Be Still My Soul

Musician Gideon O' Riley is a ladies' man.  Every time he is seen, it is with another girl.  One evening after a community gathering, Gideon chooses Lonnie Sawyer to walk home.  Her abusive father watches through the window as Gideon kisses Lonnie goodnight and assumes much more has happened than a kiss.  When he forces Gideon to marry Lonnie, Lonnie has only her faith to hold on to.  She doesn't love Gideon nor does he love her.  Polite strangers is how they might be described.  What will it take for them to open their heart to the other?

The story is set in the early 1900's Appalacia which is what first drew me to the book, having grown up there myself.  However, debut author,  Joanne Bischof did an excellent job making me love Lonnie from the beginning.  Lonnie has always felt that her "Pa" was a harsh uncaring man and she looks forward to turning 18 so she can go live with her Aunt Sarah and learn to make soap.  Her aunt is her escape place when her father is abusive and what a wonderful place to go--a home where she is loved, reminded of her Father's love (even on the day of her unwanted wedding), and God's word is read.  In spite of her upbringing, Lonnie is tender and loves her siblings and mother even though she failed to protect her from her father.

And Gideon.....not the kind of man anyone would want their daughter to marry and hard to like from the start.  By the end of the book though, you will find something that will endear him to you.

Be Still My Soul is the first book in the Cadence of Grace series and will be released in October 2012.   I typically shy away from reading a series until they are all released but this is one I am going to be anxious to read any books that follow.   Also included is a Reader's Guide series of questions ready for a book club setting.

I received this title free from the pubisher in exchange for an honest review.