Lydia Crawford follows her love to Cimarron Creek, Texas, from central New York, but she is not expecting the hostility she discovers towards Northerners in the Deep South. Even more of a shock is when Lydia arrives in Texas, expecting to be excitedly reunited with her fiancé, only to learn that not only has he disappeared, but also he has left a pregnant wife in his wake. Disappointed but uncertain where else to go, Lydia is grateful to befriend the wealthy and enigmatic Aunt Bertha, who takes Lydia under her wing without question and coaxes her to open a candy shop, convinced that fudge and other treats will sweeten the attitude of the townspeople towards Lydia. But when items began disappearing from the town’s shops and secrets abound, Lydia once again faces hostility from her neighbors, who suspect she may be the culprit.
This novel has a mix of romance, mystery, betrayal, suspense, and Biblical themes. I thought that the beginning was a little slow. I also was grateful for the genealogy chart in the front of the book as there were a lot of names introduced in the first few chapters, but once I was able to get into the story a little more, I found it was enjoyable. I liked that not every part was predictable and there was a bit of mystery sprinkled throughout. I thought some of the parts seemed unrealistic and worked out a little too perfectly, and I found it a little difficult to connect with the characters for this reason, but nonetheless the storyline is interesting. I am looking forward to hopefully delving deeper into their lives in books 2 and 3!
I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Life of Literature 
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review A Stolen Heart. I appreciate your comments about what you liked — and what you didn’t. Constructive criticism is always helpful.
Thank you so much for stopping by! I always enjoy reading your books and look forward to the next one in the series! 🙂