The Chapel Car Bride

by Judith McCoy Miller

Hope Irvine always sees the best in people. While traveling on the rails with her missionary father, she attracts the attention of a miner named Luke and a young mine manager. When Luke begins to suspect the manager is using Hope's missions of mercy as a cover for illegal activities, can he discover the truth without putting her in danger?

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

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2017

About the author

Judith McCoy Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her bestselling novels. Judy and her husband make their home in Topeka, Kansas.

Reviews

[Jessica Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must admit that this book is not my favorite. While I was initially intrigued by the ideal of a chapel confined to a railroad car, the story itself held no clear plot or motive. There were about four/five different plots going on at once, which made it difficult to actually connect to the story because each chapter darted from plot to plot. As well, none of the multiple plots were deep in any sort of way. I felt like I was reading a summary of the story, as opposed to a story itself. There was no depth or true storytelling throughout.

As for the characters, they were shallow and one-dimensional; very typical to the genre: goody-two-shoes Hope who does everything right; rugged love interest Luke; refined second love interest Kirby who is obviously not the man for Hope. Even the love triangle (which doesn't bother me as much as it might others) was frustrating because it was impossible to tell if anyone actually had feelings for one another. Until the author came out and said flat someone was romantically interested in another, it was difficult to tell.

All in all, I would not recommend this novel. Maybe I would if it had been written better.

*My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.*

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith McCoy Miller writes amazing novels with charming characters and incredible settings. Her research is impeccable and informative. I learn something nearly every time I read one of her books.

The Chapel Car Bride taught me that there was at one time in history train cars where preachers traveled on the railroad teaching about Christ. I'd never heard of this before, but it's not outside the realms of credulity.

This takes place soon after the turn of the century of 1900s. Prohibition was about to come into play, but in West Virginia, it was already being enacted, county by county. Where prohibition exists, moonshining and bootlegging exists alongside. Moonshining is part of my family's history--a cousin and a great uncle on my mom's side of the family were the still owners, and my grandfather on my dad's side was their customer. Cousin Wesley was the grand joke of the family. If something was mentioned about illegal booze, Cousin Wesley's name was not far behind. He spent time in and out of the federal penintentiary, and often listed his occupation as "sugar delivery for Weyerhaueser." I know this world, not well, but I know it.

Another significant part of the plot is the location--the back hills of West Virginia. Hill people are hill people, no matter where they are, and Judith has written a true portrayal of the hill people in this book. They are closed off, wary of strangers, slow to trust outsiders, and definitely mistrustful of people from the government. I've lived in a community like that. Some of them believe they are a law unto themselves, and can tell stories about that, but that's for another day.

The relationships Judith has put into the plot are charming and insightful. I LOVED this book. I couldn't wait to finish it, but I wanted it to go longer. It's five stars, two thumbs up, and NO moonshine!

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chapel Car Bride was an interesting historical story taking place in the early 1900’s in West Virginia. I had not ever heard of chapel cars before or of their ministry as preachers would travel from town to town to take God’s message to folks. Especially in this story, Hope and her father are bringing the message to those who live in mining towns. We also get a look at how closed off the towns could be when strangers came. This is no surprise as there is very little trust between the miners and the mine owners, especially the dangerous conditions the miners worked in for low pay and the mine owners’ reluctance to change anything due to their greed.

This also takes place during the time of prohibition. The extra money that the miners make on their illegal moonshine that they sell to the speakeasies and the animosity between them and the revenuers sent to stop them is a powder keg about to explode. This is what Hope and her father ride into when they stop at their destination, the town of Finch. They are not the only newcomers as Kirby Finch, the son of Mr. Finch and the mine owner has come as well to squelch any strike talk or union uprisings.

In the midst of all this drama we do have and old-fashioned love story that begins to take root between Hope and Luke, a local town resident and mine worker. But throw in all the dangers, mistrust, and jealousy and you have a story that takes you back to an interesting time in our nation’s history. I very much enjoyed this intriguing snapshot of a historical tidbit I knew nothing of.

I received a copy of this book for free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to post a positive review and all the views and opinions expressed are my own.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stand alone book is Historical Christian Fiction. The era is in the early 1900s. The author is Judith Miller. It's about the Chapel Car Missions that took place during this time in history. This story introduces readers to Reverend Irvine and his daughter Hope as they travel from town to town bringing the gospel of Christ to the small communities scattered along the railroad tracks
The story comes to life as they make a short stop in a very small town where Hope encounters trouble from a few unruly men ,who didn't have worship on their minds. Fortunately Hope and her Father soon join a train headed to Finch ,West Virginia. There they plan to stay for some time. The people of the area have little trust for outsiders. Hope and the preacher set out the make friends with the coal miners and their families,trying to gain their trust and share the gospel with the community.
I was drawn to this story because I like the author. I enjoy stories that take place in the early 1900s . I have always loved the mountains and learned a lot about the coal miners and the challenges they faced daily . This story had some tense moments and elements of mystery through out. I loved the flow of the story and it kept my interest to the last page.
Anyone that enjoys Historical Romance or Christian Fiction will love this book. If you enjoy Judith Miller's writing you should read The Chapel Car Bride. Her latest release. I highly recommend it.

[Kelly Bridgewater · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Judith Miller books, some of her books have been awesome, and I devour them instantly, but I have found some of them not to be so great. With her newest book The Chapel Car Bride, I don't think this story captured my attention either. While the characters and plight of Hope Irvine, who is a daughter of a preacher, riding the rails through the American west in 1913. She is a strong woman who isn't afraid to tell the story of Jesus to everyone, especially the little children in town. I admired her humble spirit and her willingness to step out of her comfort zone and share Jesus to people she met. On a parallel note, Miller wrote the hero, Luke Hughes, as a man who grew up in the mining community with a compassionate heart for the mistreated who wants to be a preacher. The romance between Hope and Luke was not one of my top romances. It moved along just like a romance novel should. It was predictable and unoriginal. As for the pace of the novel, it dragged for a long time. It was hard to stay focused for a long time. There is a mystery element surrounding Kirby, the son of the father who owns the mine, but the idea didn't grasp my attention as I originally hoped.

