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Hearts Along the River #1
Hearts Awakening
With no means to support herself, Ellie Kilmer agrees to work as a housekeeper for the young widower who lives on Dillon Island, hopeful she can obtain a proper reference. But Jackson Smith quickly realizes that Ellie's presence may solve his own problems--both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage. When a marriage of convenience is offered, Ellie is initially humiliated. Though she is past the age most women marry, she has more pride than to agree to his outlandish suggestion. Yet what options does she have? To marry would mean a home and stability. So despite the rumors circling Jackson and his first wife, Ellie accepts this unlikely proposal...
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2010
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July 13, 2017
by Andrea Renee Cox
My favorite things about this book were the beautiful cover and Ethan. That little kid was so adorable and the most well-developed character in the entire story. I loved his journey and transformation.
Unfortunately, there were a lot more things that I disliked about this book, all revolving around the leading male character. Firstly, the leading man thought the leading lady was completely hideous... but then promptly asked her to marry him. Shortly afterward, "Ellie knew [Jackson] would respect her," but this was the exact opposite of what Jackson had proven to her. Then there was this bit: "Nevertheless, he planned to hold a tight rein of authority over her in the coming days." So, not only was he rude in asking an ugly woman to marry him so he didn't have to fall in love with her yet could still be married, and completely disrespectful to her, but he also was controlling of her.
And his character only got worse from there. He used both his first wife (deceased) and his second wife (the supposed ugly one) for selfish gain (first, earning a spot on the island; second, to take care of his children), then very heavily considered being unfaithful because of feelings rather than duty, even though this would point-blank defy God, not to mention the scandal (which he had detested about his first wife) that would further surround him and his very young sons. It was a shock to me that he never even thought about how his decision would affect them, even though they had seemed to be his top priority when he asked Ellie to marry him; suddenly they were forgotten because his passion outweighed his fatherly responsibilities. There were other times that he flew off the handle for no apparent reason (though he had excused it in his mind) and threatened his wife.
He was incredibly selfish, and this did not seem to change over the course of the story (except for the last two or three pages of the book). To me, that is not good character growth nor a solid character arc. Jackson was the most underdeveloped of all the characters, which was disappointing as he was one of the leads.
He also wasn't a hero, yet he was placed in the hero's role. Even a rogue-type character generally becomes selfless and nice to his wife along the course of a story, but Jackson hardly did. There were glimpses for a couple of paragraphs at a time that gave me a slight hope for him on occasion, but those were swiftly snuffed out due to his rage and bipolar personality. To me, a hero is a guy who, even though the world might think he chose the ugliest woman as his wife, he still finds her beautiful, he still respects her, and he cherishes her and her opinions. This guy tromped all over his wife's heart and couldn't have cared less if he'd been paid a billion dollars to do so.
I'm not sure if I will try another Parr book, because this one was lacking in a strong lead male. I don't know if that's because the current trend is to focus on strong female leads, but if that's the case, Ellie should have been a lot stronger too. However, I did really enjoy Ethan's character arc, so I think there's a lot of hope for this author to hone in on that for her leads in future books.
I was not compensated for this honest review.
My favorite things about this book were the beautiful cover and Ethan. That little kid was so adorable and the most well-developed character in the entire story. I loved his journey and transformation.
Unfortunately, there were a lot more things that I disliked about this book, all revolving around the leading male character. Firstly, the leading man thought the leading lady was completely hideous... but then promptly asked her to marry him. Shortly afterward, "Ellie knew [Jackson] would respect her," but this was the exact opposite of what Jackson had proven to her. Then there was this bit: "Nevertheless, he planned to hold a tight rein of authority over her in the coming days." So, not only was he rude in asking an ugly woman to marry him so he didn't have to fall in love with her yet could still be married, and completely disrespectful to her, but he also was controlling of her.
And his character only got worse from there. He used both his first wife (deceased) and his second wife (the supposed ugly one) for selfish gain (first, earning a spot on the island; second, to take care of his children), then very heavily considered being unfaithful because of feelings rather than duty, even though this would point-blank defy God, not to mention the scandal (which he had detested about his first wife) that would further surround him and his very young sons. It was a shock to me that he never even thought about how his decision would affect them, even though they had seemed to be his top priority when he asked Ellie to marry him; suddenly they were forgotten because his passion outweighed his fatherly responsibilities. There were other times that he flew off the handle for no apparent reason (though he had excused it in his mind) and threatened his wife.
He was incredibly selfish, and this did not seem to change over the course of the story (except for the last two or three pages of the book). To me, that is not good character growth nor a solid character arc. Jackson was the most underdeveloped of all the characters, which was disappointing as he was one of the leads.
He also wasn't a hero, yet he was placed in the hero's role. Even a rogue-type character generally becomes selfless and nice to his wife along the course of a story, but Jackson hardly did. There were glimpses for a couple of paragraphs at a time that gave me a slight hope for him on occasion, but those were swiftly snuffed out due to his rage and bipolar personality. To me, a hero is a guy who, even though the world might think he chose the ugliest woman as his wife, he still finds her beautiful, he still respects her, and he cherishes her and her opinions. This guy tromped all over his wife's heart and couldn't have cared less if he'd been paid a billion dollars to do so.
I'm not sure if I will try another Parr book, because this one was lacking in a strong lead male. I don't know if that's because the current trend is to focus on strong female leads, but if that's the case, Ellie should have been a lot stronger too. However, I did really enjoy Ethan's character arc, so I think there's a lot of hope for this author to hone in on that for her leads in future books.
I was not compensated for this honest review.
