Book Review: Uncertain Heart by Andrea Boeshaar

This is a sweet, inspirational romance. 

Uncertain Heart (Seasons of Redemption, Book 2) by Andrea Boeshaar

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (October 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616380233
• ISBN-13: 978-1616380236

Genre: Inspirational, Historical Romance
My Rating:  4.0 of 5.0

The year is 1866, and Sarah McCabe has wanderlust. In an effort to become independent of her family back in Missouri, she accepts a governess position in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Richard Navis is a man determined to finish his indentureship to Captain Brian Sinclair and take over his family's farm. But when he falls in love with Sarah, his homesteading goals blur.  What's more, Richard fears she's fallen victim to the captain's charm and persuasion. 

Review:  I found this light, inspirational, historical romance to be charming and easy to read.

Sarah is a 20 year old daughter of a Missouri Pastor.  She is the youngest of five and is eager to get away from the farm to live independently in the city.  She traveled to Chicago for a position as a music teacher only to discover the position was filled.  She secures a position for the summer as a governess in Milwaukee, with the plan to return to Chicago for another position in September.

When Sarah arrives in Milwaukee her employer has forgotten to meet her.  She goes to seek out Captain Sinclair and instead meets his very trustworthy office manager, bookkeeper, Richard Navis. Richard is attractive, a Christian believer, kind and warm with a teasing sense of humor.  He is immediately taken with Sarah even though he learns that she wants the city life and he can’t wait to finish his business indentureship and return to his family farm.

Sarah finds her four charges to be in need of some taming but they really miss the attention and love of their extremely busy father. Captain Sinclair is a successful captain and businessman advancing his ship chandler’s business. Sarah is awed by the beautifully rich home and naively falls for the suave charm of the handsome and sophisticated Captain.

Sarah develops a wonderful relationship with the children but her romantic feelings are confused between the clear friendship offered by Richard and the mixed signals from the irascible Captain.  Richard is consistently helpful and faithful with his family and Sarah. But he is not beyond having feelings of jealousy creep in to hinder his view of things.

I liked how the author manages to weave prayer and scripture into natural situations in the story. The writing is very light and easy. The characters are well developed and it is easy to imagine a girl of Sarah’s upbringing being lured by riches and wealth of the city and then being confused when favored with attentions of a sophisticated, wealthy man and a warm, teasing man whom she thinks she only wants as a friend.  

I think anyone who enjoys a sweet and charming romance, plus the inspirational aspects, will like this book. It would make a nice light choice for a church reading group or for individual reading when you want an easy read.

xxx

This book was provided by Glass Roads PR for an unbiased review.