"The Hope of Azure Springs" by Rachel Fordham
When an unknown young woman is shot and left for dead, Sheriff Caleb Reynolds is tasked with solving the mystery surrounding her appearance in town. No one in Azure Springs has ever seen her before, although she claims she has lived in the nearby hills for the past seven years. Thanks to the kindness of strangers, Em recovers and begins to make a new life in town, though many secrets shroud her past and rumors swirl about her. As she begins to hope for "happily ever after," Em must decide whom she can trust and where she truly belongs.
When I began reading "The Hope of Azure Springs," I was initially underwhelmed. The characters seemed to fit their stereotypes too neatly, and the plot seemed destined to meander until it reached its inevitable conclusion. About halfway through the book, however, the story took an unexpected turn, and for the better. I couldn’t identify an exact point in the story where my perspective changed, but my attitude gradually shifted from trudging through the book out of obligation to genuine interest and a reluctance to put the book down. The characters’ personalities suddenly took on more flesh and bone. The storytelling went from predictable and prosaic to a deeper and more thoughtful exploration of the characters' struggles.
“The Hope of Azure Springs” is Rachel Fordham‘s debut novel and gives readers hope for a promising new author in the Christian historical fiction genre. The characters grew in breadth as the story rolled along, and I found myself yearning for Em to have her heart’s deepest longings fulfilled. Ms. Fordham explores the concepts of true and lasting beauty, family, and grief. She touches on the truth that sometimes “happily ever after” looks different than we imagined, but her sweet and satisfying resolution is still sure to please readers.
This novel is currently set to release in early July, 2018. Readers who prefer tender tales set in the American West and enjoy the works of authors like Lauraine Snelling and Tracie Peterson will likely find both this novel and new author charming.
I requested and received a free Advanced Reader Copy e-book from the publisher, Revell, through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.