As Norah King surveys her family land in Iowa in 1880, she is acutely aware that it is all she has left, and she will do everything in her power to save it--even if that means marrying a man she hardly knows. Days before her wedding, Norah discovers an injured man on her property. Her sense of duty compels her to take him in and nurse him back to health. Little does she realize just how much this act of kindness will complicate her life and threaten the future she's planned.

Norah's care does more than aid Quincy Barnes's recovery--it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.

Rachel Fordham invites you to experience the strength and beauty of love forged in the crucible of hardship in this heartwarming story.

My Review:

I’ve been a fan of Rachel Fordham’s writing ever since her debut novel, so I was quite impatient as I waited for this one to arrive. And I wasn’t surprised in the least when I sucked right in and loved it! I love how Fordham creates wonderful characters who are easy to root for. They aren’t perfect and certainly have their flaws, but their hearts are relatable and their struggles grip your heart in powerful ways.

I liked that Norah and Quincy’s journey was unique and took turns I wasn’t expecting. And without spoiling anything, I certainly didn’t expect page 65 (no peeking if you haven’t read it yet!) My emotions were certainly captivated by this read, and I felt a whole lot of them throughout.

One thing I’ve come to expect in Fordham’s writing, is wonderful supporting characters as well. This story wouldn’t have been the same without Mrs. Dover, Nels, or Alice. They were unique, well developed, and each left their own vital mark without taking the front seat from Norah and Quincy. Masterfully done!

I wasn’t nearly ready to say goodbye to these characters in the end. Throughout the pages I developed such a love for them that I wanted to stay with them instead of returning to the real world. I think I may have a new favorite by Rachel Fordham!

*I purchased a copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.