Description:Sarah Franklin, a young teacher escaping an arranged marriage to a corrupt man, runs straight into the arms of Captain Harry Richardson as he prepares to board a train leaving Macon, Georgia, in 1875. She begs him to help her, and the captain soon finds himself in the midst of a ruse to hide her identity from her pursuers. When he impulsively kisses her in front of his amazed friends and some curious newspaper reporters, everything changes, and events soon spiral out of control.
Harry is a handsome man who carries his Bible and sidearm in a worn, leather valise. He fought on the side of the Confederacy until he was captured at Missionary Ridge; he spent time in a northern prison, but was released when he agreed to go west and fight the Indians with the U.S. Cavalry. Now that the war is over and he has earned his theology degree, Harry is looking forward to a new beginning as a circuit-riding preacher in the North Georgia mountains. But first, he must survive the train trip, protecting a woman he barely knows and putting his life in jeopardy to battle a determined band of hired gunmen.
In this inspirational historical tale, a soldier-turned-minister learns that even if you’re starting a new life, there are some things you can’t leave behind.
My Thoughts: This book was a wild ride, both unbelievable and intriguing. I have to say that it took some suspension of disbelief, as much of the story is far from realistic. That didn't stop it from being a fun read that I do recommend.
My main issue with this book is its length. There is quite a bit which I felt could have been left out and the story would have been just as enjoyable and likely more so. When the main conflict drew to a close I had assumed the story was over, only to see that there was 20% left according to my kindle. The last part was mostly void of conflict, instead uniting all the characters with happy endings. This included a couple characters who had not been in the rest of the book at all.
The story also included a few fade to black scenes which still might take it farther than many readers may be comfortable with. While not overly long, they make the characters' intentions abundantly clear. Yet the rest of the characters' interactions deal with strong themes of family and friendship. The situations are often humorous as well.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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