First of all, allow me to apologize for my tardiness this week in posting. Having a regular blogging and reviewing schedule is a very difficult commitment, but one that I think is important to make! As you know, I’m in the process of moving and working on getting all of the things that go along with moving (jobs, schooling, packing) in order. So this past week, it definitely threw my reading schedule off!
However, there’s nothing like a charming book to take your mind away from the stressors of life. My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley: Lily’s Dilemma was just that for me!
Here’s the synopsis, so that you have a good idea as to the plot of this book:
Captain McAlister “Mac” Albright has purchased land in the Shenandoah Valley. However, the land belongs to Lillyanna Laughlin—or so she erroneously thinks. Mac sets her straight and despite a poor start, the two become friends. . .if only he were financially stable to offer her more. When Lily’s life is threatened and his whole future goes up in flames, Mac truly becomes a man without means, and Lily is forced to make the impossible choice between a loveless marriage with a man twice her age or the man who has shown her what true love could be. How can she choose between love and economic security? Her family is depending on her. Is her heart destined to break? Journey into Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley of 1816 where a woman’s dreams and future happiness are on the line.
I loved the spiritual content in this book, first and foremost! Major themes in this book are faith, trust, and surrendering your life to God completely. That being said, another great part of this book was the love story. As the two main characters grew closer to God, they grew closer to each other, and that is always one of my favorite stories to read about! It’s timeless, in my opinion. Of course, for Lilyanna Laughlin and Captain McAlister “Mac” Albright, such a love story does not come without its fair share of ups, downs, sinister schemes, heartbreaks, and misunderstandings.
I daresay that this book had more twists and turns in it than the Shenandoah River itself, but I loved every bit of it!
I enjoyed the Captain’s character immensely. You all know that if a book has anything nautical in it whatsoever, especially if the male lead happens to have a sea-faring background, I will quickly fall in love with the story. Mac was mischievous, funny, witty, and charming. Lily was equally amusing, and I liked reading about her prim and proper antics, as well as her devotion to her family and her strong conviction when it came to her faith.
For me, this book did have a bit of a slow start, but when the action did start to progress it quickly became a serious page turner. Honestly, there really is nothing like a classic historical fiction novel to brighten your days, and this one definitely brightened mine!
If historical fiction, sailors, and the early 1800s are your thing, this is a book you’ll want to have on your shelf!
Until next time,
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