Recent Reads {Appalachian Serenade}

Appalachian Serenade by Sarah Loudin Thomas - This delightful novella is set in West Virginia just after WWII. Young widow Delilah Morrissey returns to live with her sister and family, and entertains the hope that maybe she can still find love and have children of her own. When she starts working at the local general store, it looks as though she and store owner Robert may have a future together, but what if children can't be a part of that? Delilah and Robert both have to reconsider their plans and dreams and take some steps of faith.

This was such an enjoyable read, and I was impressed with the depth of the characters and how well the descriptions evoked the atmosphere of the community. I felt connected to the Delilah and Robert and the other characters right from the start, and it was a pleasant surprise to find such well-developed characters and themes in a novella. The underlying theme is about trusting God's plan, and the relationship between the two principle characters demonstrates both their struggle and their faith, but is not preachy. It's sweet and realistic, and I found it refreshing to have main characters in a romance that are well past their teenage years. While this story is a prequel to Miracle in a Dry Season, which will be released in July 2014, it doesn't leave the reader hanging - there is a resolution, but it certainly whetted my appetite for more!

There is a preview of Miracle in a Dry Season included, and I am looking forward to the whole story already. The focus shifts to Perla and Casewell, and Delilah and Robert will move into supporting roles, but still play an important part.

At the time of writing, Appalachian Serenade is available free for Kindle.

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