innocence. Knowing that this heinous activity continues in present day breaks my heart. The book makes the point that, even though Evelyn can’t save everyone, she does what she can and saves some.
While, yes, this has elements of romance in it, the bulk of the story has more to do with forgiving oneself for youthful mistakes. Evelyn also chooses to focus her life on making the lives of others better, instead of on the train wreck hers seems to have become. I admired her a great deal for that. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy historical fiction, romance fiction or just anyone who loves a good story. This one will make you laugh, cheer, and cry – sometimes all three within just a few pages! I can hardly wait for the NEXT installment! ( )