The Heart Answers

Wyoming #3

by Colleen Coble

With her beautiful face and glorious red hair, Jessica never met a single man she couln't wrap around her little finger. To her amazement, however, Clay Cole seems immune to her charms. In fact, he sees straight through them, and Jessica is furious.

But when Jessica and Clay both want to adopt an orphan child, Jessica assumes the obvious solution is for them to marry. Clay, however, makes it clear that he would never dream of marrying someone as selfish as Jessica.

To Jessica's surprise, she finds that she is sudenly willing to change...if only God can forgive her for all that she's done.

Now if only God can change Clay's heart...

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Christian Romance

170 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Arizona. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 6 million books in print.

Reviews

[Svnth's Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica Dubois is a self centered, vain, opportunistic (by any means), evil woman until God grabs a hold of her. I despised her in Plains of Promise but I loved this book and HER. Though it’s a short read like the other ones in this series the characters are built and unfolded quickly but beautifully.

[Gretchen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Omg this dude is a jerk! We’re not supposed to like Jessica but honestly other than being a little spoiled she was fine. This novella is pretty problematic. It’s just a crap on Jessica fest. Dang, not worth a read. Too much focus was on Jessica being beautiful but selfish. All of the conflict was blamed on her & yikes.


Salvation is frequently discussed. Hero is a preacher yet super judgmental & not patient with heroine. Dislikes heroine instantly yet falls in love with heroine for seemingly no reason ??

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Heart Answers was a surprising read! I had had this book on my TBR for a couple and never felt drawn to read it until recently...I was hooked right away and found myself wondering why it took me so long to read it. ;) I loved the characters and the transformation the MC went through.

The romance was a not a favorite of mine, and I think that is because of how the hero treated her throughout most of the story.

All in all, The Heart Answers was a great read. I haven't read the other books in the series and had no trouble reading this one, so I think it is fine as a standalone. :D

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[Laur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn’t like the story, nor was I drawn to the main characters who seemed too arrogant. Most of the time reading this, I felt annoyed.

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read To Love a Stranger first and for me it was a better read. I really connected with Bessie right away. This one while I understood where Jessica was coming from, I never really felt connected to her. Or clay….
I thought both of their hearts were in the right place and I did enjoy Jessica growing up and looking at things differently.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and look forward to the next in the series. Frontier life is what I love best and the next one a mail order bride? Even better

[Romancebooksandmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
Honestly I wanted to like this book I really did but it was just so bitter.

Jessica Dubois was adopted at a young age and raised in Boston with a pampered life. She moved west with her father and mother after her father’s death her mother marries her uncle and they move again. Jessica wants nothing to do with the new situation and fights it every step of the way. Until she meets Ellen and her little Daughter Franny.

Clay Cole is a moving reverend who just lost his cousin and helps his cousin’s widow and daughter settle into a new life but after Ellen dies what is to be done with Franny and what about the unchristian stuck up to pretty for her own good Jessica?

First off this book was too short for the story the author was trying to convey. So many things needed to be said or explained in more detail then 166 pages can do. Secondly like I said it was bitter. It’s a christian romance so of course god and religion will be brought into it. You expect that but this book did it in a mean way. Jessica had to change literally EVERYTHING about herself before Clay could love her and his snide remarks and hateful thought about her were very off putting.

In most religious romance books I can see the characters working out even if one struggles with or against religion this one the whole plot line hinged on the point that Clay would never give Jessica a chance if she wasn’t Christian wouldn’t even really think a kind thought about her in reality.

If you want a short read okay if you want to read it because it’s part of a series great but I don’t see myself re reading this book in the near furture. Glad I only paid 2.69 for it on bookoutlet.

[Dana Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many of Ms. Coble's romantic suspense books, but I havent read any of her historical romances. So, when I saw my library had this on audible I immediately downloaded it. I really enjoyed the story. It was a sweet inspirational story. The narrator was very good, but maybe a bit older than I imagined for the heroine.
3.5 stars

[Melissa Widener · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heart Answers is the third book in this series, and this is Jessica DuBois’s story, and if you have read the other books, your opinion of her may not be very nice. She was always the thorn in everybody’s side, and if there was trouble, it was usually her fault.
After her father died Jessica and her mother decide to move to Fort Bridger, Wyoming, and her mother has decided to marry her deceased husband’s brother. What a change for Jessica, but God does seem to have his reasons for what happens and we find Jessica making a real friend for a change.
The Reverend Clay Cole is related to this new friend, a cousin really, who is recently widowed, and has a precocious three-year-old daughter. Surprisingly, Jessica seems to afford an attachment for this child, really out of character for her. Rev Clay is attracted to Jessica, but as we have seen in the past she is a bit flighty and conniving, can she every change.
This was a very quick read, and one that I didn’t want to end, I kept hoping things would work out for all, but you will have to read the book and judge for yourself!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

[∞Aletia (shybookfox)∞ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book because the synopsis sounded so good! But sadly I just couldn’t get into it. It just seemed very judgmental and a bit overbearing on the religion side of it, how he kept telling himself he shouldn’t talk to her because she wasn’t a believer and he wouldn’t spend time with her until she went to church. Perhaps I didn’t read far enough to understand the story fully, but it was really hard to follow when he seemed a bit hypocritical for claiming to be a Christian and then judging her, and her character was too flirtatious and spoiled.
I hope to read her other books, and don’t want this one book to ruin my opinion of her other works.

[Lauren Meissner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this short little book. Such a beautiful Love story!!

