Joy For Mourning

Author: Karen Baney
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Desert Manna #2
Release Date: April 25, 2022

Grace Talbert spurns every suitor her father finds. She longs for the spark of romance and is unwilling to settle for something less. Her passion is running the Women’s Aid Society which organizes many charitable events to help the poor and the Indians. When a trip to deliver goods to the reservation leaves her stranded with a handsome stranger, she discovers the love she longed for.

After many years of wandering and building up his freight business, Joshua Harrison decides to return to Prescott. As bachelor, he is ill equipped to raise the orphaned daughter of a friend. He hopes the stable life of a small town will bring what he needs to become a good father. Having failed at love twice, he is afraid to try again, until he is stranded with the unconventional and beautiful Grace Talbert. Can he move past his heartache to open himself to love again?

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Reviewer: Billi Varela

This book shows that joy awaits a person even in the midst of mourning.

I liked this book. I liked the history that was displayed. I enjoyed reading about the freight business and the Indians. 

I was excited to read Grace’s story. I am glad she married for love, and to someone she did not love. It was also nice to see Joshua. He had his heart broken several times but not this time.

The only part I felt was a bit too much was the intimate part of the relationship. There was nothing inappropriate with the book. It was merely very passionate kissing at times. However, the sparks flew too fast for me, and the passion was a bit too much. It was a bit unrealistic for me, especially for two Christian characters. However, I am glad that these characters had some restraint with each other, and things did not escalate. 

Aside from that, I liked the development of the characters. We got to see old characters from the author’s previous books, which was nice to see. 

Overall, it was a good book with a well-developed plot, and it had no holes in it that left me confused.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

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