Review:A Love of Her Own

My Synopsis:

A Love of Her Own (Heart of the West series - Book 3) by Maggie Brendan

(For review from Revell)

April McBride receives an invitation from her brother Josh to attend his wedding in Montana. April's parents are abroad in Ireland, but she decides to make the trip from Colorado on her own. Riding a train, a stagecoach and a horse, she arrives at the wedding just in time in dusty jeans, a duster and a cowboy hat. She has meet a lot of interesting people along the way, but her spoiled little rich girl attitude has left a bitter taste in some of their mouths.

She encounters Wes Owen on her way into town, breaking a horse in a manner she doesn't like. Their relationship doesn't start out on a good note. Considering that April has had bad experiences with men, including a broken engagement, it's no wonder they don't hit it off. Will April and Wes be able to put aside how different they are and find a love that lasts? Will April change her attitude about life and love? Will her actions come back to haunt her?

My Thoughts:

This is the third book in the Heart of the West series by Maggie Brendan. This one picks up right where The Jewel of His Heart leaves of with Juliana and Josh's story, but can easily be read as a stand alone novel. I have always been a great fan of the Old West and novels set during this time period. In this novel, we are transported back to the turn of the century Old West of 1896. Brendan's descriptions are exceptional. You can almost see the dust kicked by the stagecoach as April rumbles toward Lewistown, Montana. Brendan's writing is reminiscent of Janette Oke, who is one of my favorite authors. This is Christian Fiction at it's best!

April starts out with a pretty bad attitude. She is used to having her way and with the world revolving around her. She has had the best of everything except relationships. A failed engagement has made her skeptical of finding real love and she doesn't find much to work with in Lewistown. But, April is strong willed and a hard worker. We see her growth through out the novel and how her attitudes begin to change. This book is a lot about growing up and becoming responsible for your own actions and finding out how much your attitude really affects those around you.

Wes is strong and honorable, but he has a certain vulnerability where women are concerned, especially, April. Josh has been talking to him about how God bought him and Juliana together, but Wes isn't exactly buying it. We see him grow in his understanding of God and how he works as his relationship with April deepens. Both are excellent characters who can teach us a lot about being changing our own views and attitudes. I really enjoyed this novel and the entire series by Maggie Brendan.

Available June 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I give this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Click here to visit Maggie's Blog!

Here is some more information about the author, Maggie Brendan.

Maggie Brendan is a member of the American Christian Writers and the American Fiction Writers Association. No Place for a Lady is her first novel. Brendan lives in Marietta, Georgia.