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Women of Hope #3
She Shall Be Praised
When socialite Emma Crowell stops the carriage on the way to Portland to 'exercise' her new puppy, the last thing she expects is to be left behind in decidedly unsuitable attire, let alone kidnapped. Fortunately, she is soon found by local rancher Peter Lowery. Unfortunately, he has no intention of abandoning his livelihood to take her back to civilization until the fall. He will, however, provide food, shelter and safety, and in return he expects Emma to earn her keep.
Emma is surprised to find she enjoys the challenges of life at the cabin and feels drawn to Peter and his young son Robby. But though willing to learn, no matter how she tries, she never seems to live up to expectations. As Emma seeks God's guidance and aspires to the picture of womanhood shown in the 31st chapter of Proverbs, Peter comes to realize that he may be underestimating the strength and character behind this woman's beauty.
Emma is surprised to find she enjoys the challenges of life at the cabin and feels drawn to Peter and his young son Robby. But though willing to learn, no matter how she tries, she never seems to live up to expectations. As Emma seeks God's guidance and aspires to the picture of womanhood shown in the 31st chapter of Proverbs, Peter comes to realize that he may be underestimating the strength and character behind this woman's beauty.
372 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
20 people are currently reading
754 people want to read
About the author
Ginny Aiken
51 books97 followersGinny Aiken, a former newspaper reporter, lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their three younger sons--the oldest is married, has flown the coop, and made her a doting grandmother. Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Valencia and Caracas Venezuela, Ginny discovered books at an early age. She wrote her first novel at age fifteen while she trained with the Ballets de Caracas, later to be known as the Venezuelan National Ballet. She burned that tome when she turned a "mature" sixteen. An ecletic list of jobs--including stints as reporter, paralegal, choreographer, language teacher, retail salesperson, wife, mother of four boys, and herder of their numerous and assorted friends, including the 135 members of first the Crossmen and then the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps--brought her back to books in search of her sanity. She is now the author of twenty-seven published works, but she hasn't caught up with that elusive sanity yet.
http://ginnyaikenwrites.com/About_Me....
http://ginnyaikenwrites.com/About_Me....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 23, 2017
I really didn't like this book. I didn't find it plausible (unlike the first two), and really at the end of the day I found it offensive. Emma's worth is more than making biscuits and keeping house
September 24, 2024
The final installment in the Women of Hope series can also be read as a stand alone.
This was meh for me. It got long in the tooth of hearing how 19-20 year old city girl Emma can't cook anything in a cabin in the woods. It's no wonder she can't as she had everything provided to her. However, she has gumption to learn.
Our hero is lackluster and keeps complaining about her for most of the book but then all of a sudden fall in love with her.
As a romance, meh. As a western, meh.
This was meh for me. It got long in the tooth of hearing how 19-20 year old city girl Emma can't cook anything in a cabin in the woods. It's no wonder she can't as she had everything provided to her. However, she has gumption to learn.
Our hero is lackluster and keeps complaining about her for most of the book but then all of a sudden fall in love with her.
As a romance, meh. As a western, meh.
June 25, 2017
This was my favorite book cover in the series, and my least favorite book in the series.
As always, it was well written and the story flowed nicely, but it was an extremely frustrating book to read.
The "hero" of the story was completely unlikable, and not a hero at all in my view. He treated the main character in a very disrespectful manner, and then they ended up together.
Furthermore, after treating her a horrible way, the author would write the main character to pardon the way he treated her a few paragraphs later. And in the end, she never got justice or at least an apology for some of the things he did.
I found it ridiculous that this happened at all; since the author tackled the very difficult subject of spousal abuse in the second book in the series.
The overall sense you get from reading this book is a great deal of frustration, unresolved injustices, and what feels like a case of stockholm syndrome.
(Okay, and additionally: the fact that Emma was lucky enough to be born into a life of privilege where she could have done a great deal of good by serving others and by doing charity work, and then gives it all up to marry a man who very nearly mentally/verbally abuses her, iS RIDICULOUS.)
