Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania by Melanie Dobson
Summerside (2011)
Reviewed by Diana L. Flowers
4-1/2 stars~
Enthralling Read!
Melanie Dobson sweeps us away on a spellbinding journey into the New World; a half untamed land fraught with strife and dangers on every hand, and pervaded with hidden, forbidden passions. Two couples in a Moravian community in Germany, are chosen by lot to marry, Christian and Susanna Boehler, and Catherine and Elias Schmidt. Although Susanna does not know Christian personally she accepts her lot, wanting only to travel to the colonies in America and share their faith in God with the Indians. The beautiful Catherine was raised into wealth and is not ready for the hardships that await her in this savage new land of Nazareth; and the separation from her new husband that is required by their religious sect.
Susanna and Christian's marriage is never consummated, for she becomes ill and he must travel to minister to the Indians without her, along with Catharine and Elias. Unbeknownst to all, Christian is in love with his friend's beautiful wife, and suffers torment day and night over her, and the fact that that his lot was chosen to marry Susanna, a woman he does not love. Even in his passion in ministering to the Indians, he cannot control his passion towards the beautiful Catherine, and falls into a web of deceit and betrayal.
What happens when Elias discovers Christian's and Catharine's secret, and will Susanna's love for this stranger, her husband, ever be returned? Will their dedication to the Indians' salvation be rewarded, or end up in tragedy?
What happens when Elias discovers Christian's and Catharine's secret, and will Susanna's love for this stranger, her husband, ever be returned? Will their dedication to the Indians' salvation be rewarded, or end up in tragedy?
This was not your typical, lighthearted Love Finds You read, but was filled with complex relationships, and an intense plot that will keep the reader turning those pages well into the night. Melanie Dobson's research was impeccable and therefore lends to the realism of her characters and storyline (and some of it wasn't at all pretty), but she stays true to the times and the many dangers that were ever present.
Some of this book will leave the reader heartbroken, and definitely more appreciative of what our ancestors went through for their faith and love of this great country we call home. The forbidden passions were handled with discretion and does not cross over the boundaries of Christian fiction.
Great writing, Melanie Dobson!
Bio: Guest Reviewer Diana Flowers is Senior Review on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help. Diana loves reading historical Christian fiction and is a favorite reviewer for many authors.
GIVEAWAY: Melanie is giving away a paperback copy of this book to someone who leaves a comment on this post. Please leave your email address.
Some of this book will leave the reader heartbroken, and definitely more appreciative of what our ancestors went through for their faith and love of this great country we call home. The forbidden passions were handled with discretion and does not cross over the boundaries of Christian fiction.
Great writing, Melanie Dobson!
Bio: Guest Reviewer Diana Flowers is Senior Review on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help. Diana loves reading historical Christian fiction and is a favorite reviewer for many authors.
GIVEAWAY: Melanie is giving away a paperback copy of this book to someone who leaves a comment on this post. Please leave your email address.
Thank you Diana for the great Review of this Book, I wish I could start reading it right now, it sounds so good. Please add me to your Contest.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks so much, Ingrid! I hope you enjoy the story.
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts on this book and author, for a christian romance it seems like a lot of passion is there, I would like to see what happens when they marry without love as time moves forward.
ReplyDeleteI would be most interested in your drawing for this book.
Thanks
Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)
It was very interesting to write a romance novel about a married couple (who didn't know each other when they married), but I enjoyed the challenge of it. I hope you enjoy it too! Blessings,
DeleteHi, Ingrid, and Paula! You both gave a reviewer the greatest gift you can give her; reading her review and wanting the book BADLY. That is what I so strive for when I write them, so thank you. I was reading Rita Gerlach's review to my sister in AZ over the phone (she doesn't read much), and she had to get pen and paper and write down title, author, ordering info, lol! So I felt like I had done my job! Not that it is a job, but a pleasure!
ReplyDeleteHoping for a win for you, and like I mentioned in the review, Paula, Melanie handles all that passion discreetly.
Thank you, Diana :) Your review has gone beyond making this reader want the book, but to actually looking up and studying the Moravian's history in the Church!
ReplyDeletePlease enter me.
homesteading[at]charter[dot]net
FYI Carrie: I had to try three times on the comment verification before I got one I could read!
I agree, Anne! Those captchas (sp?) on here are rough! Thank you, Anne, for your kind words. Wow, you're researching Moravian history?! I was so fascinated with this book! Sooo different, and like you, Anne, I love learning new things about different cultures and religious groups and how they first came into being. I hope you get a chance to read this one...verrry interesting!
DeleteI hope you enjoy learning about the Moravians as much as I did. I got a note yesterday from a reader who said they just met an Alaskan lady whose grandfather came to know Christ through Moravian missionaries a hundred years ago. The reader was pleased to know a bit of the history of the Moravians.:)
DeleteI should have known they had come to NC since we are home to the Cherokee but I must have been sleeping through history class when they taught about that :) It was fascinating reading some of their history here and how the dispersed throughout the US.
DeleteI read Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa and can't wait to read your new LFY. I have this one on my wish list and also as a new author. Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania does not sound like the other LFY books I have read but I know I will love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I believe you will love it, too, misskallie! It has alot of substance and an intriguing storyline! I have LFY in Homestead, Iowa, on my Kindle and am looking forward to reading it! I think Melanie won a Christy for LFY in Homestead, or some kind of award for it...does someone know?
