Review: Cozy Romance About a Second Chance at Love
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 16, 2013
This is a cute historical novella about romance and life after the Civil War.  Maren has been helping Mrs. Brantenberg care for her four-year-old granddaughter Gabi and helping on her farm in Missouri in exchange for room and board.  She came over from Denmark as a mail-order bride, but when her eyesight started failing her, so did her intended.  He broke the engagement and she was stuck without a way to buy a ticket home.  Woolly, Gabi's father, left to fight in the war after his wife died giving birth to Gabi.  He shows up hoping for a second chance with his daughter and mother-in-law, but may find love as well.There's also some foreshadowing of the next novella's story, which is about Emilie, a young woman in a quilting circle with Maren, Mrs. Brantenberg, and many other women.  She's content to work in her father's store and take care of him.  She's thought about romance, but she's far too busy, and no one's interested anyway.  Her father decides she needs to go to college and we'll have to read the next story to find out what happens.I found the characters believable and the setting peaceful.  I liked all of the characters and was cheering for Woolly to be welcomed back home and for a romance to develop between the couple.  I would have liked a bit more romance, though.  I find this time period fascinating and enjoyed learning more about the aftermath of the war.  I wish the story would have been longer and look forward to the next novella in The Quilted Heart series.  This is only available as an e-book for $1.99!I received this e-book free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review.