As always, it was well written and the story flowed nicely, but it was an extremely frustrating book to read.
The "hero" of the story was completely unlikable, and not a hero at all in my view. He treated the main character in a very disrespectful manner, and then they ended up together.
Furthermore, after treating her a horrible way, the author would write the main character to pardon the way he treated her a few paragraphs later. And in the end, she never got justice or at least an apology for some of the things he did.
I found it ridiculous that this happened at all; since the author tackled the very difficult subject of spousal abuse in the second book in the series.
The overall sense you get from reading this book is a great deal of frustration, unresolved injustices, and what feels like a case of stockholm syndrome.
(Okay, and additionally: the fact that Emma was lucky enough to be born into a life of privilege where she could have done a great deal of good by serving others and by doing charity work, and then gives it all up to marry a man who very nearly mentally/verbally abuses her, iS RIDICULOUS.)
December 9, 2013
The best thing about this book was the main character, Emma. Her positivity was the thing that pulled you through the story. Other than her, the boy Robbie and Colley everyone else was rather disagreeable. Her nearest and dearest relatives pushed her into an engagement. The robbers were ridiculous. The romantic interest is a ball of negative grumpiness. He redeems himself somewhat, but never completely. The plot was contrived and riddled with cliches. I'm sorry to say it, but I'm just happy that I'm finally done with this book.
February 17, 2014
Infuriating book! This was probably the most sexist romance I've read in a long time. The heroine Emma is the pretty daughter of a wealthy merchant and her stagecoach gets held up in the middle of nowhere, so a sheep rancher rescues her and takes her back to his place. He is "too busy" to take her back to town so she can go home, so he says she can stay for the next few months and help out, along with his ranch manager, young son, and other workers.
So the "hero" of the book is unlikable and unsympathetic. He complains because Enna doesn't know how to do things like cook and has the temerity to want to bathe every once in a while. So he passive-aggressively reads verses aloud from the Bible about what a real woman is supposed to be like. Instead of thinking that this jerk is a judgmental hayseed, she determines she is going to learn all about how to run a sheep rancher's household so she can prove herself to him. UGH.
Other stupid scene: *SPOILERS* one time the "hero" insults her cooking, so in the middle of the night Emma runs straight out into the woods and keeps running for miles, so a wandering rapist tries to assault her and she has to be rescued.
Also, the entire book her "frivolous" previous life in the city is seen as something useless, but whose money and expertise do they use at the end of the book to spring the ranch manager who killed the rapist and a stagecoach robber they like from jail?! It isn't the sheep rancher's money, but her dear old soft, city-living pappy's.
DISLIKE.
On the plus side, the book was entertaining.
So the "hero" of the book is unlikable and unsympathetic. He complains because Enna doesn't know how to do things like cook and has the temerity to want to bathe every once in a while. So he passive-aggressively reads verses aloud from the Bible about what a real woman is supposed to be like. Instead of thinking that this jerk is a judgmental hayseed, she determines she is going to learn all about how to run a sheep rancher's household so she can prove herself to him. UGH.
Other stupid scene: *SPOILERS* one time the "hero" insults her cooking, so in the middle of the night Emma runs straight out into the woods and keeps running for miles, so a wandering rapist tries to assault her and she has to be rescued.
Also, the entire book her "frivolous" previous life in the city is seen as something useless, but whose money and expertise do they use at the end of the book to spring the ranch manager who killed the rapist and a stagecoach robber they like from jail?! It isn't the sheep rancher's money, but her dear old soft, city-living pappy's.
DISLIKE.
On the plus side, the book was entertaining.
November 10, 2023
I love the theme of this one - fancy town girl settles for easy guy wanting to marry her but then she gets stuck somewhere rugged and with someone rugged.