May 10, 2010
I loved this book and here's why, it is a marriage of convenience story (my favorite), the setting is different (not a western like most marriage of convenience stories today) and thirdly there is little to no spark between the hero and heroine. You might think that's a bit strange but in nearly every book I've read there was an immediate spark between the characters. I find it very refreshing to read a romance that's not based on instantaneous physical attraction but gradual unification of souls. I know that probably sounds really cliché but it's what I think!
The heroine, Elvira Kilmer, 31 years old with no hope of marriage, suddenly finds herself married to a younger, handsome, Jackson Smith with no hope of love between them especially since there is "another woman." Jackson marries her since she is plain, he knows he couldn't possibly love her so therefore...no complications. But as in all relationships be it romantic or otherwise there are always "complications."
All in all the themes that are present in this book are faith in God and forgiveness but the one that stuck with me was outer appearances of beauty may not always mean inner beauty and often times the most beautiful gifts are in the plainest wrappers. What a great message for anyone who reads this book especially the younger set who may feel hopeless in this age of emphasis on all things physical.
I cannot wait for Delia Parr's next book, Love's First Bloom coming this September. If you love Janette Oke's, Love Comes Softly, you will definitely like this book! Hearts Awakening is highly recommended!
*I received my free review copy from the publisher's Bethany House Book Review program.*
The heroine, Elvira Kilmer, 31 years old with no hope of marriage, suddenly finds herself married to a younger, handsome, Jackson Smith with no hope of love between them especially since there is "another woman." Jackson marries her since she is plain, he knows he couldn't possibly love her so therefore...no complications. But as in all relationships be it romantic or otherwise there are always "complications."
All in all the themes that are present in this book are faith in God and forgiveness but the one that stuck with me was outer appearances of beauty may not always mean inner beauty and often times the most beautiful gifts are in the plainest wrappers. What a great message for anyone who reads this book especially the younger set who may feel hopeless in this age of emphasis on all things physical.
I cannot wait for Delia Parr's next book, Love's First Bloom coming this September. If you love Janette Oke's, Love Comes Softly, you will definitely like this book! Hearts Awakening is highly recommended!
*I received my free review copy from the publisher's Bethany House Book Review program.*
June 5, 2010
Hearts Awakening is a book that made me cry, scoot to the edge of my seat, growl in frustration, and, in the end, sigh. Ellie is the kind of woman that I try to be like: patient, forgiving, insightful, kind even when she doesn’t feel like it, and she puts others first. She isn’t naturally this way. She just tries her best because she knows it’s the right thing to do. Her determination to keep on loving Jackson, even when he sorely did not deserve it, emulates true love. She encouraged him to be better, by example and by word. The book itself was easy for me to get caught up in, but it was a little lacking in romance between the characters, in my opinion. All in all, I would recommend it.
December 23, 2015
Oops, I just found two more books I forgot to review! Delia Parr has been one of the most talented authors I've discovered this year. I really enjoy her style of writing and am glad this was recommended to me by a friend in the CFD Hidden Gems challenge.
The romance between Ellie and the man she marries is so sweet. I loved how she earned the children's trust and made a home out of the house. I got frustrated a time or two with the characters but definitely stayed on the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen. I loved the trip to a little-plotted time period and place and appreciated the careful research (such as stove brands/types....that little detail added a lot.) When the book ended, I wanted more.
I loved that Ellie was a plain spinster and Jackson, who is younger, thought her "safe"; the tragedy with his first wife made him wish to never share his heart again. But events surprise them all...
The romance between Ellie and the man she marries is so sweet. I loved how she earned the children's trust and made a home out of the house. I got frustrated a time or two with the characters but definitely stayed on the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen. I loved the trip to a little-plotted time period and place and appreciated the careful research (such as stove brands/types....that little detail added a lot.) When the book ended, I wanted more.
I loved that Ellie was a plain spinster and Jackson, who is younger, thought her "safe"; the tragedy with his first wife made him wish to never share his heart again. But events surprise them all...
June 9, 2010
Hearts Awakening was a tender story with an appropriate title. It delved into what real love is and whether or not it's possible to develop marital love from friendship and not mere attraction. It also went into how you can't commit to someone if your heart is connected to someone else and the ramifications to everyone in your life when you close off your heart for fear of being hurt and abandoned.
I enjoyed this story because it really does show how the human heart works when an attachment to another person develops and blossoms into more. We all get less attractive as we age, but if we have a spouse who loves us deeply, that doesn't make the love dissipate, but it typically grows stronger if their is honesty and openness in a relationship. This story also shows how true intimacy cannot occur when there are secrets between people.
My only complaint about this story was how slowly the romance developed. The relationship that Ellie had with the boys was precious, and I enjoyed how their family slowly began to knit together. I would recommend this book even though it's not your typical romance or marriage of convenience story. It has a different, more heart-warming feel as their hearts awaken and bond in a marriage until it becomes more than just friendship.
What I enjoyed most about this story was how it shows that a solid friendship based on mutual respect and trust is an excellent foundation for marriage. Plus, the author's writing style was easy to read and follow.
I enjoyed this story because it really does show how the human heart works when an attachment to another person develops and blossoms into more. We all get less attractive as we age, but if we have a spouse who loves us deeply, that doesn't make the love dissipate, but it typically grows stronger if their is honesty and openness in a relationship. This story also shows how true intimacy cannot occur when there are secrets between people.
My only complaint about this story was how slowly the romance developed. The relationship that Ellie had with the boys was precious, and I enjoyed how their family slowly began to knit together. I would recommend this book even though it's not your typical romance or marriage of convenience story. It has a different, more heart-warming feel as their hearts awaken and bond in a marriage until it becomes more than just friendship.
What I enjoyed most about this story was how it shows that a solid friendship based on mutual respect and trust is an excellent foundation for marriage. Plus, the author's writing style was easy to read and follow.
