After Catherine Reed’s husband dies in a tragic logging accident, Catherine and her four-year-old daughter, Clair, move home with Catherine’s mother and brother in order to accept a new position as the teacher for the town’s one-room schoolhouse. But Catherine carries a dark secret that she hasn’t even shared with her mother. Will she ever find forgiveness?
Samuel Harris has suffered his own loss, losing his wife and unborn child over a year prior. Although he is the town’s preacher, he struggles to trust God, blaming God for allowing him to be absent when his wife died. The guilt has burdened him ever since. But when his old flame Catherine Reed comes back to town, he wonders if they can find healing together.
Catherine believes that anyone who wants to learn should be allowed to learn, but she is quick to find a town divided on that issue. As she and Samuel set out to change people’s minds in a post-Civil War era, they find themselves drawn to each other over and over again. As they join together for the same cause, could they also find a second chance at happiness?
REVIEW
This is a sweet story about faith, forgiveness, and healing. The elements are present in the lead couple and in the town.
Catherine Reed is a recent widow with a daughter and a secret. Samuel Harris is a preacher with a secret of his own. They used to have eyes for each other before they met their respective spouses.
Catherine returns to town to live with her mother and has applied to be the school teacher there.
Her journey of faith as she navigates new territory is beautiful and sweet. Samuel is there fore her every step of the way. She faces opposition from the town due to her not quite adequate education and a couple errors along the way.
She makes bolder decisions as she gains confidence to the point of allowing everyone to come to the school to be taught, a move which could result in her losing her position.
This is a post civil war story which shows courage, compassion, love, and forgiveness at a time when the nation is in great need of healing. This story was beautifully written and held my attention through every word. It is a faith filled journey that allows a bit of perspective of a time past when times were simple but people have ever been anything but simple. It is a story about the power of love and forgiveness, especially forgiving oneself.
I received an early copy through the publisher and this is my honest review.