I received a complimentary copy of The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller from Bethany House Publishers, and the opinions stated are all my own

[Micaiah Keough · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller was an okay read. The story didn't really pan out for me. Here's why:

The characters felt like they needed more depth. There were certain struggles, yes, but they seemed somewhat trivial. Luke was my favorite for a while, but in the end kind of disappointed me. Hope was rather naive and she once almost lied to her father so that he wouldn't send her back home (not okay). Kirby, the antagonist, though the most dimensional, also felt somewhat shallow. From the way things started, I was picturing him to be a villainous guy, but then as the story progressed he was more of a spoiled, undisciplined only-child who wanted his way. I feel like that sounds harsh, but that's the way it came across.

Another thing was the climax - it fell flat. There was quite a bit of build up, only to have the whole situation pretty much wrapped up within a few pages. I guess I just thought is was going to be more dramatic? It felt sudden - too sudden and a bit too easy. There were multiple areas where the author was hinting at trouble, only to have it dissolve quickly. I feel like this story also, just in general, needed more depth, more plot. I was interested for a bit, when the tension was slightly building, but it never really grabbed me. The beginning was pretty slow, and the end too fast.

Overall, there were times when I was enjoying it, but it wasn't for me. However, the concept was unique, and you could tell the author did her research! Thumbs up for that. I would probably recommend this to somebody who wants an easy-going, historical fiction novel!

Thanks to Bethany House for sending me this book for review! The thoughts above are entirely my own.

[Bhriv · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Chapel Car Bride, written by Judith Miller, was a book I was very excited to read.
I loved the concept of the book about a Pastor and his daughter who traveled in a Chapel train car, staying in different train stops along the way and encouraging the small towns that didn't have a church or Pastor. While they were ministering to the people in a WV mining town where the mine was controlled by a greedy owner who didn't pay the miners enough and limited their ability to purchase anything except but through the company store. Because of this, the minors resorted in finding other ways to supplement their income, illegally. Throughout the entire book, we wait to find out who the bride (and groom) will be.
Although I've loved many of Judith Miller's books for many years, I felt that this book was not one of my favorites. It was okay. It seemed to take a long time to get to where we were going in the book. A lot of going up and down the hill, a lot of going into the woods or the mine, but not a lot of thriller moments in between. Just because it wasn't my favorite doesn't mean that it couldn't be for another reader...and I will definitely read other books she comes out with, but this one did nothing for me.
I was given this book by the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover on this book is gorgeous, which made me want to read it. It took me a bit to get into the story, as Judith Miller, though a talented author, has an older style of writing that is something I have to readjust to. You were able to overlook the missing pieces as you read through and enjoyed the sweetness of the story. 

I enjoyed the history of the chapel train car, mines and the bootlegging thrown into this story. It was a happy, sweet story, with a happy ending for most in the story. I would not totally categorize this as a romance, but it has a romantic story thread throughout, but the historical aspect is more the forefront. 

I was given this book to review from Bethany House. The opinions contained herein are my own. 

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller begins in the spring of 1913. Hope Irvine along with her father, Reverend Layton Irvine, a traveling missionary, are traveling on Herald of Hope chapel car train. Hope had been living with her Aunt Mattie in Pittsburgh until her passing. It took some work, but Hope convinced her father to let her travel with him. She will be able to assist with the children and play the organ for the services. Their new assignment will take them to Finch, West Virginia. They temporarily stop in Brookfield where Hope is accosted by four ruffians and a miner traveling through town comes to her rescue. They finally arrive in Finch and Hope meets the miner once again. Luke Hughes works for the Finch Mining and Company along with everyone else who lives on the hill in Finch. Miners are having a hard time since hours have been cut and they are finding other ways to make money. Kirby Finch got into trouble once again and his father has sent him to Finch to work. Kirby is more interested in making quick, easy money that will allow him to escape what he considers a backwater town. Kirby believes Hope will provide a nice diversion while he is in town and then he comes up with a plan. Kirby offers to drive Hope to neighboring towns where she can teach the children about God and the Bible. Luke knows that there must be another reason for Kirby’s generosity, and he is determined to find out the reason. Luke is jealous of the time Kirby is spending with Hope. He has gotten to know Hope and is falling in love. But he does not feel worthy of such a wonderful woman. What is Kirby up to and is Hope being put in danger? Is there a chance for a future between Hope and Luke?

The Chapel Car Bride is nicely written and has an interesting concept. I had not heard about chapel cars previously and it was interesting to find out more about them. I was, though, disappointed with Judith Miller’s latest work. It was nicely written, but it was not up to her usual standard. The characters were not fleshed out or brought to life (flat). Hope is a naïve, upbeat, devout young woman who believes the best in everyone (I am surprised little birds did not fly around her head singing sweet tunes). Luke is the poor, handsome yet godly man who struggles with his cynicism of Kirby (yawn). The story builds up to Kirby and what he has been doing in Finch. The conclusion to this storyline is very anticlimactic. All the sudden it is over. I thought it was wrapped up to quickly and neatly. The pace of the book is slow. When you keep checking to see if you are closer to the end, you know the book is creeping along. I give The Chapel Car Bride 3 out of 5 stars (it is okay). It is a sweet romance novel, but I just thought it needed more (complexity, depth, feeling). It was too predictable for me. Some issues are never discussed in detail (the father’s illness and recovery as well as the mining accident are good examples). There is a light, Christian element throughout the book (information about Bible stories and prayer). I have read all of Judith Miller’s works, and this is the first one to disappoint me.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins in early spring, in the year 1913. A young woman named Hope Irvine was busy tossing flyers about an upcoming prayer meeting to the residents of a small town they were coming to, distributing them from the rear platform of the Chapel Car named Herald of Hope. This was a real railroad car, used as a chapel by Baptist preachers to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transient railroad workers and coal miners and their families.
See here: http://www.chapelcars.com/
In Judith Miller’s book, The Chapel Car Bride, we get immersed into the world of an itinerant preacher and the life he led with his daughter, as they told people about Jesus Christ and how to be born again. Sometimes they would stop for only a few days, other times they remained until a permanent church and preacher could be established. Hope’s dad was worried about how she might not like traveling and having no roots, but she was a strong, determined Christian woman, and overcame a few obstacles quite well.
I was very interested in the life of miners in West Virginia, and Mrs. Miller did a good job of telling what it must have been like for impoverished families of coal miners in Finch, West Virginia.
Hope meets a nice Christian gentleman who works part time in the coal mines, and their relationship blossoms. In the meantime, a scurrilous mine manager gets involved in some shady dealings amongst the miners, while he is supposed to be helping build up the mine. He carries out a plan to make extra money illegally, and that storyline is exciting to read.
The other storyline between Hope and Luke is equally interesting, and Luke’s growth as a Christian is subtly mentioned during the development of the relationship he has with the preacher’s daughter.
Very clean Christian historical fiction romance story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a unique look into a little-known part of American history. I look forward to reading more of Judith Miller’s books. Praise Jesus!

