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The McKaslin Clan Historical #1
Homespun Bride
A Winter's Homecoming Montana Territory in 1883 was a dangerous place-especially for a blind woman struggling to make her way through an early winter snowstorm. Undaunted, Noelle Kramer fought to remain independent. But then a runaway horse nearly plunged her into a rushing, ice-choked river, before a stranger's strong, sure hand saved her from certain death. And yet this was no stranger. Though she could not know it, her rescuer was rancher Thad McKaslin, the man who had once loved her more than life itself. Losing her had shaken all his most deeply held beliefs. But now he wondered if the return of this strong woman was a sign that somehow he could find his way home.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
369 people are currently reading
1997 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Hart
192 books599 followersJillian Hart grew up on her family's homestead in Washington state, where she raised cattle, rode horses and scribbled stories in her spare time.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
October 12, 2012
Had I not been so annoyed at a few things, I might have cried at the end.
The main thing being the over usage of the word "baritone" in the place of "voice". 26 times is way too much. It's as if the author couldn't come up with anything better or as if she had just learned a new word and was intent on showing off her new knowledge at every slight opportunity.
Another thing being that it sporadically went from Noelle's thoughts to Thad's thoughts to the third person on both of them, sometimes even within the same paragraph. So, though I was able to follow it for having to reread and dissect improper sentence structure, I could see that some people might get a little lost at points
Also, it just seemed to go on and on with no end in sight. 5 minutes into reading it, you know exactly what will happen at the end, you're just waiting for it to hurry up and get there since it is so anticlimactic and nothing much happens. It makes me think of someone who has a boring life but thinks so highly of their self that they think the rest of the world cares to know their story.
I wanted to give up reading this so many times that I had to force myself to finish it and get it over. It took me just over 2 and a half weeks to finish this short book. Certainly easy to put down and not think about. I mostly only read it to pass the time as I was waiting in doctor's offices as it was not enough to keep me entertained to read simply for pleasure.
It could have been a good story had it not been written by someone so ostensibly simple minded. I'm glad it was free on my nook. Had it cost even 10 cents, I would have been irate. Most people would say "you get what you pay for so don't complain" but the whole point of offering a free book is for the author to show her talent and draw in readers to purchase other books. Needless to say, not only will I not seek her out to purchase more but I will also remember her name forever so as to avoid accidentally reading anything else she has or ever will write.
The main thing being the over usage of the word "baritone" in the place of "voice". 26 times is way too much. It's as if the author couldn't come up with anything better or as if she had just learned a new word and was intent on showing off her new knowledge at every slight opportunity.
Another thing being that it sporadically went from Noelle's thoughts to Thad's thoughts to the third person on both of them, sometimes even within the same paragraph. So, though I was able to follow it for having to reread and dissect improper sentence structure, I could see that some people might get a little lost at points
Also, it just seemed to go on and on with no end in sight. 5 minutes into reading it, you know exactly what will happen at the end, you're just waiting for it to hurry up and get there since it is so anticlimactic and nothing much happens. It makes me think of someone who has a boring life but thinks so highly of their self that they think the rest of the world cares to know their story.
I wanted to give up reading this so many times that I had to force myself to finish it and get it over. It took me just over 2 and a half weeks to finish this short book. Certainly easy to put down and not think about. I mostly only read it to pass the time as I was waiting in doctor's offices as it was not enough to keep me entertained to read simply for pleasure.
It could have been a good story had it not been written by someone so ostensibly simple minded. I'm glad it was free on my nook. Had it cost even 10 cents, I would have been irate. Most people would say "you get what you pay for so don't complain" but the whole point of offering a free book is for the author to show her talent and draw in readers to purchase other books. Needless to say, not only will I not seek her out to purchase more but I will also remember her name forever so as to avoid accidentally reading anything else she has or ever will write.
June 3, 2009
Holy Mackerel, this was the WORST book I have EVER read. She uses the most disgustingly ridiculous similes I've ever read, and is so heavy-handed with them, I found myself laughing out loud at them while I read. It is a Christian Romance - not super religiously overtoned, but there is exactly ONE KISS (what kind of romance novel has one kiss???) and the characters were as flat as pancakes personality-wise. I'm pretty sure there was no plot. Just a lot of "I'm so hurt, I couldn't possibly love him again!" and "I hurt her so bad, she can't possibly love me again!" Perfectly ridiculous. It was free on the Kindle, and I still think I paid too much.
January 30, 2023
I've had this one on my TBR pile for over ten years so I was glad to pick it up at last and give it a read. I remember loving that it was a second chance romance and the hero was a cowboy and heroine has become blind in their years apart.
Homespun Bride is an Inspirational Romance so it is sweet and has the internal struggles of both characters at the heart. Most of the book was gentle and soft with a tender second chance romance building as the pair understand their feelings and work through the past. But, there were dragging parts in the latter half and I skimmed a bit until the inevitable swoony ending.
Noelle thought Thad simply ditched her five years before when he took off on the eve of their elopement. In the meantime, she's lost her parents and her sight to a bad carriage accident and her former fiance' dumped her as damaged goods. She's pressed forward as best she could, but hasn't forgiven or gotten over her bitterness when Thad returns again in time to rescue her from another carriage accident that would have meant her death. Thad's well aware what Noelle must think of him since she doesn't know that her dad drove him off and threatened to foreclose on his family farm's mortgage. He's back because his family needs him and seeing Noelle again is painful because he never stopped caring. He thinks to stay away as much as possible, but then her uncle gets hurt when a horse bucks him and stomps him. Thad takes care of the man's work while he recovers.
