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Hollow Creek #1

Love in Disguise

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Who knew concealing one’s true identity could be so disastrous?

Who knew asserting one’s independence would cause such embarrassment? If only Almira “Emilie” Crawford Wheeler hadn’t insisted upon carrying her own stack of parcels, she wouldn’t have landed in an unladylike heap on the boardwalk. And what about the half-truth she told the handsome stranger who came to her aid? The stranger she never expected to see again?

Thad Alexander Evanson should have been paying closer attention to the boardwalk, rather than the newfangled automobile motoring down the street. Had he been more astute, a collision with the beautiful parcel-laden stranger might never have happened. And if it never had happened, he wouldn’t have told a partial-truth he figured wouldn’t matter.

Before long, Emilie and Thad are arranging to meet for a noonday meal each weekend in Missoula under the guise of different names. But what happens when their true identities are revealed? When half-truths are exposed? Could God have a plan even in the midst of a tangled web of lies?

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2022

118 people are currently reading
137 people want to read

About the author

Penny Zeller

48 books960 followers
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith-filled happily ever afters and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. Her books feature tender romance, steady doses of humor, and memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page.

While she has had a love for writing since childhood, Penny began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over two dozen books and is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, reading, running, and playing volleyball.

Penny resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers at her website at www.pennyzeller.com, her blog, www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com, and her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks where she posts faith, funnies, writing updates, and encouragement. All of her socials can be found at https://linktr.ee/pennyzeller.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Madisyn Carlin.
Author 30 books377 followers
March 10, 2025
This is such a fun book and I cannot recommend it enough! While there are serious themes, they are handled well and add to Love in Disguise's depth. There is lots of faith, humor, and calamity wrought by bovines wreaking utter havoc.

The plot: As the blurb states, everything begins with two half-truths. This not only makes for some hilarious occurrences, but also eventually shows why honesty and forgiveness are necessary. Throw in 19ll Montana, some detestable neighbors, an even more odious ranch hand, more cows causing trouble, and a heap of partially-false identities, and you have the perfect historical book.

The characters: Emilie is such a fun character. She's spunky and a spitfire, and woe betide you if you tell her she can't drive her Model T. Her fondness of hats and flowers also come into play and provide us with some hilarious scenes. Thad is a great character too. While he loves riding horses, he also is fond of motorcars. I loved how their character arcs progressed during the book.

Vera and Morris are such delightful secondary characters, as are Pete and Anne. A plethora of other more minor characters, like Miss Julia Mathilda (I want to see more of her in upcoming books), Mother and Father, and even that despicable Mr. Donald W. Smith III contributed humor, havoc, and a chance for witnessing.

I really appreciated the faith element. it was well done; organic and not stilted. One thing I appreciate about this author is she doesn't shy away from including faith in her books.

Love in Disguise is a delightful read, and one I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction filled with humor and faith.
Profile Image for Grace Johnson.
Author 14 books402 followers
June 12, 2022
Stars: 3.5

Synopsis: When Emilie Crawford Wheeler loses her brand-new hat thanks to a stranger bumping into her, her life takes an unexpected turn. That distracted stranger turns out to be a handsome young ranch hand who offers to buy her another hat and take her out for dinner...again, and again, and again...until Emilie has fallen in love with Thad Alexander. Sounds like happily ever after, right? But here’s the catch: both of them are lying to each other, and their true identities might not be all they’d hoped for.


Coming into Love in Disguise, I wasn't a huge fan of the overall premise, because the lying-about-one's-identity trope can be cliché and messy sometimes. Not to mention the plot got kinda convoluted and rushed toward the end with the addition of a lot of new characters and plotlines...

I think, had the fourth of the story focused more on Emilie and Thad's relationship and growth instead of all the extra, the story would’ve flowed smoother and been a bit more enjoyable.

Otherwise, y’all know it’s a given that I didn’t like Emilie. I have the hardest time connecting with heroines, and Emilie was no different. At least she wasn't annoying or obnoxious like a lot of heroines are! Definitely a mark in her favor!

As for Thad...he needed a little more personality...but he was (for the most part) a perfect gentleman and so sweet!

Let’s face it. The best characters were the secondary characters. Vera and Morris were adorable (unrealistic, but adorable). Emilie’s parents? GOLD. I laughed so hard. They were hilarious, and I loved how we got to watch them grow over the course of the last part of the story! And I already love Aunt Jane. She’s fabulous.

That said, Donald W. Smith III and Catherine were so poorly developed and written. They were like cardboard cutouts with labels on them that said Shallow Ex-Fiancee and Annoying Unwanted Suitor. They could have really excelled and added something to the story, but I felt like they were simply thrown for the heck of it.