Disclosure: this book was given to me free of charge by Bethany House publishers, and I want to Bethany House Publishing for this advanced copy of The Chapel Car Bride!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Chapel Car Bride” is one of my new favorite novels. This book is full of history and the author did a wonderful job with this historical romance novel that I could not put down. From start to finish, I couldn't put it down! Pastor Irvine and his daughter, Hope travel along the railroads visiting towns. As they do, they minister, offering church in the chapel car. This opportunity has afforded Hope to spend time with father and minister to children where churches haven't been built yet in many small towns. The time period and setting of the story reminded me of When Calls the Heart for you Hearties fans out there. The setting and character of Hope reminded me of Elizabeth Thatcher, which was lovely, especially since I LOVE that show! Hope ended up in a mining town called, Finch where residents struggle to meet their needs. However their is tension between the mining company and those who live in the mining cabins. Not to mention Kirby who owes a lot of debt for a bad habit. Prices continue to rise and will these minors be able to survive in order to feed their families? Will Hope be able to bring some support to this community? Will a romance burst forth as she settles into this community? The only way to know is to grab this book! I recieved the Chapel Card Bride by Judith Miller compliments of the publisher. This was an awesome book and I loved it. I give this book 5/5 stars. I love the historical context and the story line. I look forward to future novels by Judith Miller.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love discovering unknown-to-me bits of history in the pages of a novel. I mean, seriously, a chapel car ministry? How cool is that? Imagine a train car set up as a chapel with a small section at the back blocked off for living quarters. It's the original tiny house! And the chapel car can be disconnected and left behind to minister to the people in small communities along the railroad line. How did I not hear about this before? Such an awesome backdrop for a historical romance.

And then there's the discontent and wariness of close-knit coal mining towns in West Virginia. Poor wages, dangerous work, unfair treatment by mine managers. It all adds a sense of danger and even some intrigue to the plot.

Hope is eager to prove herself as she accompanies her father on his ministry tour for the first time. She"s not prepared for the abject poverty she encounters, the rough-and-tumble existence in the remote mining towns. But the girl has grit and determination and a love for the Lord that fuels her desire to serve through her music and children's ministry.

Luke is the family breadwinner, providing for his mother and siblings on his limited mining income. He"s as intrigued by the chapel car as I am. :-) A man of faith, it isn"t long before he becomes enmeshed in the Irvine's lives and ministry...with a certain fascination for the preacher's daughter.

A sweet inspirational romance rich in historical details and filled with captivating characters. A joy of a read.

Book provided courtesy of Bethany House and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Hope Irvine clutched a handful of leaflets and picked her way toward the rear of the swaying train.

Premise/plot: Hope travels with her father, a preacher, in a chapel car. They travel by rail and stopover at various communities in need of ministry. Her father does the preaching and leads the services; Hope does the teaching of the children. For most of this novel, the two are located in the mining community of Finch.

The community is shy of strangers--usually. But Luke Hughes takes a liking to them. He wants to be a preacher himself, not a miner. And Hope, well, he definitely wants to get to know her better. With Luke's friendship, the two settle down into the community.

They aren't the only "new" people in town. Kirby Finch has also arrived. He's the disgraced son of the mine's owner. The town doesn't know he's in disgrace and that he's been sent to the town as punishment. Kirby also takes a liking to Hope--as much as Kirby is capable of liking anyone. He is looking for a way to get rich quick--a way apart from actual work. Will he find a way in Finch?

My thoughts: I liked this one. It is set in 1913 in Pennsylvania. I enjoyed the characters, particularly Luke and Hope. The other characters aren't as well developed, perhaps. But as a romance that hardly matters when all is said and done.

[Beth | Faithfully Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on FaithfullyBookish.com

Hope is a loving daughter and a compassionate young woman. She might be a bit naive but Hope is determined to work alongside her father in the chapel car organizing services and meeting people's needs in small communities along the rail lines. Hope is the kind of gal who has a big heart and makes friends with ease.

Luke has grown up in a small West Virginia mining town where folks work hard day in and day out but rarely get ahead. He has a heartwarming relationship with his mother and younger siblings and he's patiently maturing into a solid man of faith. Luke is a natural leader and protector. 

The Chapel Car Bride is a lovely, well-balanced story with a touch of danger, a sweet little romance, and a healthy dose of Christian love. My granny grew up in a small mining community around this time period so for me, this book has an added sentimental value. Nicely done!

I requested the opportunity to read this book through the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a chapel car preacher and his daughter, Hope, who travel to a mining town to minister to the people there. They make new friendships, and face hardships and danger, some involving moonshiners who might shoot first and ask questions later if you stumble upon their illegal operation.

So... this book really wasn't my thing. Most of the book wasn't all that interesting to me. Building a church, fixing up the miner's homes, the scoundrel telling huge lies and doing scoundrel things... Plus the story skipped through time a bit. You don't really get to see Hope and "her guy" get to know each other. It just tells that it happens.

I didn't really care for the romance. Some of it felt kind of cheesy. I'm kinda picky about how the romance is in books. ;P

The end was my favorite part, maybe because what most of the book was about was over with, and we got more of Hope and Luke's relationship?

All in all, it just wasn't for me. You might love it, so don't let my review keep you from checking it out! :)

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chapel Car Bride is a nice story but the characters where kind of flat - not much developed. Hope is on the train that goes town to town telling the people about JESUS (she tells the children mostly her father tells everyone else), until she gets to Finch. She gets there and meets Luke and Kirby - one is a good one with good intentions and the other is a bad one with not so good intention. She shares the joy of JESUS with them and one accepts HIM and the other well you can guess. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. These opinions are all my own.

If you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com

[Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars!

Really enjoyed this story! Loved learning about the Chapel Car on the train. Great characters!

