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| November 2017, Barbour Books |
Journey now to Castle Gate, Utah of 1910 where...
Forbidden Love Tries to Survive Old World Expectations
Schoolteacher Leanna McKee plans on leaving the coal mining town of Castle Gate, Utah, and never looking back. Good riddance to coal dust, rugged men, and the fatal mine that took her husband’s life.
Until the widow meets a widower who awakens her heart...and she finds herself inexplicably falling for miner Alex Pappas which stirs up a whole heap of trouble.
Alex’s Greek parents have arranged a more traditional match for him. When the schoolteacher’s association with the Greek family begins to anger the American miners, they threaten Alex and his family. Leanna has received an offer to teach elsewhere and feels she has no choice but to leave Castle Rock. . .though she will be leaving her heart behind.
Forbidden Love Tries to Survive Old World Expectations
Schoolteacher Leanna McKee plans on leaving the coal mining town of Castle Gate, Utah, and never looking back. Good riddance to coal dust, rugged men, and the fatal mine that took her husband’s life.
Until the widow meets a widower who awakens her heart...and she finds herself inexplicably falling for miner Alex Pappas which stirs up a whole heap of trouble.
Alex’s Greek parents have arranged a more traditional match for him. When the schoolteacher’s association with the Greek family begins to anger the American miners, they threaten Alex and his family. Leanna has received an offer to teach elsewhere and feels she has no choice but to leave Castle Rock. . .though she will be leaving her heart behind.
My Review
3 STARS
Set in 1910, the coal
mining town of Castle Gate is not a progressive community. Greeks and Americans
don’t mix, or at least that is what many wish for and try to force upon the
residents. Leanna is a widow whose deceased miner husband did not hold to those
beliefs and it caused some trouble between him and the town folk. After his death,
she begins to become acquainted with the Pappas’, a Greek family that owns a
restaurant and whose son Alex was a good friend to Leanna’s husband, Jack, both
working in the coal mines. Leanna and Alex fall in love which causes many
distressful moments between them and some of the other miners/townsfolk who
dislike the Greeks.
Author Angie Dicken is a third generation Greek American and knows her history, bringing to life the hardships and prejudices that faced this hard working people group. Leanna’s Choice has romance, strong characters, solid faith, and because it is a story about prejudice and racism, it contains some violence but not explicit. It induces thought regarding our own culture today and how, as Christ followers, we should embrace others. While I found it to be awfully slow moving, I think most fans of Christian historical fiction will find it a satisfying read.
I received a
complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no
obligation to post a review. No compensation has been received.
Let’s talk ancestry! I’m
English/European. Most of my ancestors hail from Ireland and England. And yes,
I have some Collins’ in my Irish ancestry, dating back to the 1200s, on my
mother’s side. My paternal grandmother was Welsh. I have always wanted to visit Ireland
and study my family’s genealogy.
Please leave a comment, along with an email address, telling me where your ancestors are from and you will be entered to win my review copy of the book!
Open to US only (48 contiguous states) due to postal costs. Being a blog follower is not mandatory but greatly appreciated. At this time, the only way to follow is thru GFC in the right side bar.
~Happy Reading~
~Happy Reading~
I would love to read this one. Thank you for sharing. mauback55 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by, Melanie! Where do your ancestors hail from?
DeleteMy ancestors came from Germany. fishingjanATaolDOTcom
ReplyDeleteCool! Have you ever visited Germany?
Deletemy ancestors came from Poland and Germany. Thank you for a chance to win one of your books you are reviewing.
ReplyDeleteThat's neat, Tammy. Please come back and leave an email address.
DeleteSorry, mommystuck1(at)optonline(dot)net Thank you for reminding me.
DeleteI'm actually a professional genealogist so a good question for me! I am German, Polish, Czech and Belgian with some Scandinavian thrown in for good measure! And I live in Utah! sonja dot nishimoto at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that, Sonja. I think geneology is fascinating. My mom gave me a thick packet info on our family before she died. One of these days I plan to do some more research.
DeleteAnne, thank you for your honest review. I am enjoying the My Heart Belongs series. I can't wait to read this one.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138atgmaildotcom
Hey Caryl, I've enjoyed the previous MHB books a bit better than this one but I think you would probably like it. Glad you stopped by and entered the giveaway.
DeleteI once traced my family tree as far back as when my ancestors lived in it. I found plenty of nuts.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Haha!!! Funny :)
DeleteI am Norwegian, English and Irish. Looking forward to reading this book.
ReplyDeletewfnren at aol dot com
TY for entering the giveaway, Wendy!
DeleteMy family history is English/Scottish and Dutch/English. I would love to find out if there is more. My Dad always said that we had horse thieves in the family but I knew that wasn't true or is it?
ReplyDeleteJanet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Hey Janet, Sounds like your dad had quite a sense of humor! I'm sure all our families have a few interesting tidbits in the past. :)
DeleteThank you for this. My family didn't put much emphasis on this, so all I know is that there is Cherokee Indian on my father's side. My maiden name is British I believe. teshawATsbcglobalDOTnet
ReplyDeleteHey Tammie, Some of mine were obsessed with genealogy, at least it seemed that way when I was growing up. I just find it all fascinating. :)
DeleteI don't know much about my ancestry. My mom is from Japan, and my dad was born in Nebraska. Maybe someday I'll get time to research!
ReplyDeleteDianna (dedezoomsalot at yahoo dot com)