I love the themes of truth and honesty—which is the only reason I stick around for these types of stories—but I feel like they could’ve been handled a little better. Of course, it’s obvious to the reader that lying is wrong, deception has consequences, honesty is the best policy, and the truth shall set you free, and several characters (Pete and Vera) emphasis this...but no one else does. Thad just keeps on sinning and pushing back his conviction, which is not Christlike behavior, nor is it admirable, nor is it something he sought forgiveness from the Lord for.

And Emilie? After she got saved, her faith arc just fizzled out. I would’ve loved to see her get to the nitty-gritty about honesty and forgiveness and kindness and love...and there was so much potential for a beautiful faith arc, but alas. She just kinda went with the flow too.

As for the writing...some moments, the prose was fine, but others, it was telling and stilted. What bugged me the most, though, was how the dialogue sounded so weird at times. Almost as if Zeller were trying to imitate Austen, but a hundred years later in rural Montana. It could have worked, but only had it been handled very carefully. Dialogue is radioactive, people.

In the end, Love in Disguisehas its redeeming qualities (like hilarious parents, a happy-ever-after epilogue, and present faith content), but it also fell flat in a lot of areas that mean a lot to me. Had we just tweaked the plot a wee bit and defined the characters some more, it would’ve been lovely! (Editor brain wants to write out in-depth analyses now…help.)

That said, if you’re looking for a quick read that’ll make you laugh out loud and leave you with a happy ending...then you’ll probably love Love in Disguise! I may just give Penny Zeller’s work another try—this time with a story I know I’ll enjoy more!

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley and Celebrate Lit. All opinions expressed are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for J.E. Grace.
Author 23 books142 followers
June 17, 2022
Emile, a widow and rancher lives next door to another rancher whose cattle are continuously breaking through her fence and getting into her flower and vegetable garden. She has never met the man but dislikes him. Mr. Thad Evanson, her neighbor is out of town a lot and unaware. She thinks she confronts him later but doesn't realize it's his hired hand.

The story has many unexpected moments. I can say that I have never laughed so hard. The storyline is witty, holds a Christian message along with a beautiful love story.

There is forgiveness, redemption, and times where things aren't as they appear. By far Love in Disguise is one of the best historical books set in 1911, that I've read in a long time.

Highly recommended inspirational and inspiring story written with great characters, vivid descriptions, and lots of humor. I was given a complimentary copy and voluntarily choose to review it.

1,575 reviews30 followers
June 28, 2022
My THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

It’s been a while since I read a Penny Zeller book and I was so glad to be able to read and review this one. Thad Alexander Evanson and Emilie Crawford Wheeler both had side by side Ranches, but they have never met. Until one day in town when Thad bumped into Emilie, knocking her prize hat to the grown, never to be worn again because of its condition. Why oh why hadn’t Thad been watching the boardwalk instead of that new shinny Model T he wanted so bad, because now he has to buy this pretty lady a new hat. Emilie was frustrated at herself because now her beautiful new hat was ruined.

I’ve always loved the humor in Zeller’s books, and this one is no different. From Emilie’s anger about the Rancher next door and his cows trampling her prize flowers to Thads trips to Miss Julia Mathilda’s Fine Dresses to replace Emilie’s hat, Penny Zeller had me chuckling many times. I did get frustrated at Emilie though because she didn’t make it a priority to go meet the neighbor and confront him. Instead she was easy to assume a ranch hand was the owner.

I love these fun energetic characters! Their development throughout the story make the story so realistic and encouraging. I couldn’t help but think back to the days when the first cars were being purchased and what it would be like as well as imagining the people and the little towns and Ranches and what fun it would be living in that era. Except for the electricity, I like my flow of lights and everything else that comes with it.

There is much to be desired throughout this book. The trips to Missoula for Emilie and Thad to meet, because each thought the other lived there. The new Model T’s that were just newly hitting the country, mostly for those with money. And Thad’s troublesome cows and Emilie’s beautiful flowers. If you enjoy a good clean Christian fiction, you will love Love in Disguise by Penny Zeller. I love that Penny always weaves faith in the lives of her characters and makes sure she tells the way to Jesus in her stories. And she does it in a nice subtle way. I gladly give Love in Disguise Five Stars.

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Profile Image for Becky Lewis.
1,073 reviews60 followers
June 16, 2022
“But it’s not all right to lie. No, but it can be necessary. It’s never necessary.”

