Helpful Score: 2
I was lucky to receive this book to read before it's debut. A bride for keeps was an amazing & inspiring story to read. Everett and Julia both experienced pain in their past causing them to shut each other out. Reading their struggles and pain felt like I was right there in the story. This was the first book I read by Melissa Jagears and I must say she has made my favorite author list with this book. So far A bride for keeps is the best mail-order-bride story I read so far this year, and the ending was touching! This book is a must read!!!
This is an outstanding novel in every way, but perhaps one of the best parts of this story was the deep characterization. I have rarely read a novel that did such an excellent job of taking me inside the characters' heads. Julia's constant battle within herself was fascinating: the war between her fear and her desire to experience love was poignant and wonderfully fleshed out for the reader. Everett's own struggle to be the husband God wanted him to be, even as his wife held him at arms' length, was also well-written and entirely believable. I could not help but root for this couple, even as the author did a fantastic job of scaring me that a happy ending would be near to impossible with these two.
The most beautiful struggle in the novel, however, had to be Julia's coming to terms with God as a loving Father, and with herself as a child He loved. The resolution of that particular part of the story brought tears to my eyes.
Although my copy came free in exchange for an honest review, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this novel to any fan of historical or inspirational fiction. The storyline caught and held my attention from the first few pages and did not let go until the book came to it's satisfying conclusion.
The most beautiful struggle in the novel, however, had to be Julia's coming to terms with God as a loving Father, and with herself as a child He loved. The resolution of that particular part of the story brought tears to my eyes.
Although my copy came free in exchange for an honest review, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this novel to any fan of historical or inspirational fiction. The storyline caught and held my attention from the first few pages and did not let go until the book came to it's satisfying conclusion.
