Ellie's Haven, River of Hope Series #2
4.6
5
5
5
Delightful Story!
What a delightful book! I wasnâÂÂt sure what to expect when I started reading EllieâÂÂs Haven by Sharlene MacLaren but I was pleasantly surprised!
When her step-father murders a man and insists that Ellie helps him cover the murder up, she knows she can no longer stay in town. With her motherâÂÂs help, she flees to Wabash, Indiana. Out of desperation, Ellie answer an ad for a nanny/housekeeper/wife posted by a widower in town. She quickly falls in love with the children, but learning to live with a man is another story altogether!
Sharlene MacLaren combines a lot of things I love into one great story in EllieâÂÂs Haven. Romance, great friendships, a unique mother/daughter relationship, and more than a little intrigue. ItâÂÂs a recipe for success.
Gage and EllieâÂÂs relationship is certainly awkward at times, but I loved how the author allowed both of them to learn from each other as their relationship grew. It would have been easy for Gage (who is 17 years older) to come off as the one with all the answers. However, I felt that they balanced each other nicely.
At one point, I was totally irritated with Gage. He was just too . . . nice. There was a point where Ellie is revealing several âÂÂwhite liesâ that she told and he quickly forgives and they move on. Once I thought about it, though, I realized thatâÂÂs what we should do. Since God forgives us, we should forgive others. I also appreciated how he talked with Ellie about God and how he led her in her faith journey.
Romance books typically wrap up a little fast for my taste. You know, the couple gets together and they live happily ever after, the end. However, once I thought the book was wrapping up, I realized I still had around 40 pages to go. It was great to have the ending stretched out a bit more than normal. (But not too long!)
EllieâÂÂs Haven was one of my favorite books that I read in January. IâÂÂm looking forward to catching up with Ellie and Gage in future installments of the series! [5 stars]
I received a free copy from Whitaker House and FIRST Wildcard Blog Tours in exchange for my fair and honest review.
May 6, 2012
Good story
Easy read, good story line, enjoyed the characters.
April 13, 2012
A wonderful book!
I love books written by Sharlene MacLaren! This one is no exception. Sharlene has a tremendous gift of writing that pulls the reader into the story immediately and by book's end, the reader feels the characters are part of their own lives. All of Sharlene's books are quality - in Christian testimony, adventure, twists and turns, in high Christian morals. Readers of Sharlene's books are tempted to read them from cover to cover in one sitting and then wait patiently for the next book. Ellie's Haven is a marvelous read; no one would be disappointed!
March 6, 2012
From Nanny to Wife
A return visit to Wabash Indiana and Livvie. Our new character is Ellie Booth, who has grown up in the back woods of Athen, TN. She has led an hard life since her Dad passed away and her Mother remarried a very Evil man! Ellie and her Mother witness Bryron Pruitt kill Walter Sullivan, a Government Man. He forces Ellie to bury Walter, he has a gun pointed at her head!
In Wabash, Gage Cooper is desperate for someone to take care of his four children. The ten year old twins, Alec and Abe, Eight year old Frances, and almost four year old Tommy Lee. He posted in Livvie's dinner a request for a Wife...he has had so many Nannies quit.
Livvie tells him it is not the 1800's and Mail Order Brides, it's 1928!
There is a lot of action here, and some really sweet moments, and some very good chuckles!
I recommend this as a great read, loved it! Hope there are more books like this from Sharlene!
I received this book from the Publisher Whitaker House, and was not required to give a positive review!
February 2, 2012