The House at Rose Creek

by Jenny Proctor

Kate Sinclair wasn't planning on inheriting her family's 100-year-old farmhouse. She wasn't even planning on going back to Rose Creek. But when her aunt unexpectedly passes away, leaving her the house, she finds herself forced to confront her past, including the family she hasn't spoken to in years.

When she finds a journal belonging to a distant ancestor in the attic of the old house, she begins a journey that reconnects her with her faith, her family, and herself.

But trouble looms. Kate's new love interest, Andrew, has a past full of secrets. And the state department of transportation wants to bulldoze the old farmhouse for a highway project. Will Kate be able to see through Andrew's past? Most importantly, will she find a way to save her house and hold onto the fragile threads that tie her to her family?

Genres: Romance, Lds Fiction, Fiction, Clean Romance, Religion, Historical Fiction, Contemporary

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

Jenny Proctor is an award-winning author of more than fourteen romantic comedies and an Amazon bestseller. She began her career in publishing in 2013; her writing has been a constant since then, but she's also spent time as the owner and managing editor of Midnight Owl Editors and the chair of the Storymakers Conference. Wired for relationships, Jenny loves public speaking, teaching, and building lasting connections.

Jenny was born in the mountains of Western North Carolina, a place she considers one of the loveliest on earth. She loves to hike with her family and spend time outdoors, but she also adores lounging around her home, reading great books or watching great movies and, when she’s lucky, eating delicious food she doesn’t have to prepare herself.

Reviews

[Kimberly Vanderhorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House at Rose Creek is as heart-warming as both the title and cover art imply. It doesn't have the artifice that many debut novels do, and at its core is a sincerity that will speak to a broad range of readers.

Woven into Kate's story is a beautiful focus on family history, and how the stories of our ancestors can touch our own lives. Normally, I find such topics a little stodgy and boring, but Proctor brings them to life in a way that feels genuine and relatable. I even got a bit misty more than once, and of the hundreds (okay, possibly thousands) of books I've read over the course of my life, only a couple dozen have managed that very difficult feat.

Although there are elements of LDS culture in this novel, I didn't find them to be exclusionary, and I believe the faith aspect of Kate's journey will appeal to people of all faiths. If readers take the time to really get to know Kate the way I did, I believe they will be touched by her authenticity, and inspired by her perseverance. Like all the best characters from all the best stories, she is deeply flawed and thoroughly human. I loved watching how she translated her struggles into personal growth.

Perhaps my favourite part of this story, though it isn't strictly speaking a "romance", is how real the love story felt to me. It wasn't a fairytale, it was gritty and believable without being overly dramatic. For me, it was the perfect balance in so many ways, and I'm already looking forward to reading it again. I highly recommend this book, and can't wait to see more from this author. I get the sense that she has many more stories for us.

[Lucinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this today, and loved it. The writing is very well done, and the main characters are attractive and real. Kate's growth is natural, without being preachy or long-suffering. The setting is lovely and I was able to really see the house and the farm, even wished I could go there and visit.
The theme of family- present, past and future- was inspiring and achieved effortlessly, weaving all the characters and their relationships, and involving the reader as well.
The romance parts, although not very prominent, were perfect, and Andrew was an awesome love interest.
Highly recommend.

(original review at http://lucindawhitney.com/2013/09/boo...)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book, reminiscent of Mary Stewart's novels (although without the mysterious/magical elements in Stewart's books). I loved the characters and the story--an excellent debut novel by Jenny Proctor, highly recommended for fans of good LDS fiction. The author evokes the small-town North Carolina mountains very well, and doesn't shy away from the negative reactions of family when the protagonist begins investigating the LDS Church. The potentials for romance and conversion and life changes are skillfully woven together with a fine family history plot line. I hope the author publishes many more books of this quality--could a sequel be in the works? I hope so.

[Jenny Proctor]

I'm so very excited about this book. It is near and dear to me in so many ways. It's my first book, which of course makes it special, but it also contains a lot of my heart. I hope you'll read it, and that you enjoy it!

[Shanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5 stars**

The House at Rose Creek is a well-written debut novel with a deeper, more layered story than I expected. While it was definitely a love story, the romance was not always front and center. There was a rediscovering of love of home and family as well as a developing love and respect for those who came before. In a way, there was also a retelling of romance past as the main character reads about Ian and Jennie in his journal.

