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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher, January 30, 2012
This review is from: Heart of Gold (Paperback)
A Christian historical romance of the American Old West, Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher is a pleasurable and inspiring read. When Shannon Adair moves with her minister father, Delaney, to the Idaho Territory, her thoughts remain on the Civil War that is raging near her Virginia home. Shannon does not expect to fit into this frontier town with its saloons and street fights. She is disappointed to see the tiny parsonage where she will cook, clean and assist her father with pastoral duties. And her first impression of stage driver Matthew Dubois is anything but positive. When his sister and her young son come to live with him, Shannon is called upon to nurse the terminally ill Alice. Shannon's somewhat tumultuous relationship with Matthew must survive another persuasive suitor, stagecoach holdups, and her own pride. The story takes many twists and turns as Shannon's faith in God is tested and strengthened. The author weaves in historical facts of the 1800s, including Civil War anecdotes, into this romance. Her narration is lively and she builds up appropriate suspense that keeps the pages turning. I felt as if I knew the characters. I was there with Shannon when she played the church organ or fried chicken over the wood stove. Delaney's faith in the face of obstacles and his Scripture verses were inspirational. I enjoyed this ebook and recommend Heart of Gold to others.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed here are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heart of Gold delivers, February 14, 2012
This review is from: Heart of Gold (Paperback)
Well we have all had that feeling like a fish out of water, right? Like for instance you have just moved to a new place and everything just seems foreign, the people, the places, the way they do things. Well that is how the poor heroine Shannon Adair of Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher feels as she is starting a whole new life with her widowed father Reverend Delaney Adair as they are trying to get settled in Grand Coeur, Idaho, this rather -rougher -than- what -she's- used -to- type of place, so much different than where she was raised in Virginia. The setting is 1864 smack dab in the middle of the civil war and her Southern allegiances are strong. Her father feels firmly called to this new community of less refinement and sentiments both towards the union and the confederacy, but people he feels called to minister to; Shannon is not so sure. Thus begins her struggle to surrender to God in this new place. Shannon soon finds purpose to her time in the gold mining town of Grand Coeur by drawing on her nursing skills honed back home in Virginia while tending to many wounded soldiers. But as there is no battlefield here, just a critically ill woman who has recently arrived in Grand Coeur herself, seeking to reconnect with her brother Matt Dubois and with her young son in tow, she is in need of much care and help caring for her son. Shannon immediately has compassion on this woman and a friendship is forged. Not at all impressed by her brother Matt Dubois at first, as his political views did not line up at all with hers, she is not immediately inclined to pay much notice of him, but as time goes on, her interest in Mr. Dubois grows as does his interest in her. I enjoy books in the civil war era for sure- such a confusing, complicated time for our country at war against itself. I really enjoyed this book and especially liked the character of Reverend Adair as he was a man who really loved God, and although a southerner at heart, he still took a stand with regards to the South's view on slavery and how he did not feel it was right. He also was very in tune to the prejudice in this small town towards the Chinese population and was taking steps to try and remedy that. I just enjoyed that the character was able to look beyond what the North thought, what the South thought and try to be more concerned with what God thought concerning, people, politics and the church. I thought that was very well done. The romance between Shannon and Matt had a good flow to it and even that moment of crisis (a couple of them) where you hoped that all would turn out right in the end , but you weren't sure to which I will not divulge how that ends up! For those that enjoy a good civil war, historical fiction read, this one is for you. Robin Lee Hatcher delivers a lovely read once again. 4 stars I was graciously provided a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through the Booksneeze program. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions expressed were honest and my own.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Romance and Danger in the Wild West, January 30, 2012
This review is from: Heart of Gold (Paperback)
Rev. Delaney Adair, following God's leading, moves with his daughter, Shannon from Virginia to the gold-rush city of Grand Coeur, Idaho. Shannon resents leaving the South and believes her father mistakenly heard from God. To clear his thinking, Rev. Adair occasionally talks to his late wife. A good man, berated for doubting the South would win the Civil War, he admits he's spoiled strong-willed and stubborn Shannon. Shannon nursed wounded soldiers in Virginia. In Grand Coeur she nurses a young Yankee widow with cancer, Alice Jackson. Shannon cannot imagine friendship with Yankees because Yankee soldiers killed her fiancé, Benjamin. Alice Jackson's brother, Matthew Dubois, transfers from his job as a Wells Fargo stagecoach driver to support Alice and her son Todd, although he's never stayed in one place more than a few weeks. He's slowly attracted to Shannon. Joe Burkette, a Southern gentleman, also pursues Shannon. Which man will win and why? And will dangerous actions between Northern and Southern patriots kill romance? Romance readers enjoy the genre pattern--boy meets girl, one of them doesn't like the other, they gradually change, then something drastic hinders their relationship. Robin Lee Hatcher captures readers with characters and situations true to the genre. Hatcher includes Christian principles engagingly while bringing alive the setting and times of 1864 Idaho. Readers wonder if Rev. Adair's prayers will be answered. And will Shannon change? The characters decisions challenge readers to grow, also.
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