They no sooner work out their differences and seem on their road to a happily ever after as far as Thad is concerned when Noelle lets her fears get the better of her and sabotages their happiness. At this point in the story, I felt Thad had more than proved that he's not going to get stale on the relationship because she's blind and he sees plenty in her to love. So, I got impatient and it moderated my feelings about the end. Still, it was enjoyable and I'm glad I read it.
COYER Read from a Friend's list- Kara and Kimberly
Homespun Bride is an Inspirational Romance so it is sweet and has the internal struggles of both characters at the heart. Most of the book was gentle and soft with a tender second chance romance building as the pair understand their feelings and work through the past. But, there were dragging parts in the latter half and I skimmed a bit until the inevitable swoony ending.
Noelle thought Thad simply ditched her five years before when he took off on the eve of their elopement. In the meantime, she's lost her parents and her sight to a bad carriage accident and her former fiance' dumped her as damaged goods. She's pressed forward as best she could, but hasn't forgiven or gotten over her bitterness when Thad returns again in time to rescue her from another carriage accident that would have meant her death. Thad's well aware what Noelle must think of him since she doesn't know that her dad drove him off and threatened to foreclose on his family farm's mortgage. He's back because his family needs him and seeing Noelle again is painful because he never stopped caring. He thinks to stay away as much as possible, but then her uncle gets hurt when a horse bucks him and stomps him. Thad takes care of the man's work while he recovers.
They no sooner work out their differences and seem on their road to a happily ever after as far as Thad is concerned when Noelle lets her fears get the better of her and sabotages their happiness. At this point in the story, I felt Thad had more than proved that he's not going to get stale on the relationship because she's blind and he sees plenty in her to love. So, I got impatient and it moderated my feelings about the end. Still, it was enjoyable and I'm glad I read it.
COYER Read from a Friend's list- Kara and Kimberly
June 8, 2025
This was such a sweet read. It was so simple yet so refreshing.
June 14, 2012
It had been quite a while since I had read something on the lines of historical romance and although this book claimed of being one, it was far from it.
The whiny annoying heroine, Noelle, loses her parents and her sight in a road accident and the absolutely flawless hero, Thad, knows nothing about the tragedy as he had left Noelle much before that. Noelle's parents had convinced Thad that he would never be able to provide their daughter the comforts and luxuries of life that she was so used to. Noelle knew nothing about her parents scheme and starts hating Thad for having left her waiting by the window, the night they had planned to elope.
Years later, they meet accidentally. The heroine keeps sulking about how she is blind and how Thad would never want him, and the hero keeps brooding over how Noelle must be absolutely mad at him and would never want him. The fact is that both of them want each other, pretty much. But well, who says such a foolish thing out loud? They depart to meet again and this function is put on an endless loop.
You know the end straightaway but the writer keeps beating around the bush. The narration changes so abruptly from Noelle, to Thad, to third person that you can only wonder what you just read.The book moves at an extremely slow place with no end in sight (heh!). The characterization is irritating, to say the least, and the descriptions flawed. Details of time and space have been overlooked that makes it an even more tedious read. Although I found this as a free ebook, I still feel I have paid way too much for it. It almost made me take a pledge of not reading any book in my occasional jobless state at work. Thankfully, I got off it.
PS: I hear the word 'baritone' one more time and I might contemplate murder.
The whiny annoying heroine, Noelle, loses her parents and her sight in a road accident and the absolutely flawless hero, Thad, knows nothing about the tragedy as he had left Noelle much before that. Noelle's parents had convinced Thad that he would never be able to provide their daughter the comforts and luxuries of life that she was so used to. Noelle knew nothing about her parents scheme and starts hating Thad for having left her waiting by the window, the night they had planned to elope.
Years later, they meet accidentally. The heroine keeps sulking about how she is blind and how Thad would never want him, and the hero keeps brooding over how Noelle must be absolutely mad at him and would never want him. The fact is that both of them want each other, pretty much. But well, who says such a foolish thing out loud? They depart to meet again and this function is put on an endless loop.
You know the end straightaway but the writer keeps beating around the bush. The narration changes so abruptly from Noelle, to Thad, to third person that you can only wonder what you just read.The book moves at an extremely slow place with no end in sight (heh!). The characterization is irritating, to say the least, and the descriptions flawed. Details of time and space have been overlooked that makes it an even more tedious read. Although I found this as a free ebook, I still feel I have paid way too much for it. It almost made me take a pledge of not reading any book in my occasional jobless state at work. Thankfully, I got off it.
PS: I hear the word 'baritone' one more time and I might contemplate murder.
January 1, 2012
I wanted to love this book, really I did. But the quality of the writing stopped me. The idea of the female character, Noelle, being blind and finding love despite that was touching. I found the male character, Thad, to be the only saving grace of the book. His devotion to her was wonderful. I did like the various minor characters. However, not enough was done to describe them, past Henrietta's objection to modern progress, which was amusing. The only plot of the book, the accident with the uncle, was lost eventually to the rambling love story. And that is where I became confused. The thoughts between the two main characters were often repetitive. Just when the author had finally given them some depth and allowed them to show feelings for each other, she yanked them away again making statements that did not fit in with how she had developed the characters to that point. I did like the slow progress of the romance. Too often in romance books they are sped up unnaturally. However, Noelle's reluctance at falling in love again was not explained well enough, and I think this is what caused her thoughts to become so opposite to each other. The stages of their love needed more planning beforehand. There were also numerous point of view problems, switching from one side to the other unheeded, and several issues with grammar that left me confused. The Christian portion of the story was very minor to the story itself and often became drowned out. Too bad this book is already in print because with considerable work, it would have made a great love story.
