An Unexpected Grace #3 The Jewels of Kalispell

by Kimberley Woodhouse and Tracie Peterson

1905 Kalispell, Montana

Widowed Johanna St. John opens a millinery shop in her home town of Kalispell. Her injured father helps care for her three-year-old daughter, Emily, while she works. Johanna is a favorite character, however, her adorable daughter, Emily captured my heart. Emily is a very active three-year-old and makes those around her smile.

Actor Parker Bennett returns home with a traveling troupe. His return brings memories from the past; a past love that he has never forgotten. Is there another chance for him and the love of his life to reconnect and maybe renew their love? Well, the town matchmaker, Marvella Ashbury, is determined to do just that- bring Johanna and Parker together again. However, there is someone who has his own plans for Johanna; he manipulates and even threatens her to do his bidding.

A heartwarming story full of fascinating characters, historical details woven within the storyline, family dynamics, danger, love, second chances and faith. A great ending to this series.

~I received a paperback copy from the author/publisher and an ARC e-book copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain was exchanged), this is my honest review~

I have read several books by Tracie Peterson but this is my first book I have read by Kimberly Woodhouse. This is the third in the series called The Jewels of Kalispell. I have not read the first two books in the series. The good thing is you can read this one without having read the first two and you will not be lost. This book has so many good things about it including some great secondary characters. James St. John was so well-written that I wanted to jump into the book and give him a piece of my mind. This story grabbed my attention from the very beginning and kept it until the very end. I definitely recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. The opinions in this review are my own.

I loved returning to Kalispell Montana, and 1900 for the third installment of this series. This could be subtitled: Marvella makes match number three, because Marvella Ashbury,the judges wife, has a romantic heart and wants to see a second chance for Johanna and Parker. Johanna and Parker have a history which turned out to be disappointing. A widow now, Johanna has invested in a hat shop and is caring for her daughter and father. But soon things get to be too much to handle. Enter Parker, who has returned from a career as a famous actor, and James, her brother-in-law, who has a nefarious reason to want to wed Johanna.

The love is still there between Johanna and Parker and they both want to honor God however, there are those who are plotting against them.

Full of interesting historical details, fascinating characters, complex family dynamics and with danger lurking, this book kept me turning pages until the very satisfying conclusion.

* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House on behalf of the authors and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

The dynamic duo of Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse have done it again, wrapping up the Jewels of Kalispell series in a big beautiful bow! An Unexpected Grace is a heart achingly lovely story of second chance love with a dastardly villain threatening to destroy it all. Romance, suspense, & faith abound when the local hometown son returns after years away with his acting troop to share his talents.

Parker Bennett was supposed to return to Kalispell after seminary school, marry his sweetheart, & take over for his preacher father. However, while away, he was inspired to pursue a different path. As a talented actor, he felt called to share the gospel through his performances. His would be fiancee couldn*t support him in this, so he left to pursue a successful acting career. Now ten years later, he*s returning home to perform the play that made him famous. Seeing his first love again though brings back all the tender feelings. Can he persuade her to give him another chance.

Joanna St. John was heartbroken when Parker left, but she found love again & married another man. Now widowed with a three year old daughter, her heart begins to open back up with Parker*s return. But, someone will go to any lengths to dissuade her from marrying again. As strange things begin happening to Joanna & her small daughter, will Parker be able to protect them both.

I loved this story! The romance between Parker & Joanna is a slow burn delight. There*s a lot they need to work through & neither one wants their heart broken again. Joanna struggles with her loyalty to her deceased husband & her rekindled feelings for Parker. I loved the spunky Marvella who*s determined to see these two back together. I also loved Joanna*s sweet daughter Emily. Parker is so cute with her.

The mystery & suspense kept me quickly turning the pages. I was on pins & needles the whole time. The villain is particularly selfish & cruel. He*s determined to have Joanna for himself for his own purposes. It was so rewarding to see him finally get his comeuppance.

Highly recommend! Though part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone. I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a review. All opinions are completely my own & voluntarily provided.

I can think of no better way to describe this book than me being glued to the pages!

Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse together has written a book that is engaging, exciting, on the edge of your seat kind of story.

Joanna Easton is a wonderful asset to all who know her. Caring and compassionate, a widow and a mother to her sometimes spirited and sweet little girl, Emily and caring for her aging father keeps for busy as well as running her millenary business for the town's ladies. Joanna's husband Gerald passed away unexpectedly, and she is faced with being the sole provided for her family.

Parker Bennett is returning to Kalispell, Montana his hometown with his theater troupe along to perform for the community a version of Uncle Tom's Cabin. When they were younger Joanna and Parker had thought they would be together forever but when the acting bug bites Parker he gives up his calling to be a minister in exchange for bringing the words of Christ through his acting. Parker is on his way home wondering if meeting Joanna again will find a place for him in her heart.

As the story unfolds Joanna is cautiously excited to see Parker again, but much has changed in her life. Ten years has been a lot of time to mature into a different person, or has it?

Joanna has her hands full when her brother-in-law James proclaims it is his job to take care of his deceased brothers' wife and child. James will go to no ends to get what he wants even if he has to lie, cheat, and steal to get it and that being his father's estate. I won't spoil that part of the story for the readers but it's an exciting and suspenseful part of the storyline and makes this book a real page turner. James uses whoever and whatever he can to persuade Joanna to marry him, but he becomes distraught when he realizes that Parker and Joanna might just have a rekindling of their past relationship.

Parker while loving the theater begins to understand that his acting has not brought about the messages of God he wished to reflect on his fans and feels his heart being pulled in a different direction than acting on a world stage and he must choose between that world and the one his heart truly wants.

This book is truly exciting and one of those edge of your seat reads. Every single character is engaging; every scene is well written and leaves the reader with a sense of faith and love at its end.

This is book three in The Jewels of Kalispell series and is easily a standalone as well.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review