I love that troupe. But it does have to be executed well for me to love it. The man has to be truly written as rugged.
This one started out more like okay acting. Or fake sounding dialog. Lots of over writing going on too. We are told two maybe three times about something that only needs to be written once.
Peter is rugged and he fits the intense western man vibes, however he fits it so well that it feels like he’s 50 years old falling for an 18 year old.
I did like the middle of the story and the every day ranch life that Emma is learning. Plus the themes of being a wife, supporting your family, and biblical womanhood are all amazing themes for a story. Yet I’m not sure this book was convincing enough beyond the one demential characters.
Their is a part were Emma needs saving from a nasty man and Peter ‘tries’ to save her but breaks his leg and then wakes up and the man is dead. Peter’s only concern is that their was a murder. Not Emma. The storyline just continues to take turns that don’t feel romantic at all. The ‘hero’ should do the saving without even being winded. It was just a weird part of the story. But that kind of stuff continued to happened. Peter’s proposal was cringey. All of it was cringey.
I love that troupe. But it does have to be executed well for me to love it. The man has to be truly written as rugged.
This one started out more like okay acting. Or fake sounding dialog. Lots of over writing going on too. We are told two maybe three times about something that only needs to be written once.
Peter is rugged and he fits the intense western man vibes, however he fits it so well that it feels like he’s 50 years old falling for an 18 year old.
I did like the middle of the story and the every day ranch life that Emma is learning. Plus the themes of being a wife, supporting your family, and biblical womanhood are all amazing themes for a story. Yet I’m not sure this book was convincing enough beyond the one demential characters.
Their is a part were Emma needs saving from a nasty man and Peter ‘tries’ to save her but breaks his leg and then wakes up and the man is dead. Peter’s only concern is that their was a murder. Not Emma. The storyline just continues to take turns that don’t feel romantic at all. The ‘hero’ should do the saving without even being winded. It was just a weird part of the story. But that kind of stuff continued to happened. Peter’s proposal was cringey. All of it was cringey.
March 27, 2024
I did not like this book at all. The plot seemed improbable. There was no real love connection. The main character Peter was so rude, mean, and kinda nasty towards the other main character Emma. It was almost sick how she liked him in the end. He kept calling her useless. Just because she came from a different background did not mean she was useless and her usefulness in life should not have been confined to a cabin. This was the worst book of the series. It had contradictions in it as well.
December 17, 2025
This was an entertaining novel. I haven’t read any of Aiken’s other books in the series, but I might give them a chance based on her characterizations here.
Emma Crowell is a 19-year-old socialite whose father is still mourning the death of her mother. Living in Denver is a non-stop cavalcade of parties, dinners, and society functions. When Emma accepts the marriage proposal of a man her father likes, she never dreams how much her life will change—which it does, beginning with a wagon ride to Portland, Oregon.
Emma is left behind after a robbery and is found by a rancher named Peter Lowery, whose son Robby is one of the highlights of this book. Peter wants Robby to inherit his sheep ranch, but Robby only wants to pretend to be a Knight of the Round Table. Emma becomes Robby’s teacher and learns how to live on a ranch, which provides most of the humor in the story. Crocheting is not a skill generally needed in the wilderness and Emma wonders if she will ever be like the woman described in Proverbs chapter 31.
The characters are fun and relatable even if the plot is a bit predictable.
Emma Crowell is a 19-year-old socialite whose father is still mourning the death of her mother. Living in Denver is a non-stop cavalcade of parties, dinners, and society functions. When Emma accepts the marriage proposal of a man her father likes, she never dreams how much her life will change—which it does, beginning with a wagon ride to Portland, Oregon.
Emma is left behind after a robbery and is found by a rancher named Peter Lowery, whose son Robby is one of the highlights of this book. Peter wants Robby to inherit his sheep ranch, but Robby only wants to pretend to be a Knight of the Round Table. Emma becomes Robby’s teacher and learns how to live on a ranch, which provides most of the humor in the story. Crocheting is not a skill generally needed in the wilderness and Emma wonders if she will ever be like the woman described in Proverbs chapter 31.
