This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
Bethany House (August 1, 2010)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Known for surfing across the kitchen on a dropped dill pickle slice, waterskiing on sea anemone spit, and using Right Guard® as hair spray; she considers herself living proof that God does, indeed, possess a healthy sense of humor.
Cathy loves classical music, romantic getaways with her husband, and Diet Pepsi Free®. “I need chocolate to survive, love my friends, and enjoy a deep personal relationship with the Lord. Although an extrovert, I’m very conservative on a personal level.”
In her writing, Cathy attempts to capture a unique glimpse of life and how a man and woman can overcome obstacles when motivated by love. In her inspirational pieces she enjoys the freedom of showing how Christ can enrich a loving couple’s relationship.
Cathy Marie Hake is a registered nurse who worked for many years in an oncology unit before shifting her focus to perinatal care. The author of over twenty novels, she lives with her husband and two children in Anaheim, California.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Todd Valmer should have known better. A farmer who’s been through several disasters, he travels to Virginia to fetch his widowed mother to cook and help him around his Texas farm…or that was the plan until she keels over on the train and they get kicked off.
Maggie Rose barters for a living and also makes soaps, lotions, and perfumes with a special rose recipe passed down from mother to daughter for generations. She hasn’t wanted to marry…until that handsome Texan shows up.
Her heart skips a beat, and when he proposes, a hasty marriage follows. What ensues, however, is a clash of culture and a battle of wills–and it’s clear they both mistook instant attraction and infatuation for love. As their marriage loses its sparkle and fills with disillusionment, Todd and Maggie must determine what is worth fighting for. He dreams of a farm. Maggie wants to fulfill the family tradition with her rose perfumes.
Todd’s mother, however, has entirely different plans for her son that do not include Maggie. In light of their hasty marriage and mistaken dreams, is there any hope of recapturing their love and building a future together?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Serendipity, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Cathy Marie Hake takes the reader back to Gooding, Texas in this historical western romance featuring a marriage of convenience between Arkansas Ozark mountain girl Maggie Rose and Texas farmer Todd Valmer. Hake’s usual perfect blend of drama, humor, romance, and spiritual insight makes this a story well worth reading. Familiar characters from previous books in the Gooding, Texas series make their appearance in the pages of Serendipity and add to its enjoyment.
As Maggie struggles to get to know her new husband while sharing a tiny cabin with him and her invalid mother-in-law, inevitable conflicts and difficulties are the result. Determined to follow the Lord’s design for their marriage, both Maggie and Todd are forced to rely on His guidance to make it work.
As with all Hake’s other books, Serendipity is both entertaining and thought provoking. I recommend it to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction, particularly those like me who love books with a western setting.