[Danielle Turko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Dubois has become accustomed to getting what she wants. Even since she was adopted she had nearly everything she wanted. After her father is killed in line of duty, and she's humiliated by both Rand and Isaac choosing someone else over her, she's more than willing leave the fort and go back to civilization. To her surprise, her mother says that instead they are moving to another fort where she will be marrying Jessica's uncle. No amount of begging convince her mother to let her move to Boston alone, so they make the trek to live with Jessica's uncle and cousins. Along the way they meet the handsome Clay Cole, the itinerant preacher. Clay has vowed he will never fall for a beautiful face like his father did, he's more interested in a beautiful soul. Jessica views this as a challenge and vows she'll get Clay at any measure, then drop him. When Clay's cousin Frannie works her way into Jessica's heart, she begins to see what it's like to love someone other than herself. When a tragedy brings them all together, it will be the ultimate test of who they really need.
This was a continuation of the last series I read, although it was under a different name. It was good to see Jessica's side of the story and her character growth. It does seem a little off, but for that era it probably was what was going on. it had a happy ending though

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from Netgalley. This was a lovely book. I guess I read these books out of order because I read Jasper's story first. This story was about his sister and a preacher. Jessica was an interesting character. I did have a problem with her though. Actually it was not with her it was with how people saw her. If a person can love a child, then they could never be a selfish person. Fanny was my favorite character I think in this whole book. She was so pure and lovable. The description of preacher man was quite interesting. I would love to meet a man like that. The story made me laugh and a couple of times I got emotional. I could identify with Jessica. I will say that I was not expecting so much of the talk of God and Jesus. Miss Coble really wove a story where having the Jesus talk so much in the story made sense. I loved this story, I think that I am more of a proper romance kind of girl rather than a spiritual inspiration kind of girl but this was a good book. I read half of this book one day and the other half the next day. This was a really great fun read.

[Codi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was passed on to me by a friend and I picked it up late last night, needing a break from some recent heavier reads.

I’ve read several other Colleen Coble books and they are a wonderful breath of goodness that I often don’t realize my soul needs. It incorporates faith, a love story and historical fiction, my favorite themes to read and help me reset mentally, and is based around military life on the Wyoming frontier. The focus is not on military beyond a few references and my only complaint is how short it is because I wasn’t ready for it to end!

This is #3 in this series and I’ll be searching out the first two books to read, as well as the ones that follow!

[Carly Leigh Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I loved getting to know Jessica's character and the background of her life which gave me so much more insight into her character and actually made me like her which was a change from the first two books in the series. My favourite part of the book was seeing Jessica's relationship with Clay develop, and her faith in God began. The ending of this book was great as Jessica got married to Clay and was reunited with her brother Jasper after they got separated when they were younger because they were adopted to different families

[Alyssa Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heroine is very hard to like from the start, so it wasn't easy for me to want her to wind up with the preacher, who was much more likable, and could do so much better. Then her personality transplant simply wasn't believable. No one changes that drastically, and certainly not that quickly. Attitude changes are much more gradual, unless they are impermanent. Also, it seems a bit callous to orphan a child in order to bring a couple together.

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

My first "Christian" romance. Wow, I could not finish this. There is so much racism and stereotypes about Native Americans in this book. It's even worse than Little House on the Prairie. A bunch of savages hell-bent on killing every white person they come across, that's how Native Americans are portrayed. And then there's the slut shaming. The female character smiles a little too enthusiastically towards the male preacher (the love interest) and his reaction is "Back off, whore!" Yikesssss!

[Jill Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of how God can reach even the most ungodly.

Wonderful story of how God can reach and change even the most self centered heart. The historical facts and characters of this story are amazing and will keep you wanting to know more. Hard to put down once you begin to read.

[Peggy Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that when I read what it was about I had to buy. Colleen is a great storyteller and this one I had the tissues right next to me as I cried a lot. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen she threw in another wrench and surprised me. Colleen hit the ball to the center field and got a triple!

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah and Emmie have had to deal with Jessica and her hurtful actions. Now Jessica is having to leave so her mother can marry her widowed brother-in-law. Of course, he has three children added to the marriage who do not like Jessica. Then something happens and Jessica must prove that she is able to changed and is worthy of a righteous man.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow, very hot and cold, and quite frankly, very dumb. Clay was a rude, “accept god or your dead to me” asshole, and Jessica tried her hardest to please him but nothing ever did and I don’t understand why she chased him so hard. Ugh.

[LeslieLynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. pulls at your heart. One minute you're laughing and the next you're crying. Loved it!



I loved it! Can't wait to read the next book in the series!! The Best one yet... A must read!

[BlueJeansAndTeacups · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica was very spoiled. While the story progresses on her maturing, I found it unrealistic that Clay, a traveling preacher would fall for her. I just could not connect with the story. I believe it is a simple opinion thing. Plenty of faith woven throughout."

[Emslo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The strength of this story, in my opinion, was a real empathy for and understanding of the characters. Coble allows you to feel for the two protagonists even as broken, imperfect people in need of growth and redemption.

[Trinity · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish it. Clay, the male main character, was supposed to be a preacher, but was so judgmental and critical of everything Jessica did. Also, it just felt so back and forth with Jessica’s character, she would be super spoiled and selfish, then she would be kind of good, and then back.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Louise E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a delightful story. a little repetitive when describing the feelings of the characters but overall an enjoyable read.
short, and very sweet.

[Cheryl-Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars cute western romance with Clay and Jessica