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Chapel Car Bride is history lens recollecting the times as a sentimental cushion. It would be one thing if Judith Miller didn't share in her biography she is a history buff, but since she does I have to pop the bubble. The absence of New River in the descriptions of West Virginia to the vague mentions of "strikes and unions" leave the reader with an unclear picture of West Virginia and the struggles of the poor. The way people interacted in the book isn't even realistic to human nature. Perhaps, that is the appeal, but is it healthy?

Summary: With her penchant for seeing the best in everyone, Hope Irvine sees a world full of good people in hard places. When her father accepts a position traveling in a chapel car as an on-the-rail missionary, she is determined to join him in his efforts and put her musical skills to good use by serving the mining families of West Virginia, saving their souls, and bettering their lives.

Luke Hughes shares Hope's love of music and her love of God, but as a poor miner, he knows he can offer her no future. Still, the notes she sings resonate in his heart. When she begins to travel with a young mine manager to neighboring counties, Luke can hardly suppress his jealousy. It isn't until he begins to suspect these missions of mercy might be the mine manager's cover for illegal purposes, though, that Luke feels justified in speaking up. But how can he discover the truth without hurting Hope or, worse, putting her in danger?

When we traveled to West Virginia it wasn't just the scenic mountains that caught our attention, but more so the beautiful rivers flowing through the state. Whether you've been to the state capital, Charleston, which is near the beautiful New River Gorge, or you're in Morganton, there is a river to be seen in many of the major cities. It makes a beautiful sight among the mountains. You can imagine this struck as odd there wasn't the mention of any of other features of West Virginia since it has much more than mountains. The characters spend a lot of time always having to walk uphill to continually remind us it's a mountainous terrain, but there is just enough flat land to grow a huge, profitable cornfield to not only feed their family but also sell to moonshiners if they need extra money. There is even a moonshiner, Alvin, who is making use of the corn to make moonshine with, and yet claims he is struggling to feed his children. Then stop taking the corn, Alvin!

Alvin says on page 132, "When we're not down at the mine, most of us got to look for other ways to earn a few dollars to feed our young'uns." (The "other ways" are moonshine.)
Hope's father on page 209, "I can't blame any of the men who ar selling their corn. They need money to care for their families, and they aren't going to ask questions if someone is willing to buy their whole crop - especially at a higher price than they're used to getting."
If they are selling their whole crop then how are they feeding their families? Why would someone give you money for crops you could have eaten yourself to then have to go spend it on food you just sold? Many people in Appalachian old times found a variety of ways to survive on corn by making it a few types of ways including cornbread. If corn was the big deal in Finch, WV, then where is the grist mill? There are many throughout West Virginia.

We also hear a lot about "strikes and unions" in the book. It's always mentioned in that regard. The miners are wary of outsiders that come into town for fear they are either there to provide a cheaper option for the company, or they want to talk to workers about organizing a strike. If there is one thing history shows it's that miners weren't hesitant to strike. There were major strikes in 1897, 1902, and in 1919. The strikes didn't always lead to unionizing, but they did usually end with better places of employment for the miners, which the book never mentions. Instead by the end of the book a new and better owner steps in who rids the community of being beholden to the company store and allows them income for better housing and a safer place. While there were paternilistic owners of mining towns in the heyday, this downplays the severity of abuse the previous owner had his workers living in. The miners don't save themselves in this book instead they need a white knight. Miners didn't want a hero to save them. They wanted to be treated as they felt they were owed.

No one is portrayed realistically to human nature as indicated by the previous paragraph on miners. Then there are the two leads, Luke and Hope. Luke's father has died in the unsafe mines, and now he is the male who has to help feed his mother and siblings by working in the mines. The manager has been cutting his hours, and he is the least superiority putting him at a higher risk of being cut. If you were Luke would you be losing sleep over struggling to help feed your family or potentially dying in a mine or Hope deciding to spend time with his male rival in the book?

Luke answers this question on page 209, "Just tired. Didn't sleep too good last night." That much was true. He never slept well on the nights before Hope and Nellie were leaving with Kirby, and last night had been no different."

Then there is Hope. There are so many character issuses with Hope. The simplest attribute is the character is naive in the worst of ways. She puts people in danger and is out of touch with life. Near the climax of the book Hope has to make the critical decision of whether to continue delivering children church supplies to surrounding towns with Kirby, or keeping the miner's talks of unionizing and striking private from Kirby? Kirby knows she depends on him to do that work and if she doesn't confide then he could snatch it away. Kirby particularly wants her to be watchful of Luke after he shares the miners don't trust the company fixed the ventilation system properly.

Kirby says on page 215, "Don't get all upset with me, but I've heard Luke is involved in the movement and is encouraging other men to join in." His jaw twitched. "There's talk that they've been meeting out near the Hughes cornfield. I don't know that to be a fact just yet, but I do know the Bible instructs workers to be loyal to their employers. What these men are doing goes against the Bible's teachings, and that's why I'm asking you to help me find out as much as you can."

Hope is flabbergasted by his proposal, but she feels threatened. Did anyone propose to Hope though that if the miners died of lack of proper ventilation she wouldn't have many people to deliver to in the future anyways?

Another historical element missing are breaker boys. The kids are briefly mentioned having gone to school, but boys age 8-12 were required to work at mines sorting coal by hand up till the 1920s. The work of a breaker boy was one of the most unimaginable, terrifying experiences you can imagine a kid experiencing.

John Spargo describes the life of a breaker boy in 1906, "Work in the coal breakers is exceedingly hard and dangerous.....From the cramped position (the boys) have to assume, most of them become more or less deformed and bent-backed like old men. When a boy has been working for some time and begins to get round-shouldered, his fellows say that, 'He's got his boy to carry round wherever he goes.'
The coal is hard, and accidents to the hands, such as cuts, broken, or crushed fingers, are common among the boys. Sometimes there is a worse accident: a terrified shriek is heard, and a boy is mangled and torn in the machinery, or disappears
in the chute to be picked out later smothered and dead. Clouds of dust inhaled by the boys lay the foundations of asthma."

Then there is Hope organizing and leading children churches. She is concerned about the kid's getting the books the church association has sent for her to deliver, but not a word is mentioned about the conditions kids in coal mining towns lived in. If Hope had that sort of passion for the children wouldn't she have noticed the breaker boys in Finch, WV?

