A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer - REVIEWED

“You just gotta trust. Even when you don’t understand, you still gotta trust. That’s called faith, an’ it’ll always carry you through.” ( p.171)

The words of Aunt Hattie prove to be some of the wisest words that Tressa Neill will ever hear. Aunt Hattie has dreamed up an enhancement to the mail-order bride scenario and has brought single women to Barnett, Kansas for the specific purpose of training them to be proper wives for the ranchers in the area. (or to be ranchers themselves, but some how I don’t think that’s going to happen!) From milking, cooking, roping, branding and a host of other ranch activities, the women that come to Aunt Hattie’s to train to be marriageable women come from a wide range of backgrounds. Tressa is basically an orphan, because her parents are deceased and the only living family she has doesn’t want her. She comes to Kansas with a Hopeful Heart of becoming useful to someone and is blessed to find so much more than she dared to dream possible.

Abel Samms is another character with a hopeful heart, but he doesn’t really recognize the fact. See, he owns one of the ranches in the area, and he is dealing with some mighty mean cattle rustlers set out to ruin his livelihood. When he agrees to allow Aunt Hattie to bring the women out for a cattle birthing class, then to allow a couple of them to come to the ranch to cook and clean while his hands try to protect the cattle…well, the women stir up a powerful bunch of emotions among the hands! Able included!!

In short, Kim Vogel Sawyer has created a lovely story with some unexpected twists and turns as well as a message of faith and faithfulness. Aunt Hattie is so wise and loving, and she manages this group of rag-tag women very well. They just don’t realize how blessed they are!! There are conflicts aplenty, rivalries and a host of other problems that keep the pages turning. So come along to 1888 Kansas and join these prospective ranch hands for some powerfully spiritual lessons and plenty of drama! It’s a good read! Perfect for Summer!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and six grandchildren. She invites you to visit her Web site at www.kimvogelsawyer.com for more information.