RETURNING TO THE BOOTHEEL IS BITTERSWEET FOR JESSIE STEVENS.
When she and her brother come back to the home they fled years earlier, they find Gabe Kirby, their neighbor who was kind to Jessie as a girl, guarding the farm.
Successful cotton farmer Gabe remembers Jessie fondly from childhood, but the grown up Jessie takes his breath away. He thought his life would be devoted to helping others and would not include marriage, but now he questions that. Can he convince her--and himself--that they can find happiness together?
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.
This book I liked. Christian, but not too preachy. She comes home after she and her brother ran from their abusive father. He's dead, they need a place to live. It takes place during the great depression. She's determined to be independent of a man, yet she falls in love with the neighbor boy she's know since she was a child. Very sweet romance. I really want to read more.
Bootheel Bride by Helen Gray Jan 30, 2019 This was soo much more than I expected! I had to borrow book 2 right away, so the next book in this When I Fall In Love anthology is on hold till I finish the Bootheel series! Strong Christian message and examples of both great and terrible families. Some discussion about physical abuse and rape. No details though.
I've said this before but I'll say it again. This is my favorite Helen Gray book so far! The story of a most unlikely romance between Gabe, the cotton farmer, and Jessie who raises watermelon to survive, is so poignant and real, I read it all in one sitting. Gabe has a heart for others, showing mercy, offering help where needed, and putting others needs ahead of his own. When he meets up with his long-ago neighbor Jessie, he sees through her independent nature and distrust for all men but her brother, to the sweet caring person she tries to hide from the world. Jessie and her brother Jason endured a tough childhood and coming home to restore the family farm after the death of their abusive father proves to be a hard task emotionally as well as physically. Gabe is there to help them with the hard work as well as the healing of their hearts. Gabe's faith is strong, but has he misconstrued God's plans for his life in believing that he will never marry? Jessie's faith, buried long ago within the fear and hatred of her father's abusive ways, begins to shine through once more when Gabe offers her a clearer vision of how to seek God. When Gabe and Jessie's pathways merge, they will discover they are headed in the same direction, fueled by hearts of devotion to God and love for one another. This is a beautiful story of grace and mercy showered upon the undeserving, and of finding peace enough to right the wrongs of the past. Helen Gray's superb story-telling abilities and her unique understanding of depression era settings make this not only an enjoyable read, but uplifting, inspiring and unforgettable. Whether this is your first Helen Gray book or if, like me, she has become a favorite author, Bootheel Bride will not disappoint.
With nowhere else to go, Jessie returns to the childhood home that she "escaped" from years earlier after her mother died. She had a mistrust of men because her father abused her mother, and when Jessie was old enough, she and her brother as well. As she meets the grown-up version of an old friend, (Gabe) she has issues with her feelings towards him. Gabe, who thought he would never marry, has issues of his own. I Loved watching them come to terms with what He had planned for their lives.
I really enjoyed this book. The story is a wonderful combination of faith, love and friendship, and I was pulled into Jessie and Gabe's story from the first pages. It is a heartwarming story showing how God works in the lives of his children to help them overcome the hurtful things from their past and find happiness in their lives I definitely look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I had the honor to review this book for the author. Jesse and Jason's story is really sad. When they return to their home where they lived with their parents their lives will change. When Gabe shows up Jessie's life completely changed. Watching there relationship grow is wonderful. The way Jessie took care of Gabes mom was remarkable. You will feel God working in this book.
A very nice story that's a clean historical romance with a lot of God's words into the story. It is of two hard working God fearing people who find love together. I. Feel in love with these characters. This is my first read by this author but not the last. I was given a copy for an honest review.
This is a very tender, inspiring story, that I found difficult to put down. I fell in love with the characters. I felt like I was right there with them. In addition to it being well written, I loved the inspirational theme though out. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series.
A very nice story that's a clean romance. It weaves in bits of history and a lot of God's words into the story. I loved this story of two hard working God fearing people who find love together.
This story is a Christian , historical, romance set in the Depression time of this country. A brother and sister, a dilapidated farm, a hero makes a fun read.