Search - Serendipity

Another great book by Cathy Marie Hake--long waited! In this Todd has a problem his mother suffers a stroke --Maggie is a great help and Todd feels they should get married.
He'd been praying and Maggie seems to fit into his plans. But mother thinks Maggie is not good enough--so she will train her. Maggie is respected in her mountain home but her Uncle feels she should move on -- have a family of her own. Is Todd God's answer? They marry and what a time they have. Can they see it through - With God! I enjoyed this book as much as "Forevermore". It is my favorite Cathy Marie Hake.

It took me a couple of chapters to "get into it" but once the story started going, I found it enjoyable. I have never known the love of a mother-in-law (mine passed away before I met hubby) but I have heard many wonderful things about her from many people. I've never heard anyone speak a negative word against her! On the other hand, I do have a father-in-law who lives with my husband and I. I thought he was bad until I read this book! LOL

How Maggie tolerated putting up with I'll never know...except that she loves God and Todd. She's a much stronger woman than I could ever be!! Maggie is very headstrong though and her uncles taught her well. Her roses are her life and when she moves to Texas to be with Todd and Helga, she takes her roses with her. They cause her some problems, but also help with other things in life. Could this marriage result in serendipity (the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way---The New Oxford American Dictionary)?

I love that this book portrayed a strong willed woman against her mother-in-law! Maggie also marries a man whom she hardly knows. She loves him because that's just what a wife does. I do not think he loves her on their wedding day or for many more days though. How hard a life that makes for Maggie!! Todd is also not the most supportive when it comes to the way his mother treats his wife! Doubly hard for Maggie!! She doesn't give up though and perseveres. Will Todd ever see the worth of his wife? Can he love his wife and mother?

I really liked this book. It's not listed as being part of the "Only in Gooding" series, but could very well be. Todd's farm is in Gooding, and we get to see some of the characters from previous books of that series. That made this book all the more enjoyable for me.

Todd and Maggie's marriage doesn't get off to a very good start. Taking care of a mother-in-law who has suffered a stroke and who doesn't feel she is good enough for her son would put a strain on any new bride. Todd has a hard time with all the "stuff" Maggie brings with her, and doesn't understand her legacy of roses. But Maggie's "stuff" proves benefitial to the whole community during hard financial times. Good book.