Love in Disguise by Penny Zeller is such a light, fun historical fiction book, yet it speaks to serious issues. I was very pleased to find this novel next on my list, a nice break from more serious reading. Zeller had me laughing out loud quite often over the antics of her characters from the early 1900s. “Being proper-like with a dash of rebellion wasn’t for the faint of heart.” “Lord, I reckon this is an odd request, but might I become invisible?“ Also, repeated imagined quotes from Emilie’s mother had me in stitches.

Themes that keep this novel from being “fluff” writing are finding faith in God, second chances, and true love. Also, telling the truth. Fortunately for the readers, the lack of truthfulness and its consequences drive the story with the necessary conflict.

I changed my rating of this book from four to five stars after considering how much I loved the feels from the story. I loved getting to know Thad and Emilie, as well as Morris and Vera. The novel has a prairie romance feel to it, similar to When Calls the Heart. I was surprised, pleased, and amused by some of the secondary characters at the book’s conclusion.

Readers who enjoy Westerns, Historical fiction, or who enjoy books by Janette Oke or Jen Turano will want to pick up this Penny Zeller offering.


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I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
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Notable Quotables:

“Reflecting on things I have no control over will most certainly not bring me peace of mind.”

“Displeasing as all get out to the Lord when we aren’t truthful. Even when we think we have acceptable reasons for dishonesty.”

Lying is an awful thing. It erodes trust faster than the weather changes here in Montana.

“Pray? She hadn’t prayed since the day she prayed that the Lord would save…”
1,301 reviews
June 7, 2022
Love in Disguise by Penny Zeller is a fun Christian historical romance to read to just get away from it all. I enjoyed Emilie's truthfulness regarding her late husband. It is easy to see why both Emilie and Thad would not give their full names under their circumstances and the frustrations they felt when finding out who each other really was. This story shows how life was for women at that time. Men took care of situations and in this case, Emilie did not know her closest neighbor, nor the reason his property was on both sides of her.
I enjoyed both the seriousness and the humorous parts of the story. I specifically enjoyed how the simple act of attending church with others could change someone's life so drastically and give them peace. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.
15 reviews
July 16, 2022
As always, I enjoy Penny's books. Each story is unique and keeps my interest. I am always looking forward to what she writes next.

I could tell that she researched the historical setting before writing, which I really appreciate.
Profile Image for Deana Dick.
3,106 reviews133 followers
June 10, 2022
If you are looking for a fun read about two people who each have a secret this is the perfect story to read. I found the book to be funny at times with Emile and Thad both hiding their identities from each other. The way they meet is awkward but made me laugh. Trying to not fall down when bumped goes astray and Emilie finds herself in quite an embarrassing situation. It was only fitting that Thad replace her hat after it was ruined by him. What an uncomfortable time he had in the store trying to replace it. Not many men would find themselves in this particular store and the ladies who worked there seemed a little dramatic about his presence. The ladies do judge him in a rude way and I wanted to tell them to mind their own business, My how the ladies gossiped while he was in the store. Where did this story come from about him being married and it being a special day for him? The author does create a great illustration of how gossip starts and causes undue accusations that get out of hand.

Emilie is a woman who misses her husband who has passed. Meeting Thad brought a new spark to her eyes. When she finds out he is a Christian she is a little uncomfortable. She has wandered away from God and maybe Thad inviting her to church will open her heart to a renewed relationship with God. I loved how she was invested in the service and appreciated the pastors words.

I had a feeling I knew who the pesky cows belonged to who kept coming on her land and couldn’t wait to see how the author would handle this little dilemma. As Thad and Emilie begin to see each other more, the secret that they are hiding from each other is sure to cause a problem. Will they learn a valuable lesson about not telling the truth? They each try to convince themselves they are doing it to protect themselves from unwanted suitors who only are interested in their wealth.

I did like that the author included sone historical facts that made me feel like I was back in the early 1900s. How exciting it was to experience the characters driving their motor cars and the cost they paid for them. Wouldn’t it be nice to pay only nine hundred-fifty dollars for a brand new car? The author touches on women’s suffrage and how important it was for women to be able to vote. The town is the perfect setting for this western themed story with stores that are quaint and the beautiful landscape that surrounds it.

The book has a mix of misunderstandings, jealousy greed and secrets. I liked how the author used faith as a great illustration of how God loves each of us and forgives us of our sins. Thad and Emilie find that secrets can destroy a relationship and need to take responsibility for their lies. As the story concludes readers will find out what happens when you follow God’s direction and not allow pride to hinder you from making amends.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
6,181 reviews
May 15, 2022
Love in Disguise is the newest release by the talented author Penny Zeller. I have enjoyed her previous books and was excited to have the opportunity to read this one. I was not disappointed. I thought it was a great read. I loved getting to know Emilie and Thad. It was fun seeing how they interacted with one another. I thought it was sweet and wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen once the truth comes out.

