Homespun Hearts

by Cynthia Thomason

Praying for a miracle after a brutal tornado kills her father, destroys her farm, and leaves her with five orphans, Abigail Chadwick is amazed when that miracle turns out to be Sam Kelly--a stranger passing through town--who helps her rebuild her farm and steals her heart. Original.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Ebooks, Western Romance

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

I'm Cynthia Thomason, and I'm a romantic. To me, romance means love between people as well as finding romance in places, such as waterfalls, lighthouses, beaches, or wherever else your soul connects with the wider universe.. I have written 39 romance novels for Harlequin and Kensington. But I am currently proud to announce, BACKDROP DEAD, my FIRST COZY HISTORICAL MYSTERY, set on a showboat in 1898. I guess I'll add showboats to my list of romantic places.
I was raised in Ohio. I taught high school English, ran my own auction house, and wrote books. I have experienced a great love, but lost my husband a few years ago to cancer. But he's still around. I can feel him.
I have won the HOLT Medallion Award, the Golden Quill and Readers' Choice Awards and I've been nominated several times for the prestigious Maggie Award. I'm proud of those awards, but as the saying goes, "That and five dollars will get you in the door of Starbucks." I love to write about America's small towns, similar to the one where I grew up in Summit County, Ohio. I have one son, also a writer. My favorite place to spend an afternoon is the mountains of North Carolina, but I haven't been to Ireland yet. My motto as I grow older and wiser is "never stop learning." After several lessons, I am now playing the guitar and I love it.

Reviews

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the biggest problem with this book is that it isn't sure just what it is. Who is the author's target audience? The synopsis reads as if it might be an inspirational. Throughout most of the book, it reads like a clean romance - even to the extent that nothing sexual happens even after the couple has been married for months (c'mon, even the most prudish of us would question that!) Then, near the end, voila! a sex scene! This book doesn't know what it wants to be and therefore leaves the reader just.... confused!


Aside from that, the story itself can be wonderfully engaging. It is told well, the twists and turns of the plot are believable and interesting. One falls in love with the characters (well, maybe not Abigail, she was just annoying) Sam was scrumptious - everything one would want in a western hero, the orphaned children were written realistically without becoming maudlin or syrupy and the plot deals with darker subjects without overdoing it. Yep, the very good and the bad - sticks it right in the middle - three stars says it all.

[Tomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. It's hard to warm up to the main character.

[Barb Haar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Fast easy read. Laughed. Cried.

[Mickey Ndlovu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read

I enjoyed every minute of this book. Beautiful classic story. Strong character development. Simply amazing. Will definitely read it again

[LadyCalico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book and would have rated it 5-stars, except for the sex scenes that did not fit into this story and seemed inappropriate and gratuitous, cheapening an otherwise fine novel. This was a rather original story with exceptionally well-done characters and dialogue, and an inspirational message about the growth of a Christian woman who was great with good works but needed to learn the hard way about the importance of faith. Too bad, this would have been my favorite Thomason novel if she'd have edited out the porn.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an overall decent novel for a historical fiction romance. Some may find the consummation of marriage scenes a little too graphic for their liking so may not want to read this novel. it didn't bother me much except I would think people of that era would have more decorum than the two main characters did in my opinion. It wasn't like Shades of Grey at least. I suppose people of that era were human beings like the rest of us but it would fit better wih ths time period if they had more restraint perhaps! I would definitely read another novel by this author though.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book. I felt like it began with the hope of being a Christian historic romance and half way through, it became a soft porn book. If you happen to be a Christian lady who is looking for a good, clean, sweet romance, you will want to avoid this one.

The couple is married when the sex scenes show up, but they are pretty graphic. So just be ware if you don't appreciate those types of things.

[Cassie Hess-dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book. You have a family that goes out of their way to help others. Yet still have to struggle. I love how they finally get a break, and good things happen. Love that there is some family reconciliation at the end!

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read some of the reviews and they went from one extreme to the other. After reading half the book, I side with the people that say the sexual things talked about in the book are very explicit. I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants a good, clean book to read.

[Chris Meikle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun story with fun characters. It was involving and overall a great book. There is a fun romance that is done tastefully.

[Malaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy little historical romance. I liked the characters and writing style. Picked up another one from this author because it's a nice break from serious reading.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a free ebook & I enjoy the era that the book was set in. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a slog to get through, although there were some glimmers of promise that got me through to the end.

[Sarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. Refreshingly honest.

[Lisa Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a quick easy read for the beginning of spring. I loved the character of Sam Kelly! However, I did skim some parts of Abigail's ramblings.

[Brandy *Ahviel* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book even though at times I was not sure where it was going. was glad I stuck it out though to see how it would turn out

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! A very, clean easy inspirational story with interesting characters and a satisfying plot line to the story. This story portrays an excellent vision of what comprises a family.

[Naulayne Raiche Enders]

Fun read. Great for summer vacation.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. i read it in a couple of days. It's a love story mixed with suspense with an inspirational message of learning to trust and love.

[namericanwordcat · Rating 3 out of 5]

There union history in this book is good and the romance is nice but there is a lot of side action that is not really needed. The villain is vile and the hero should be more upfront.

[Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this easy flowing read. It was sweet, endearing, and heart-felt story.

[Dee-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. There were some tense moments throughout, but mostly it was sweet, romantic, occasionaly humerous and just the sort of book I needed at the time ... easy going.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read - well written, but I didn't love it.

[Mermarie]

Free today; it's a Zebra Splendor. :) "Homespun Hearts".