She Shall Be Praised

All Emma Cromwell hoped for when she set out on her journey to Portland, Oregon was to learn to rely on herself and not the men in her life. After spending time in the social circles in Denver and finding little in the way of friendships with women and nothing but the attention of suitable gentlemen, Emma wanted to see if she could handle life without someone making all the decisions for her. So when her father agreed to send her by coach along with the pastor and his wife, he felt he had done the right thing. After all he finally got Emma to agree to marry Joshua Hamilton, a suitable match in both business and for making sure he could provide for his daughter. Now she only has to get from Denver to Oregon in one piece.

But like all great novels, there is a twist of fate when Emma has to stop the coach to allow the dog she was gifted from Mr. Hamilton as an engagement present to do her constitutionals. Little did she imagine that the coach would be held up and the driver leave her behind in an effort to avoid being robbed. Now she is left in the care of two bumbling thieves who know they can't abandon her in the middle of the forest. One of the men, Ned, wants to be the true gentleman while Sawyer sees her like an object of desire and one that she can't trust. When she is taken back to their camp, she learns that they are more than just thieves, they have also stolen sheep from the local rancher and they are hoping to stay long enough to make some money off them.

Peter Lowery knows that the size of his sheep herd is dwindling and believes that someone is stealing from him. Instead of getting the sheriff involved since he lives so far from town, he opts to do the investigation on his own. He soon stumbles upon Ned and Sawyer in a hidden canyon, and with his ranch foreman, Colley, they are able to capture them. What he didn't expect was to find a beautiful woman being held hostage along with a dog. Knowing he can't leave her behind, he takes Emma back to the ranch with the thieves. Unfortunately for all of them, he can't risk taking Emma back to town until the fall. Being short-handed on the ranch at a critical time for his sheep herd, he can't spare anyone to take Emma to town even though he knows her father must be concerned to know if she is OK. Will a socialite be able to earn her keep living on a sheep ranch even though none of the skills she possesses will help out? Will Emma find a way to return home to her father on her own?

I received She Shall Be Praised by Ginny Aiken compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the third book in the Women of Hope Series and I have LOVED this novel. Set in the late 1800's this is a story of how Emma learns to dig deep and find the knowledge and determination to fit in despite what Peter thinks of her. She also learns that Peter has lost his wife has also left behind a young son who finds much more in Emma than a friend. This one is worth every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait for more from Ginny Aiken in the future.

For more information about She Shall Be Praised, Ginny Aiken, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

She Shall Be Praised by Ginny Aiken

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To read more reviews on She Shall Be Praised, please visit Faith Word's website.

• Series: Women of Hope
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords (January 7, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089296846X
• ISBN-13: 978-0892968466
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches

For Such A Time As This

Times have always been tough out west, especially in the 1800's for families looking to make a living and a new start, especially along the Oregon Trail. Hope County, Oregon is definitely no exception, but after years of no rain and now grasshoppers eating whatever farmers can grow, most families are barely able to put enough food on the table for them to eat and have been forced to sell off their livestock.

The Moore family is no exception and it doesn't help Olivia, the oldest daughter, to overhear the anxieties that are facing her family, during the late night talks between her parents. They have already mortgaged as much of the farm as they can and if things don't change soon, they may have to sell everything. It's through a chance encounter on the streets of Bountiful that Olivia feels God's calling to help her family. When a group of wild boys chase and tease a group of girls with a stolen pig, Olivia handles the situation with grace, patience and manners of a lady well beyond her years. Mr. Elijah Whitman, president of the bank, witnesses the entire display and soon learns that his son, Luke is part of the group of boys.

It seems that once again, Mr. Whitman wishes he had someone to help him raise his son, Luke and daughter, Miranda, but he can't seem to find a nanny that will stay and put forth the effort to teach them some manners. Being president of the bank, calls him out of town quite a bit and unless something changes, he has no other choice but to send them both off to boarding schools. Luke suggests that Ms. Olivia Moore would make the perfect nanny for them and soon Olivia believes that God is pointing her toward hope in helping her family out in the process by getting a job.

In the novel, For Such A Time As This by Ginny Aiken, the storyline gets interesting when Ms. Moore takes the position as a child companion, she dislikes the title of nanny and the children believe they don't need one since nanny's are for babies, especially Miranda. At first the children resort to their old tried and true favorite pranks they have used to "rid" themselves of having someone to care for them including "Cooky" the household cook who is used to being ignored. Yet none of them were prepared for the fact that Olivia has had experience dealing with her younger brothers and sisters and therefore, can see a teaching moment in everything. She knows she has to do something they aren't expecting in order for the children to see her as their ally and someone who is there to help them grow. Along the way, the children begin to fully appreciate what Ms. Moore brings to the household but not before the town can begin to gossip and it causes her reputation to be called into question.

I received For Such A Time As This compliments of Faith Words Publishers, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest opinion. I completely feel in love with the character of Olivia Moore. She wants to do whatever she can to aid her family and along the way finds her true calling in helping to raise the Whitman children where none had succeeded before. She relies on God to help her through difficult times when she feels like throwing in the towel and simply going home and that shows the true character of strength and perseverance in trouble times. I rate this one hands down a 5 out of 5 stars as the first book in the Women of Hope series and can't wait to read the next one! Ginny Aiken has answered the called of my heart's genre!

For more information on For Such A Time As This, Ginny Aiken or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

For Such A Time As This by Ginny Aiken

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords (August 14, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892968486
• ISBN-13: 978-0892968480
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1 x 8.5 inches