A Home in Drayton Valley

There’s a Ned for every Nelly.

Book Rating: Here a little, there a little

First of all, I want to thank Bethany House for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review. I always appreciate being a part of their blog tours.

As my opening comment suggests, there’s someone for everyone. In turn, I believe there is an author/book for every reader. Unfortunately, I do believe that Kim Vogel Sawyer and I are not a good match as far as reader/author are concerned. I have read only two of her other books, and even though I rated one pretty high, I think I am done reading her stories. But I don’t say that to discourage you. Because again, she might fit your style just swimmingly.

If you will read many of the other reviews about this book, you will find they are glowing. Honestly, I had a hard time finding many things that I liked about this book. But again, that’s just me I guess. And, I know you hear this from me all the time, but…I think I must have a serious disease when it comes to how I feel about a book’s cover… This cover didn’t help my preconceived notions about this story one iota. Of all the covers of HCR’s I’ve seen so far this is the one I liked the very least.

Tarsie Raines—the heroine in this story—loses her dearest friend on the way to Kansas and promises to care for her children…and her husband.  Pretty fun plot, although we’ve seen that before. Had the potential for fabulous romance. But for me it didn’t deliver. Tarsie wasn’t really a character that I enjoyed. She had a thick accent (as did many of the characters in this book) and for some reason that made me disconnect with her. I’ve read other books where characters had accents and it didn’t bother me, but her accent bothered me. I simply could not bond with her. I tried—I really did!

Also, the stories where mom’s die are always hard for me since I am a mom and the thought of dying when my kids are still so young is just too much for me, so that aspect I didn’t like. 

As for Joss—the leading man… how do I say this nicely…. I didn’t like him at all. He was coarse, and he drank a lot and didn’t care about his kids and was brash and mean at times... Yikes. For me, that’s not the kind of leading man I warm to. Of course, he turns around at the end, but for the most part I was discouraged at his behavior and it made me not care about what happened to him. Does that make sense? I understand that we like to see characters that are flawed, but in my opinion he was too flawed.

The gospel aspect of the story was strong, so if you are just looking for a great "historical christian" you may enjoy it.

I feel bad having to write such a review, but so it is.  If you have read any others of hers and love them, and think I ought to give it a try let me know! Otherwise, I will say "so long" to Vogel Sawyer.

Happy Reading!

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Song of My Heart

When I read these books I like to find the things that I have in common with the leading lady.  Sometimes those things are easy to find and sometimes there’s nothing at all.  In Song of My Heart, my connection was the music.  I was actually wondering if any writer had done a story about a girl that likes to sing…so when I found this book I knew I had to read it.   (Can  I just interject a little something here while we are talking about “connecting” with the leading lady—where are the leading ladies with brown hair and brown eyes! WHERE ARE THEY?!  I only know of one book so far where the leading lady had brown hair AND brown eyes.  I’m not feelin’ the love.)

Book Rating:  Best of the Best

I found this book to be a complete joy.  It just goes to show that you may have to try a few books from the same author before you give up on them completely.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about Sawyer after reading A Hopeful Heart, but I gave this one a try and, boy am I glad I did!  I had a very hard time putting it down.

Sadie is a sweet devoted girl, who goes to work at a mercantile in Kansas to provide for her family who live hundreds of miles away in Indiana.  She also has been “chosen” to sing at the towns Opera House.  But there is something fishy going on and Sadie can’t quite seem to put her finger on it.

Thad McKane is a Sheriff (‘member how I love those lawmen!?) who has come to town to look into some illegal boot-legging.  He is just a totally lovable guy.  I wouldn’t name him as a rugged man-of-a-man, but he is very appealing.  Maybe his character is supposed to be that way since he is trying to follow his dream of becoming a preacher.

Thad is beginning to fall for Sadie in a bad way (or I should say a good way…hehehe…) but he is beginning to think she might somehow be involved in the crimes he came to town to investigate.

You will thoroughly enjoy this book.  It’s light and and a pure delight (like my play on words there?) to read.

Happy Reading!

Buy it!

A Hopeful Heart

I had a hopeful heart when I read A Hopeful Heart.  (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) Eh, hem.  And, this being my first read of any Sawyer book, I was pleasantly surprised.

Book Rating: Here a little, there a little

To be completely honest, there were times during this book I found myself getting bored.  Sawyer’s style is very verbose with lots of details.  This made the book drag on a bit for me.  I also felt that it took away from my imagination as a reader, but that’s just personal preference.

Next, I was disappointed in the romance.  There was enough to keep me reading and wondering what was going to happen next, but in the end I was disappointed that I had to wait until the very end of the book for the two love-birds to finally get together.  Exhausting!

Tressa is a young beauty from the east who has been sent by her Aunt to a Herdsman School in Kansas where she will learn to be a ranchers wife.  (I thought the plot was way fun!  I just would have enjoyed more romance.  More romance, people!) Abel is the owner of a ranch near the school and wants nothing to do with the girls from the east—he’s had his heart broken before.  Also, there’s trouble at his ranch and he needs to get to the bottom of it.  Somehow Tressa finds herself in the middle of the problem, and he gets to come to her rescue!  Yay!

There was a twist in this plot that I didn’t really see coming, and I found that to be thoroughly entertaining.  The supporting characters were also fun, while the Christian side of it really shone.

Definitely read this when you are looking for something simple and down-right fun.

Happy Reading!

Buy it!