A Love So True by Melissa Jagears

A Love So True by Melissa Jagears ISBN-13: 9780764217524 Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: May 2, 2017

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Evelyn Wisely has a heart for the orphans of Teaville and works at a local mansion that rescues children out of the town's red-light district and gives them a place to live. But her desire to help isn't limited to orphans. The owner of the mansion, Nicholas Lowe, is willing to help her try to get the women working in prostitution out of the district as well--if she can gain the cooperation and support of local businessmen to go against the rest of the community.

David Kingsman has recently arrived in Teaville from Kansas City to help with one of his father's companies in town. While he plans on staying only long enough to prove his business merit to his father, he's shown interest in Evelyn's work and is intrigued enough by her to lend his support to her cause. They begin with the best of intentions, but soon the complications pile up and Evelyn and David's dreams look more unattainable every day. When the revelation of a long-held secret creates a seemingly insurmountable rift between them, can they trust God still has a good plan for them despite all that is stacked against them?


My Review:
A Love So True is a Christian romance set in 1908 in Kansas. It's the second book in a series, and you can understand this book without reading the previous one. This book spoiled some of what happened in the previous story, though not in a major way. While I enjoyed this story, I felt like the first book had a stronger story line.

Evelyn wanted to start a women's home in addition to running the orphanage, but she needed to get local support before Nicholas would finance it. I wondered how she thought she had the time to run the home since she was needed full time at the orphanage. Then again, this challenge seemed to exist more as a reason for Evelyn and David to spend time together than as the point of the story.

They were attracted to each other, but Evelyn pushed David away due to a shameful secret in her past. When writers spend most of the book only hinting at a character's motivating secret, it almost always turns out to be something that doesn't really stand in the way. And, yes, it's basically just her pride standing in the way of being free to love David. There were some issues that could have caused emotional conflict in their relationship (like where they would live, her ministries, etc.), yet these were resolved very easily.

The Christian element was Evelyn admitting her past rebellious act and accepting forgiveness and love. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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