The Chapel Car Bride is trying to be a light romance in a tough, dark setting. History is detracted from to make it feel good. I could go on and on. Don't forget that the ethnic makeup of miners was diverse, and these all read as white, Appalachian people. If you want to write a romance story then there are ways to do that without involving history, especially when the history involves bad mistreatment of the poor, the very people Jesus championed. History was omitted in many circumstances to make it easier to solve than it was and it sacrificed needed depth.

This book was provided by Bethany House in exchange for a review.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

109 Frank, Luke’s uncle about Faith and Luke’s feelings about the mine managers’ lack of support for minuets especially after his father’s death.
Luke trudged up the hill with the evening's events weighing heavily on his mind. He'd been harsh and quick to judge Kirby and his intentions. Truth be told, Luke still thought the man nothing more than a lot of bluster, yet he should have reflected Christ's love rather than behaving like a spoiled child. Help me, lord. You know my pain runs deep. Even the passage of time hadn’t healed all the wounds his death had inflicted upon their family.
I can’t deny most of ‘em have been a bad sort, but it ain’t fair to be faultin’ a man afore he has a chance to prove hisself . Course that don’t mean you shouldn’t watch him real close neither. Right of wrong everybody living on the hill has a grudge or two against the company. Thing is, we all got the choice to leave if’n we’re too unhappy.
Are you looking for an excuse to keep feeling ornery about Kirby Finch or ya wantin’ to do the Lord’s bidding, Luke? That there’s your choice too.
You’re a good boy, Luke one day you’re gonna be a fine preacher snd make us proud. Ain’t easy turning loose of heartache. Sometimes we take a step forward and then fall back to our old ways, when that happens , you jest gotta admit it and try again.
Luke believed overcoming heartache and anger was a long process for most folks and he’d been able to achieve both in most instances but his was different. Accepting the Finches at face value would require heavenly intervention.

-does just saying get over it help you deal with loss and anger and pain? I think his unrealistic expectation causes more pain than working through the In the loss with time and support. In the end, Luke’s instincts were right about the mine owners’ son. He did put others in danger and use them.

125 preacher talking to Kirby the mine owners’s son about painting and repairing the mine workers’ houses: I appreciate what you’re doing, but there’s no guarantee a few boards, and will paint is going to heal all the wounds among the folks living up on the hill. If you’re going into this site with that idea, I caution you to set your height sights a little lower. I think it will help, but…
Kirby: but what preacher don’t expect miracles? I thought you and God were in the business of miracles.
Preacher: I believe all things are possible with God, but I don’t believe God can be manipulated to suit our fancy. While it is true, God is faithful answer our prayers, there’s something you need to remember his answers aren’t always the ones we seek. Only God knows what’s best for us.
Kirby: Kirbys grin vanished. Oh, I know about those prayers that don’t get answered the way we want. When I was a kid, I prayed my brother wouldn’t die. Guess God thought it would be better for my mother to spend the rest of her life grieving and for me to grow up without a sibling, right? Want to elaborate on that preacher ?
Preacher: I can’t tell you why some people die and others live Kirby. All I can tell you is that we live in a Sinfield world. We’re both good and bad happened. Sometimes good happens to bad people:; sometimes it’s the other way around. But I know God loves me. His son died for me.
Kirby: yeah, I heard all that before, but it doesn’t change the fact that my brother died and then my mom mother died two years later. Sorry don’t mean to bore you with my life story.
Hope: you’re not boring us. And you never need to apologize for sharing the particulars of your life with my father or me. I think most everyone has been touched by death and sadness. We all need to talk about it sometimes.
She doubted her words adequately, reflected the compassion she felt for him right now, but she did understand his emotions. When her mother died, she felt betrayed by God. Had it not been for aunt Maddie, Hope might’ve wallowed in her sorrow and become bitter.
Hope: when I was a little girl in my mother died, my aunt Maddie told me only I had the power to choose whether I would dwell on unhappy circumstances in my life, and eventually become a bitter, disagreeable young woman who would be liked by few and embrace the blessings or embrace the blessings I received each day and become an affable kind woman with a host of friends. I ponder her words for several days and decided I didn’t want to become bitter and unlikable. I’m sorry to admit it took me more than a few minutes to make that choice. When pain runs deep, we sometimes need time and advice to guide us toward the right decision.
I’ll think about what you said, but maybe we should get back to the business of fixing up those company owned houses. Whether it eases tensions or not, I’ve got to go ahead, so we might as well see when we can get get it done.
- suck it up and don’t grieve. There is a point where we all need to grieve in a real way whatever we feel and be our true selves. If we are “strong” because others want us to be and we think we should, we short-circuit the grieving process and it actually takes longer. There is an extreme where we continue to live in grief and never come out , then we need help. There is a balance between healthy grief being where you are and getting stuck. Maybe we get stuck because we don’t.
301 Luke to a young boy Jimmy: what you wanted was honorable , but you went about it all wrong.
J: I know but how come Kirby’s Pa is such a bad sort and nothing happens to him?
L: Most would agree that the way Mr. Finch operates the mine and treats his workers is both dreadful and immoral, but now you’re paying for the choice you made.
Are children responsible for choices made under the influence of an exploitive adult? How can we help them move forward form that?

[Jerrye Tellmeagreatstorylove · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

____________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Judith Miller’s newest story takes a look back at a time when coal mining towns in West Virginia were plentiful and missionaries were preachers and their families who did whatever it took to share Jesus with those in rural areas.

