Ozark Wedding

Mozark Marriages #3

by Helen Gray

Gavin Mathis Brings Light to the Countryside

Gavin is determined to bring his sleepy hometown of Deer Lick, Missouri, into the electric age. But he doesn't count on his wayward brother's schoolhouse hijinks getting in the way—or the lovely teacher who sends Gavin's heart into a tailspin.

Teacher Irene Delaney is a talented pianist who dreams of making music far beyond her small town. As the electricity humming between her and Gavin begins to grow, she worries falling for the striking man will douse her big-city plans. Can Gavin convince Irene she can keep her dreams—and they can still have forever?

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Helen Brown grew up in a small Missouri town and changed colors when she married her pastor and became Helen Gray. They have three grown children, a daughter and two sons. Now retired, with the children grown and gone from the nest, she and her supportive husband still live in their native Missouri Ozarks. He likes to roam the woods, hunt and fish. She enjoys gospel, sacred, and concert band music and is a member of ACFW. Her idea of sheer luxury is to curl up with a good book and a nice cold Coke. She thanks God for the time and opportunity to spin Christian romance and mystery stories, and considers it an added blessing if they should touch others in even a small way.

Reviews

[Teri-K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I was in the mood for - an old-fashioned story about good but imperfect people doing the best they can in life. Set in rural N. Missouri just after the depression, nobody here is rich or glamorous. Instead there are just folks coping with death, poverty, and change. The biggest change for some of them is coming from the REA. Growing up in rural Colorado as I did, I've always known what the REA was - the Rural Electrification Administration. It started from the federal government in the 30's, using federal and local money to form cooperatives to get electricity to isolated areas, which were a large part of the country back then. We owed our electricity on the farm to the REA, so I especially enjoyed reading this inside look into how it worked.

Our hero has come back to his home town to help sign up farmers and get the poles and lines installed. Because his young half brother is causing trouble at school, he soon meets the local school teacher and they begin to work together to help him. But our heroine has no intention of staying in this small town. Her dream is to travel with a gospel group playing the piano. I quite enjoyed this story about real people leading real lives and trying to find God's will.

NB - I really liked this quote: "The key is how we serve, not where. If we serve with all our hearts, our little place in the world is not a stepping stone to success. It is success."

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me how important it is to hope and to have dreams. It also reminded me of the power of community and love among neighbors. I needed that.

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that Gavin came home to help his mother with his younger half siblings. Irene's willingness to take over teaching for her sister, and her skill in doing so, was good to create a working relationship for the pair. I liked the pacing of the relationship as a whole, especially the fact that the two had some extended time apart before deciding they were meant to be together.

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I did enjoy the story, I felt it was a bit repetitive and I got a little bored with it.

[Phyllis Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tale immerses us in the Great Depression and the challenges faced by our forebears. Gavin is bringing electrification to the rural Missouri town of Deer Lick, facing some opposition from those who don't want to pay for it including Irene's father.

Irene struggles to do all the chores using the wood stove and the hand water pump, planning on escaping to the big city where she can use her musical gifts -- and enjoy electricity. She's a schoolteacher for this year, and finds herself coping with the pranks and rebellion of the hero's brother.

Amid all this, will Gavin and Irene find a place in their hearts for each other?

I enjoyed this book, especially all the wonderful details about life in the 1930s, including the mock funeral for a kerosene lamp as soon as it became obsolete. Helen Gray does a great job.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great romance between two unexpected people. I couldn't put it down. Also, I find these small books aren't usually easy to read as the book doesn't open far enough to get all the words, BUT this book was easily held and easy to read the pages.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and it definitely does not disappoint. I feel like I watched Irene grow up and couldn't wait to hear her story.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance.