A Heart's Hope by Penny Zeller Review

 

I've read quite a few of Penny Zeller's Christian historical romance books and I have to say, I think Montana Hearts is going to be my favorite series. I absolutely loved A Heart's Hope which is a marriage of convenience story featuring a mail order bride from a well-to-do family in Boston and a rancher in Montana territory. The majority of the story is told through the alternating points of view of McKenzie and Noah. Though we do also get to see McKenzie's sister's POV occasionally. 

Noah is looking for a wife and mother for his adopted son Davey. McKenzie is looking for a way to safely come out west so she can find her sister who is in dire circumstances. After McKenzie answers Noah's advertisement for a wife, they get to know each other a bit through writing letters back and forth. But McKenzie is in a hurry to find and hopefully save her sister, that she agrees to marriage quite quickly. However, she doesn't tell Noah her real reason for her decision, nor does she tell him she doesn't plan on staying out west once she finds her sister. 

I admit, I was not a huge fan of McKenzie at first because of her deception. But, I understood her desperation as her sister was in dire straits. At the same time, I felt bad for Noah and Davey because it wouldn't be fair to them for her to become a part of their family and then to up and leave. Noah was a godly man, one who prayed seeking God's will, and was in the Word. McKenzie grew up going to church, but she had a lot to learn about being a true Christian. And I loved the growth that I saw in her thanks to Noah's leading. I also appreciated the godly wisdom that they received from Asa and Rosemary, plus the way Rosemary took the spoiled rich girl and taught her how to become a homemaker.

I was curious how the author was going to work things out between them, and I also needed to know if McKenzie was going to find her sister before it was too late. I loved the way everything worked out and am greatly anticipating book two. 

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.