March 10, 2009
Third of the three free ebooks in the Love Inspired line from Harlequin.
Man, I deserve karmic points for sticking with this turgid and tedious story to the end. Okay, okay, I admit to skipping plenty of stuff in the last chapter, in my eagerness to just be done with the story. But the point is that I did in fact stick with it to the end.
Historic romance set in 1860's Montana. Previously sighted heroine rendered blind by a blow on the head in a buggy accident that also killed the parents who (unbeknownst to the heroine) drove her fiancé out of town. Heroine living with protective (but oddly more objective) relatives. Jilting fiancé returns to the tiny town (but of course!), and is thrown together with the former beloved. The hero and heroine are immediately mutually attracted again, and spend most of the next eighteen chapters reminding themselves why It Can Never Be.
I was heartily sick of both of them by the end, though I was hoping that Noelle would take another blow to the head, and that would restore her sight so that at least she wouldn't have the 'but I'm blind, who will want me?' crap to hold her back anymore.
Once again, the title? Utterly meaningless. I hate that about these books.
Man, I deserve karmic points for sticking with this turgid and tedious story to the end. Okay, okay, I admit to skipping plenty of stuff in the last chapter, in my eagerness to just be done with the story. But the point is that I did in fact stick with it to the end.
Historic romance set in 1860's Montana. Previously sighted heroine rendered blind by a blow on the head in a buggy accident that also killed the parents who (unbeknownst to the heroine) drove her fiancé out of town. Heroine living with protective (but oddly more objective) relatives. Jilting fiancé returns to the tiny town (but of course!), and is thrown together with the former beloved. The hero and heroine are immediately mutually attracted again, and spend most of the next eighteen chapters reminding themselves why It Can Never Be.
I was heartily sick of both of them by the end, though I was hoping that Noelle would take another blow to the head, and that would restore her sight so that at least she wouldn't have the 'but I'm blind, who will want me?' crap to hold her back anymore.
Once again, the title? Utterly meaningless. I hate that about these books.
April 6, 2009
Seventeen-year-old Noelle Kramer was filled with the hopes and dreams of first love, believing that in Thad MacKaslin she had found the man she would spend the rest of her life with. But on the night they were to elope, she learned he had left town without a word, and she believed she would never see him again. Although her heart was broken, she planned to marry another and at least have a home and family of her own, until a tragic accident left her parents dead and Noelle blind, destroying her plans for the future.
Now, five years later, in the winter of 1883, Noelle lives a quiet life with her aunt, uncle, and cousins. Her blindness has caused her to give up all her dreams of love, marriage, and children. On their way home from town during a blizzard, Noelle and her aunt are almost killed by a runaway horse, but a stranger saves them - a stranger Noelle soon realizes is Thad MacKaslin, who has returned to their hometown of Angel Falls, Montana. And although both Noelle and Thad try to deny it, they still have feelings for each other. Has God given them a second chance at love and happiness together?
This book was one of the most enjoyable historical romances I've read in a while. Fans of western and inspirational romances are sure to enjoy this story of two people who had given up on a future together but are given a second chance to realize their dreams. The love story was incredibly sweet and emotional, rather than so many romances which focus on the physical romance but neglect the emotional side of a relationship. I'd highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy a sweet and emotional romance without all the graphic scenes.
Now, five years later, in the winter of 1883, Noelle lives a quiet life with her aunt, uncle, and cousins. Her blindness has caused her to give up all her dreams of love, marriage, and children. On their way home from town during a blizzard, Noelle and her aunt are almost killed by a runaway horse, but a stranger saves them - a stranger Noelle soon realizes is Thad MacKaslin, who has returned to their hometown of Angel Falls, Montana. And although both Noelle and Thad try to deny it, they still have feelings for each other. Has God given them a second chance at love and happiness together?
This book was one of the most enjoyable historical romances I've read in a while. Fans of western and inspirational romances are sure to enjoy this story of two people who had given up on a future together but are given a second chance to realize their dreams. The love story was incredibly sweet and emotional, rather than so many romances which focus on the physical romance but neglect the emotional side of a relationship. I'd highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy a sweet and emotional romance without all the graphic scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2010
This book was obviously named by a marketing person who had never read the book. "Homespun Bride" does not apply to the story in any way!
I wanted to like this sweet book. I did like the heroine, Noelle, very much. You do not see many romance novels where the heroine is blind, and I appreciate that about it.
The novel was too long for what was going on. I think it might have been better if we had seen it only from Noelle's point of view, but we had to go through every scene with both the thoughts and feelings of Noelle and her long-lost love, Thad. Thad was a strong, rugged hero, but we were subjected in every scene to his aching, pining, and mooning over Noelle.
SPOILER HERE** (If you can't tell how this novel will end, you must not have read the first chapter.) The story left out a lot in the way it was pulled together in the end. After many, many instances where Noelle thinks about how she could not make it as a ranch wife, and nearly ends the relationship over this, we are left guessing as to how they resolve that issue. They never mention household servants, even though Noelle is well-off. We only see Noelle imagining Thad's poor mother, who has suffered from some illness, lovingly watching the grandchildren.
I wanted to like this sweet book. I did like the heroine, Noelle, very much. You do not see many romance novels where the heroine is blind, and I appreciate that about it.
The novel was too long for what was going on. I think it might have been better if we had seen it only from Noelle's point of view, but we had to go through every scene with both the thoughts and feelings of Noelle and her long-lost love, Thad. Thad was a strong, rugged hero, but we were subjected in every scene to his aching, pining, and mooning over Noelle.
SPOILER HERE** (If you can't tell how this novel will end, you must not have read the first chapter.) The story left out a lot in the way it was pulled together in the end. After many, many instances where Noelle thinks about how she could not make it as a ranch wife, and nearly ends the relationship over this, we are left guessing as to how they resolve that issue. They never mention household servants, even though Noelle is well-off. We only see Noelle imagining Thad's poor mother, who has suffered from some illness, lovingly watching the grandchildren.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2011
I want to preface this review by saying I don't normally read romance novels. They're just not my thing. However, the e-book was free, and I am not one to pass up a free book. So I thought I'd try it. It was pretty much what I expected. It felt very slow to me. I kept reading and then looking at the page count. I was unsure how the author was going to fill it as they were pining for each from page 1. It ends exactly how you expect it's going to from the beginning. No huge surprises or twists. However, I don't think that this book was trying to be anything but a simple romance novel. It performed that role very well.
One technical thing that bothered me was that the narrator would switch a lot, sometimes mid-paragraph. That made it really hard for me to follow sometimes. I would often have to go back a few sentences to figure out where it had switched and who was talking now. If you're expecting a smooth flowing, fast paced book, this is not it.
It's not a story that made me think or had me hanging on ever word. However, it was simple and sweet. I don't think it's a bad book, just not one that I particularly enjoy. This book isn't going to make me rethink the genre. However, if you was a sweet, clean, romantic book, this will probably fit the bill for you.
One technical thing that bothered me was that the narrator would switch a lot, sometimes mid-paragraph. That made it really hard for me to follow sometimes. I would often have to go back a few sentences to figure out where it had switched and who was talking now. If you're expecting a smooth flowing, fast paced book, this is not it.
It's not a story that made me think or had me hanging on ever word. However, it was simple and sweet. I don't think it's a bad book, just not one that I particularly enjoy. This book isn't going to make me rethink the genre. However, if you was a sweet, clean, romantic book, this will probably fit the bill for you.
June 12, 2011
I loved this book about a blind young woman, Noelle, whose true love, Thad, was run out of town five years ago by her parents and she believed he had just left her because he didn't love her anymore. She was broken hearted but went on with her life and in the meantime was in a terrible accident which killed her parents and left her blind.
Thad comes back to town without her knowledge when she is almost in another accident and comes along just in time to save her not realizing it is him! He sticks around to help out and she eventually realizes it is him but doesn't let on, and he realizes he still loves her and finds it very hard to stay away from her. They become friends again when he starts working for her grandparents with whom she now lives. He works in the stables with the horses -this takes place in 1883-so no cars around at that time! He still loves her and she still loves him but they take it slow because neither one believes they can really be together again! A good old-fashioned love story and a great read!
Thad comes back to town without her knowledge when she is almost in another accident and comes along just in time to save her not realizing it is him! He sticks around to help out and she eventually realizes it is him but doesn't let on, and he realizes he still loves her and finds it very hard to stay away from her. They become friends again when he starts working for her grandparents with whom she now lives. He works in the stables with the horses -this takes place in 1883-so no cars around at that time! He still loves her and she still loves him but they take it slow because neither one believes they can really be together again! A good old-fashioned love story and a great read!
March 25, 2009
One of the free books for eHarlequin's 60th birthday.
A lot less slushy than many of their other novels--throughout the novel there is only one kiss!--and a frustrating tale of two lovers who believe the time for their love has passed.
I found myself skimming through various sections, because the pacing was a little slow, and there simply wasn't enough tension between the two characters to keep things moving.
A lot less slushy than many of their other novels--throughout the novel there is only one kiss!--and a frustrating tale of two lovers who believe the time for their love has passed.
I found myself skimming through various sections, because the pacing was a little slow, and there simply wasn't enough tension between the two characters to keep things moving.
January 17, 2012
I really, really wanted to like this book. And I did like how this book taught patience and faith. Not just to the characters within the story, but also to the reader. (You have to have a lot of patience to get through this book, and some faith that it will get better doesn't help, even though it's disappointed faith by the end.)
After saying that...
I have no idea where the title came from, but it so does not fit this story.
I have no problem with suffering and tortured characters, but these two... wow. I really just wanted one of them to get kicked by a horse or for someone to push them both into the waterfall they loved so much or... something. And while I love a slow-developing romance (not sped up or rushed like in most stories, even though it keeps the page count manageable), this book would have been about a hundred pages shorter and a better story if both of them weren't so freaking hung up on assuming/doing what was "right" for the other and NOT talking to the other, even as they rekindled their feelings for each other. I got real tired of them thinking about their doubts and assumptions. At the least, there should have been more dialogue interaction with secondary characters about some of their doubts, assumptions, feelings, whatever. But there wasn't; just a lot of "I have to deal with this alone" and some prayer.
And that brings us to the writing in general. There was a lot of POV switching in mid-paragraph that got really confusing sometimes. Too many times I had to go back and figure out who was thinking/talking/doing what and where, exactly, the POV shifted. It was also both annoying and confusing when the characters had thoughts or did things that just didn't fit with how they'd been developed to that point. Unexpected things are good in stories, but having characters be, well, out of character, isn't so good. And, overall, the characters and plot felt shallow. There was no real depth to most of the story or the characters. Every time the author started to show any depth to the characters or plot, it was jerked away again by the self-deprecating thoughts of the two main characters.
I have to say, I'm both delighted and saddened this was one of the free books for eHarlequin's 60th birthday; delighted because I didn't pay for this book, saddened because it doesn't do the genre justice and, to many people testing out romances (especially faith-based romances) with this book, it will be the measuring stick by which the genre will be unfairly judged.
Waffling between 1 and 2 stars, I'm going with two, just because Henrietta and Robert (the aunt and uncle) were a pleasure to read and both made me laugh.
After saying that...
I have no idea where the title came from, but it so does not fit this story.
I have no problem with suffering and tortured characters, but these two... wow. I really just wanted one of them to get kicked by a horse or for someone to push them both into the waterfall they loved so much or... something. And while I love a slow-developing romance (not sped up or rushed like in most stories, even though it keeps the page count manageable), this book would have been about a hundred pages shorter and a better story if both of them weren't so freaking hung up on assuming/doing what was "right" for the other and NOT talking to the other, even as they rekindled their feelings for each other. I got real tired of them thinking about their doubts and assumptions. At the least, there should have been more dialogue interaction with secondary characters about some of their doubts, assumptions, feelings, whatever. But there wasn't; just a lot of "I have to deal with this alone" and some prayer.
And that brings us to the writing in general. There was a lot of POV switching in mid-paragraph that got really confusing sometimes. Too many times I had to go back and figure out who was thinking/talking/doing what and where, exactly, the POV shifted. It was also both annoying and confusing when the characters had thoughts or did things that just didn't fit with how they'd been developed to that point. Unexpected things are good in stories, but having characters be, well, out of character, isn't so good. And, overall, the characters and plot felt shallow. There was no real depth to most of the story or the characters. Every time the author started to show any depth to the characters or plot, it was jerked away again by the self-deprecating thoughts of the two main characters.
I have to say, I'm both delighted and saddened this was one of the free books for eHarlequin's 60th birthday; delighted because I didn't pay for this book, saddened because it doesn't do the genre justice and, to many people testing out romances (especially faith-based romances) with this book, it will be the measuring stick by which the genre will be unfairly judged.
Waffling between 1 and 2 stars, I'm going with two, just because Henrietta and Robert (the aunt and uncle) were a pleasure to read and both made me laugh.
April 19, 2013
ugh. i got this for free and tried to give a fair chance, but it was just every kind of awful. Let me save you the time- there was not a single redeeming thing about this book. Not one.
the characters are one dimensional. any "change" occured before the book started.
the characters are the authors idea of flawless. the only thing that stands between them is a simple misunderstanding: *spoiler alert, which is revealed in like, the first page* Thad left her the night they were supposed to elope, and subsequently stayed away, because her father threated to take -everything- from his ailing and dependent family. This is easily overcome when a) the father dies and b) he returns so that the truth can come out. There are no actual character flaws or mistakes that either makes, unless you count self-denial to a fault and being totally oblivious of the other person's love. Totally unrelatable and boring.
The flip from one persons thoughts to the other was disorienting. Few books can pull it off. This one had enough troubles as it was. Thad was not at all believable as a man.
What was the point? I've read a lot of historical fiction, never one about a blind woman. The storyline -could- have been something. Why did the author relegate the personal struggles in loss of sight, family, love and faith in God to a blip of background info summed up in a couple of sentences and then spend almost THREE HUNDRED PAGES writing what was essentially the last scene?!
Torture for the reader. Not in a good way. I read my favorite love stories over and over again. I understand wanting that moment where everything becomes perfectly understood between the two to last forever, to want to draw it out sometimes. But that's only for characters that you're emotionally invested in! As far as I could understand, Thad loved Noelle because she was sweet and had emerald eyes. And Noelle loved Thad because he was caring. Urgh.
To top it all off, the writing was bad too. Repetitive and melodramatic in description of EVERYTHING.
I cannot forget this book too soon.
the characters are one dimensional. any "change" occured before the book started.
the characters are the authors idea of flawless. the only thing that stands between them is a simple misunderstanding: *spoiler alert, which is revealed in like, the first page* Thad left her the night they were supposed to elope, and subsequently stayed away, because her father threated to take -everything- from his ailing and dependent family. This is easily overcome when a) the father dies and b) he returns so that the truth can come out. There are no actual character flaws or mistakes that either makes, unless you count self-denial to a fault and being totally oblivious of the other person's love. Totally unrelatable and boring.
The flip from one persons thoughts to the other was disorienting. Few books can pull it off. This one had enough troubles as it was. Thad was not at all believable as a man.
What was the point? I've read a lot of historical fiction, never one about a blind woman. The storyline -could- have been something. Why did the author relegate the personal struggles in loss of sight, family, love and faith in God to a blip of background info summed up in a couple of sentences and then spend almost THREE HUNDRED PAGES writing what was essentially the last scene?!
Torture for the reader. Not in a good way. I read my favorite love stories over and over again. I understand wanting that moment where everything becomes perfectly understood between the two to last forever, to want to draw it out sometimes. But that's only for characters that you're emotionally invested in! As far as I could understand, Thad loved Noelle because she was sweet and had emerald eyes. And Noelle loved Thad because he was caring. Urgh.
To top it all off, the writing was bad too. Repetitive and melodramatic in description of EVERYTHING.
I cannot forget this book too soon.
December 7, 2010
I downloaded this book to my Kindle because it was free,it was a historical western and the h's name was Noelle (almost never see my name in a book). It turned out to be a pretty good book. It did turn out to be a Christian/ faith based story wich really isn't my cuppa but wasn't advertised that way.
Noelle (h) lost her sight and her parents in a cariage accident and lives with her Aunt, Uncle and cousins. Thad (H) was suppose to elope with Noelle 5 years before(before she lost her sight) but left her waiting for him because her father, thinking that Thad wasn't good enough for his daughter, threatnd to take his family farm if he didn't leave town.
Thad is back now to take care of his sick mother and help his older brother with the farm and thier out of control little brother. After saving Noelle and her Aunt from another cariage accident he finds out that she's blind and not married like he thought she was. They start spending time together after a series of events that keep throwing them in eachothers path.
All in all I thought this book was a really sweet second chance romance.
Noelle (h) lost her sight and her parents in a cariage accident and lives with her Aunt, Uncle and cousins. Thad (H) was suppose to elope with Noelle 5 years before(before she lost her sight) but left her waiting for him because her father, thinking that Thad wasn't good enough for his daughter, threatnd to take his family farm if he didn't leave town.
Thad is back now to take care of his sick mother and help his older brother with the farm and thier out of control little brother. After saving Noelle and her Aunt from another cariage accident he finds out that she's blind and not married like he thought she was. They start spending time together after a series of events that keep throwing them in eachothers path.
All in all I thought this book was a really sweet second chance romance.
January 10, 2012
The only reason I read this in the first place was because it was a free ebook. And it was okay. But I can't give it much more than that.
The main character - Noelle - was whiny and annoying; constantly determined that there was NO WAY anyone could ever love her or that she could possibly live without being a burden on whoever she lived with. She went on and on about the fact that there was no way Thad could love her. And, quite simply, it got incredibly boring.
Thad was okay, but he was little more than a typical knight in shining armour; as it turned out, he had NO flaws. Flawless characters are boring, as well as an easy way out for the writer.
Noelle's family grated on my nerves; the uncle was foolish and rather pigheaded and the aunt was vapid and ridiculously overprotective.
I also disliked that there was very little storyline beyond that of the romance between the two main characters. Other plot lines were alluded to, but they were shallow and incomplete. And none of them had any real resolution; by the end of the book, it was almost as if the author simply wanted to be done with the story.
By that point, though, I was ready to be done too.
The main character - Noelle - was whiny and annoying; constantly determined that there was NO WAY anyone could ever love her or that she could possibly live without being a burden on whoever she lived with. She went on and on about the fact that there was no way Thad could love her. And, quite simply, it got incredibly boring.
Thad was okay, but he was little more than a typical knight in shining armour; as it turned out, he had NO flaws. Flawless characters are boring, as well as an easy way out for the writer.
Noelle's family grated on my nerves; the uncle was foolish and rather pigheaded and the aunt was vapid and ridiculously overprotective.
I also disliked that there was very little storyline beyond that of the romance between the two main characters. Other plot lines were alluded to, but they were shallow and incomplete. And none of them had any real resolution; by the end of the book, it was almost as if the author simply wanted to be done with the story.
By that point, though, I was ready to be done too.
April 7, 2012
I am very glad, that this was a free book - otherwise it would have been a disappointment to spent any money on it! Once you have found out, that Noelle and Thad (the "stranger" who rescued her and her aunt) have been lovers once, you now the end of the story - and this end could have come much faster. If both of them haven't thinking all the time, that either they don't love the other anymore (but their reaction proved otherwise) or that the other doesn't love them still (although the behaviour likewise proved otherwise) they would have been reunite much faster. In addition he is thinking, she can never forgive him to left her on the day, they wanted to elope (but he was forced by her parents to do so) and never even thinking of telling her the truth. She is thinking, that she is blind and can never serve him on a ranch as wife - but obviously she is quite wealthy (one of the reason her partens find him not suitable for her daughter) and I am pretty sure, she could have afford a cook and a maid!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2011
Noelle goes blind after the horse-drawn carraige carrying her and her parents has a horrible accident in the snow and ice. Not only does she lose her sight but she also loses both parents. Her Aunt, Uncle and 5 girl cousins take her in as one of their own as they move to Montanna to be with her. This is not the only traumatic event in her life. At the age of 16 she falls in love with a man who stands her up after having made plans for marraige. Years later, dependent upon her Aunt and Uncle she faces another terrible snow storm and carraige crash. This time she is saved by a strong daring man who she senses she may have met before. The man figures out she is blind and desperately tries to hide the fact that he is the very man that stood her up years ago. This is a Love inspired novel that is very G-rated. A quick, easy read 3.5 stars at best.
January 27, 2012
I thought this one was good, the story was a sweet one. I didn't go into this book realizing who the publisher was. I picked this book up this book for free because I'm a sucker for feel good stories every now and again. My one complaint, that isn't so much as a complaint, but an observation; The story got to the point where the god speak felt a bit forced, and it was nearer the end. It just felt like it was unnaturally shoved in in parts so that a quota could be fit. Just left the dialog/text feeling a bit stilted and it didn't flow right. Otherwise, cute story and I liked the characters. :)
June 29, 2016
Romance novels are a favorite of mine here lately, and I have been trying to find new, clean romances, which is a bit hard these days. But when I saw this one for free, I gave it a go. I love romance, and I love frontier historical fiction. How bad could it be?
It was slow--horribly slow. I knew how the book would end from page one, and there were no plot twists or surprises to ever make me think otherwise, which made for a very boring read.
The author also did a lot of head-hopping between the characters, many times within the same paragraph. I had to go back and reread passages several times to figure out who I was "hearing."
It was slow--horribly slow. I knew how the book would end from page one, and there were no plot twists or surprises to ever make me think otherwise, which made for a very boring read.
The author also did a lot of head-hopping between the characters, many times within the same paragraph. I had to go back and reread passages several times to figure out who I was "hearing."
May 3, 2012
This book was cute but I think it could have been a novella and it would have been SO MUCH BETTER!! There was just way too much of her thinking, then him thinking. Then she was thinking about the same thing, then he was thinking about it again....and so on! You get the point. There was just way too much inner conversations (the same one!) going on. It would have been nice if there were some side stories developed or something. Noelle was very strong, I wish she would have realized that at some point. Thad was a great guy, I liked his character. This book was a little slow.
September 18, 2010
Wow, people who finish this book deserve some major points!! The tale between the two characters is slow paced, sluggish and repetitive. This was a side novel to have something quick to read in between other longer novels and instead became the book that would never find an ending (happy or not). I began to wonder how many ways there were to say a few of the "key phrases" that dominated the book. It was a free download for my nook and I'm not even sure it was worth that...agh!
September 11, 2013
Perhaps I'm not fair giving this book 3 stars?! I'm just NOT a romance reader! When I started the book I thought it would be more "historical fiction", but was into it when I realized it really was a romance. It is set in an earlier century, so is referred to as historical fiction.
I wish libraries would divide out the true romance fictions from a true HISTORICAL fictions I love when I find that an author has done lots of research and the reader has the opportunity to learn something.
I wish libraries would divide out the true romance fictions from a true HISTORICAL fictions I love when I find that an author has done lots of research and the reader has the opportunity to learn something.
June 13, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. The heroine is blind in 1883 Montana. It's a lovely love story with a HEA ending. It may be an inspirational romance but no bible thumping in this one, just references to folks praying.
August 14, 2012
I enjoyed the story, but the constant pining for the past and the main characters feeling sorry for themselves constantly got on my nerves. It would have been a better story and much shorter if there hadn't been so much of the pining and internal whining.
May 4, 2022
It's a Jillian Hart book... that means 'don't expect to be impressed'. In fact, my kids groan at her very name. But I have a huge collection of 'Love, Inspired' books, and I'm working my way thru all of them... so here we are, at Jillian Hart, again. "But Mom...! Just throw it at the wall and be done with it!" my girl said. "It's an Historical. She might be better at those," I reasoned. Insert enormous snort from daughter.
And honestly? For Hart, this was *NOT* a bad book. Someone said there's only one kiss - not true. There are three kiss incidents (one of them multiple kisses). Someone said it's a slog - not true. It's slower paced, but Historicals can be that way. Someone said the story went nowhere - not true. It's the story of two people finding their way back to each other.
But my big problem with Hart's books is still here with this one: The woman simply CANNOT write. She can't write her way out of a paper sack, I swear it. The phrasing is weird, the sentences endlessly repetitive, and when she tries to get descriptive, she absolutely slaughters the English language. It's like someone color-blind and fashion deficient trying to decorate a room. The result is garish and cringy. Same with Hart's stories. They've got a good idea behind them, but she's splattered them with clashing EVERYTHING.
Some examples from this book:
"There she was. He could sense her somehow, like warmth on a spring breeze." Um, if she's RIGHT THERE, he doesn't need to 'sense her somehow', hello...
"His touch made a sweet heartfelt power sweep thru her." A *power*? Seriously???
Pg 60: "Please let him move on, Lord, she prayed... And a paragraph later, "At least I know he will move on, she thought." Seems conflicted. If she knows he'll move on, why pray for the Lord to move him on, again...?
"So much for the notion of love. Not only was it ashes, but even long after the ashes had scattered, blown into nothing by the wind, the scar from the burn remained." Wait, WHAT?? And then, "Maybe his notion of love being nothing at all was a poor one." And here I thought it was ashes... SIGH.
All throughout the book, Hart says Thad had been 'beauing' Noelle. He could've been 'courting' her, or 'walking out with' her, or 'dating' her, or even 'calling' on her, but what in HADES is 'beauing'. Does that mean she'd been 'belleing' him? Because this is utterly ridiculous wording.
"She nodded, unable to agree." <--- !!!! For the love of Mike...!!
"Even if she sat perfectly still, she could not stop all the ways her heart felt for the man. And all the ways she didn't." I... can't even begin to try to decipher that nonsense.
"His caring was like a knife cutting deep. With every step she took away from him, the longing for him grew. And for what could have been. That's all this is, she told herself. All that could never be." <-- All that WHAT is, and all that WHAT could never be?! That makes no sense!!!
"Gradually, life returned to normalcy. The girls went back to school, the minister's visits were more social than serious, the doc openly optimistic... One thing remained constant. Thad arrived every day to care for the horses and tend to the other chores." Um... if everything was back to normal, it's ALL constant, hello. (((sigh.)))
"If you catch a chill and your death, I shall know who's to blame!" Can you catch both a chill and your own death? Asking for a friend... because that's WEIRD wording.
I liked the book. I just can't stand Jillian's writing.
It doesn't seem like I'm alone in that, either.
But this one isn't her worst. Sadly.
And honestly? For Hart, this was *NOT* a bad book. Someone said there's only one kiss - not true. There are three kiss incidents (one of them multiple kisses). Someone said it's a slog - not true. It's slower paced, but Historicals can be that way. Someone said the story went nowhere - not true. It's the story of two people finding their way back to each other.
But my big problem with Hart's books is still here with this one: The woman simply CANNOT write. She can't write her way out of a paper sack, I swear it. The phrasing is weird, the sentences endlessly repetitive, and when she tries to get descriptive, she absolutely slaughters the English language. It's like someone color-blind and fashion deficient trying to decorate a room. The result is garish and cringy. Same with Hart's stories. They've got a good idea behind them, but she's splattered them with clashing EVERYTHING.
Some examples from this book:
"There she was. He could sense her somehow, like warmth on a spring breeze." Um, if she's RIGHT THERE, he doesn't need to 'sense her somehow', hello...
"His touch made a sweet heartfelt power sweep thru her." A *power*? Seriously???
Pg 60: "Please let him move on, Lord, she prayed... And a paragraph later, "At least I know he will move on, she thought." Seems conflicted. If she knows he'll move on, why pray for the Lord to move him on, again...?
