A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham

A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham ISBN-13: 9780800735395 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Revell Released: August 4th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.

When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie's pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves--but he is the one person who can never know.

In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past?


My Review:
A Life Once Dreamed is a Christian romance set in 1880 in Dakota Territory in America. This story was woven around the laws of the time concerning illegitimate children. Illegitimate children were blamed for their parents sins, so it was easier to go where no one knew their background.

James and Agnes were childhood friends that turned into sweethearts, but James' family was rich and cared deeply about their reputation. When Agnes finally learned about her birth circumstances and adoption, she felt that James' family (and maybe even James) wouldn't accept her. Telling James would bring shame on her parents and could bring problems on James. She went west to start a new life but decided not to marry because she still loved James. After becoming a doctor, James followed her and pleaded to know why she had abandoned him. It's not until Agnes plans to adopt an illegitimate baby that James must confront his attitudes.

I cared about what happened to the main characters. Sam was a wonderful character: selflessly caring, very supportive, and not caring about one's birth circumstances. Agnes also cared for others with her words and actions, partly because she understood accepting suffering out of love for another. James was kind and very much cared about healing people, but he still had some selfish and judgmental attitudes due to his upbringing. He had to work through these as he faced the uncertainties about his relationship with Agnes and a disease outbreak in the town. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romance.


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.