Review of Where Hope Prevails

Title:  Where Hope Prevails

Author: Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

Series: Return to the Canadian West Book 3

Pages: 320

Genre: Christian Historical fiction Christian Historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

Where Hope Prevails is the conclusion novel to the Return to the Canadian West. Beth Thatcher comes back to Coal Valley her decision made, she just waiting for a certain Mountie to ask a question.   What she hasn't counted on is a second teacher in Coal Valley. A teach who views teaching than Beth herself has.  Beth struggles to determine how to respond to it.  All the while a certain Mountie is questioning a career change because he thinks it’s what Beth wants, neither he nor Beth have the courage to voice their concerns.    

Both Beth and her suitor have to learn to let go and trust God. Give their concerns to him, and once they do everything else falls into place.   This book wrapped up the series beautifully and cemented my love of Canadian Mounties, it’s that red serge jacket.  That was started years ago with a TV show called Due South.  This book series had me starting When Calls the Heart the Hallmark TV show, don't spoil anything for me. I just now started season 2 and Netflix only goes up to season 4. (I don't have cable.)  Though I've been cautious about Hallmarks' adaptations of Janette Oke's books after the Love comes softly movie fiasco in which after the third movie the movies were completely different. But since these books came after the movie and spin off TV show I was willing to give it a try.    

Review of Where Trust Lies

Title:  Where Trust Lies

Author: Janette Oke Laurel Oke Logan

Series: Return to the Canadian West Book 2

 

Pages: 336

Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Where Trust Lies is the second book in the Return to the Canadian West series. For me it kind of fell into the second book slump. While it was still a good read, the fact that it focused on Beth being with her family back east.  I missed her interactions with the town and her students.  As well as the blossoming romance with her suitor back in Coal Valley.  This book has Beth questioning where she belongs.   

Her mother in helps that Beth will change her mind about going back to Coal Valley arranges for a family cruise from Eastern Canada down to the United States as a way to show her what's she would be given up if she went back.  It also seemed to me that her family, her mother especially doesn't approve of Beth's suitor.  But even on the cruise she has one thing to look forward to letters and phone calls from a Mountie who has stolen her heart. 

That aside Where Trust Lies did make a good bride novel in the series between the first and third book. Though it did have me reading quickly to get to the third and final book.  This is a series that you do indeed need to read in order. 

Review of When Courage Calls

Title:  Where Courage Calls

Author: Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

Series: Return to the Canadian West

 

Chapters: 28

Pages: 338

Genre: Christian Historical/ Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 4 stars

     When Courage Calls is the first book in the Return to the Canadian West series. This series is a bit of a sequel series to the Canadian West series. Beth Thatcher goes west to be a teacher in Coal Valley much like her aunt Elizabeth did in When Calls the Heart.

     Coal Valley ends up being move primitive that Beth thought it would be. After a few mishaps including her belongings being stole including a compass and a priceless violin; Beth comes  to love the children and the community as they do her. While in Coal Valley she meets Constable Jarrick “Jack” Thornton of the Royal mounted police. 

     I enjoyed When Courage Calls more than I thought I would. I even loved it. When I didn’t think that I would because the Canadian West series wasn’t a favorite.

     But Beth was a character you couldn’t help but love. And the children of Coal Valley were so sweet and they had been though so much. And of course Jack being a character in the book wasn’t so bad either.  Reading this book has me wanting to watch the When Calls the Heart TV show. But I want to finish this book series first.

     From the beginning of the novel Beth’s strong faith had me pulling out my own Bible and reading though the Psalms while I was reading the book. I even added the When Calls the Heart Devotional to my list of books to buy.

     I am looking forward to finishing this series. And If the next two are anything like this one I know that I am going to love each of them.  

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.