Shortly after the Civil War has ended, Ada is penniless and all alone. Her mother died years ago of consumption and her father has recently passed away, leaving Ada with no home, no prospect of marriage, and nothing to live on. Ada boards a train in her home of Boston and travels to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee to become a companion to Lillian Caldwell. The only skill Ada brings with her is her ability to make hats like her mother did. Ada is determined to open her own business as a milliner in order to have the funds to return to what is familiar to her and live a life that does not included playing the part of a servant.
However, Ada didn't consider that she might actually care for Lillian nor did she dream she might meet someone who could change her plans. Wyatt Caldwell, Lillian's nephew, is probably the best looking man Ada has ever seen. What man would put his dreams on hold to come to Tennessee to make sure his aging aunt was well taken care of? However, Ada has been betrayed so many times that it is difficult for her to trust. Can Ada let go of her past and learn to trust both God and Wyatt?
The author, Dorothy Love, attempts to weave the story of two people who carry pain from their past--Ada's from her father and ex-fiance, Wyatt's from the Civil War. However, I do not feel that the character's struggles are well developed enough to allow the reader to truly empathize with either. Most of the book is a nice easy-going story about the relationship between Ada and Lillian and Ada and Wyatt. Scattered throughout the story are peeks of the conflict between Ada and her father and her perceived "ruining" of her life. It was a good story but not one that I would want to pick up again. Most of it was quite predictable leading the reader with little reason to read past bedtime which is what I would have liked to have seen. Although written as part of a series, this book easily stands alone.
Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love is available on Christianbooks.com and on Amazon.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment