Don't be Quick to Judge Others

The Idaho Territory isn't what Shannon has in mind for her life. She loves Virginia and looks down on the unkempt miners and cowboys in Grand Coeur. The Civil War is raging and her father, Reverend Adair, has taken a parish there. She decides to accompany him, but with poor grace.

Mathew loves driving a stagecoach. He has no desire to be a Wells Fargo Agent. He takes the job thinking it's only temporary while he provides a home for his ailing sister, Alice, and her son, Todd. When Todd and Alice arrive, he realizes that he's taken on a much greater responsibility. Alice is dying.

When Shannon agrees to take care of the dying Alice, she's sure a Northerner and a Southerner can never become friends, but they do, and she finds herself drawn to Matthew as more than a friend.

I recommend this book because of the underlying messages. The book is a traditional romance. The characters and plot are professionally crafted, but don't stand out. I was, however, impressed with two underlying messages. Shannon and Matthew didn't want to be where they were, but God had a plan, and they both learned that God's plan is often better than that conceived by man.

Shannon also learned that people from different backgrounds can come to value each other. It's a good lesson for today. Too often we're quick to judge those who are different from us and in doing so we miss opportunities.

I reviewed this book as part of the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze Program.