Vera

Widows of Blessings Valley #2

by Maxine Douglas

Widows of Blessings Valley, Book 2

A late morning mining accident casts a gloom over the town of Blessings Valley. Over twenty souls were lost in an excavating explosion that has left several widows, friends, and townspeople mourning. The explosion occurred as the miners were coming out for lunch. A rescue force was sent out immediately to recover the bodies. Services are currently being arranged. Pray for these lost souls and their families.

Recently widowed, laundress Vera Baldwin is pregnant and terrified of how she will provide for her unborn child. She has no family to turn to, neither her’s nor her late husband’s.

Assigned to investigate the mining accident that killed several men in Blessings Valley, undercover agent, Jack Daniels is torn between duty and family when he learns Vera Baldwin is carrying his estranged brother’s child.
Can two strangers with broken hearts find love for the sake of an unborn child?

Here continues the stories of Elizabeth, Vera, Stella, Fannie, Vivian, Charlotte, Violet, and Willa herself, they are the Widows of Blessings Valley.

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2020

About the author

A widow, Maxine Douglas resides in Oklahoma, where she has rekindled her childhood love of American westerns. Between her late husband and herself, she has four children, two granddaughters, a great-granddaughter, a great-grandson, and a very affectionate grey and white Tabby named Simon. And many friends she now considers her Oklahoma family.

Maxine writes American historical, contemporary, paranormal, and cozy mysteries with romantic elements.

Award Winning Books:
RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel
ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist--Inspirational
THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE: 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical

Maxine loves to hear from her readers. Drop her an email: maxinedouglasauthor@gmail.com

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Reviews

[Sandra Sorola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessings Valley was the victim of a Mine Explosion, leaving behind 7 widows. Vera Baldwin is one of these young women. She is keeping a secret as long as she can before disclosing it to the very friends she loves the most. Unbeknownst to her, they already suspect that she is carrying her lost husbands child. One he never had a chance to know about. Willa Alexander promises herself and God at the funerals that she will watch over these young women and help them find happiness once again in their lives.
Thomas Baldwin harbored a secret he took to his grave. Never giving Vera a chance to truly know him.
The arrival of a Pinkerton Agent to discover the cause of the mine explosion, so he claims, brings a little turmoil into Vera's life. Jack (Wally Baldwin) Daniels scours the town secretly for information about his brother Thomas, after his parents find the article about the explosion in the paper. He brings uncertainty, fear, and a little adventure into Vera's life. He also brings the truth her husband kept from her. Can Vera find happiness again? Will she love again. This second book in the series is dealing with tough issues about Widowhood. It embraces feelings and gives them time to mature and let the women deal with them in their own ways and in their own time.
I cannot say enough good things about this Authors writing style. She grasps exactly the emotions losing a loved one bring out. I received an ARC of this book and am choosing to leave an honest review.

[Phyllis Rundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is widow Vera Baldwin and investigator Wally (Jack) Baldwin's story and is Book #2 in this series. Vera, who was widowed as a result of a mine accident finds soon after her husband's death she is carrying his child. Wally travels to Blessings Valley to investigate the accident and find out about his brother Thomas' who was killed in the mine accident. The character development is realistic and the story is full of secrets, lies, fear,grief, heartache, adventure,, strong friendships, plus many issues that must be resolved before a second chance at happiness can ever be reached. I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.

[Earlene Click · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wally and Vera

This is a sweet, exciting, adventurous, love story written by Maxine Douglas. She has done an exceptional job with the plot and the characters, both new and recurring characters. You will enjoy discovering how Wally and Vera find their happily ever after.

[Babs Wenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vera and Wally

Thomas' brother comes to find out what happened in the explosion and finds many surprises. Vera is concerned that the town will find out her secret. - Babs

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this isn’t a typical second chance romance, each character in this series is a widow that is learning to move forward after a horrible tragedy took their husbands. This was the second book in the series. It was interesting to read about a brother in law who had never met or even known about his sister in law falling for her when they first meet. I’ve read other books in which the sister and brother-in-law get together and it always amazes me a bit. There isn’t anything wrong with this arrangement but I just think it would be really weird in this day and age. I’m sure it was a lot more common in days of old. Vera and Jack were both sweet and likable characters and it was easy to root for them. The author does a good job with this sad topic.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vera has recently lost her husband in a mining accident. She works as a laundress to support herself. She tries to hide that she is with child in order to keep her job. Wally Baldwin (alias Jack Daniels) has come to town to investigate the mine accident that killed his brother. Neither Wally nor Vera are aware that their paths will cross in an unusual way. It's a sweet, romantic, inspirational story.

The narration is pretty good.

I requested this audio book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of this story. Narrator was good. Since the mining accident in Blessings Valley, Willa has been trying to tend to the widows of the men who died. This time her sights are set on Vera and the baby she carries in her womb. When a stranger comes to town and stays at her boarding house, she thinks she has found the answers to her prayers for Vera. Charming characters and delightful story.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.

[ReadingWench · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audio. In the audio, they pronounce Vera differently than I do, but that's okay. I really liked this 2nd book in the series. I do feel, that you should read these in order, although you don't have to. I just think you will get more out of it if you do. Once again, Maxine Douglas does not disappoint. She brings you into this world of Blessings Valley with great characters and a sense of belonging. I look forward to the next one.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a clean, sweet read. Reminded me a bit of the When Calls the Heart tv show as well as the Silverpines and Blizzard Brides book series.