March 11, 2016
Ok, something about this book bothered me and it wasn't until I read another review that I realized what made me dislike it. While I loved Ellie, I ended up hating Jackson. While at the end he supposedly became strong in his faith, he faces a decision whether to stay married to Ellie or not (there is more to the decision, but I don't want to spoil the whole book).
I would give Ellie four or five stars, but Jackson I wouldn't give one. His faith doesn't come out in his actions. He is a weak man with no true character who doesn't feel like he should be in a Christian book
I would give Ellie four or five stars, but Jackson I wouldn't give one. His faith doesn't come out in his actions. He is a weak man with no true character who doesn't feel like he should be in a Christian book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2020
This book is still good! Glad to have re-read it! I like marriage of convenience stories! :) It was clean as well! :)
November 5, 2014
Hearts Awakening
Really a good book. How faith and not rushing into things can save alot of heart aches. Look for beauty where beauty truly is..
Really a good book. How faith and not rushing into things can save alot of heart aches. Look for beauty where beauty truly is..
January 22, 2018
A tender story of an orphaned young woman who is convinced she will always be a spinster. Her uncle sends her to work as a housekeeper to a young widower and his two sons. The man's past rises up to destroy his hopes for the future and maybe even hers.
A very touching story that makes me think of the proverb, "Beauty is only skin deep." Our heroine may not be beautiful but her goodness shines through.
Well written with lots of food for thought.
A very touching story that makes me think of the proverb, "Beauty is only skin deep." Our heroine may not be beautiful but her goodness shines through.
Well written with lots of food for thought.
July 8, 2022
Hearts Awakening, by Delia Parr, features an unlikely heroine and a love that shatters stereotypes. The story moved me almost tears early in the book, then went on to bring smiles, chuckles, tears, cheers, and even a cringe or two. An emotional character driven novel filled with surprises, climaxing in a totally satisfying conclusion, I loved it!
June 5, 2014
I really, really liked this book in the beginning. Apart from mail order bride stories, coming across historical fiction that goes beyond the vows is rare, so I was really looking forward to reading about a married couple.
My heart broke for Ellie over the calloused way that Jackson thought of her, spoke toward her, and allowed others to speak for her. Despite Ellie thinking that Jackson defended her, I didn't really see that. I saw him abruptly end conversations, which may have been appreciated, but were not the same as directly fending off the attacks against her.
I really enjoyed the Christian themes and challenges regarding honesty and faithfulness, trust and forgiveness. I thought the role of stepmother was well done, though I found the complexity of the three year old a little unbelievable.
What really brought this book down, though, was the issue of Dorothea. Loving and lusting after a married woman is bad enough, but while being married himself? How does a Christian man not know that it's adultery, equal to what his wife did? And why does he think it would be acceptable to dissolve his marriage to Ellie, just because it's "in name only?" Since when has God ever been confined by the laws of man?! I don't know why he would think that just because the law said he could annul the marriage if he hadn't been consummated, that God would approve of his abandoning his commitment and responsibility to his wife. Why would Ellie accept that? None of this sat right with me; it just wasn't in line with God's words on marriage.
Then Dorothea comes into the picture... her husband has been dead a week? less? and she's immediately writing a former flame not just to renew an acquaintance, but to demand professions of love? WHAT?! there's not even a word for how inappropriate that is. Then, let's add to the fact, that she must be aware that Jackson is now married himself. No one questions her character based on these two facts?! Ellie doesn't question Jackson's character for not questioning Dorothea's?! Rather, she invites Dorothea to stay for dinner after catching her in her home. Oh. OH NO. There is SO much wrong here, it makes me nauseous. This was not an example of self sacrifice or love. This was just wrong.
My heart broke for Ellie over the calloused way that Jackson thought of her, spoke toward her, and allowed others to speak for her. Despite Ellie thinking that Jackson defended her, I didn't really see that. I saw him abruptly end conversations, which may have been appreciated, but were not the same as directly fending off the attacks against her.
I really enjoyed the Christian themes and challenges regarding honesty and faithfulness, trust and forgiveness. I thought the role of stepmother was well done, though I found the complexity of the three year old a little unbelievable.
What really brought this book down, though, was the issue of Dorothea. Loving and lusting after a married woman is bad enough, but while being married himself? How does a Christian man not know that it's adultery, equal to what his wife did? And why does he think it would be acceptable to dissolve his marriage to Ellie, just because it's "in name only?" Since when has God ever been confined by the laws of man?! I don't know why he would think that just because the law said he could annul the marriage if he hadn't been consummated, that God would approve of his abandoning his commitment and responsibility to his wife. Why would Ellie accept that? None of this sat right with me; it just wasn't in line with God's words on marriage.
Then Dorothea comes into the picture... her husband has been dead a week? less? and she's immediately writing a former flame not just to renew an acquaintance, but to demand professions of love? WHAT?! there's not even a word for how inappropriate that is. Then, let's add to the fact, that she must be aware that Jackson is now married himself. No one questions her character based on these two facts?! Ellie doesn't question Jackson's character for not questioning Dorothea's?! Rather, she invites Dorothea to stay for dinner after catching her in her home. Oh. OH NO. There is SO much wrong here, it makes me nauseous. This was not an example of self sacrifice or love. This was just wrong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2014
I originally found this novel for free under the Historical Romance section, so was very surprised to learn that not only is it a "historical romance", but it is also a "Christian romance" as well. While that in itself doesn't bother me, there were enough "other issues" that caused me to give it a 3 star rating.
