America
19th Century
Kathleen Morgan
Back of the Book:
Abigail Stanton’s whole life was rooted in her faith, a faith she now clings to solely to survive. In the wake of losing her husband and young son, Abby sets out alone, bereft and heartsick, to discover what God wants her to do. When he leads her to Conor MacKay’s doorstep, though, the very foundation of her beliefs starts to shift.
As the volatile rancher’s new housekeeper, Abby is supposed to keep his affairs—and his equally capricious little girl—in order. Why, then, does she feel confusion, passion, desire, and anything but order every time they are together? Conor tries to hide his own seething emotions beneath a cold façade, but there is something about his prim new housekeeper that sets him on edge. And the more ruthlessly he attacks Abby’s faith, the more his defenses crack.
As Abby and Conor draw closer to the flame of their attraction, they must grapple with their deepest beliefs and fears. In opening their hearts again, both risk even greater loss for a chance at the greatest love of all.
My Review:
After reading that Kathleen wrote this book as an outlet for her own son’s death, I saw everything Abby was struggling with as Kathleen’s personal trial. She did an excellent job of showing what it’s like when you lose a loved one and barely have the strength to go on. The emotions in this book were real and raw. I felt everything just as deeply as Kathleen did as she wrote it. The main reason I like this book is because of the deep, moving feelings portrayed by Abby. You can see how badly she struggles and exactly why she is struggling.
I know this book is out of my usual scope of reading because of the setting, but I just had to know if it was as good as Kathleen’s other books set in the Highlands of Scotland. It is, but in a different way. It’s not full of adventure like sword fights, hostages, running for your life, etc. It’s full of people you can identify with and feel compassion for. The quality of writing is just as good, and the character development is extraordinary. I miss the Scottish Highlands, but this book was a great one to read while I’m waiting for more.