Customer Reviews

Belonging (Where The Heart Lives)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was the first book by Robin Lee Hatcher that I have read, and I must say that I will be reading more of her books. About halfway through this book, I thought that the plot was very predictable; however, Ms. Hatcher surprised me with how the plot developed in the second half. Truly all things work for good! I especially enjoyed how the characters were developed - some brought smiles to my face while others evoked other emotions. I would highly recommend this book - if you, like me, have not read any of Ms. Hatcher's books, start with this one.

I read many books for review in various venues. While I read nonfiction, all genres of fiction, my favorite genre is historical romance. Hatcher doesn't fail to deliver an engaging romance set in Idaho in the late 1800s. I could barely get anything else done while reading this story.

Felicia Brennan is sent west with her brother and sister on an orphan train after her mother dies in Chicago. Each is adopted along the route with Felicia last in Wyoming. The childless couple who takes her does not formally adopt her, unknown to her, and has not treated her with affection, so when the couple whom she thought was her adopted parents die, she is left without a home or any means of support. In her late 20s and realizing she is in dire straits, she leaves Wyoming for Idaho with her unused teaching certificate. She is hired with some opposition in Frenchman's Bluff to teach and falls in love with her students, the town and the people who become the first friends she's ever had.

Colin Murphy and daughter 9-year-old Charity have been on their own for five years following the death of Charity's mother. While many women are interested in becoming Colin's wife, he has been reluctant to pursue any of them, including the widowed daughter-in-law of fellow school board member Helen Summerville, an older woman who adamantly opposed Felicia's employment along with Colin.

A bonus at the end of the story was the news that Hatcher has two more books planned in this series, so I will be able to find out if Felicia finds her brother and sister and what their stories might be. This book successfully hooked me into eagerly awaiting the next two books. I heartily recommend Belonging, if you like Christian western historical romance.

I'm always amazed at Robin's creativity and her ability to continually develop so many diverse and interesting characters yet still manage to surprise us. This, along with her whit, and ability to bring real life out of the frontier are what continually bring me back to her stories.

I really enjoyed this romance. Belonging, by Robin Lee Hatcher, is set in Idaho in the late 1800's. It is about a new teacher coming to town. As Felicia Brennan Kristoffersen steps off the stage she meets the families that change her life. The families that greet her are welcoming and that helps her want to start teaching the children right away. She is excited to have this job as the teacher. She is especially excited to be on her own. What is most surprising is her attraction to one of her students' father. What makes it even harder is she is staying in the cottage in his back yard!

Colin Murphy is not that excited about this new teacher. He has found that the single teachers tend to only stay until they find a husband! He is worried his daughter, Charity, will become too attached to her as she will be living in the cottage behind their home. As time progresses and he spends time with Felicia he finds he is becoming attached to her just as much as Charity is. Since his wife passed away he has not wanted to fall in love but is finding himself thinking of the new teacher a lot!

Following their love story is an adventure. The characters feel like real people. Their emotions and words are believable. I liked how it flowed well and moved quickly. Overall it was a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Christian historical romances.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

This one is quite possibly my favorite book by Ms. Hatcher so far. This book has it all, with an engaging, yet traditional story line that moves along swiftly and characters that move you, and easily draw one in.

Felicia is a schoolteacher in Idaho, during the late 1800's, determined to help her students learn. But there are some things--and people that stand in her way. What can she do to gain the trust of the town, and convince them to let her stay?

Well written, and very engaging, I loved this book from the get-go.

I was aurprisedd at how much I liked all three of the main characters, because often I only like one or none of them, but this time I loved them all! Each of the main characters was well written, with their own unique backstory. I was intrigued and drawn in by every single one of them. though if I had to choose which one I liked best I'm going to say that I really liked Kathleen and her story alot :) The side character were also amazing, though, of course I had to dislike the villian :)

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, it was exactily what I wanted out of this sweet romance. The plot was excellent as were the characters. The plot moved steadily, even to the point of keeping me up late! For me it was the perfect book at the perfect time and I enjoyed it immensely, and will most certainly be recommending this book :)

Final Rating: 5 out of 5.

I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review, which I have done my best to express here. Thanks :)

i enjoyed this story very much, diverting and interesting characters. real courage and spiritual guidance. keep up the good work Ms Hatcher!

I have read ALL books written by Robin Lee Hatcher and they seem to get better and better. Robin is a wonderful author and the only drawback I have with her is that she doesn't release new books often enough to suit me!!! I always purchase her novels as soon as they become available and often I order them on a pre-release-date basis. This novel was a very touching story of lonely Felicia Kristoffersen, a small community school teacher. I couldn't put the book down, but when I read to the end, as usual, I felt a genuine letdown because the story ended. Felicia's faith sustained her throughout her difficult moments and justified her faith during the good times. Don't miss this book!! After a few months I'll go back and read it again--that's what I always do with Robin's books.

Moving to a desert town by herself Felicia has only her faith to guide her. She wants to teach more than anything and has trouble in more places than one. Her faith does see her through and was another great book by Robin Hatcher.

Even though I truly love a good mystery/suspense read, there are times when I just want a "normal" read. A story that has to do with everyday life . . . plans and purposes that other people incorporate into their lives.
I've read almost all of Ms. Hatcher' s books and have thoroughly enjoyed them. So, when Belonging came available....I grabbed it!
Felicia is a character that I could really relate too. She is off to her first teaching position into the high desert country. And now Felicia, even though she is trained to teach and she wants to teach, this is her first ever teaching position. Some people think first time teachers can't do the job but truly first time teachers may do a better teaching job and, of course, every one must gain experience somewhere.
So, Felicia begins teaching. She has Charity, Colin's daughter in her class room. Colin feels that Felicia isn't experienced enough to teach...but Colin begins to "have feelings" for Felicia.
Meanwhile, Gunnar, Felicia's "cousin" writes to her telling her that Rolf wants to marry her. He feels that Felicia should be grateful to his parents for adopting her/taking her in when she was just a dirty little orphan. He feels that Felicia should meekly come back home and marry Rolf. Felicia does not want to marry Rolf! She just wants to leave her painful past behind and be the best teacher she can be. "She'd made the right decision coming to Frenchman's Bluff. She would make a home for herself here. She would win the children's affection, and she would teach them far more that they expected." (quoted from p. 49)
This is a wonderful story of love, forgiveness and of finding where you "belong." I really liked this read...out of all the books that Ms. Hatcher has written I love this one!
*This book was provided for review by Zondervan*

Boise, Idaho, 1897 as Felicia Brennan Kristoffrsen had traveled from Wyoming to Idaho for a teaching position. She had lost her adopted parents a few day apart. Then she found out that she had never been adopted so everything that she thought she would inherit was lost to a cousin and not a nice one at that. So she did the best thing she felt was right for her was to go to another part of the country and start over. She had never taught school but had the training for it, as she entered into Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho. She had no money and no where to go but she found that the town had a little house for her and she begin to teach and to love the town and her students.

She did wonder what had happened over the years of her brother and sister after they were sent west on the Orphan train. The first little girl she meet was Charity, the man that owned her home's daughter. He ran the general store and he and his little girl lived in the back of the store as she had built the little house for his wife but she died and they had never lived in it. Felicia really begin to love Charity, but one of the school board members did not want a single woman there as the teacher as she had her daughter-in-law and her three children living in her home. She didn't want another single woman living that close to Colin the store keeper, she wanted him for her daughter-in-law. A very bossy woman was Mrs Summerville.

Will Felicia be able to withstand the gossip and talk that Mrs Summerville starts about her. She has no other place to go.

I want to thank Zondervan Publishing for sending me this book to read and review.