First, lets focus on the positive aspects of this novel. The characters were very well written. Ellie was strong willed, and forced to choose between accepting this unconventional proposal, or being stuck with her cousin and his wife (who made it no secret that they did not like having her around). Jackson was a tortured soul who had not only lost his first wife in a scandal, but whose faith was also severely lacking (not to mention his heart belonged to another woman entirely). His sons were even well thought out and dealing with the loss of their mother in their own ways. The oldest Daniel, reminded Ellie at every turn of her short comings ("Mama never did this"), while the youngest Ethan, had not spoken a single word to anyone since his Mother's death. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their plights.
Now on to the negative aspects. Even though Jackson was dealing with many things (as stated above), I found him to be a real jerk. He constantly jumped to conclusions with Ellie, even going so far as to throw coins at her feet and order her out of his home for "disobeying" him, even though he didn't know the dire circumstances that lead her to react the way that she did.
Also, it seemed as though their relationship was too "rushed" at the end. Perhaps it was just me, but when there was little to no real "romantic" moments or "tender feelings" through 90% of the book (especially when Jackson himself refers to Ellie as plain, and does nothing to dispel the rumors that he married her because she wasn't the type to attract a man's affections), when the ending finally happened, I felt like I was missing something important. I feel there should have been more of these moments leading up to the ending, especially since the arrival of another key player could have lead to some tense and interesting moments above what was written.
First, lets focus on the positive aspects of this novel. The characters were very well written. Ellie was strong willed, and forced to choose between accepting this unconventional proposal, or being stuck with her cousin and his wife (who made it no secret that they did not like having her around). Jackson was a tortured soul who had not only lost his first wife in a scandal, but whose faith was also severely lacking (not to mention his heart belonged to another woman entirely). His sons were even well thought out and dealing with the loss of their mother in their own ways. The oldest Daniel, reminded Ellie at every turn of her short comings ("Mama never did this"), while the youngest Ethan, had not spoken a single word to anyone since his Mother's death. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their plights.
Now on to the negative aspects. Even though Jackson was dealing with many things (as stated above), I found him to be a real jerk. He constantly jumped to conclusions with Ellie, even going so far as to throw coins at her feet and order her out of his home for "disobeying" him, even though he didn't know the dire circumstances that lead her to react the way that she did.
Also, it seemed as though their relationship was too "rushed" at the end. Perhaps it was just me, but when there was little to no real "romantic" moments or "tender feelings" through 90% of the book (especially when Jackson himself refers to Ellie as plain, and does nothing to dispel the rumors that he married her because she wasn't the type to attract a man's affections), when the ending finally happened, I felt like I was missing something important. I feel there should have been more of these moments leading up to the ending, especially since the arrival of another key player could have lead to some tense and interesting moments above what was written.
October 31, 2018
I wouldn't say it's going to be one that I reread over again, but it really kept my attention throughout it, so I'll give this a big ol' 4 stars.
I liked the fact that it's Christian but without being preachy. Their belief and faith play a part of the story without taking over the storyline or making it about sermonizing to the reader. The characters pray, and they seek God's advice and help. It worked for the story. It felt like a natural part of the characters rather than Christian propaganda.
I also have a soft spot for spinster stories, and the beginning does a good job of setting up the heroine's plight and struggle, and I really felt for her. And I liked the story, though part of that may be because it reminded me of my own published novel, Flame and Ember, which has a similar storyline but set in the Regency era.
However, I will say that I probably won't be coming back to this story again. Most of my 4 star romances are ones that I would read multiple times, but though this one was super enjoyable the first time, I struggled to like the hero at times and felt the ending wrapped up way too fast. Frankly, the hero was a massive jerk at various points in the story, and though the author does a good job of providing him with a backstory that makes it understandable, I don't feel like I really felt for him quite as much as I felt for the heroine. We're not given his point of view enough to feel for him as much as we feel for the heroine. I wanted to see her end up with him because she was in love with him and I wanted to see the heroine get her happily ever after, not because I was really dead set that I wanted to see him happy.
That said, it was enjoyable and I wouldn't mind checking out the author's other books.
I liked the fact that it's Christian but without being preachy. Their belief and faith play a part of the story without taking over the storyline or making it about sermonizing to the reader. The characters pray, and they seek God's advice and help. It worked for the story. It felt like a natural part of the characters rather than Christian propaganda.
I also have a soft spot for spinster stories, and the beginning does a good job of setting up the heroine's plight and struggle, and I really felt for her. And I liked the story, though part of that may be because it reminded me of my own published novel, Flame and Ember, which has a similar storyline but set in the Regency era.
However, I will say that I probably won't be coming back to this story again. Most of my 4 star romances are ones that I would read multiple times, but though this one was super enjoyable the first time, I struggled to like the hero at times and felt the ending wrapped up way too fast. Frankly, the hero was a massive jerk at various points in the story, and though the author does a good job of providing him with a backstory that makes it understandable, I don't feel like I really felt for him quite as much as I felt for the heroine. We're not given his point of view enough to feel for him as much as we feel for the heroine. I wanted to see her end up with him because she was in love with him and I wanted to see the heroine get her happily ever after, not because I was really dead set that I wanted to see him happy.
That said, it was enjoyable and I wouldn't mind checking out the author's other books.
August 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this different kind of "romance" by Delia Parr. How refreshing to read about something blooming from friendship and goodness and most of all; need. Most reads tend to revolve around a beautiful woman but Ellie had a different kind of beauty; but stunning all the same. I enjoyed the suttle play on love instead of syrupy sweet. The touch was just enough to keep you reading. Ellie is all spit-fire and genuine; another reason I found this book to be so inviting. I will certainly read more of Delia Parr.
February 5, 2015
I enjoyed Hearts Awakening, which went a little differently from the average Christian romance novel, and that was a nice surprise. Also, Jackson was, at times, difficult to like, but since I could understand his lack of trust, it made him more real. I often felt the Christian element was being forced in and sometimes the dialogue seemed a little stilted, but it was still highly entertaining. Recommended.
