A Fiction Christian Romance NovelThis book takes place in the middle to late 1800’s, mainly in Texas. This book was well written in the sense that things often happen in people’s lives where they have to take it upon themselves to change their perspective of the circumstances to keep going strong, or to change the circumstances so they can continue forward in good faith.Lori Copeland, the author, can connect to her readers because everyone gets thrown into something new in their lives and she shows that it’s very possible to make new opportunities from a bleak start.Faith Kallahan, along with her two younger sisters need to do just that when devastation hits, leaving them with their only family, an aunt. The girls follow their faith in God and become mail order brides to take the pressure off their aunt and begin the rest of their lives. This book is about Faith’s journey to a new place, separated from her family, to embark on a trying journey of loneliness, tears, struggles, accomplishments, and constant faith to fit in to her surroundings in Deliverance, Texas. Amid strangers and a new lifestyle she has to adjust to the life of an expected wife when she wants nothing more than to stand by her soon to be husband and work with him instead of fulfilling the duty of a woman in the kitchen. She soon realizes that it is much harder to get on with her life than expected. As Faith learns, grows, and finds new friends and passion for life, her struggles seem almost too much to bear in a new place without her sisters to comfort her and she has to rely even more on her faith in knowing she is meant to be in Deliverance. When all hope seems lost, she finds the love she was looking for and those around her learned to take a page from Faith’s book of life and the little town of Deliverance gets much more enjoyable.Though this book may seem a bit far-fetched, it is enjoyable and teaches the value of sticking something out. There are a lot of ways readers can interpret this book, but it gives hope and sheds light on understanding religion and faith and finding a friend in the most unexpected people.
I've read this book before, years ago but wanted to read the series again since I remembered it being a favorite of mine. I will say first, that Faith's story had not been one of my favorites in the series the first time around and still isn't. However, I did enjoy the story.I found I liked Faith's character. A tom-boy at heart, she was willing to roll up her sleeves and help with any kind of work. Yet she was still feminine in ways and had certain girly points that made her less base. I loved how she shared her disappointment over her wedding dress and that she did still care about things like that even if she did prefer to wear overalls and boots instead of dresses and pointy shoes.I wished I could have liked Nicholas more but I felt like his point of view didn't come into the book enough. There was one scene from his perspective at the beginning and then, it was a long while before his perspective was shared again. I wanted to know what his thoughts were on some of the more major issues that came up. Was he impressed with how Faith helped with the pregnant cow? And how had he felt during the fire? Was he actually concerned for her safety because he already had feelings for her or were his actions driven by irritation? I kind of wanted things like that to have been cleared up and wished I could get his take on things more often.I admit I didn't like Mother Shepherd very much at all. Though, of course, there is always a character in books that you need to dislike. It annoyed me how often she railroaded over people, even people that had been her friends and the pastor himself. I know a lot of it was hormonal but still, she was such a big personality that I felt like her character practically took over the book at times. Sometimes, it was more about her than it was about Faith and Nicholas.Overall, I did enjoy this book. Just not as much as some of the later books in the series.This series is great for anyone who enjoys Mail Order Bride tales.
What do You think about Faith (1998)?
I got this as a free e-book on my Nook and have not been able to stop reading the series. They are pleasant Christian historical western romances involving mail order brides.Amazon Book Description:Best-selling author Lori Copeland kicks off this historical Western series with this pleasing tale of mail-order brides set in 1872. When their pastor father dies suddenly, leaving little money, three sisters realize that they need to take drastic action to survive. Each answers a newspaper ad soliciting Christian brides. Faith goes to Texas, where her intended, a well-to-do rancher named Nicholas Shepherd, seems to be having second thoughts. While her wedding is repeatedly postponed, Faith meets a local widower and decides to teach his blind son Braille. In time, Nicholas begins to realize that he may have lost Faith to another man.
—Annalisa
For another inspirational author who writes historical/romance fiction try the Brides of the West Series by Lori Copeland. The first book in the series is called Faith . Her novels are very similar to those written by Tamera Alexander.The Brides of the West series by Lori Copeland, beginning with the novel Faith, is another wholesome story involving women in the frontier life and is a quick and enjoyable read.If you prefer Debbie Macomber’s more romantic stories with Western settings, you may want to give Lori Copeland a try. This is the first book in the inspirational Brides of the West series.
—Ratforce
Faith, oldest of three sisters, decides to become a mail-order bride because her elderly aunt can no longer afford to take her in. Thinking she has found a good match in Nicholas, she travels west only to be disappointed more and more each day. Nicholas turns out to be indifferent and his mother a shrew.I really was torn about my feelings for Faith. On the one hand, she put up with WAY more than I ever would have from that pair. On the other, she was a good person who deserved better than the treatment she got. Some of the things said (and unsaid but intimated) were not only hurtful but cruel. Nicholas was a.....what's lower than a beta male? A wimp is the only thing coming to mind. He let his mother run roughshod over him AND Faith and instead of laying down the law, continued to let it happen until Faith finally takes what pride she has and leaves.The story itself was hit or miss. Parts I really enjoyed and parts I wanted to gag over, they were so "sweet" and unbelievable. In a perfect world I can see the ending happening the way it did, but as we all know, this is far from a perfect world. I didn't DNF this, so that's a plus for the author from my point of view. I may or may not seek out the other books - I haven't made up my mind.2.5 stars
—SheLove2Read