The characters are fun and relatable even if the plot is a bit predictable.
August 16, 2025
I thought both Emma and Peter grew throughout the story. Peter had no idea how stern he came off, especially to his son, A child.
Emma realized how few practical skills she had, and decided to change that. Really, shouldn't she at least have known how to manage a household? I doubt if either her father or fiance was interested in planning menus or overseeing the household staff.
Not many people would willingly go from being a pampered daughter with no real responsibilities to single handedly running a household, including educating a child.
Peter spent a great deal of time trying to fight his attraction to Emma, because she was "unsuitable". Hence much of the rancor. Even at the end, he tried to convince her to marry him because Robby needed a mother, rather than risk rejection by putting out his heart.
I'd like a sequel. Did they have more children? How did Ned turn out? What about Colley?
Emma realized how few practical skills she had, and decided to change that. Really, shouldn't she at least have known how to manage a household? I doubt if either her father or fiance was interested in planning menus or overseeing the household staff.
Not many people would willingly go from being a pampered daughter with no real responsibilities to single handedly running a household, including educating a child.
Peter spent a great deal of time trying to fight his attraction to Emma, because she was "unsuitable". Hence much of the rancor. Even at the end, he tried to convince her to marry him because Robby needed a mother, rather than risk rejection by putting out his heart.
I'd like a sequel. Did they have more children? How did Ned turn out? What about Colley?
January 31, 2018
Christian fiction, 1883. Can be read as a stand-alone. Emma is a socialite, not well liked by the other young ladies and their mothers. She sets off on a return trip home to Portland and inadvertently gets stranded and taken captive by not-too-bright outlaws. Widowed Peter is searching for the outlaws who rustled his sheep, and subsequently has to take them and Emma back to his summer camp. Emma doesn't know a thing about cooking or housekeeping, but she is given those tasks as well as watching Peter's young son, Robby. Emma and Robby bond almost instantly. Lots of humor as Emma tries to prepare meals using only a cookbook for instruction. There was a murder added to the plot. A nice read as Emma begins to see herself as others do and truly puts forth an effort to be a better person. Of course love finds its way into the story.
August 2, 2021
I enjoyed the story very much, Emma is left behind after a stage hold up, and is taken in by two of the criminals to a cave. Soon, a local rancher finds them all along with his missing sheep, so he takes them all back to his ranch, since he can't really leave his sheep to take them to the nearby town of Bountiful. Emma has never cooked, cleaned, or done anything of importance in her life. Peter, the rancher, expects everyone to pull their weight, including the pretty newcomer. Emma becomes fast friends with Peter's son, Robbie, a little boy with a lot of imagination. For a good part of the story, it doesn't seem like Peter even likes her, but rather, only tolerates her. Soon, he begins to see her finer qualities, and how much his son needs her. Then he begins to realize how much he needs her himself. Wonderful, clean story that I greatly enjoyed!
December 19, 2017
It was a real struggle for me to finish this book. I had to force myself to read it to the end. The whole plot and all the situations the characters got into seemed kind of ridiculous.
I didn’t really like any of the characters except Robby and Colley. The worst was Peter. He annoyed me and I never could come to care about him. His treatment of Emma was deplorable. I never understood their attraction to each other in the end. Their “romance” and sudden feelings for the other made absolutely no sense.
There was very little good in this book, in my opinion, and was also a little offensive. Like other reviewers have said, there is more to a person’s worth than cooking and raising a kid. Emma was not worthless before her experiences and worth more after. I will not read this book again.
I didn’t really like any of the characters except Robby and Colley. The worst was Peter. He annoyed me and I never could come to care about him. His treatment of Emma was deplorable. I never understood their attraction to each other in the end. Their “romance” and sudden feelings for the other made absolutely no sense.