September 28, 2014
Hearts Awakening
I normally don't like historical works, but occasionally I run into one that I'm glad I had it to read. This one I'm so glad I have read it, very happy. I know how most romances are structured: male meets female; a good story; and then they fall in love or get married. This book wasn't totally like that. I said enough. I hope I've got you interested. Delia Parr is new to me and I can hardly wait to read more of her work.
I normally don't like historical works, but occasionally I run into one that I'm glad I had it to read. This one I'm so glad I have read it, very happy. I know how most romances are structured: male meets female; a good story; and then they fall in love or get married. This book wasn't totally like that. I said enough. I hope I've got you interested. Delia Parr is new to me and I can hardly wait to read more of her work.
February 5, 2014
If you are looking for a heart-warming, soul-touching novel, this is it. I truly enjoyed every chapter.Definitely looking forward to reading it again!
May 31, 2014
I really loved the main character. I love that she wasn't physically "beautiful" and that her heart was what came through. I found her easy to relate to.
October 28, 2016
Good vacation read. Easy to follow, good story line. I felt as though I could picture the characters, so it was good character development.
December 17, 2016
I loved this book! So very wholesome and I enjoyed the story! Can't wait to read the rest of the series! I would give it a 4.75 rating if I could!
July 27, 2012
I loved the main character but I could not stand the male lead. That's why it got 3 stars.
June 16, 2015
Read my full review HERE at Into the Hall of Books.
Hearts Awakening begins in August 1840 - Ellie Kilmer has just agreed to take a job working for Jackson Smith, the widower with two very young boys that lives on Dillon Island, across the river from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ellie has been hired to come into the house and clean up a bit (a lot, actually - the house is a huge mess), cook, and help Jackson take care of his two young sons. Right away, Ellie is met with some resistance from the boys - she expected this - and from the extremely modern-for-that-time stove that Jackson has. Ellie gets to work immediately, however, deep cleaning the house, taking care of the children, and doing her best not to burn every single thing that she cooks in the very unfamiliar stove.
Ellie does not expect to be employed on a permanent basis - she expects to work temporarily. BUT! It is important to her to do an excellent job so she can earn a positive recommendation for whatever job she takes next in hopes that that job will be permanent. See, Ellie is a spinster - she is past the age of marrying during those times - and she does not wish to burden her cousins any longer by living with them. (Besides, they have some unsavory living and business practices from which she would like to separate herself.) Ellie hopes that Jackson will find her work satisfactory enough to provide a positive reference at the end of their agreed-upon time of her employment, and then she will be on her merry ole' job-seeking way. There ends up being a hitch in the plan, though, when Jackson asks Ellie to stay on permanently...as his wife. But his reasons for doing so AND the way he asks are just, well, not what Ellie hopes for in a marriage. (Jackson gets so excited about and caught up in his idea that he forgets to use tact and gentleness when he talks to Ellie about it.)
SO! After Ellie gasps and makes faces and says her piece, she stomps off - completely offended! But then she thinks about it for a while...Jackson Smith makes some great points in his "business proposition" (aka marriage of convenience proposal). While it isn't what Ellie desires in her heart for a marriage based on love, it is stability and a family, and she has grown to love those boys over time. Equally or maybe more importantly, it seems like Jackson's family needs her as much as she needs them. Maybe Ellie really is in exactly the place she needs to be but she does not realize it? Perhaps she can learn to accept that this is what is right for her? Perhaps Ellie has been placed here for greater needs than her own - maybe she and this family were meant to find each other...
Ellie decides to take a leap of faith and stay. She goes back to Jackson to accept his offer. Ellie has to bite her tongue often during the early stages of their marriage, but these times become fewer and fewer as she realizes that she just might be falling for this guy AND that Jackson just might be falling for her as well.
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Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr is one of those books that warms and comforts your heart. It is so sweet and makes you smile and laugh and tear up and is just so lovely - with a happy ending. It was PERFECT for what I needed and wanted when I was browsing Amazon and I am so happy that I found it and can continue with this series.
I absolutely adored Ellie Kilmer as a character. Bless her heart, she hears herself called a spinster by others so often (I just hate that word) that it serves to remind her over and over that she is ALONE in life. But there is a reason she ended up unmarried at her age, and it is a good one. It is unfortunate that she found herself living with her relatives because she was so unhappy with them - I think this is why she jumped at the chance to take the job with Jackson Smith out on Dillon Island. When she arrived at her new job, Ellie really had no idea what to expect nor what she was getting into - the young children were in denial that their mother was truly gone and believed that Ellie had come to take her place. She had to work hard to get them to open up to her. And then there was the stove that I mentioned earlier - while it provided plenty of laughs for me, I think it tortured poor Ellie but it showed her resolve and her determination, and it proved that she was a hard-working woman that would not give up when things were tough for her. Through something that seems as simple as a stove (but was difficult for Ellie), Ellie was able to overcome a big obstacle and find a strength: making desserts. Even when she would batter and bruise and destroy the rest of the meals, she found that she could win her way into the hearts of Jackson and the young boys little-by-little by making the delicious apple desserts they loved from the apples harvested from the trees on the island.
Jackson Smith was a great character - I think there is a little more for us to discover in him (vs Ellie) throughout the story, or perhaps he goes through a greater character development than even Ellie. When we meet him, he has been through it and back again, and it is obvious by the way he interacts with Ellie (perhaps because she is a woman?). As a result of the events that have taken place before the book begins, he has built walls that seem impenetrable and it is clear that he has some trust issues. This just is not going to work for Ellie, you see, because if she is going to be responsible for taking care of his home and his children, and basically managing his life, she wants him to open up to her. They have to be on the same page! SO! there is a bit of a battle of wills between the two of them here and there, and I must admit that I enjoyed reading it. While Jackson spends a portion of the story thinking of Ellie as "plain" and even calling her that to her face (oh yes, he does!), it isn't long before their battle of wills begins to seem as much that as the behavior of two people with the makings of a crush. Since Jackson has a bit of a complicated romantic past - a history that Ellie seems a little bit oblivious to, actually - this prevents him from opening his heart fully to Ellie as quickly and easily as he probably could have.
There is scandal that surrounded Jackson's previous wife - BIG scandal. She had some bad behavior and when she died, there were some questions that were left unanswered. All of this - her behavior, her death - has clouded and colored Jackson's social reputation in a huge way, which is quite unfortunate. It is something that he initially doesn't really want Ellie to know, even after they agree to marry, but it is inevitable that she find out. And when she does, bit-by-bit: Oh the drama! Over and over! Town gossip can be so awful! But as this couple grew to trust one another more as a team, as co-parents (remember, this marriage is convenient), and then later as friends, and even later as more-than-friends - the way they work together to overcome the gossip and the scandal and everything thrown at them is really wonderful. PLUS it does wonders for Jackson in terms of breaking down his walls and allowing him to open up to love again.
All along the way, there are hills and valleys, bumps and mistakes - these are all a part of life. It was just endearing to me, I think, to watch these two iron everything out. I watched a strong woman and a strong man fight to make their marriage-of-convenience work, but for different reasons. And it was interesting to me that while they both were strong in different ways, they each taught the other one strength and purpose and the value of being vulnerable.
Hearts Awakening has a great secondary cast - there is one other family living on the island that is pretty fantastic and of course the townspeople that gossip and spread rumors are all fun to read, even though they aren't necessarily positive characters. The cast is fun all around; everyone played their part. I loved the time setting as the culture of the 1800's is very present in the book. I think I enjoyed the actual setting as much as anything, probably, because it was so easy to visualize - particularly the fictional Dillon Island.
In glancing online to learn more about this series, it appears that the Hearts Along the River Series is a companion series, which is exciting. I recommend Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr to people that enjoy historical fiction with romance, inspirational fiction, a great setting, and comfort reads.
Hearts Awakening begins in August 1840 - Ellie Kilmer has just agreed to take a job working for Jackson Smith, the widower with two very young boys that lives on Dillon Island, across the river from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ellie has been hired to come into the house and clean up a bit (a lot, actually - the house is a huge mess), cook, and help Jackson take care of his two young sons. Right away, Ellie is met with some resistance from the boys - she expected this - and from the extremely modern-for-that-time stove that Jackson has. Ellie gets to work immediately, however, deep cleaning the house, taking care of the children, and doing her best not to burn every single thing that she cooks in the very unfamiliar stove.
Ellie does not expect to be employed on a permanent basis - she expects to work temporarily. BUT! It is important to her to do an excellent job so she can earn a positive recommendation for whatever job she takes next in hopes that that job will be permanent. See, Ellie is a spinster - she is past the age of marrying during those times - and she does not wish to burden her cousins any longer by living with them. (Besides, they have some unsavory living and business practices from which she would like to separate herself.) Ellie hopes that Jackson will find her work satisfactory enough to provide a positive reference at the end of their agreed-upon time of her employment, and then she will be on her merry ole' job-seeking way. There ends up being a hitch in the plan, though, when Jackson asks Ellie to stay on permanently...as his wife. But his reasons for doing so AND the way he asks are just, well, not what Ellie hopes for in a marriage. (Jackson gets so excited about and caught up in his idea that he forgets to use tact and gentleness when he talks to Ellie about it.)
SO! After Ellie gasps and makes faces and says her piece, she stomps off - completely offended! But then she thinks about it for a while...Jackson Smith makes some great points in his "business proposition" (aka marriage of convenience proposal). While it isn't what Ellie desires in her heart for a marriage based on love, it is stability and a family, and she has grown to love those boys over time. Equally or maybe more importantly, it seems like Jackson's family needs her as much as she needs them. Maybe Ellie really is in exactly the place she needs to be but she does not realize it? Perhaps she can learn to accept that this is what is right for her? Perhaps Ellie has been placed here for greater needs than her own - maybe she and this family were meant to find each other...
Ellie decides to take a leap of faith and stay. She goes back to Jackson to accept his offer. Ellie has to bite her tongue often during the early stages of their marriage, but these times become fewer and fewer as she realizes that she just might be falling for this guy AND that Jackson just might be falling for her as well.
**************************************
Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr is one of those books that warms and comforts your heart. It is so sweet and makes you smile and laugh and tear up and is just so lovely - with a happy ending. It was PERFECT for what I needed and wanted when I was browsing Amazon and I am so happy that I found it and can continue with this series.
I absolutely adored Ellie Kilmer as a character. Bless her heart, she hears herself called a spinster by others so often (I just hate that word) that it serves to remind her over and over that she is ALONE in life. But there is a reason she ended up unmarried at her age, and it is a good one. It is unfortunate that she found herself living with her relatives because she was so unhappy with them - I think this is why she jumped at the chance to take the job with Jackson Smith out on Dillon Island. When she arrived at her new job, Ellie really had no idea what to expect nor what she was getting into - the young children were in denial that their mother was truly gone and believed that Ellie had come to take her place. She had to work hard to get them to open up to her. And then there was the stove that I mentioned earlier - while it provided plenty of laughs for me, I think it tortured poor Ellie but it showed her resolve and her determination, and it proved that she was a hard-working woman that would not give up when things were tough for her. Through something that seems as simple as a stove (but was difficult for Ellie), Ellie was able to overcome a big obstacle and find a strength: making desserts. Even when she would batter and bruise and destroy the rest of the meals, she found that she could win her way into the hearts of Jackson and the young boys little-by-little by making the delicious apple desserts they loved from the apples harvested from the trees on the island.
