Customer Reviews

A Vote of Confidence (Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, The)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Twin sisters who didn't grow up together (and as different as night and day) find solace and comfort in each other's company, and are fast making up for lost time in Robin Lee Hatcher's delightful new novel.

Set in the early 1900s, in Bethlehem Springs, Idaho, mid-20s paternal twins Guinevere and Cleo Arlington are as unalike as two siblings can be. Gwen, who grew up with their mother --- which meant culture, education, training and everything ladylike --- is the antithesis of Cleo, who was reared by their father and admits to being at home in her tomboy persona. As they get reacquainted with one another as adults, the sisters have a truly remarkable kinship that extends beyond mere blood ties.

At the beginning of the book, Gwen finds herself debating whether or not she has what it takes to become mayor of their small town. When the reprehensible current candidate runs over the rose bushes of a boarding house with his Torpedo Runabout, all because he decided to imbibe in the early morning hours, the sisters are mortified. Challenged by Cleo to run for mayor, Gwen gives the notion a second thought, and then a third. When their dad agrees with Cleo, Gwen tosses her hat into the ring and begins planning her campaign strategy. As a writer for the local paper, Gwen already knows how to be persuasive with words, and with a heart of gold she starts formulating all the good things she would accomplish for the townspeople.

Enter handsome bachelor Morgan McKinley, who is busy erecting the New Hope Health Spa, which will cater to the rich and the poor. Morgan himself decides to run for mayor and is shocked to meet his opponent, who is every bit his match. Trying mightily not to mix business with pleasure, Morgan succumbs to Gwen's genuine charms and asks her to begin teaching him to play the piano. In such close proximity, it is no wonder the two start to question each other on more than mere campaign policies.

In the midst of this burgeoning romance, an enemy is sabotaging Morgan's health spa, and an unwelcome suitor is wooing Gwen. Other forces in the town similarly attempt to weasel their way into the political arena through subterfuge and via out-and-out deception. Before the end of the book, both Gwen and Morgan find a path to understanding one another's motives, solidifying their life goals, and learn to trust each other despite having been hurt in the past.

Robin Lee Hatcher possesses a lovely ability to make her characters' emotions and passions for what they most care about come to life. With little pretense, she eases her readers into each fictional soul's heart and mind and gets them to see, hear and feel exactly as her characters do.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe, author of STILL GOING IT ALONE: Mothering with Faith and Finesse, Single Parenting Columnist

Length:: 2:16 Mins

I thought Amazon readers might like to see the trailer for Vote of Confidence.

Set in the early 1900's, in Bethlehem Springs, Idaho, twins sisters Guinevere and Cleo are making up for lost time. Guinevere, or Gwen as her friends call her, grew up with her Mother surrounded by education, culture and training. Her twin sister Cleo grew up with their father and is a self acclaimed tomboy. Despite growing up apart they have a close relationship.

A Vote of Confidence begins with Cleo suggesting that Gwen should run for the upcoming Mayor election. The only contender so far is Mr. Hiram Tattersall who is known to frequent the bars at all times of the day. Only because of Gwen's love for her town, did she decide to throw her hat into the Mayor race.

What Gwen didn't count on was bachelor Mr. Morgan McKinley throwing his hat into the Mayor race also. Morgan McKinley is also busy building the New Hope Health Spa, in hopes of catering to the rich and poor. Morgan finds he is falling for Gwen's charms and persuades Gwen to give him piano lessons. In the midst of this budding romance someone is trying to sabotage Morgan's New Hope Health Spa. Both Morgan and Gwen find themselves questioning decisions they have made and had to learn to trust one another, despite past broken hearts.

Robin Lee Hatcher made these characters come alive. I found myself smiling while reading this book. It was a relaxing and enjoyable book. I look forward to more of The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs books.

Seeing a woman express her independence today is nothing out of the norm, but in 1915? It was unheard of. Did you realize that two women ran for president of the United States, one in 1872 and one in 1884? This was LONG before they were allowed to vote, but nothing in the law permitted them from running. And Hillary thought she was a groundbreaker!

Guinevere is living in Bethlehem Springs when the mayoral campaign begins. She has been living a quiet life there for quite a while, but she notices things that she thinks should change and she definitely does not agree with the current administration. Her sister and her father tell her that she should run.

Things look promising until a handsome stranger move into town and wants to build a spa. Scandalous! Guinevere has to battle him for the mayoral seat, battle the feelings she begins to have for him and those battles are small compared to the deep seated battles she will face in the male dominated world. In the end, will she receive a "vote of confidence"? She definitely received mine!