There was very little good in this book, in my opinion, and was also a little offensive. Like other reviewers have said, there is more to a person’s worth than cooking and raising a kid. Emma was not worthless before her experiences and worth more after. I will not read this book again.
June 26, 2020
Honestly I like the other two books in the series better but this one was OK too. It did keep your interest as it progressed and I liked the characters. My favorite though was a little boy Robert. I did get a little frustrated with Emma because she seems so self-centered and it took her forever to figure it out. You really couldn’t blame her entirely though because she was set down in a completely new situation and she needed to take a few minutes to kind of figure it out. But it was still a little slow and frustrating. Peter wasn’t much better… He continually underestimated Emma and he was stubborn and almost as self-centered as she was for refusing to see the needs of his son. But they eventually met in the middle as Is generally the case in these novels… And it was worth the read.
July 12, 2018
Picked this one up as a little breather from life. Cheesy but did appreciate it. Ended up reading it on a road trip through the beautiful west which is where it took place. Appreciated the questions at the back of the book about working through hardships and analyzing how you deal with hard situations you may find yourself in. Tons of religious snippets inserted in there, if not received in the right light I could see how someone might call it a churchy read. Loved the twist of the injured Little Robby towards the end, the flavors of Peter saving her and she saving him. Cute little breather story. Made me grateful for hard work, solitude, and pleasures of the simple things in life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2019
She Shall Be Praised, in my opinion, was a weird book. It follows Emma, a stuck up, rich girl who is attacked when she was traveling in a carriage. She escapes and runs to a nearby farm run buy a terse farmhand and his son. There she learns how to cook, clean and run a family, things that would have been done by a maid previously. I thought the book was okay, she becomes less stuck up and more like a mother figure, but I did not like how she stuck to female gender roles. All she did was work around the house, nothing outside. I do not think books like this set a good example for children, they should be taught that they have the strength to do anything not just work around the house.
February 25, 2022
This was just OK. It was was long or maybe because it was boring it took me a long time to read it. The premise was good but at times unbelievable. I know a novel can be anything it wants but really! There were parts no rational person would do or put themselves in.
For those reasons I can’t recommend it unless there was nothing else to read.
For those reasons I can’t recommend it unless there was nothing else to read.
August 25, 2021
Delightful and entertaining read, always something interesting happening and I can honestly say never a dull moment. Characters were lively and realistically different. I loved this book and read the other book in the series just as soon as I finished it.
October 22, 2019
Took a bit to get into this book but it was a lovely read.
December 31, 2020
Enjoyable characters and a unique setting. Worth the time to read!
November 27, 2021
A very pleasant read. I liked the main character’s transformation into her real self.
January 8, 2014
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.
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.
December 6, 2014
Ginny Aiken in her new book, “She Shall Be Praised” Book Three in the A Women of Hope series published by FaithWords brings us into the life of Emma Crowell.
From the back cover: She Shall Be Praised.
When socialite Emma Crowell stops the carriage on the way to Portland to ‘exercise’ her new puppy, the last thing she expects is to be left behind in decidedly unsuitable attire, let alone kidnapped. Fortunately, she is soon found by local rancher Peter Lowery. Unfortunately, he has no intention of abandoning his livelihood to take her back to civilization until the fall. He will, however, provide food, shelter and safety, and in return he expects Emma to earn her keep.
Emma is surprised to find she enjoys the challenges of life at the cabin and feels drawn to Peter and his young son Robby. But though willing to learn, no matter how she tries, she never seems to live up to expectations. As Emma seeks God’s guidance and aspires to the picture of womanhood shown in the 31st chapter of Proverbs, Peter comes to realize that he may be underestimating the strength and character behind this woman’s beauty.