Jackson Smith was a great character - I think there is a little more for us to discover in him (vs Ellie) throughout the story, or perhaps he goes through a greater character development than even Ellie. When we meet him, he has been through it and back again, and it is obvious by the way he interacts with Ellie (perhaps because she is a woman?). As a result of the events that have taken place before the book begins, he has built walls that seem impenetrable and it is clear that he has some trust issues. This just is not going to work for Ellie, you see, because if she is going to be responsible for taking care of his home and his children, and basically managing his life, she wants him to open up to her. They have to be on the same page! SO! there is a bit of a battle of wills between the two of them here and there, and I must admit that I enjoyed reading it. While Jackson spends a portion of the story thinking of Ellie as "plain" and even calling her that to her face (oh yes, he does!), it isn't long before their battle of wills begins to seem as much that as the behavior of two people with the makings of a crush. Since Jackson has a bit of a complicated romantic past - a history that Ellie seems a little bit oblivious to, actually - this prevents him from opening his heart fully to Ellie as quickly and easily as he probably could have.
There is scandal that surrounded Jackson's previous wife - BIG scandal. She had some bad behavior and when she died, there were some questions that were left unanswered. All of this - her behavior, her death - has clouded and colored Jackson's social reputation in a huge way, which is quite unfortunate. It is something that he initially doesn't really want Ellie to know, even after they agree to marry, but it is inevitable that she find out. And when she does, bit-by-bit: Oh the drama! Over and over! Town gossip can be so awful! But as this couple grew to trust one another more as a team, as co-parents (remember, this marriage is convenient), and then later as friends, and even later as more-than-friends - the way they work together to overcome the gossip and the scandal and everything thrown at them is really wonderful. PLUS it does wonders for Jackson in terms of breaking down his walls and allowing him to open up to love again.
All along the way, there are hills and valleys, bumps and mistakes - these are all a part of life. It was just endearing to me, I think, to watch these two iron everything out. I watched a strong woman and a strong man fight to make their marriage-of-convenience work, but for different reasons. And it was interesting to me that while they both were strong in different ways, they each taught the other one strength and purpose and the value of being vulnerable.
Hearts Awakening has a great secondary cast - there is one other family living on the island that is pretty fantastic and of course the townspeople that gossip and spread rumors are all fun to read, even though they aren't necessarily positive characters. The cast is fun all around; everyone played their part. I loved the time setting as the culture of the 1800's is very present in the book. I think I enjoyed the actual setting as much as anything, probably, because it was so easy to visualize - particularly the fictional Dillon Island.
In glancing online to learn more about this series, it appears that the Hearts Along the River Series is a companion series, which is exciting. I recommend Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr to people that enjoy historical fiction with romance, inspirational fiction, a great setting, and comfort reads.
April 5, 2024
I actually feel so sad in writing this review because it was SOOO good…up until the 60% mark or so. That’s when it went downhill. I loved Ellie’s character (her morals and values align with mine so I suppose that’s part of the reason) but she was so loveable and relatable that I shed tears for her. I also love how realistic everything was—Jackson not finding this woman initially attractive and knowing that he eventually would was exciting to me, and to see how their relationship would go from wariness to romantic literally had me flipping through the pages.
….and then it never happened? There was hardly any romance at all, and while I loooove slow burn, there were no romantic scenes with surreptitious glances and the lead up to the end was not satisfying enough to make up for it! I would have loved to see him grovel a little more and prove to her that he loved her through his actions, especially considering how he’d treated her the entire time.
And not once did Jackson ever consider Ellie as attractive or beautiful even *after* he supposedly fell in love with her. I’m sorry, but I never bought his feelings for her. Like you want me to believe that this man who spent majority of his POV wishing that instead of Ellie, it would be Dorothea with him up until two chapters before the final chapter, is now in love with Ellie? When did that happen? I’d have liked to see him admit that in his POV cos I never saw anything different in his actions, if not for his guilt at having his self righteous character being tainted. If he genuinely loved her, he wouldn’t have taken a whole WEEK to think about his decision. That made me feel so icky like if you loved someone, there would be no doubt. The only reason he probably chose her was because she told him she loved him and that put extra guilt/pressure on him to choose her. Either way, he only wants her to be a mum for the kids, not as someone he genuinely loves. Poor Ellie. I felt like she was drawn the short straw. The guy didn’t really like her at all.
I really REALLY wish this would have been different because I wanted to love this book so much. The way it was written was beautiful and it had the potential of living up to everything I adore in these sorts of books.
….and then it never happened? There was hardly any romance at all, and while I loooove slow burn, there were no romantic scenes with surreptitious glances and the lead up to the end was not satisfying enough to make up for it! I would have loved to see him grovel a little more and prove to her that he loved her through his actions, especially considering how he’d treated her the entire time.
And not once did Jackson ever consider Ellie as attractive or beautiful even *after* he supposedly fell in love with her. I’m sorry, but I never bought his feelings for her. Like you want me to believe that this man who spent majority of his POV wishing that instead of Ellie, it would be Dorothea with him up until two chapters before the final chapter, is now in love with Ellie? When did that happen? I’d have liked to see him admit that in his POV cos I never saw anything different in his actions, if not for his guilt at having his self righteous character being tainted. If he genuinely loved her, he wouldn’t have taken a whole WEEK to think about his decision. That made me feel so icky like if you loved someone, there would be no doubt. The only reason he probably chose her was because she told him she loved him and that put extra guilt/pressure on him to choose her. Either way, he only wants her to be a mum for the kids, not as someone he genuinely loves. Poor Ellie. I felt like she was drawn the short straw. The guy didn’t really like her at all.
