Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher ~ review

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (August 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310258081
• ISBN-13: 978-0310258087

About the book from Goodreads:

In the high desert town of Frenchman's Bluff, Idaho, Felicia Kristoffersen has set out to create a future for herself that is better than her painful past. Alone in the world with only her faith to sustain her, she must prove herself as this tiny community's new school teacher. She cannot, must not, fail. But, there are those who never wanted her there to begin with. 

Five years after the death of his wife, local merchant Colin Murphy cares about just one thing: raising his daughter, Charity. Colin wants to give her the educational advantages he never had. The new schoolmarm's inexperience doesn't sit well with him, and if this teacher up and marries like the last one did, Charity's heart will be broken once again. 

A woman who hasn't known love. A man who lost the love he had. 

In the midst of the wide, sage-covered plains, each is about to discover that life's bitterest circumstances truly can work together for good.

My take on this book:

This story  takes the reader to Frenchman's Bluff Idaho during the late 1800's. Felicia Kristoffersen's life has been far from easy. After her mother died she found herself in an orphanage and eventually wound up on the orphan train. A family named Kristoffersen's that lived in Wyoming took her in. She always believed they had adopted her as their daughter, after all they always introduced her as such. When they die though she learns the bitter truth, and is left with two options, either marry one of the Kristoffersen's nephew's or strike out on her own. The choice was easy, she decides to leave Wyoming and head to Idaho to take the job as the schoolteacher for Frenchman's Bluff. Thing is the townspeople of Frenchman's Bluff hasn't had the best luck with school teachers, and Colin Murphy, a local merchant who is letting Felicia stay in a cottage behind his store wonders if Felicia will be like the other school teachers. His daughter Charity, has always had difficulty reading and he was told by another teacher that his little girl would never learn to read. Will Felica finally find a place to belong, and can she fit into the little town of Frenchman's Bluff?

I love historical fiction and this one was wonderful. There were so many interesting things about this story. First and foremost the characters in this story were great. Felicia was someone who hadn't had an easy time in life, but her spunk and faith in God was wonderful. It was so easy to want the best for her. I really enjoyed how the author wove Felicia's background of the orphan train into the story, and I was left wondering if she will find her brother and sister. 

Colin was such a nice male lead.While he knew some might consider Felicia an old maid he certainly didn't he was drawn to her smile.He tries to fight his feelings for her but doesn't manage for long. It had been five years since he had buried his wife Margaret, leaving him responsible for raising their daughter Charity.It was so nice to see the romance blossom between Felicia and Colin.

I really enjoyed the ending of this story, but hope that we get a sequel to the story and perhaps have Felicia finding her brother and sister. A sweet romance and the historical aspect along with the faith based messages woven in made this book a winner for me. 

rating 5/5

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*