I didn’t really care for Kate at first but she quickly grew on me. I could feel the connection between her and Andrew right away. Andrew was really great, but I’m glad he had a bit of a history to keep things real. The secondary characters had dimension and personality, even if I didn’t like how they reacted some of the time, but that’s what made them more realistic. The situation with Kate’s family was relatable, tense at times and not quickly or easily resolved, but efforts and progress were still made even if everything wasn’t tied up in a pretty bow at the end. There was only one part, the sudden appearance of a former love interest, that felt a bit contrived to me.

I liked how the journal of her ancestor tied into Kate’s story and inspired her, not just in her investigation into the Church but in learning more about her family history. I, too, felt inspired to delve back into my family history. I enjoyed learning about Ian and looked forward to reading each of his journal entries throughout the story.

Readers who like a story with history and a nice romance will enjoy The House at Rose Creek. The writing is clean and easy to read, effectively evoking the emotion of the scene. I hope Jenny is hard at work on her next book because I look forward to reading more from her.

Review originally published on LDS Women's Book Review - www.ldswbr.com

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediate family and extended family.
Saying words that hurt and that are forgiven.
Restoration of a house and of a faith.
Putting behind personal pasts and looking to the future.
Learning about family history and keeping it alive.
Finding love and never letting go.

All the wonderful things that make a book stay with you long after you have turned that last page!

Kate was happy with where she was and with what she was doing. She had been away from home and family for a very long time telling them that she was just too busy to come home.

That is until she heard that her aunt passed away. The aunt that raised her from a child after her own mother and father were taken in an accident.

When the will is read, Kate finds herself the owner of the old family home. But the house is in jeopardy...the state wants to bulldoze it to make room for the new highway.

Family feelings are hurt, journals are found, and history is questioned.

Can Kate remain in Rose Creek?
Can she save the house?
Can she keep up the changes that have taken place in her heart?
Can family accept her back?

And what about Andrew?
Can they find a future together even with all the troubles looming around them?

Together they will learn that "there (is) value in reaching out and reaching back, remembering those who lived before."

What an amazingly wonderful, tender story!
I. REALLY. REALLY. REALLY. LIKED. IT!

[Valeriewalz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all! Character conflict, Romance, Religion, Family, Family History, and Character Growth all in the magnificent backdrop of the beautiful Smoky Mountain countryside. Who we are/were, is not who we have to be! Kate (main character)is extremely relatable, likable, and courageous. I found myself rooting for her all the way. For me, the most interesting and captivating parts are the ties to Family History and Kate's spiritual journey. Though I must admit...the sweet romance was such a delicious "desert at noon" delight. A must read for anyone who loves an inspiring, touching, and emotionally up-lifting story.
Warning*** Nostalgia: I found myself missing my childhood a bit, in a good way:)

[Verona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! What's not to love! It is set in North Carolina, my home state, it's a sweet romance, it shares my Mormon faith in a natural way. I loved the family aspect of this story. Kate comes to love her family more than she ever thought she could, and her great grandfather Ian Wylie's journal cements that family love with his beautiful, personal journal pages from the 1700's. My love for family history added to my love for this story about the value of journals and families. It brought tears to my eyes many times as I read, and I highlighted more passages than I usually do when reading a book on my Kindle.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I really liked Kate from the very beginning of the book. I liked that she was willing to try to fix mistakes that she had made, even though she knew that it was going to be very hard. I liked that she had the courage to go and try, and that even when life tried to knock her down, she was able to get back up and keep going. I liked the bit of romance that this book held, it was just enough. Kate's journey should serve to remind us all of what's important in life and what we should be striving for.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the saying "Wherever you walk, walk with God" and I thought that set a nice pace to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of romance, family history, contention, togetherness and forgiveness. It all blended nicely into a very interesting story about Kate and how she finally finds what she's been missing all her life and didn't even know it. Great job for a debut novel. Looking forward to another. Maybe Ian and Jennie's story or Ian's parents, both of which could be interesting.

[Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are into family history then this is the book for you! I felt like that was more the theme than anything else! There was a little bit of romance and a whole lot of conversion to the LDS faith! :)

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful read. Part family drama, part family history, part religious, part romance, all lovely. I will freely recommend this to anyone!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

While competently written and fairly pleasant to read, I can't imagine any audience for this book beyond active Latter-day Saints.

Kate Sinclair is an orphan. When her parents died in a car accident when she was 7 or so, she went to live with her aunt and cousins - one of whom, Leslie, is very close to her in age - in a small town in North Carolina and became part of their family. When she grew up, she left the small town for the big city, becoming a powerful career woman, neglecting her family back home. She didn't even return for her cousin's husband's funeral, leading to hard feelings and more distance. At the beginning of the book, she receives word that her aunt, the one who took her in and raised her, has passed away from a sudden heart attack.

With a heavy heart full of regret for missed opportunities, Kate returns home for Aunt Mary's funeral and to try to repair the damage done to the other family relationships. When Mary leaves her the old family home, she is shocked and has to determine what to do with it, sell it and go back to her life in Atlanta, or decide to live there and focus on family. To complicate matters, it's discovered that a new freeway is planned to go straight through the property and it's up to Kate to fight the county commissioners and save the house.

Honestly, I think there's plenty of a plot right there to hold a book together, interpersonal conflict, repentance and forgiveness, family relationships, fighting the bureaucracy to save the family home. But Proctor tosses in a few more things for good measure. Of course, Kate meets a mysterious, attractive man - Andrew - while out running, so there's a romance factor - and you all know how I feel about romance ("some connection, some mystifying force of gravity, was pulling her in, grasping tiny pieces of her soul, and one by one, tying them to his..." Oh, blergh!) - but then there's also a religious conversion plot inserted as well.

To read the rest of this review, visit Build Enough Bookshelves.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an enjoyable read that encouraged me to remember " there is value in reaching out and reaching back, remembering those who live before. " I liked that the storyline involved the emotional journey of loss, but shows the realistic struggle of coping, finding happiness in love and in life's purpose. There was a religious journey as well for those of you who don't like compelling conversion stories, you still have a good balance here.

I really liked the journal entries that were found by Kate Sinclair after she unexpectedly inherits the family home instead of the cash inheritance of her aunt's children. The house brings Kate back to rosé creek to her family, to save the house from imminent domain, by deeming it a historical landmark, to find a lasting love and a religion that her great grandfather was looking for when he migrated from Scotland.
She finds Ian Wylie's journal in the attic and is fascinated with the life lessons his experiences hold. Then she reads of his desire to find the restored church of Jesus Christ. When lds missionaries knock on her door and state what Ian had been seeking, she listens and is drawn to the truth. Her families rebuffing of the religion, her fear of change, and not praying hold her back from accepting. In the end, when she is at a low, she reaches out to her father in heaven and is not left to doubt of his love anymore. She runs to her home in rosé creek, back to family, back to be baptized and back to Andrew.

[Laree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this didn't read like a first novel. It was well developed, great dialog, believable plot.

There is one fact that she messed up, but other than that it couldn't have been much better

(if you're wondering, it's the wedding date. She specifically states that Kate is baptized on one sunday, and then confirmed a week later. Then she has them getting married on the anniversary of her baptism. But the rule is you have to be a MEMBER for a year, and you aren't a member until you've been confirmed as such. Since most people do both the same day, or really close to it, few people realize the difference, and if my neighbor growing up hadn't run into this exact problem, I'd never had caught it!)

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Formal review for Deseret News found here: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...

I enjoyed the pace of this book A LOT. So many LDS fiction books seem to introduce the gospel AND the romantic interest way too early in the story. This book didn't. Instead, I was able to get to know Kate and her problems first. Loved, loved, loved that. I haven't done a lot of family history, but this book made it seem so interesting, almost like a mystery--loved that as well. I also really enjoyed the fact that *spoiler alert* Kate's family didn't all get baptized--that made this novel waaaaay more believable.

Jenny Proctor has raised the bar of LDS fiction with her novel. So glad I was able to read this book (thanks Des News!).

[Charissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Sinclair has to go back to Rose Creek for her aunt’s funeral. She hasn’t been back in years, knowing she disappointed her family when they really needed her years ago. When the will is read and Kate learns that the old house that has been in her family for over a century has been given to her instead of her estranged cousin, she decides to stay for a few weeks before heading back to Atlanta to work. When she discovers an old journal and letters in the attic, her desires start changing. And when she meets a handsome local, Andrew, the changes start escalating even further. I didn’t know if I would like this book at first, but once Kate found the old journal and connected with her 5th great-grandfather, I was hooked.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely story.

I was impressed with the depth of the subject matter. The author was able to delve into several different themes in a thorough way without detracting from the story and while still holding my interest.

I loved Kate, even though I didn't always agree with the way she handled things. I really loved Andrew, and wished I could hear more from his point of view. But most of all, I loved Ian. I loved the bits and pieces of his journal and the way they spoke to Kate and guided her through a difficult time in her life.

The conversion story is neither cliche nor cheesy--two things I can't stand in an LDS novel. Wonderful work!

[Braden Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny has a warm, engaging voice and is particularly gifted with setting. The house almost becomes a character because it is described in such a beautiful way. The same with the location of the story--I very much felt that I was there.

The book is a clean romance and is geared towards Mormon female readers, but there is more to the book than the romance, describing as it does the protagonists spiritual journey and conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The theme of family, particularly family history and inter-generational relationships, resonates through this book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how descriptive every aspect was, from the house to the museum worker. She took the time to make sure the reader could envision every aspect of the story. It was a great combination of romance, mystery, spirituality, and history. I was sucked in from the very first page and couldn't wait to read more! I really appreciated the ending so the reader finished Kate's journey with her. I seriously couldn't put this book down! I received it on Saturday and had finished it by Sunday night! Definitely a page turner!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story. A beloved aunt and mother dies. She leaves her old farmhouse to her niece, which makes for some hard feelings from some of the family. The niece lives and works in New York. She meets one of the people who live in the town of Rose Creek, where her aunt lived, and starts to have feelings for him. The old house is also in danger of being torn down to make way for a highway. I really liked this book, as did my daughter.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a happy read. I liked Kate's flawed spunk, wished I knew Andrew better, and loved the wise and witty Aunt Linny. If you like generational stories or shows like "Who do you think you are?," you'll love this story. It is almost an accidental romance; the standout themes for me were family, forgiveness, and conversion. A great debut novel for the LDS market.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming on the heels of another LDS fiction book that was only ok, this one was so enjoyable--realistic conversation, likable characters, not too preachy. It restores my faith in LDS fiction writers. There was one situation where there seemed to be an obvious solution to a major problem and yet the experts in the book didn't think of until later. Other than that I really enjoyed it.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It took me right to the heart of my mission in North Carolina. It is a great story about a lady discovering her ancestral roots and finding herself along the way. The author even references my hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho. This is the first book from this author and I look forward to reading more from her.

[writingandreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book over a month ago and I find myself still reflecting on it every now and then. I love books that build your faith and remind us that God has a plan for all His children. This book validated thoughts and feelings I have about the gospel and helped me remember the precious gift that it is. The characters felt real to me, even the ancestors who had passed on. Beautiful book.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first novel. The family dynamics are very well written and so recognizable.
I look forward to more stories about this family. Thanks Jenny Proctor.. Well done.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written characters. I loved the family history elements of the book. A satisfying read.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about family history and following the spirit.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up as the daughter of a professional family history researcher, so this book's family history angle really was interesting to me. I enjoyed seeing how Kate (nice name, by the way!) was able to make a connection with her ancestor, Ian, and how Ian's journal helped her figure out some pretty important stuff in figuring out who she wanted to be.
I liked the bit of romance with Andrew, too, and appreciated that it was understated rather than over-the-top. At its heart, this book was about healing family relationships and self-discovery, not romance.
(note to any Christian readers that this book includes an LDS/'Mormon' subplot, which, while interesting to me personally, I understand is not everyone's 'cup of tea'☺)

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am such a devoted Jenny Proctor fan that I feel guilty for not loving this more. Perhaps if I had read this before I read her other works it would have been different. As it is, this is certainly not as polished or as well paced as her later novels.

I liked the subject matter, though it surprised me. It’s handled maturely and realistically. Yet I can’t fathom anyone outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints liking it.

The characters were well done; they are certainly flawed, and the ensuing changing-of-hearts was believable and flowed well.

When it comes down to it, I could tell this was her first novel. And I’m glad to knock another Proctor off my list!