Faithful of Heart

Minnesota Legacy #1

by Tracie Peterson

When dedicated philanthropist Judith Stanford receives a summons from her estranged grandfather ordering her to come to Minneapolis to prove herself worthy of his inheritance, she is hesitant but can't ignore the potential of her grandfather's fortune to benefit her causes. And the only man to interest her since her husband's death lives in Minneapolis, making her wonder if their paths will cross.

Roman Turner, a local physician with a heart for the poor, harbors a grudge against Judith's grandfather for his unethical actions that led to the death of Roman's father and the financial ruin of his mother and sister. When he meets Judith again, he is shocked to learn the woman he's thought about all these years is related to the one man he hates.

As Judith tries to overcome the complicated history between her and Roman's families and disentangle her grandfather's tainted legacy, she begins to form a plan for reparation. But when it becomes clear someone else has other intentions for the money, Judith is left directly in their path, and her dreams of a new legacy are at risk.

From acclaimed author Tracie Peterson comes a stirring series opener set in 1870 Minneapolis weaving themes of redemption, faith, and the healing power of love.

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 3, 2026

About the author

Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.

pen name: Janelle Jamison

Reviews

[Carolyn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Tracie Peterson has gifted us with a heartwarming, soul-stirring read that lingers in your mind long after the last page is turned. The perfectly paced plot, with a compelling combination of history, romance, suspense, and faith, drew me in quickly and held me captive for the entirety of the story--another hard to put down, one-sitting read. A wonderfully crafted cast of characters, a
strong faith thread highlighting Christian values of salvation and forgiveness, and a slow building, emotionally rich sweet romance also contribute to making this an exceptional, inspiring read. This book launches Ms. Peterson's A Minnesota Legacy series. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lisa M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracie Peterson is well known for her historical novels and sweeping series, and this story takes us to the early development of Minnesota during the 1800s. The novel begins with a chance meeting between Judith and Roman — and then fades away, picking back up about four years later.

I’ll be honest — I tried to read this book several times, but it just seemed to drag for me. I ended up setting it aside and reading five other books before finally coming back to it. This one simply didn’t capture my interest the same way others have.

Part of that may be because Judith felt almost… flawless. Yes, she struggles with commitment and matters of the heart, but overall she’s very “practically perfect in every way.” I tend to connect more with characters who feel a little messier and more relatable, so I found it harder to fully invest in her story.

That said, if you’re looking for a tale that highlights faith, perseverance, and living for Jesus no matter the circumstances, you will likely enjoy this novel. Messages of faith are thoughtfully woven throughout, and even though I didn’t love the book, I still found myself highlighting a few powerful passages:

"A Christian is called upon to forgive and forget."
"Forgive, yes. But forgetting is far more difficult, and I might say, both require divine assistance. People are not easily given to forgetting the wrong done to them."

Isn’t that the truth? 💛

"I know that God has the world in His hands," Judith continued. "I know that He sees each sparrow fall. But why, Roman, why must the children suffer so much?"

…"I could tell you how this is a fallen world and that sin cares not for whom it harms. That the devil seeks to destroy all that God loves, but that God will have His way in the end. But I know that would not offer you comfort now."

Oof. That hits — and feels especially relevant to the world we live in today. 🌍💔

🌟 Final Verdict: 3 stars
It took me too long to fully engage, and I never quite fell in love with the characters.

That said, I will continue the series as new installments are released, hoping the next one resonates more with me!

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful of Heart by Tracie Peterson is the first book in the Minnesota Legacy Series. This is a Christian historical story that takes place after the Civil War. Following the death of her husband in the war and the death of her parents, Judith is living a quiet life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania doing charity work to help widows and orphans following the Civil War. She meets Dr. Roman Turner from Minneapolis, Minnesota but does not keep in touch with him. When she is summoned by her estranged Grandfather Ashton to stay with him during his final days in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she agrees to stay til the end of the summer if he helps her charities and attends church with her. While she is staying with him, she gets involved with the ladies from church and their charity work. It is here she meets Roman’s mother and sister.
This story is so good. I really enjoyed how Judith spends her time helping others. I especially enjoyed how she devoted her time to find out who her grandfather hurt in his business dealing and how she wanted to make amends for that. I liked how caring she is towards his household workers and cares for them. I appreciate how Roman cares for others instead of building his medical practice. I like how she and Roman still think of each other after all this time and how they are given the chance to grow a relationship. I found the part of his moving past his anger toward Judith’s grandfather for what happened to his family to be so inspirational.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

[P.L. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Tracie Peterson's writing style and was super excited to see this latest book pass across my desk. I was eager to begin reading and jumped right in, sacrificing the story I had been reading by another author to pick up this one. And I was not disappointed! As usual, Peterson weaves a tale of romance and historical fiction, bringing her story to life through descriptive visuals and relatable scenarios. She always does an amazing job of researching the era in which her stories unfold, and this was no exception. Her latest book, the first in a new series, was beautifully written and easy to read. I was drawn into the story from the start and felt that main character Judith was well developed and relatable. The story elements of philanthopy in the Minneapolis of 1870 were enlightening and informative, giving me a glimpse of something I had no knowledge of prior to reading. Overall, Peterson has once again written an award-worthy story that will captivate readers and fans of historical fiction. Well done!

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series, A Minnesota Legacy. A Christian read that held me captive, and thus page turning for answers.
A young woman with such a heart for our Lord, and thus she lived her faith, and went about helping others.
Will being with an absent Grandfather change her? He is wealthy beyond thinking, and at the expense of others. Will she be accepted in this small community, once they know of her relationship?
We are offered a few suitors, and man that used to getting his own way, even to the end! Also some sweet romance!
This read is so beautifully written, I never wanted for it to end, but there will be another book in this series coming next year!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Jerry]

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