Emma is pampered, protected and very shallow. That does not make her a Proverbs 31 woman. However after being deserted in Oregon and then kidnapped she is rescued by Peter and taken back to his ranch. However before the outside world can learn that she is alright she will have to endure not only the Oregon winter but have to work every day. Emma never had anyone to need her or her help. Because the need is great she slowly abandons the person that she was and blossoms into a new maturity. She becomes reliable and dependable, aspects of the Proverbs 31 woman. I think Ginny Aiken did a wonderful job bringing a concept to real life. Ms. Aiken has also done a marvelous job of bringing the Biblical ideal to a Western setting and to the lives of her characters so that we see it played out in their lives. Then we can see how it can play out in our lives as well. Emma, Peter and the other characters play out so well on the pages you would think you had known them all your life. “She Shall Be Praised” is a great read that I was sorry to see come to an end. I am so looking forward to more in this series from Ms. Aiken.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from FaithWords. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: She Shall Be Praised.
When socialite Emma Crowell stops the carriage on the way to Portland to ‘exercise’ her new puppy, the last thing she expects is to be left behind in decidedly unsuitable attire, let alone kidnapped. Fortunately, she is soon found by local rancher Peter Lowery. Unfortunately, he has no intention of abandoning his livelihood to take her back to civilization until the fall. He will, however, provide food, shelter and safety, and in return he expects Emma to earn her keep.
Emma is surprised to find she enjoys the challenges of life at the cabin and feels drawn to Peter and his young son Robby. But though willing to learn, no matter how she tries, she never seems to live up to expectations. As Emma seeks God’s guidance and aspires to the picture of womanhood shown in the 31st chapter of Proverbs, Peter comes to realize that he may be underestimating the strength and character behind this woman’s beauty.
Emma is pampered, protected and very shallow. That does not make her a Proverbs 31 woman. However after being deserted in Oregon and then kidnapped she is rescued by Peter and taken back to his ranch. However before the outside world can learn that she is alright she will have to endure not only the Oregon winter but have to work every day. Emma never had anyone to need her or her help. Because the need is great she slowly abandons the person that she was and blossoms into a new maturity. She becomes reliable and dependable, aspects of the Proverbs 31 woman. I think Ginny Aiken did a wonderful job bringing a concept to real life. Ms. Aiken has also done a marvelous job of bringing the Biblical ideal to a Western setting and to the lives of her characters so that we see it played out in their lives. Then we can see how it can play out in our lives as well. Emma, Peter and the other characters play out so well on the pages you would think you had known them all your life. “She Shall Be Praised” is a great read that I was sorry to see come to an end. I am so looking forward to more in this series from Ms. Aiken.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from FaithWords. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
December 1, 2013
Emma's existence so far has been pampered, protected and very shallow. She hardly has concerns past what to wear to the next party and other selfish interests. Her bubble of happy ignorant bliss is popped very suddenly when she is left behind in the middle of nowhere and is taken hostage by two bumbling crooks. The next few months of her life are like nothing she's ever had to go through. However, near the end of the book Emma's character comes to the realization that without all of the discomfort and difficulties she experienced during her failed trip and winter on the ranch, she would never have experienced such deep joy either.
It reminded me of the verses in Romans 5:3b-4 "we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope." Emma has a choice to make: be a simpering, pampered, spoiled brat and make everyone miserable, or step up and decide to focus on the others around her.
This book is an enjoyable read with adventure and humour, and packs a punch in the lesson learned.
I received this book from FaithWords and Netgalley for the purpose of an honest review. My opinion is my own.
It reminded me of the verses in Romans 5:3b-4 "we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope." Emma has a choice to make: be a simpering, pampered, spoiled brat and make everyone miserable, or step up and decide to focus on the others around her.
This book is an enjoyable read with adventure and humour, and packs a punch in the lesson learned.
I received this book from FaithWords and Netgalley for the purpose of an honest review. My opinion is my own.
June 6, 2014
Look at this cover. Amazing! This is one of my all time favorite book covers, I wanted to jump into the picture. Now for the story line. This book is unique in a few ways. The main character Emma has been raised as a wealthy young lady. When she heads out west in a carriage things do not go as planned. Traveling with a puppy in a carriage is one thing but getting lost in the woods because of this puppy causes some problems. This part of the story was a bit unrealistic to me as she is kidnapped by thieves, and then rescued by a rancher, Peter. In any case it's about her struggles to survive in the woods for the entire summer. Her attitude really grated on my nerves until the end of the book where she finally didn't act like a snob. I know this was the point of the author but her constant, "that's impossible" drove me nuts. I loved the setting and I actually liked Peter throughout the book. Overall the story line was a tad slow but still entertaining.
I rate 3 1/2 stars.
I will say you don't need to read the previous books in the serious to enjoy this book.
Learn more.
"I received this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review."
I rate 3 1/2 stars.
I will say you don't need to read the previous books in the serious to enjoy this book.
Learn more.
"I received this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review."
May 19, 2015
This book started out a little slow. The main character, Emma, was very shallow. What I would describe as a Southern Belle in Colorado. As she travels to Portland via stagecoach, chaperoned by an elderly couple (him a Reverend). She had just gotten engaged because it was what her dad, uncle & aunt wanted. While crossing the Rockies, the stage is held up. In the short run, she is left behind. After being rescued by a widower sheep rancher, that is when her life becomes SO very different. She must take a hard look at her self and her way of life. I won't give away any more of the story but it is a very gripping tale. The other characters are very compelling. Stayed up most of the night to finish it. But hated to see it come to an end.
May 30, 2014
I'm always drawn to anything in relation to the Proverbs 31 woman. I saw that this story was somewhat based on her, so it went on my reading list.
Honestly, though, the story just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Emma starts out clueless on how to run a home. I still liked her, though. It was a sweet, innocent kind of clueless. I'm not a feminist at all! (If you are, I really don't think you'll like it at all.)Still, though, Peter's attitude in pushing Emma to be a homemaker just made me mad. I didn't like him at all, and that really hurt my liking of the book, in general.
Otherwise, it's a cute story.
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Honestly, though, the story just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Emma starts out clueless on how to run a home. I still liked her, though. It was a sweet, innocent kind of clueless. I'm not a feminist at all! (If you are, I really don't think you'll like it at all.)Still, though, Peter's attitude in pushing Emma to be a homemaker just made me mad. I didn't like him at all, and that really hurt my liking of the book, in general.
Otherwise, it's a cute story.
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 17, 2014
Witty, humorous, and at the same time very thoughtfully written; I simply wished that the story could have been twice as long. Emma and Peter were characters that any reader would want to know better; their opposing styles very evident and yet perfectly matched. I absolutely expect that this talented author's books will only get better. A very enjoyable read.
February 7, 2014
I received this book through goodreads first-reads.
A cute story. I liked it but it did need to be longer and to have more progression of the actual romance. Though it is obvious the 2 characters would fall in, which I did like to see happen, it just seemed rushed and without enough situations to see this love developing. Over all it is an enjoyable story with some good faith lessons.
A cute story. I liked it but it did need to be longer and to have more progression of the actual romance. Though it is obvious the 2 characters would fall in, which I did like to see happen, it just seemed rushed and without enough situations to see this love developing. Over all it is an enjoyable story with some good faith lessons.
January 16, 2014
Probably 3 1/2 stars. I liked it, but the logic that the main male character was hard for me to get past and made me very frustrated. The situation was needed to progress the storyline, but I would have liked it done differently. I also think that the socialite fell into domestic capability far easier then one would have in reality. I liked the story and like the authors style.
August 4, 2014
I thought it carried on too long on boring parts of the book and then over the course of one page the whole dynamic of the story changed. I didn't feel it led on at all that Peter and Emma's feelings were as strong as they were and then the next page says how she's so miserable, misses him so much, loves him, and can't wait to see him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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