Books about women in politics are always intriguing to me. The ones that especially do are those that are set when women are the underdog during times when they are NOT supposed to be involved in politics. Gwen is setting up the new era of women in politics in the West and I'm glad that her campaigning was met with non violence and no roughness. I'm surprised at how well received she was in the town. Not because she was not a good candidate but because the town seems welcome to the possibility of having a female preside over them. She handled the situation very well and kept up her standards throughout the story. She actually knows why and how she will help the town out as opposed to other stories that I have read where the women run for office but have no platform. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with Morgan. There was very good chemistry between the two of them. Even though they felt attraction to each other, I was glad that both decided to stay in the race and not "drop out" in order to make the other happy. I thought his business of a spa was also very innovational for the time period. I was very impressed with the ending of the book. I was afraid that it would fall into the stereotype of the female falling back to the "traditional female" role of the time period. My only qualm is that Gwen's mother has not seen her OTHER daughter, Cleo in 20 years yet does not show any desire to see her at all. I can understand not wanting to see her estranged husband but it's very strange that she doesn't want to see her own daughter. The fact that it was never even brought up bother me a little. I'm hoping that this is talked about in the next book which focuses on Cleo.

That being said, I thought this was a great story about frontier life, romance and the beginning of women's lib in the West. Robin Lee Hatcher has written another winner.

Another enjoyable romantic historical tale by Robin Lee Hatcher. Ahhhh...
While the storyline is typical for a western historical romance, I still found the characters fun and the plot enjoyable. Sure, it's formulaic--because it's supposed to be that way. But even though I knew it was supposed to have a happily ever after ending, I was never bored with the story. I get tired of the same old same old stuff and this was a really fun read for me. Not too fluffy and not too sweet. I literally enjoyed every page. In fact, I kept waiting to get bored and it never happened.

The romance was the best part of the story because it seemed natural and believable to me, and not contrived. The dialog was also very well done. I felt like I was living in the town along with the characters. The author really knows how to crank up the romantic tension and bring a couple together in such a way that it will make you sigh when they finish kissing. I really enjoyed the historical aspect of the story with the whole women voting plot and the mayoral race. The hero was, of course, divinely heroic and a perfect match for the heroine. :) Overall this was a great read. I'd recommend it to anyone.

The real first lady mayor of our country was Laura Starcher in 1918 Parma, Idaho. Women had the vote in 1896 in Idaho and we had two women run for president of the United States in 1872 and 1884/1888. What's funny is nothing prevented those women from running for office, but they weren't allowed to vote. This is just some of the information you get in the reader's notes along with this step back into our roots in politics for women.

Some people think that history is dry and dull. Hatcher proves that wrong by not only bringing those early days of women in politics to life with suspense and romance, but by showing that many aspects of history haven't changed, even today.

Gwen Arlington, who was raised by her estranged mother in the East apart from her twin (Cleo,) and then comes to live with her father and Cleo in Idaho, writes for the newspaper and gives piano lessons. Her twin, Cleo (who will have her own story in the next book, Fit to Be Tied) has every confidence that Gwen would make a good mayor for Bethlehem Springs, Idaho. Of course, complications arise when the new health spa owner, Morgan McKinley, decides to toss his hat into the ring for the same reason as Gwen--the third candidate, a drunk and a fool, Hiram Tattersall is running once again for mayor.

Women and men alike think that Gwen can be manipulated and controlled for their own purposes. More dilemmas arise when Morgan and Gwen fall in love. Will Gwen give in her principles for love? Will she give up her love to prove a point? The tension rides high all through this accurately portrayed historical, and Hatcher proves once again that she writes tales to keep you awake for "just one more page."

The story is set in a small-ish Idaho town (big enough to have a handful of restaurants and churches of several denominations, but small enough that everyone knows everyone else) in 1915. There isn't a whole lot of detail about the places- I found it slightly annoying that there wasn't enough information to create a picture of Bethlehem Springs and the associated locales. It wasn't enough to distract from the story, just mildly annoying for me.

Although the main characters are both from moneyed families back east, they both share a love for the town. Gwen Arlington moved to town several years previously, in an attempt to get to know her father and sister, both of whom are long-term residents. Morgan McKinley is a developer, and thinks that God has brought him here to build a health spa that doesn't just cater to the rich, and provides spiritual healing as well as physical. When they both decide they are going to run for mayor, the sparks start to fly.

Both have been hurt before by others. Gwen wants to be independent and won't stand for a husband who won't let her think. She's decided there's not a man who is worth it. Morgan doesn't want to fall for another beautiful face, and sees them as gold diggers.

Many of the characters seem very very flat and fairly stereotyped- those that are good are all but infallible, and those that are bad have no redeeming qualities. I also got the feeling that this wasn't so much historical as modern problems playing dress up. There was nothing that really held it in the past.

It was quick and easy to read, but I would have preferred a little more depth to characters and plot.

I did not like this book. For all it's talk about woman's rights and being independent, certain moments of this book were anything but. For instance, the storm scene with Morgan and Gwen. And the whole part where Gwen gets mad at Morgan because he wants to keep her safe. I don't understand how Morgan wanting to keep Gwen safe is demeaning to Gwen, or why she would get all defensive. Would it have mattered if Cleo had told Gwen that she was worried and didn't want Gwen to do something? No, Gwen got huffy because it was Morgan, a man, and in this book, the strong, independent lead female is convinced that everything a man does has to originate with their innate urge to control and coddle. Please. I was hoping for something more.

My daughter bought this book for my mothers day gift. I saw it was one of a series and had to buy them all. The first I had read of this author-they were fantastic!