A Hearth in Candlewood

Pleasant American Christian fiction about a young middle-aged woman called Emma who runs a guest house in a small town in the 1840s. Good writing, interesting descriptions, and the settings and conversations feel believable.

This is really character-based, so there's not a great deal of plot, but I found the people quite engaging. Emma in particular, if a tad daunting at times, is a likeable person who copes well in what was almost entirely a man's world in the era.

It was a good book to read, off and on, while travelling. First in a trilogy, and I don't plan to get hold of the later ones, but I'm glad I read it. My edition was for the Kindle and I downloaded it on special offer back in 2012.

Let me begin by saying, that I appreciated the fact that the book is faith-based and very clean. But aside from that, I found this book lacking in terms of depth and character development. The dialogue is okay, but it's nothing spectacular. The story line itself isn't very strong which is why the plot isn't that great. I think the potential is there, but it needs some more meat to strengthen the story line.

The first in a trilogy, this book introduces the reader to the people in Candlewood, a canal town in upper New York, set in the 1840s. Emma is the proprietor of a boarding house. A widow, she recently sold her general store to buy this boarding house. Living with her is her mother-in-law and a retired clergyman, as well as her live-in help. It’s not an easy existence for her to make a living, and of course, complications arise, including a runaway grandma, asking for asylum from her two grown sons. It's an interesting depiction of life at this time, with Emma managing to take care of everyone and their needs in this gentle tale of bygone days.

A very easy read about a widow living in Candlewood in the 1800s. She has a very deep faith and tries to live by the holy book. Not usually my type of thing, but very comforting to read about a thoroughly nice person, who tries to give of her best to everyone she comes into contact with. Very enjoyable!

A relaxed read for at bedtime. So far I'm enjoying it. There must be sequels but I'm on to reading other books right now.

Enjoyable read although frustrating to have so many questions left unsolved at the end.

Very sweet story of elderly woman in 1800's surviving as a widow.