In all honesty, I probably would not give this book 3 out of 5 stars merely on its plot or story telling alone – I found it very predictable and boring. However, I am giving it a higher rating because I like the idea that was presented. It was extremely interesting to me that this man and his daughter would give up a very comfortable living in Pittsburgh to travel to remote areas of West Virginia to share the love of Jesus. And not only did they travel there, they lived in a rail car with very cramped living quarters! I’m not one for small spaces myself, but I found myself wondering if I would be willing to do the same if called by God to go. My hope is that my answer would be yes, but I would definitely have to make some adjustments to living in such a small area. Now I must tell you my honest opinions of the story itself. To be completely fair I will say that the writing was well done with a good variety of vocabulary, this was a good surprise. The plot, on the other hand, was dreadfully predictable and boring to me. I had the story totally figured out by the hundredth page and I had to force myself to read to the end of the book – that is never a good thing. It reminded me most keenly of the multitudinous Hallmark movies I have seen, which, in themselves, are nice but are ever so predictable. I am a reader who enjoys a good story that is well told and includes unexpected turns or thoughts, so its hard when I get a story that is missing these elements. Ms. Miller has written many books and I know she has a loyal fan base but I doubt I will ever be one of them. Another big issue I had with this story was the characters themselves: Hope was one of the inexperienced women I’ve ever read about! Her naivete was so incredibly deep that she was completely blinded by a smooth talker. My parents didn’t raise me to be a cynic but they did teach me caution and wisdom – something Hope’s father, Reverend Irvine, failed to do. I think this was the point of Ms. Miller’s story, but I found Hope’s ignorance to be rather extreme. Luke Hughes was a better character but still seemed to be rather two dimensional. His brashness and cynicism are to be expected from a man who has seen his family taken advantage of his whole life, but Ms. Miller made his ire random and inconsistent, making his character appear under developed. Kirby Finch was a grown man who acted like a spoiled brat the whole time. Clearly his father overindulged him but his total brattiness was annoying to me. Usually “men” like that find that intimidation works best to keep people in line. But as he was a smaller built character he resorted to bandying words. Ms. Miller should have spent more time developing his vocabulary as he would have had better speech patterns given his upbringing in private schools. So while this book might be of better interest to some, it was definitely not a favorite for me. I will not be recommending this book to others except if they profess an interest in missionary endeavors of the early 20th century.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from Bethany House Publishers for this review.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hope grew up living with her Aunt after her mother passed away and while her father worked in the Chapel Car Ministry. Now that she is grown and her Aunt has passed as well, Hope decides to join her father on the rails. He's not so sure but she's convinced it's where God needs her to be. When they arrive in the mine town of Finch, WV; the assignment from the association, she is more than convinced when she meets Luke and their friendship blossoms. Kirby, the mine owners son is banished to Finch by his father as a means of attempting to straighten his broken path through the illicit side of life and attempt to interest him in the family business. In his desire to win a flirtatious fling with Hope he signs on to provide the means to make improvements for the miners' families. He's never there for the actual work but he does make a few things happen. But, is Finch really going to straighten his path or will he find a new way to engage in illicit activities for the rush?

I looked forward to this book when I was notified by Bethany House that I was approved to receive it. Chapel Cars are something I didn't even know was a thing and I was excited for the opportunity to learn more. It was obvious that the author had done their research on the ministry as well as the areas in which the story was set. The attitudes and personalities of the mine communities were well portrayed. However, there were so many other areas where the story fell flat and never recovered. Just a heads up, I'll use the term flat a lot. I probably should pull the thesaurus and find synonyms but ya get flat.

The characters were flat with very little depth making them difficult to bond with. That's a biggie for me. Bonding with characters, loving or despising them draws me into whatever story they have to tell. Kirby seemed developed at first but faded to flatness. Hope is too perfect with very little to create a rounded character. Luke is the same, yes he struggles with feeling judgemental and gets called on that by perfect Hope, but he has reason to feel that way. Ad without that would the story have ever developed? Even supporting characters weren't well defined which left them adding little to the story, as well. A lack of connection with character creates a lack of connection with the story line. The story line fell flat too. Too many things that should have been and could have been used to build plot and characters were glossed over. When the Reverend has the accident at the rebuilding of the church and everyone races down the hill to get to him and transported to the doctor's. The intensity ended right there. He's in the doctor's while they are all banished from the room. And it never picked back up. They aren't certain what happened to cause him to fall, some pretty big things are thrown out with no followup. He's got a bit of amnesia but that's glossed over. His entire recovery is glossed over. It missed every single option it had to add to and build to the story. What about the mine explosion? Not a rare thing to happen in a coal mine, though not an everyday occurrence either but it was left to hang. Everyone races to the mine to help and recover the miners inside. The inspectors come in and Kirby throws out some ideas and makes a few things happen in one paragraph but then it's never followed up on. Big introduction then a fade to nothing with in a few paragraphs. So much could have been done with that to bolster the story and the characters. With flat characters comes a flattened plot and flatter storytelling. This book had the promise of all the right elements but failed to become dimensional. The first half of the book took forever for me to get through. I'd read for chapter breaks where typically chapter breaks are my reason to have to stop so that the sleep thing can attempt to happen. The book has promise and I am glad I chose to finish it, however I would be selective of the audience I would recommend it to.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Originally published at https://fizzypopcollection.blogspot.c....

[Hannah Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Only God could truly bring the hope these people needed-the hope she needed. He was the hope that anchored their souls.”

The Chapel Car Bride is a work of historical fiction by Judith Miller. The story is set in 1913 and is the story of a young girl named Hope Irvine who joins her preacher father on his chapel car, the Herald of Hope, after her aunt passes away. While traveling along with her father she finds love, friendship, family, and maybe more of an adventure than what she originally bargained for.

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately I never got there. This book wasn’t terrible but it is also not one of those books that works it’s way into my soul. Judith Miller is definitely a brilliant writer in the way she weaves her stories together and with the variety of characters she creates. My favorite part about this book was how openly and beautifully she expresses her own beliefs through the writing in this book. I also loved the plot of this book and the story that she was telling, however, the character of Hope seemed to fall a little flat.

When reading this book you have zero doubt of Miller’s devout faith and belief in God. It seems so rare these days that people are unafraid to speak out on their beliefs and religious views due to fear of being persecuted or of offending others and this book was a much needed breath of fresh air. Just this one aspect has me wanting to give her other books a try in hopes that they are just as honest.

The plot of this book was a beautiful story of a girl who is on a journey of not only coming into her womanhood but of also finding what her calling from God is and how she can best serve him and help her father’s ministry. She comes into her own teaching the children of the communities about the Bible and by helping her father with the music for the chapel car. When her and her father reach their final destination of Finch, West Virginia this story really takes off as Hope begins to fall in love and make friendships that will last her a lifetime. Hope also finds herself in a bit of a troublesome spot when her desire to help children and her sheltered life lead her to be too trusting of a mine manager how has an alternative motive for helping her.

What kept this book from completely sweeping me off of my feet was how flat Hopes character. seemed to me. I kept hoping for her to change and develop more but it never happened. While making one of the stops along their way to Finch Hope runs into form trouble with a few men who stalk her and make inappropriate advances toward her. She chose to ignore the incident in hopes her father wouldn’t find out and send her back to Pittsburgh. Despite keeping it a secret from her father one would expect her to be way more cautious and careful of other people. Instead she appears to stay her innocent, trusting, and sheltered and gets herself into a very dangerous situation with a young man who is out to help only himself. I was so disappointed in how long it took her to begin suspecting him of any wrongdoing and how simply naive the character remained through the whole book. I would have loved to have seen just a little more growth from her and for her trusting nature to harden just a little bit.

