Happy Wednesday Everyone :)
Is there anything better than discovering a new author that you end up really liking their books?
It's especially exciting when it's a debut author, whose first novel is so good that you can't stop thinking about it, and today I'd like to share my review of Rachel Fordham's first novel with you all.
The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham:
Source: Publisher (Revell) Via NetGalley
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: July 3rd, 2018
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction/Western
Synopsis:
Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won't be able to do it alone.
For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He's determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn't expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.
Debut author Rachel Fordham invites historical romance readers to the charming town of Azure Springs, Iowa, where the people care deeply for one another and, sometimes, even fall in love.
******synopsis from goodreads******
My Review:
Rachel Fordham's debut novel is one that will definitely delight fans of either historical fiction or westerns. While I went into it expecting to really like it, I ended up being quite surprised with just how much I enjoyed this tender story about overcoming past hurts in order to truly let yourself live, and be able to enjoy every moment.
The romance was tenderhearted, sweet and clean; all of which made it a winner in my eyes, and I really appreciated the way that Caleb and Em's relationship starts out as a strong friendship first before turning into anything else. In the beginning Caleb is driven to try and be the best at everything he can, in order to make his parent's proud of him, and part of this is finding a worthy bride who'll be beautiful, and someone he can be proud of bringing home to meet his family. Em is definitely not what he had in mind, but in the process of becoming her close friend, Caleb learns there's much more to beauty than initial physical attraction, and the author did a beautiful job of depicting this.
With so many twists and turns happening throughout the story that I never saw coming, I had a really hard time wanting to put this one down. And even in the moments where the action wasn't the focus, I found myself really invested into the story, especially during the many tender moments featured between Abigail and Em, or Margaret and Em. It was also an eye opener to see a more realistic and negative portrayal of the orphan trains and the havoc they wrecked on so many families and children along their way.
You could really tell throughout reading The Hope of Azure Springs that Rachel Fordham poured her heart and soul into this beautiful novel, and her thorough research definitely shines through. I expect to see amazing things from her in the future if her debut novel is any indication, and I highly recommend picking this one up when it releases on July 3rd. She's definitely mastered the art of keeping a novel clean while still action packed and compelling to the reader, and I highly enjoyed it. In this case, the gorgeous cover definitely matches the fantastic story enfolded within its pages, and I'm so thankful to Revell and NetGalley to have had the opportunity to advance read this!
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary advance readers copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Is there anything better than discovering a new author that you end up really liking their books?
It's especially exciting when it's a debut author, whose first novel is so good that you can't stop thinking about it, and today I'd like to share my review of Rachel Fordham's first novel with you all.
The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham:
Source: Publisher (Revell) Via NetGalley
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: July 3rd, 2018
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction/Western
Synopsis:
Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won't be able to do it alone.
For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He's determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn't expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.
Debut author Rachel Fordham invites historical romance readers to the charming town of Azure Springs, Iowa, where the people care deeply for one another and, sometimes, even fall in love.
******synopsis from goodreads******
My Review:
Rachel Fordham's debut novel is one that will definitely delight fans of either historical fiction or westerns. While I went into it expecting to really like it, I ended up being quite surprised with just how much I enjoyed this tender story about overcoming past hurts in order to truly let yourself live, and be able to enjoy every moment.
The romance was tenderhearted, sweet and clean; all of which made it a winner in my eyes, and I really appreciated the way that Caleb and Em's relationship starts out as a strong friendship first before turning into anything else. In the beginning Caleb is driven to try and be the best at everything he can, in order to make his parent's proud of him, and part of this is finding a worthy bride who'll be beautiful, and someone he can be proud of bringing home to meet his family. Em is definitely not what he had in mind, but in the process of becoming her close friend, Caleb learns there's much more to beauty than initial physical attraction, and the author did a beautiful job of depicting this.
With so many twists and turns happening throughout the story that I never saw coming, I had a really hard time wanting to put this one down. And even in the moments where the action wasn't the focus, I found myself really invested into the story, especially during the many tender moments featured between Abigail and Em, or Margaret and Em. It was also an eye opener to see a more realistic and negative portrayal of the orphan trains and the havoc they wrecked on so many families and children along their way.
You could really tell throughout reading The Hope of Azure Springs that Rachel Fordham poured her heart and soul into this beautiful novel, and her thorough research definitely shines through. I expect to see amazing things from her in the future if her debut novel is any indication, and I highly recommend picking this one up when it releases on July 3rd. She's definitely mastered the art of keeping a novel clean while still action packed and compelling to the reader, and I highly enjoyed it. In this case, the gorgeous cover definitely matches the fantastic story enfolded within its pages, and I'm so thankful to Revell and NetGalley to have had the opportunity to advance read this!
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary advance readers copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Comments
Post a Comment