I am giving Love in Disguise four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical romance. I will definitely be looking for more stories like this from Penny Zeller in the future.

I received a paperback copy of Love in Disguise from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Profile Image for Betsy.
494 reviews20 followers
April 18, 2022
Entertaining and Inspiring!

Bovine shenanigans create hard feelings between widowed ranch owner Emilie Wheeler and her yet-to-meet neighbor, fellow ranch owner Mr. Evanson. What follows is a highly entertaining and spiritually uplifting tale of blossoming love amid false identities. Not only did this novel have me laughing out loud, but also sighing in satisfaction as the hero and heroine develop a romantic relationship which draws them closer to the Lord as well as each other. The hilarity of the book contrasted with the lessons Emilie and Thad had to learn: dealing with pride, being truthful, and learning to forgive. The secondary characters, including Vera, Morris, Pete, and Emile’s parents, added much to this story, some offering support and others improving their personal and spiritual lives. This is the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more!

I received an advanced reader copy via Celebrate Lit and BookFunnel. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed here are completely my own.

Profile Image for Debbie.
2,582 reviews4 followers
June 11, 2022
"Love in Disguise" by Penny Zeller is a story that I truly enjoyed from beginning to the end. It is a story of mistaken identities.It is a story of forgiveness and a story of learning to trust and lean on the Lord more.I really like that Scriptures are part of this story. There are laugh out scenes and moments that might make a tear or two to fall. If her other books are like this novel than I want to read them all. The characters in this book are "real life". I like that this book touched on when cars first came to be available and I never realized that a man in a dress shop would be cause for a clerk to become so rattled that she couldn't do her job.
I truly recommend this book and I really really like the ending.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
About the Author
Profile Image for Ellie.
440 reviews8 followers
January 18, 2023
This was a delightful book! I enjoyed it very much. I liked Emilie and I liked Thad. There were some comedic moments that made me smile and there was an excellent spiritual thread throughout the book. It was also interesting to read about a time period when cars and airplanes were new to people. I also enjoyed how Emilie navigated her relationship with her parents. If you like historical Christian fiction, I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Kendra Neal.
1,810 reviews49 followers
June 19, 2022
Christian Historical Romance is one of my favorite Genres. Love in Disguise by Penny Zeller is a recent book that I had the opportunity to read that fits that genre. Penny Zeller is also an author whose books I have never read, so that was a draw to reading the book also.

Emilie Crawford Wheeler is recently widowed and now has to run the Ranch she and her late husband own. She is trying to be independent as much as possible including carrying her own packages. She is walking the Boardwalk and tumbles while carrying her packages. Thad Alexander Evanson wasn't paying attention on the Boardwalk and collided with Emilie. They are both embarrassed by the events and as they recover and introduce themselves to one another, they both lie about their identity. They both decide to begin meeting for weekly lunch date under different names. The relationship continues to grow and they both realize that they may be found out by the the other and are afraid that the lies could ruin the relationship. Will Emilie and Thad finally reveal their true identies? Will the newly formed relationship survive if the truth is revealed?

I will start by saying "How have I never read anything by Penny Zeller before?" I was immediately drawn into the story and didn't stop until I was done reading. Emilie was a interesting character. She is frustrated that the Cattle that belongs to the Rancher next door kept coming onto her Ranch. She interestingly enough "collides" with the neighbor on the boardwalk and doesn't realize it is him. Thad was a very strong character who takes interest in Emilie immediately. The book has many funny parts to it and I had some good laughs while reading. I wasn't too sure about the "Mistaken Identies" storyline and the half truths being told by the characters, but in the end it worked. The "lying" became a good lesson from God in the storyline. Emilie had "back slid" a bit in her faith, but Thad being a Christian and other events allows to regain some faith. The book is one of Faith, Being Truthful and a good Christian Read! GREAT BOOK!
Profile Image for Ausjenny.
403 reviews
March 5, 2024
I have always enjoyed Penny's books and this one did not disappoint. This one has so much humour is in it. We start with some cows from the neighbour's ranch are in her garden. Trying to get them out and to stop eating her beloved flowers is so humourous. One cow is especially forward. To have a break she and a couple who work with her head to Missoula. This is where she has a chance encounter with Thad. Both have reasons for omitting facts when they meet. Emilie uses her middle name and maiden name Thad his first and second name. Both are wealthy in their own rights but have had people trying to marry them just for their money.