Overall I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend reading it or at least checking out some of Miller’s other works. Below I have included a link to an excerpt form the book as well as a link the the authors webpage.


You can read an excerpt from the book here:
http://cdn.bakerpublishinggroup.com/p...

And check out the Authors page here:
http://judithmccoymiller.com

*I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a review. *

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from the first chapter, in which Hope loses her hat and ends up facing a pretty rowdy group of men over it. Her father begins to have second thoughts about bringing her on this mission.
Historical fiction is probably one of my favorite genres, so this book was appealing to me. I loved learning about the railroad chapel car time period and the small mining communities, as well as, the struggles the miners endured. I also really enjoyed the characters in this book. Hope was sweet, stubborn, and very lovable. She displayed a humble heart and a contagious love for God and helping people. I totally admired her father's faithfulness to the ministry and spreading the gospel to the small towns along the railroad lines. Maybe that comes from being reminded of my own parents dedication as missionaries for many years. And Luke, Hope's suitor, is a dedicated Bible scholar, yet demonstrates qualities of humanity in that he gets angry, jealous, and struggles with God answering his prayers.
Kirby Finch, mine owner's son, was a guy you would love to hate. Seriously, spoiled rich brat, basically sums him up! He does what he wants, is sneaky and conniving, and pretty much only out to please himself. He takes advantage of people with no regard to how it may affect them, so long as it benefits him. Yet, he is smooth with the ladies and easily worms his way into their affections. ARGH!! Guys like him get under my skin!
The book is not extremely humorous, but has a lightheartedness about it, with a few mildly intense moment, such as when Kirby gets stopped by the revenuers, or when Hope has to face a group of intoxicated men alone, and a few more I will leave for you to discover. I didn't really find myself laughing outright at anything in particular. There are a few sad moments, such as, when Hope's father falls ill, and Luke is struggling with indecision about his relationship with Hope. You just want to step in and cheer them on! There are several times your blood may get to boiling a bit, but overall it is a pretty steady read. Interesting, yet not necessarily over the edge on one extreme or the other.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a historical romance. I even took a little time to look up a railroad chapel car, when I finished the book. Judith did a great job keeping the book engaging with clean romance. I am giving it 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House to read. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are my own.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this Book from the publisher, Bethany House, for free to read and review through the blogger review program. I was not required to give a favorable review only an honest review, nor was I compensated for my review. All thoughts and comments in this review are my own.

Although Hope Irvine lived a sheltered life in Pittsburgh, when Aunt Mattie died, she decided she was ready to travel in the chapel car to help her preacher father, spread the gospel to those in remote areas. She was ready for adventure, but when the rail car arrived in the financially hard-hit coal-mining, suspicious-of-strangers, town of Finch, West Virginia, she is not sure what to expect. Even though life is not exactly as she expected it to be, she is determined to use her music and ministering skills to teach the children about God and take her Sunday school supplies to the neighboring counties.

Kirby Finch is the manager of the mine. He has been sent there by his father because he had been caught gambling one too many times and his father told him from now on he had to work for his money. Kirby offered to help Hope by taking her to the neighboring counties, but his motives were not exactly in step with God’s will.

Luke Hughes is drawn to Hope and her father, because of his desire to learn more about God and because hope is not only pretty but kind too. Luke has a hard time hiding his jealousy when Kirby offers to take Hope to deliver her supplies, because he knows his motives are not good. He suspects Kirby will hurt Hope or even worse…put her in danger. Will he and Hope find a future together?

Judith Miller does it again with this touching story that takes place in the coal-mining town of Finch, West Virginia during Prohibition. Judith gives a lot of insight to the workings of the mine and the indebtedness to the “company store”. The poverty and risk of death working in unsafe conditions of the coal mines will tug at your heart. Hope’s character is so well developed when she experiences such poverty for the first time and rejection because she is an outsider you can feel her despair. Yet she takes that despair and turns it into determination to prove to the people of Finch that God can provide for them…with just a little faith, a whole lot of work and a ton of love. This book is filled with inspiration, love, forgiveness and second chances. I love books based on historical facts and this book delivered.

[Kathleen E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thursday, May 4, 2017
The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller, © 2017

I have loved Judith Miller's historical stories since reading her Postcards from Pullman series. I was unaware of Chapel Cars sent out to unreached areas, linked to trains going in that direction and set off on a spur sidetrack until another train came along going to their destination. In the meantime, they ministered where they were if even for a day or two stop, inviting local families, and railroad workers to a service designated for them. In this story, Hope Irvine joins her missionary father for the first time, playing the organ for worship, and spreading a blanket outdoors and teaching the children. As the chapel car came to a town, they handed out flyers inviting those to attend the evening meeting.

Luke Hughes lives in a coal-mining town with his family in West Virginia. As their father has died, he feels the obligation to care for his mother and younger siblings. His father's brother has looked out for them as well. Upon the arrival of the chapel car, Luke is interested in attending services since their church had burned down years earlier.

Historical fiction is so interesting to me, to learn about parts of history and locations we may never travel to or have heard about.

Kirby Finch is sent by his father to learn responsibility manning their coal mine in Finch. Who we are follows us, as Kirby continues to follow his own lead. Sadly, externally he attends chapel car meetings but does not take inward the benefit he could receive. He manages to schedule laid-off miner Luke to work in the mines to enable him to spend time with the preacher's daughter apart from interference.

I liked reading about how Hope and Luke's sister Nellie joined Kirby on his trips to other town areas, to bring the children stories and Sunday-school papers to have for their own. A direct input that will carry forth into their remembrance in adulthood. Kirby may have had other ideas, but the Lord prevailed.

Trust and Obey ~ This hymn reflects Hope's daily delight in meeting with the women in their homes, as she gains their trust in a stranger coming among their families who have long lived alone without any interruptions or input into their days.

***Thank you, author Judith Miller, and Bethany House for sending a print copy. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***

[Kym · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope Irvine has begun traveling with her father, a preacher whose pulpit is in a railroad car converted into a chapel, and whose parish consists of railroaders and the people in the small mining towns on the railroad line. They travel from Pittsburgh, where Hope has been living, to the little coal mining village of Finch, West Virginia, where they will be ministering for some time.

