Zoe Hart has lost her home and her job in England, so she decides to join a bride ship heading to British Columbia in 1863, hoping to find a husband and a new home as well as her brother, who immigrated to the area several years earlier. However, after arriving to British Columbia, she suffers another loss, during which she meets local pastor Abe Merivale. Abe has recently had an infant thrust into his care, and he enlists Zoe’s help with the babe. Zoe realizes that she cannot raise the baby on her own, so she accepts the hand of a questionable miner who promises her to take her to her missing brother. But when Abe hears that Zoe is making a mistake, he offers his own hand in marriage instead. As Abe and Zoe struggle through a marriage of convenience, Zoe begins to wonder if she will ever have a marriage of love.
I have really loved this series by Jody Hedlund! This might be my favorite book thus far (although I think I say that every time I read her next book!). I absolutely loved Zoe and Abe—they both have such dear, giving hearts and are absolutely perfect for each other. Their relationship has trials and struggles, which make their marriage of convenience more realistic and their growth that much sweeter. There are a few surprises that make the plot interesting. I liked a lot of the secondary characters and really disliked the villains in the story. The setting was well described and there were times when I felt like I could feel the bitter cold of the winter mountains and see the stunning northern lights. The storyline is engaging and I had a hard time putting the book down! I highly recommend this book, and honestly, anything by this talented author!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Life of Literature 