A Bride for Keeps, Melissa Jagears’ freshman novel and published by Bethany House, is the story of two people whose fears nearly keep them from a most precious love.
On the unforgiving Kansas prairie, we meet Everett Cline, confirmed bachelor and overwhelmed farmer. Having been rejected by four fiances, three of them mail-order brides, Everett is finished with romance. Fortunately for him, his best friend’s wife and neighbor, Rachel, has one more trick up her sleeve.
After corresponding with the beautiful, fragile Julia, Rachel determines she would be the perfect helpmate for Everett. Bringing her to the small Kansas town of Salt Flatts was easy. Convincing Everett and Julia to make their partnership into a marriage – not so much. Julia’s past has left her dreadfully afraid of men, particularly tall, handsome, blond men who resemble her abusive ex-fiance. Can Everett’s gentle, godly personality eclipse his resemblance to Julia’s abuser? Will Julia’s rejection of Everett cause his already guarded heart to fully harden?
A Bride for Keeps is a gentle exploration of a blossoming love between two injured people facing not only the hardships of farming on a desolate land, but also falling in love in a desolate world. Melissa Jagears has cast an innocence over the entire novel, which may be enticing to many readers, particularly in the inspirational fiction category. I prefer a grittier treatment of these subjects myself. I also felt as though the author brought us to the edge of emotion and sort of left us there as she switched scenes. I never really became fully invested in Everett and Julia, and emotional investment in the characters is of utmost importance to me as a reader.
I give A Bride for Keeps 3 stars. Readers who like Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly should find this book thoroughly engaging.
I received A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears at no cost from Bethany House Publishers in return for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
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