My rating: 3 stars / I liked it
Synopsis
Evelyn Wisely has a
heart for the orphans of Teaville and works at a local mansion that
rescues children out of the town's red-light district and gives them a
place to live. But her desire to help isn't limited to orphans. The
owner of the mansion, Nicholas Lowe, is willing to help her try to get
the women working in prostitution out of the district as well--if she
can gain the cooperation and support of local businessmen to go against
the rest of the community.
David Kingsman has recently arrived in
Teaville from Kansas City to help with one of his father's companies in
town. While he plans on staying only long enough to prove his business
merit to his father, he's shown interest in Evelyn's work and is
intrigued enough by her to lend his support to her cause.
They begin
with the best of intentions, but soon the complications pile up and
Evelyn and David's dreams look more unattainable every day. When the
revelation of a long-held secret creates a seemingly insurmountable rift
between them, can they trust God still has a good plan for them despite
all that is stacked against them?
My Review
I appreciated the focus of this book on the importance of not only helping orphans, but also their mothers escape lives of prostitution and poverty. Evelyn is single-minded in her mission to provide safety and security for those who will reach out and accept support, even sacrificing her reputation and hopes for a future family. For much of the book I didn't understand her hang-ups about men and her fear of romance, but eventually the secret is revealed. David admires her in spite of her brusque attitude toward him, and his cheerfulness and sincerity build the foundation of their developing friendship. Lydia and Nicholas from the previous book are close friends of Evelyn's and help her when they can, despite not understanding her reasons for shunning men. They fully appreciate her help running their orphanage and her goal of starting a women's home. Various mishaps happen throughout the story that give David and Evelyn opportunities to grow closer together, and through the ultimate test they face, they learn to trust in God's timing and plans, even when it's difficult.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Don't miss the other books in the Teaville Moral Society series!
(Prequel novella; also published in
With This Ring? novella collection)
Synopsis
Ever since Charlotte
Andrews bested four-eyed Harrison Gray in a shooting competition when
they were teenagers, he decided a tough, show-off girl like Charlie
didn't need him to look after her. Now a teacher at the local school,
Harrison learns Charlie intends to marry a neighbor who comes from a
long line of no-good troublemakers and, for some inexplicable reason, it
falls to him to talk some sense into her...if she has any under that
tomboy exterior.
Their heated confrontation unfortunately takes
place right as a bad storm is coming on and, in the melee of arguing and
taking shelter, Harrison's glasses are knocked off his face and broken
when Charlie's horse crushes them under a hoof. Harrison and Charlie may
have their differences, but she can see from his panic that the loss of
his glasses is a blow to him. She volunteers to help him at school
until his new pair of special order glasses arrive despite knowing the
one place she can't best Harrison is in the classroom.
Synopsis
Lydia King knows what
it's like to be in need, so when she joins the Teaville Moral Society,
she genuinely hopes to help the town's poor. But with her father's debts
increasing by the day and her mother growing sicker by the week, she
wonders how long it will be until she ends up in the poor house herself.
Her best chance at a financially secure future is to impress the
politician courting her, and it certainly doesn't hurt that the moral
society's president is her suitor's mother. Her first task as a moral
society member—to obtain a donation from Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest
man in town—should be easy . . . except he flat-out refuses.
Despite
appearances, Nicholas wants to help others but prefers to do it his own
way, keeping his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they
agree to a bargain, though Nicholas has a few surprises up his sleeve.
Neither foresee the harrowing complications that will arise from working
together. When town secrets are brought to light, this unlikely pair
must decide where their beliefs—and hearts—truly align.