"So much for the notion of love. Not only was it ashes, but even long after the ashes had scattered, blown into nothing by the wind, the scar from the burn remained." Wait, WHAT?? And then, "Maybe his notion of love being nothing at all was a poor one." And here I thought it was ashes... SIGH.
All throughout the book, Hart says Thad had been 'beauing' Noelle. He could've been 'courting' her, or 'walking out with' her, or 'dating' her, or even 'calling' on her, but what in HADES is 'beauing'. Does that mean she'd been 'belleing' him? Because this is utterly ridiculous wording.
"She nodded, unable to agree." <--- !!!! For the love of Mike...!!
"Even if she sat perfectly still, she could not stop all the ways her heart felt for the man. And all the ways she didn't." I... can't even begin to try to decipher that nonsense.
"His caring was like a knife cutting deep. With every step she took away from him, the longing for him grew. And for what could have been. That's all this is, she told herself. All that could never be." <-- All that WHAT is, and all that WHAT could never be?! That makes no sense!!!
"Gradually, life returned to normalcy. The girls went back to school, the minister's visits were more social than serious, the doc openly optimistic... One thing remained constant. Thad arrived every day to care for the horses and tend to the other chores." Um... if everything was back to normal, it's ALL constant, hello. (((sigh.)))
"If you catch a chill and your death, I shall know who's to blame!" Can you catch both a chill and your own death? Asking for a friend... because that's WEIRD wording.
I liked the book. I just can't stand Jillian's writing.
It doesn't seem like I'm alone in that, either.
But this one isn't her worst. Sadly.
April 1, 2025
Homespun Bride is set in 1883 in Montana Territory in the town of Angel Falls. It is about a young woman that survived a buggy accident that killed both of her parents. The problem was she hit her head and became blind due to her accident. She was engaged and the man dumped her because she was damaged goods and he didn't want her.
Her Aunt and Uncle with their five daughters moved from back East to help her and took her into her household. Another runaway sleigh, a rescue by the old beau from the blind girl's past. It is an emotional love story of betrayal, a second chance and humor provided by her Aunt and her views of proper.
Although a Christian romance and novel, it gave a realistic view of how humans are not perfect but figure it out in the end. I loved the happy ending and how it portrayed the society of the err that was different from today in some ways and not others.
Her Aunt and Uncle with their five daughters moved from back East to help her and took her into her household. Another runaway sleigh, a rescue by the old beau from the blind girl's past. It is an emotional love story of betrayal, a second chance and humor provided by her Aunt and her views of proper.
Although a Christian romance and novel, it gave a realistic view of how humans are not perfect but figure it out in the end. I loved the happy ending and how it portrayed the society of the err that was different from today in some ways and not others.
December 31, 2019
I am not really into the Love Inspired books, but I thought this one was a sweet story. Not necessarily something I would have thought to pick up on my own, but still interesting enough to keep my attention. The author repeats herself a lot, and I think if this was a bigger book, the plot could be developed a lot more, but other than that, it was a nice read.
Noelle, blind from a tragic accident meets up with former beau, Thad McKaslin after he rescues her. Although they were previously engaged, hurts from the past rise up to meet them, and cause them to address what had happened. After Noelle's Uncle has an accident with a horse, Thad must stay to help the family. Getting to know Noelle again, even with her blindness, has caused him to fall in love with her again. But will Noelle agree to marry him, or will her blindness get in the way?
Noelle, blind from a tragic accident meets up with former beau, Thad McKaslin after he rescues her. Although they were previously engaged, hurts from the past rise up to meet them, and cause them to address what had happened. After Noelle's Uncle has an accident with a horse, Thad must stay to help the family. Getting to know Noelle again, even with her blindness, has caused him to fall in love with her again. But will Noelle agree to marry him, or will her blindness get in the way?
May 7, 2017
I believe that how one views a book differs depending on the reader, so regardless of seeing some of the negative reviews that this book had, I was still aching to read it because of its plot. Sadly same as the others I wasn’t satisfied.
The book was redundant. It keeps on repeating the love they have for each other to prolong the book. I think the real action started 75% of the book. I’m still wondering what will be the hero’s reaction if he finds out that the heroine owns the land he wanted to buy.
This is the first book of Jillian Heart that I’d ever read and it was okay. I’m still going to try her other books.
The book was redundant. It keeps on repeating the love they have for each other to prolong the book. I think the real action started 75% of the book. I’m still wondering what will be the hero’s reaction if he finds out that the heroine owns the land he wanted to buy.
This is the first book of Jillian Heart that I’d ever read and it was okay. I’m still going to try her other books.
November 18, 2018
I couldn't finish it.
It isn't terrible, but I couldn't finish it. Too many similes and typos. The hero is nice enough, but he keeps calling the heroine "darlin'". That sounds right for a romance novel, I know, but the primary tension in the plot is he jilted her without explanation. So, if he claims not to want to hurt her, and acknowledges his mere presence hurts her, why would he throw salt in her wound by calling her darlin' all the time? Someone else might have a better time reading this if it fits their personality better, and maybe the other books are good, so I wouldn't write off the author or the series over this.
It isn't terrible, but I couldn't finish it. Too many similes and typos. The hero is nice enough, but he keeps calling the heroine "darlin'". That sounds right for a romance novel, I know, but the primary tension in the plot is he jilted her without explanation. So, if he claims not to want to hurt her, and acknowledges his mere presence hurts her, why would he throw salt in her wound by calling her darlin' all the time? Someone else might have a better time reading this if it fits their personality better, and maybe the other books are good, so I wouldn't write off the author or the series over this.
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