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Posts Tagged ‘cathy marie hake’

ABOUT THE BOOK

Todd Valmer should have known better. A farmer who’s been through several disasters, he travels to Virginia to fetch his widowed mother to cook and help him around his Texas farm…or that was the plan until she keels over on the train and they get kicked off.

Maggie Rose barters for a living and also makes soaps, lotions, and perfumes with a special rose recipe passed down from mother to daughter for generations. She hasn’t wanted to marry…until that handsome Texan shows up.

Her heart skips a beat, and when he proposes, a hasty marriage follows. What ensues, however, is a clash of culture and a battle of wills–and it’s clear they both mistook instant attraction and infatuation for love. As their marriage loses its sparkle and fills with disillusionment, Todd and Maggie must determine what is worth fighting for. He dreams of a farm. Maggie wants to fulfill the family tradition with her rose perfumes.

Todd’s mother, however, has entirely different plans for her son that do not include Maggie. In light of their hasty marriage and mistaken dreams, is there any hope of recapturing their love and building a future together?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Serendipity, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

If you are looking for a historical romance that breaks the mold, Serendipity is a treat! Author Cathy Marie Hake didn’t follow the typical historical romance plot line or even the typical historical character mold.

Maggie Rose, affectionately called “Magpie” by those who love her, is used to being the only woman for miles around. She has a tender heart and willing servant’s spirit as she cares for the men she calls her uncles. She prepares their meals, mends their clothing, doctors them when ill or injured, and simply brightens their days. However, Uncle Bo recognizes that Maggie’s life will never be complete without a husband. And, of course, at that point, Todd Valmer, a handsome bachelor, shows up in a snowstorm carrying his ill mother.

While biding his time until his mother is well enough to travel, Todd finds himself attracted to Maggie. He realizes he doesn’t necessarily love her as a husband should love a wife, but having her on his farm would be convenient. She could care for his Ma and also cook some amazing meals and maybe even love him. The remainder of the book is the story of how two total strangers manage their new life together despite the hurdles life throws at them.

I found the book delightful to read and actually got so caught up in reading that I almost missed starting dinner on time! One thing that’s missing from the plot line is the “middle of the book tragedy” – you know, that part that seems to be in every historical book that turns the characters’ world upside down. Instead there’s a whole series of personal conflicts, obstacles, and misunderstandings between Maggie, Todd, and his Ma pushing the story ahead. To me, it was refreshing and real to life.

The biggest part of the story can be summed up in some words from the author’s bio – “In her writing, Cathy attempts to capture a unique glimpse of life and how a man and woman can overcome obstacles when motivated by love. In her inspirational pieces she enjoys the freedom of showing how Christ can enrich a loving couple’s relationship.” The relationship between Maggie and Todd is what moves the story forward and keeps the reader turning the pages.

Even though the romantic overtures are strong in the book, all of the characters’ actions are tasteful and within reason of the story and clean enough for teenagers to read. This would be an excellent book for discussing with a daughter what real love is all about – both the romantic kind of love as well as nurturing, family love.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Gooding, Texas, is about to gain a double blessing–a veterinarian and a doctor. But when siblings Enoch and Taylor Bestman arrive, the discovery that Taylor is a lady doctor has the town up in arms. Especially Karl Van der Vort, the town blacksmith, who becomes the first patient…against his will.

Though hesitant to believe in Taylor’s doctoring skills, Karl finds himself oddly protective of this surprising woman who dares to drive about town on her own, wearing the color red, for heaven’s sake! Taylor, on the other hand, wants only to prove that doctoring is her life’s calling, despite the town’s opposition. The result? Pride meets attraction head-on, and sparks begin to fly.

MY THOUGHTS

That Certain Spark quickly earned a spot on my favorite books list. Author Cathy Marie Hake did a superb job of creating delightful characters immersed in a somewhat fast-paced, definitely intriguing storyline.

I absolutely loved the relationship between Taylor and Karl. Their verbal sparring and debates were at times hilarious yet also serious in message. The bond created between the two of them grew into love so quickly that neither recognized it or wanted to admit it. Of course, finding out they were in love leads to some great moments.

The idea of a woman doing a man’s job isn’t foreign to fiction, especially historical fiction, but there was something fresh about this story. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but within the first few chapters, I found myself hoping that some adventurous Hollywood producer reads this book and turns it into a movie. The interaction between the characters far exceeds most Hollywood scripts.

The book is charming and witty yet shows the hardships of modern medicine as we know it. I have to admit that I was surprised when Taylor performed breast cancer surgery on a patient. We hear so much about breast cancer in today’s world, that I never stopped to think of women having it back in the late 1800s. Plus since most 1800s fictional doctors deal with broken bones from accidents, gun shot wounds, and flu-like illnesses, the idea of breast cancer was different and refreshing. Don’t worry – Taylor also treats gun shots wounds, broken bones, and illnesses.

This book isn’t preachy but weaves a wonderful message of God’s forgiveness and providential care throughout the story. I would definitely recommend this book, and it is suitable for older teenage girls.

This book was sent to me free through Bethany House’s book review program. The words under “My Thoughts” are my own, and the rest is promotional material supplied by the publisher. No affiliate links are in this post.