After reading `A Hopeful Heart' by Kim Vogel Sawyer, I was keen to check out another of her books. While overall I enjoyed `A Home in Drayton Valley', there were a few things that I had mixed feelings about.The book is based in Drayton Valley, Kansas, during a time when there was a divide between black and white communities. I felt the author dealt with the issues sensitively, although I found the way the dialect was depicted in the text got a bit tiresome after a while, eg `Lawd' instead of `Lord'.I also felt that the characters in the story were a little predictable, which made it harder to connect with them emotionally - Tarsie as the sweet but feisty seamstress and Joss with his gruff exterior, who on the inside bears the scars of his rough childhood.Towards the middle of the book there were a few chapters that seemed to drag a little, where the main characters were struggling with their own internal conflicts. Fortunately an interesting twist at the end made me eager to keep reading to see how things were resolved between Tarsie and Joss.Despite these things, I think that Kim Vogel Sawyer is a wonderful writer - I find her style similar to Janette Oke. She includes references from the Bible and her books feature characters with a strong faith, who are an example of God's love to those around them. Once again I get the privilege of reviewing a book by one of my favorite authors! I am always pleasantly satisfied after each book by Kim I read. This author has such a nice way with her story lines and her characters. Kim Vogel Sawyer is a wonderful character builder. By the middle of each story you always feel as though the characters are family to you. "Rouse had asked whether Simon would choose to have a gimpy leg over two whole, hale legs. Even Joss, an uneducated dockworker from the poor side of New York, recognized no man would make such a choice. Joss paused, stopping to contemplate for the first time in his life that Simon had no choice over something else - his skin color."I loved that this story partially takes place on the Oregon trail because that is one of my favorite events in history to read about. I also loved that the author wrote about prejudices. It really felt real to me. I am sure that this story could have really happened back then. "I want to find the good in him, as I promised Mary I would, but I'm going to be needing your eyes, Lord."I love this line from the book because it reminds me of one of my all time favorite Christian songs - "Through His Eyes" by the group 4 Him. This song has always brought tears to my eyes.If we could seethrough His eyesThen we could dare to lovethe way God lovesIf we could seethrough His eyesThen we would understandthe way God understandsFor His eyes see through thesurface right down to our needsFar beyond where we areto where we can beIf we could only seethrough His eyesTHE ALL-IN-ALL -All in all this is a wonderful, clean, Christian story. It is Historical Fiction/Romance, taking place in 1800. This is a nice quick easy read.I would recommend it for any one (mainly women) of any age!
What do You think about A Home In Drayton Valley (2012)?
Very nice. I wasn't expecting much from this book, for some reason, but it exceeded my expectations.
—readerfreak12312
Didn't finish, didn't capture my interest.
—Thomas