I really REALLY wish this would have been different because I wanted to love this book so much. The way it was written was beautiful and it had the potential of living up to everything I adore in these sorts of books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2022
I liked this book. It doesn’t have anything crazy or intriguing or thrilling, just a story of growth and life. Not really any slow build romance described.. they just come to recognize love because of the growth and faith of the characters. It does have a lot to do with faith and belief in God, but didn’t seem too preachy. Like I said I liked it.. but it wasn’t really anything grand. It could become a bore if you’re not in the mood for just a story with no real deep romance or intrigue.. just a slow and steady faith filled book
I did have a hard time with Jackson though, he was lucky to find Ellie. It would have been nice to read more of his changing feelings for her sooner in the book, and how he thought she was beautiful… I really didn’t like how much he said about her plain looks, and didn’t stand up for her when others or herself said the same.. so it was hard at the end with his declaration because it seemed it was too sudden.. would have been nice to have a little more recognition of her beauty from him earlier
I did have a hard time with Jackson though, he was lucky to find Ellie. It would have been nice to read more of his changing feelings for her sooner in the book, and how he thought she was beautiful… I really didn’t like how much he said about her plain looks, and didn’t stand up for her when others or herself said the same.. so it was hard at the end with his declaration because it seemed it was too sudden.. would have been nice to have a little more recognition of her beauty from him earlier
June 25, 2017
Fantastic Blessing!
Fantastic Blessing! I enjoyed this Novel very much! The very idea of a spinster and the courage of Ellie learning to cook on a stovetop versus an open hearth was inspiring to say the least. I had to stop and google images to get a picture in my mind of what she was dealing with. What a blessing this book is, with the picture of love and true faith in God! I can't wait to investigate more of the authors notes at the end of the book, about the different ways of cooking and how our modern days have changed the way women work in the home amongst the technology and new cookware!
Fantastic Blessing! I enjoyed this Novel very much! The very idea of a spinster and the courage of Ellie learning to cook on a stovetop versus an open hearth was inspiring to say the least. I had to stop and google images to get a picture in my mind of what she was dealing with. What a blessing this book is, with the picture of love and true faith in God! I can't wait to investigate more of the authors notes at the end of the book, about the different ways of cooking and how our modern days have changed the way women work in the home amongst the technology and new cookware!
February 24, 2022
I absolutely adored Ellie's character
it's been quite some time since I came across such a strong heroine
I do wish the story had more groveling haha he did some despicable things and with one conversation everything was ok again
didn't know this was a Christian fiction, so to find so many religious aspects in the book was a little annoying
While Ellie is very strong, she is also constantly telling Jackson and herself about how God will make everything better
I wish we could've seen her get properly angry
now that I think about it she was way too strong and calm haha
in an unbelievable manner at times
it's been quite some time since I came across such a strong heroine
I do wish the story had more groveling haha he did some despicable things and with one conversation everything was ok again
didn't know this was a Christian fiction, so to find so many religious aspects in the book was a little annoying
While Ellie is very strong, she is also constantly telling Jackson and herself about how God will make everything better
I wish we could've seen her get properly angry
now that I think about it she was way too strong and calm haha
in an unbelievable manner at times
August 8, 2017
Nice read
For some reason this book reminded me of Sarah Plain and Tall. I like the story and found it enjoyable. I did not like how the main male character threw temper tantrums. He frustrated me in his treatment of his wife. However he did redeem himself and this book was a story of change and love. Nice gait ending.
Content: Squeaky clean. The ending has a kiss--that's it. Complety clean.
Language: clean
Religious: Very Christian I also struggled a little here because some of the dialogue on changing and becoming better didn't feel natural.
Happy reading!
For some reason this book reminded me of Sarah Plain and Tall. I like the story and found it enjoyable. I did not like how the main male character threw temper tantrums. He frustrated me in his treatment of his wife. However he did redeem himself and this book was a story of change and love. Nice gait ending.
Content: Squeaky clean. The ending has a kiss--that's it. Complety clean.
Language: clean
Religious: Very Christian I also struggled a little here because some of the dialogue on changing and becoming better didn't feel natural.
Happy reading!
May 14, 2017
I found the pacing to be on the slow side and Jackson was kind of a jerk. I know he had baggage from his first marriage but I didn't think he grew much until the very end all in a rush. There was hardly any chemistry between them even at the end. I actually enjoyed her relationship with the boys more. They were very realistic in the ways they were dealing with their grief and accepting a new mother figure.
February 9, 2020
Very good book about a marriage of convenience. Usually these marriages are in mail-order brides stories, but this one is definitely different; I would say probably more realistic than most. The entire family struggles with different emotions, including the husband, wife, and 2 children. Delia Parr did an excellent job of seeing into the characters' feelings.
This book was very well written. Delia Parr is on my list of very good authors. Most don't make that cut for me.
This book was very well written. Delia Parr is on my list of very good authors. Most don't make that cut for me.
November 19, 2021
My Musings
This is a lovely novel with two adorable little boys who stole my heart. I also loved Ellie, but the hero didn't impress me. He was too determined to cling to his past. While there is a happy ending for Ellie and Daniel and Ethan, I wonder if it will last. For their sake, I want it to and for the hero to be steadfast. In his decision. An epilogue a year in the future would have eased my concerns. Happy reading!
This is a lovely novel with two adorable little boys who stole my heart. I also loved Ellie, but the hero didn't impress me. He was too determined to cling to his past. While there is a happy ending for Ellie and Daniel and Ethan, I wonder if it will last. For their sake, I want it to and for the hero to be steadfast. In his decision. An epilogue a year in the future would have eased my concerns. Happy reading!
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