Shortly after arriving in Finch, Hope meets Luke Hughes. He has been working in the coal mine and doing his best to support his mother and younger siblings after his father's death. The friendship between Hope and Luke grows closer, and Luke begins meeting regularly with Reverend Finch to study the Bible, and even fills in preaching when needed.

The people of Finch are generally suspicious of outsiders, especially when the son of the mine owner shows up. Kirby Finch is a smooth talker, but lazy, and his motives are questionable. Hope tries to believe the best about people, and is glad of the opportunity he offers to help her take her Bible lessons to the children of neighboring towns, but gets increasingly uncomfortable when he persistently flirts with her. Luke is jealous as well as suspicious, and when he finds out what Kirby is really involved in, he has to figure out how to prove it and protect Hope from the danger she may be in.

I really enjoyed this sweet love story, and the little tidbits about life as a chapel car minister. Luke, Hope, Reverend Irvine, and many of the secondary characters were sweet and likable, although perhaps a bit too good to be true. The love story aspect was predictable, as most in this genre tend to be, but sweet all the same. Towards the end, a couple of the plot elements that placed Hope in danger were a bit far-fetched, but to be honest, it didn't strike me as I was reading but only in looking back to summarize the story, so I don't think it takes away from the overall charm of the book.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

[Victoria W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good:
One thing I know I can count on from Miller is at least one character who will grab my attention. The Chapel Car Bride is no exception. The character of Luke is so refreshing as Miller chooses to have him visibly wrestling with how to live out his faith in real life scenarios. Luke's imperfections are so relatable (jealousy, family concerns, love) that his character leaps off the page to the point of overshadowing the rest of the cast.

I also appreciated the details Miller put into the town of Finch to help it find it's foundation. While I am unfamiliar with the realities of coal mining and the towns that sprang up from the workers, Miller walked a careful line to bring her characters realities to life without exiting the narrative. While I appreciate a good world-builders it is so much sweeter when you don't have to exit your immersion in the story to get the details and Miller captures this wonderfully.

The Interesting:

The character of Nellie fascinated me. Although a secondary character, Miller easily allowed Nellie the most character growth and a sequel featuring Nellie would certainly not be outside the realm of possibility.

The Frustrating:

While I found the plot interesting with the mining safety, the love triangle, and the illegal activity threatening the main characters. I found Hope and her father became overshadowed by Luke and their own story line. This made them forgettable at times and left feeling more like plot devices at others rather than the central characters they should have been.

Overall I enjoyed this read. There was ample plot line and world building for an enjoyable afternoon read, however, thanks to the main character getting overwhelmed by her own plot line, this is probably a one time read for me.

3 out of 5 stars


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

[Prairie Sky Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it is well-written and compelling, Christian Historical Fiction cannot be beaten by any other genre (or at least that’s my opinion!). For many years Bethany House Publishers have excelled at releasing superior historical novels that not only meet expectations, but usually go above and beyond them. A new Bethany House release written by Judith Miller, the award-winning author of dozens of Historical Fiction novels, is a winner on all counts. “The Chapel Car Bride” combines a fascinating piece of little-known history with well-rounded characters to form a highly enjoyable story that transports you back in time to 1913, to a little mining town called Finch.

Have you ever heard of a chapel car ministry? I certainly hadn’t before picking up this novel! In the story, Hope Irvine travels with her Pastor father in a train car which has been converted into 77 feet of chapel area and 18 feet of living quarters. This unique structure allows the Irvines to travel to small communities that are without a permanent church building, preaching the Gospel and sharing the love of Jesus anywhere there is a rail line to transport them! At times the chapel car remains on a spur of the rail line for months, and other times their stay lasts only a few days. All in all, this setting makes the perfect backdrop for a unique historical novel...

Certainly the most unique part of “The Chapel Car Bride” is the setting. I can’t name another story that takes place in a railcar-converted-into-a-church, can you? Add in bootlegging locals, union-striking miners, romance, conflict, and inspiring elements of faith, and the combination is irresistible for readers! “The Chapel Car Bride” is truly Christian Historical Fiction at its best.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chapel Car Bride by Judith Miller is a charming historical Christian novel set in 1913.
We see the importance of telling people about God who loves them. A preacher and his daughter travel into the American wilderness via the railways to spread the Good News to various communities. In some places they are welcomed, in others there is a degree of suspicion until they see that the pair are spreading love and not there to interfere.
The majority of the novel is set in a poor mining town. Here, the townsfolk are held to ransom by the mine owners who do not repair the properties, show little regard for safety in the mines and pay a pittance. The preacher and his daughter set about to show practical expressions of God’s love to the community.
In 1913 liquor is illegal in many states meaning that illegal making and selling of moonshine has sprung up. It is dangerous to interfere with these operations as the men are unscrupulous and are ready to kill. Their goal is to make money and to stop anyone in their way.
It may be hard to trust God when you cannot see or feel Him. We must step out trusting that God is good and His heart is kind. As we exercise our faith muscle, we will see instances of God at work.
A character with a good heart, trusts all she meets. She gives even the darkest of hearts the benefit of the doubt, believing what they say until it doesn’t line up with their actions. A good heart always attracts others to them. Kindness appeals to all.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Chapel Car Bride. It was a most delightful read.
I received a free copy. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Chapel Car Bride" is a historical novel set in 1913 in West Virginia. At the beginning of the story, we get an overview of how chapel cars worked and what they looked like. The coal mine existed only to explain how the poor conditions and pay motivated some workers to do an illegal side business to feed their family. This illegal activity was the motivating focus of the story.

The main characters were nice people. Hope assumed the best about everyone and wanted to help people. Luke had the unfortunate tendency toward self-sabotage when it came to his dreams. He wanted to become a preacher and immediately fell in love with Hope. Hope returned his regard, but the son of the mine owner offered to help Hope reach out to the children in surrounding towns. Luke assumed that this made him a rival for Hope. When this man's true character was revealed and Hope and Luke declared their love, the author apparently felt it'd been to easy. A previously nice character suddenly turned nasty and got in the way. Yet the obstacle didn't really exist and the solution was so obvious that this just irritated me.

The Christian element was references to their holding services, praying, and care for the poor. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.