Eva Coglentz is thirty. Since fifteen when her parents died, she’s lived with her older
brother and taken care of her grandparents.
Now she wants to have her own life. She’s taken a job in Maine as a
teacher in a new Amish school well away from her brother in Ohio. She
has no experience teaching, but she loves books and children and
hopes she’ll succeed.
Almost immediately,
she meets Willie, the village blacksmith. He has taken on the
responsibility for his three step-siblings now that their parents are
dead. Eva immediately loves the children, particularly Maddie and her
imaginary friend Bubbles. She also begins to have tender feelings for
Willie. Willie reciprocates her feelings, but has an embarrassing
secret that keeps him from believing he’s worthy of her.
Then Eva’s older
brother sends for her to come home and care for his wife’s mother.
She desperately wants to stay in Maine and live her own life, but the
pull of family is strong.
This is a lovely
story. Eva is clearly meant to be a teacher. She understands children
and wants to do the best for them. I was rooting for her to stand up
to her brother and continue to make her own life. Willie is equally,
a sympathetic character. He wants to do the best for his siblings,
but it isn’t easy for a man alone.
The background is
well done and there is a good deal of information about dyslexia, a
problem that interferes with a child’s ability to read. If you
enjoy a love story with wonderful, caring people, this is a good
choice.
I received this book
from Harlequin for this review.
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