DeleteI'm so glad you liked LFY in Homestead! Thank you for letting me know. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the Amana people and learning about their heritage as well. That one did win a Carol Award (thanks, Diana!). I hope you like this story too. The Moravians lived in community like the Amanas and cherished their friendships.
DeleteDianna, your review is classy and I feel Melanie's book could become a classic among historical Christian romance stories. I NEED to read this book! The American Indian and their history is an ongoing study for me, and to think the missionary angle went on during this time frame is new and fascinating to me. I can hear a compelling and sad love story and think Melanie has chosen a much different story idea to write. Cheers to you both. Thanks for this appealing giveaway and the chance to win a great read. I hope I do!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com
Thank you, Barb, and you are classy, too! :) I love that...I "NEED" to read this book! Us avid readers totally understand that NEED to!! LOL! I hope you get a chance to read it; I believe you will really enjoy it, and the Indian/missionary relationships are particularly interesting!
DeleteDitto what Barbara said. :) Thank you, Diana, for such a great review! (Barbara) it has been fascinating to me as well to learn about the American Indians. I learned a bit about their history on the East Coast when I wrote this book and now I'm learning about their history on the West Coast as I research/write a book set on the Oregon Trail. My problem is that I enjoy researching so much that it's hard for me to stop the research and start writing. :)
DeleteAs always a great review Diana. I already have this book on my Kindle, so don't enter me for the giveaway. Just wanted to tell how much I love reading your reviews Diana! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're such a sweetheart, Marian! And we have a mutual admiration society going on, because I love reading yours as well!
DeleteThanks for getting it on Kindle, Marian! I hope you enjoy it.
DeleteOh Diana, why must you make these reviews so good??? LOL!!! Now I really want to read this one! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, Teresa! Sounds juicy, doesn't it? And you can win it on this blog!
DeleteWOOHOO! Got my fingers and my eyes crossed! At least that's the way it feels after the headache I've had all day. :)
DeleteHoping you get a good night's rest and wake up headache free!
DeleteTeresa, if you don't win it, I can loan it to you. :)
DeleteThanks Marian! :)
Delete:) I hope you enjoy the story!
DeleteThanks for such an enticing review, Diana. Will put this on my to read list. You used a word in one of your replies that struck me - "substance" -- you made us realize that it is a book with substance and depth.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan! I know you love history and this book is loaded with it, and Melanie's extensive research made it more than just a romance. Kind of like another author I know whose initials are S.C. from S.C., just a different setting! ;)
DeleteMy problem is that I enjoy the research so much that it's hard for me to stop researching and actually start the writing. :) I hope you enjoy the story, Susan. The Moravians were (and are) a fascinating group.
DeleteGreat review! And I'm another who NEEDS to read this book. I hope it's not too late to enter the giveaway.
ReplyDeletejrlight620 (at) yahoo (dot) com.
Welcome, Judith, and no, you are not too late! A lady who NEEDS this book surely NEEDS to win! Throwing your name in our little cyber-hat here!
DeleteThank you, Judith. I hope you enjoy the story! Blessings,
DeleteGreat review! Makes me sure want to read this one. :)
ReplyDeletetwinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com
Thank you, Pegg! It's a delight to "see" you as always, and here's hoping for a win for you!
DeleteI hope you enjoy it, Pegg! Thanks so much.
DeleteI find this (still relatively new to me) Moravian marriage by lot tradition endlessly fascinating. I look forward to reading this!
ReplyDeleteIt was fascinating to me too! Especially when I discovered that my great-grandparents had been married by lot in the 1750s. They were married for fifty-eight years. :)
DeleteYou will really enjoy this one, Lori! I learned so many fascinating things!
DeleteOoo, this one sounds great! I hope it's not too late to be entered in the giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteBeth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks, Beth! I think you're right on time to be entered. :) Blessings,
Deletewell written review and both book and cover look like a good read
DeleteThat is a nice compliment coming from someone such as yourself, Murray. Hoping to do a review on YOUR new novel as soon as I can get a copy of it in my hands! :)
DeleteMelanie is a wonderful award winning author, and I believe you would find this book intriguing.
This sounds like a great book, thank you for the review and for hosting the giveaway.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
wrensthoughts.blogspot.com
It's always a pleasure to hear from you, Wendy, and good luck in the drawing! I know you will enjoy this book!
DeleteHave not read any of Melanie's books. This one sounds good. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteSharon
smoore at tcq dot net
I haven't read any of Melanie's books yet myself, but this one really sounds great. I have it for my Kindle and hope to get to it soon!
ReplyDeleteAs much as you love colonial history, I think this one might fascinate you, Carrie...very different.
DeleteSharon, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised with Melanie's books! Alot of substance...not just a lighthearted read...but a pleasurable one.
I hope you enjoy it, Carrie. I really appreciate all your encouragement!
DeletePEGG THOMAS, you are the WINNER per random.org. CONGRATS!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Pegg! You are in for a reader's treat!
DeleteI just found your blog and truly enjoyed your review of this book. It is definitely now on my list to read. Thank you.
ReplyDelete