Book Review
The book has 6 of the sweetest, wonderful, and clean, in some cases hilarious, romances I have ever read.
The first book Here Cooks the Bride by Cathy Marie Hake takes place in 1879; a hilarious romance between a young woman Lacey, and the local blacksmith Jeff, in Cut Corners, a small town in Texas. She came to 
town to help her sick aunt, who is a miserable cook, with her diner. Between every swain in town wanting to marry her for her cooking, the 4 old men, retired Texas Rangers, that founded the town plotting to keep her in town to cook at the diner, and Jeff teaching her to make real Texas chili I laughed and laughed. This was a treat to read. Watching Jeff and Lacey fall in love was a joy. This was a clean Christian read with strong Christian values.
The 2nd book A Christmas Chronicle by Pamela Griffin takes place in Cut Corners, Texas again in 1881. The four Meddin’ Old Men are at it again, this time trying to marry off Stone’s nephew Travis to Vivian who is clumsy and awkward. Travis is a photographer or Chronicler, and he is not looking for a wife, at least he didn’t think he was until he came to Cut Corners. It was fun to watch Vivian and Travis travel the road to love. Shy, clumsy, awkward Vivian reads the penny westerns and wants adventure; Travis wants to travel and photograph the country. They were made for us other, it just takes a while to bring it together. Good clean romance with Christian values.
The 3rd book To Hear Angels Sing by Romana Cecil takes place in Pinewood, Texas in 1883. Seth Krueger has left God behind him as he felt God took his family away; a Quaker father and a Lutheran mother raised him. Violet Barton, a spinster schoolteacher, came to Pinewood to teach Indian children at the orphanage her friends started. Violet has a deep faith in God, and along with Gabe Noell, a carpenter and carver, show Seth Gods love thru friendship and witnessing in everyday life. Romance blooms between Violet and Seth, and God has a wonderful surprise in store for Seth. A clean romance with Christian values.
The fourth book, The Face of Mary by Darlene Franklin takes place in Breading, Texas in 1880. Polly Jessup was twelve when Joey Carpenter, her best friends brother told her he would have to come back and marry her one day as she loved the law of the Lord like the psalmist in the bible. Polly had held this in her heart for years, knowing it would never come true, but still it was hidden in her heart. Polly is a faithful Christian young woman; Joey is a new attorney with an eye towards connections in town to help his practice. Joey is also a talented painter. We also see Gabe Noell in this story as well, witnessing and dispersing the words of God and wisdom. I loved watching Joey realize Polly was the woman for him and how he helped Polly and her family as well as how this town pulled together for each other. Christian values are displayed throughout this story and a clean Christian romance.
Book five, Charlsey’s Accountant by Lena Nelson Dooley takes place in Horsefly, Texas, in 1890. Harold Miller is a dandy from Boston, very citified and dressed to the nines by standards of the Boston. His father has purchased a ranch in Texas and sent him to the Ames to learn how to run a western ranch. Charlsey Ames is a strong independent woman; she helps her father run their large ranch along with her sisters. Charlsey can do most anything a man can on the ranch. Harold has a hard time accepting the fact that Charlie on the range is the same Charlsey in the parlor, and calls her indecent as she wears pants. Harold learns to be a cowboy and accept the western values. Needless to say the road to happy ever after is not smooth, but they do get there. A wonderful story of opposites that attract. A clean Christian romance.
The sixth book, Plain Trouble by Kathleen Y’Barbo takes place in Horsefly in 1893. Texas Ranger Josef Mueller is after a killer and robber called the Pale Indian who has been tracked to Horsefly. Bessie Mae Ames has known Josef all her life, in fact, he called her Bessie Mae plain as day. Bessie was not pretty but this hurt her deeply and the name has stuck in her subconscious. She is the last Ames girl not married. Her father seems to be ready to wed again and this adds tension in the story. The romance road in this story is very rocky, but God and love will conquer everything and bring it right. The end of the story finally solves the mystery of the identity of Pale Indian and a happy every after ending.
Each story was unique in its own way and gives you the feeling of continuity in the stories. Each was a joy to read, and were clean Christian book. Each author‘s plotting and character development was good, and the pacing of each worked very well.
I would recommend this book to anyone that loves strong stories, strong character, Christian values without being pushy or preachy, and clean happy ever after romance.
I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest book review.
Books reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; book reviews on line under my name are my opinion.