Love’s First Light
Author: Linda Brody
Reviewer: Sophia Rose
Rating: B+
What I’m Talking About:
A dangerous sandstorm overtakes her when a young woman is sorrowfully burying the last of her family, when a lonely cowboy comes along hoping to show her that there is something worth living for. Linda Broday has long since been a favorite western historical author with her attention to the historic details, the compelling characters and their situations, and a rousing good western action plot. This time she turns her pen to writing the same good style of storytelling with an inspirational emphasis.
Rachel Malloy has had a heaping amount of misery and grief by the time she wakes up in Heath Lassiter’s cabin after a head injury. Heath and his bossy sister are good to her and Heath starts to fall for her, but Rachel has a past and her grief and anger at her circumstances won’t allow her to belief in Heath’s faith or take him up on his interest in making a family together when her home is burned down.
But, a long-lost uncle, a rebuilt house, an orphan child, dangerous outlaws, and Heath’s goodness and faith have a way of working on Rachel so that she is willing to give faith and hope rather than bitterness and anger a chance. If illness or ruthless desperadoes don’t end things for good.
Love’s First Light has all the ingredients of a strong and engaging western historical romance and adds to it a strong dose of Christian faith elements. Rachel’s secret burden, grief, and self-blame keep her locked up tight, but fortunately sweet, hardworking Heath isn’t easily put off. Hey, he put up with a very bossy sister- who I confess got on my nerve a bit until I could find her amusing. I loved their slowburn and complicated romance and was cheering for them all the way.
The side story with the outlaw gang harassing them for what they hoped to find on the Malloy homestead and the devastating illnesses in the area added the suspense and action. I enjoyed seeing a certain shades of gray character added to the mix because I suspected the truth and I was right.
All in all, this was a good start to the series and I look forward to seeing what western adventure and couple gets the next story in Linda Broday’s newest series. Definitely recommend for those who enjoy a riveting yet tender western historical romance with a deep element of faith.
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Sophia Rose
About the Book:
Faith is the little bird that sings when the night is still dark.
After suffering a devastating accident, Rachel Malloy wakens with a stranger. He bears no resemblance to her perception of God, nor does he have a halo so she must not be dead. Regardless, after taking her entire family and leaving her, she and God are not exactly on speaking terms.
Rancher Heath Lassiter has prayed fervently and long for a wife. Is she the one? The appearance of a rare white dove shortly afterward seems to be a sign.
Despite Heath’s unwavering faith and kindness, Rachel refuses to marry him. Dark secrets haunt, secrets that blacken her name, making marriage to anyone impossible. Though disappointed, Heath rebuilds her burned-out house. There, her world again shifts with the discovery of a newborn near her family’s graves and a white dove perching nearby.
Love grows as Heath becomes a constant in her life. Yet Rachel lives in fear of losing this baby. When the infant becomes very ill, she desperately promises God she’ll return to her forsaken faith if He’ll heal the child. But first light brings uncertainty. Will the dove return as a symbol of divine mercy, or will Rachel’s fragile faith be shattered once more?
Release Date: July 1, 2024
Publisher: Epitaph Press
Series: Women of Blackhawk Canyon #1
Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational Fiction
Format(s): paperback (298 pages), e-book
Book Source: Author
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)