A Promise to Love by Serena Miller

Back Cover: Ingrid Larsen arrives in Michigan in 1871 with little more than the clothes on her back and a determination to find her brother, who has disappeared into the dangerous lumber camps. Destitute and barely hanging on to hope, the young swedish immigrant crosses paths with Joshua Hunter, a newly widowed farmer with eyes the color of the ocean she had crossed and five rambunctious children to raise on his own.

Marriage would solve both of their problems, and Ingrid finds herself proposing in broken English to a man she barely knows. Many difficulties lie ahead - but the hardest battle of all will be winning the heart of her new husband.

Review: "A Promise to Love" is at times funny, in places terrifying, woven with both tough and joyful moments, and altogether wonderful. This is the second book I've read by Serena Miller - the first being, "Measure of Katie Calloway". I loved her first book and her newest piece of work, "A Promise to Love" is just as good.

Why did I like it?
Ingrid, the young immigrant and accidental-wife, is so good. She's wise, self-sacrificing, brutally hard-working, tough, brave, and such a Godly woman. Throughout her story, she doesn't just "deal" with problems as they arise but she rises above them and becomes a better woman. Her strengths are many, but even her weakness are encouraging as she turns to God and honours her husband. She is a turn-of-the-century Ruth, and her inner beauty was stunning to read.

In addition to having a strong female lead, this novel had everything from raging, devastating forest fires, a horrible drought, bondage, deathly illness, family abuse, lynching... you name it, this book has it. A Promise to Love is a quick-paced read with enough drama to keep anyone reading.

I definitely would recommend it!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"