Destined for You by Tracie Peterson

Destined for You
by Tracie Peterson

ISBN-13: 9780764232350
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: March 2nd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
In 1869, Gloriana Womack's family is much smaller since smallpox killed her mother and two of her siblings. She lives in a modest cottage in Duluth, Minnesota, with her father and young brother, and she has dedicated her life to holding her tiny, fractured family together--especially as her father is frequently gone on long fishing trips. Their livelihood may come from the waters of Lake Superior, but storms on the lake can be dangerous, even to those who know it well.

Luke Carson has come to Duluth to help shepherd the arrival of the railroad to the city's port, and he's eager to be reunited with his brother, Scott, who recently moved there with his pregnant wife. Competition for the railroad is fierce, with the neighboring city of Superior, Wisconsin, fighting for the tracks to come through their town instead. But the real danger lies in a resident of Duluth who is determined to have his revenge upon Luke.

When tragedy brings Gloriana and Luke together, they help each other through their grief and soon find their lives inextricably linked. If they survive the trials ahead, could it be possible they've been destined for each other all along?


My Review:
Destined for You is set in the Fall of 1869 in Minnesota. Gloriana has lost many members of her family to disease or accident, leaving her wondering how she'll take care of her young brother by herself. She's also angry at God, asking "what good is it to be a Christian and serve Him if we cannot trust Him to protect us from evil and bad things?" She struggled with her faith, but Luke showed up in time to help her. He lost a brother and sister-in-law at the same time as Gloriana lost another loved one.

The main characters were complex, grew throughout the story, and reacted realistically to events. The focus of the book was on the struggles of everyday life along the lake and how the area was being built up. The author included a lot of historical detail about everyday life. The romance built slowly as Luke helped Gloriana through her grief and with the everyday struggles that she faced. They also worked together to care for Luke's orphan niece. Some suspense was added by the threat of someone trying to ruin Luke's reputation by interfering with the building of the railroad, but only a few pages referred to it. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical 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.


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