There are so many funny incidents in the story. I was laughing out loud at times and when I don't thing things could be funnier they are. Emilie and Thad are not the only mistaken identities which adds to the fun. Both know they have to be completely honest as they do feel convicted but are unsure how or when. We also know as in all good books things will come out in unexpected ways.

I love how Penny deals with this and the fall out. It is also interesting how people have a preconceived ideas of another person even if they haven't met. We can't forget Vera and Morris who work for Emilie who tend to steal scenes. I enjoyed this books and would mention a incident later in the book but will let you find that one for yourself. I think this is one of Penny's best books and I can't wait for more. I am not sure if there will be more in this series but I hope there will be. My first Historical for the year and it didn't disappoint. If you have romcoms in historical's this is one.

One final note I would love to see this as a movie. If Hallmark did historical movies this would fit well.
Profile Image for Vera Godley.
2,008 reviews56 followers
May 18, 2022
This is a totally clean, Christian read set in Montana in 1911. The automobile is the trend of the times and ranching is the mode of living. The protagonists in the story are Mrs. Wheeler, widowed and wealthy, and Mr. Evanson, wealthy young rancher. Their two families have a feuding history from when the deceased Mr. Wheeler accused rancher Evanson of cattle rustling shenanigans and other crooked endeavors.

Both of these wealthy individuals who did not know each other have to fend off frequent intrusions from potential spouses who simply want to connect with them for their wealth alone. They'll have none of that!

By chance, the two literally bump into each other in a town nearby and a friendship begins to grow. They both give "doctored" names so their wealthy identities are not forthcoming. The friendship grows and then their true identity is discovered.

Unwanted suiters pursue both Emilie and Thad and their friendship and budding romance with each other is in danger because of their covert doings.

A fun, clean, totally Christian read. One you won't be afraid to hand over to a young teen or your grandmama.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the author to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
1,907 reviews
June 21, 2022
Set in 1911, Love in Disguise chronicles the tale of two neighbors who believe they dislike each other. Emilie Wheeler, a widow, loves her staff, gardening, orphans, and automobiles. Thad Alexander Evanson, a successful rancher, loves God. The two meet when Thad accidentally runs into Emilie and sets out to replace a hat that accidentally meets its demise as a result of the accident.

As the two continue to meet, both tell half-truths because they desire to find someone who loves them for themselves rather than for their fortunes. From a wonderful set of elderly staff members to a crotchety, drunk ranch hand, to Emilie’s parents, and to a group of orphans, the characters in this story help bring the plot to life.

I have to say I loved the pace at which this story moves. The part God and faith play in this story meant a lot to me. For that God ordains to bring together, nothing can put asunder – including an annoying ex-fiancee and a pompous, arrogant would-be suitor.

So if you enjoy books set in the past with a faith-filled message, check out this book for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Erin.
2,131 reviews19 followers
June 30, 2022
I loved this novel.

Thad and Emilie are both fun characters and I loved watching them grow and evolve throughout the novel. Thad has his hang-ups with his past. But then again so does Emilie in that she was married to a man she did not love or even respect because her parents told her she needed to.

They both also are dealing with people who want to get close to them and marry them just for their wealth. People who don’t really care about who they are or what they want. So when they meet and sparks fly they both take a little liberty in introducing themselves.

This book read very quickly for me and I was sad to see it end. I loved the mud flinging episode and was so glad to see the cattle incident worked out.

I highly encourage you to go get a copy of this one. You won’t want to miss it!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Profile Image for Faith.
2,227 reviews
June 6, 2022
Love might be where you least expect it.

Brought to Montana by a marriage of convenience, Emily Crawford Wheeler never imagined that she’d be widowed and running the ranch. The last thing she needs is a neighbor’s cattle repeatedly breaking into her garden. Emily has learned to be strong and take on new challenges while in Montana, finding new strengths.

The story starts out as a sweet western romance; both Emily and Evan have their reasons for keeping their identities vague. I liked how Emily befriends her staff, especially Vera and Morris who are strong believers. Emily really grows a lot over the course of the story and she is a likable heroine from the start. I liked that Evan is a strong believer and that he openly shares what he believes.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a fun plot and great characters. I liked getting to know Emily and Evan as they grew fond of each other. A prairie romance set on the plains of Montana, with great character growth, and strong faith.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
340 reviews
September 28, 2022
Delightful!

This was a delightful story about two people who were not exactly forthcoming about who they really were. It made quite a mess when they each realized that the other had been deceitful. I loved the Christian emphasis and that people who really didn’t know the Lord came to Him for salvation.
203 reviews3 followers
July 12, 2022
Emilie is taken aback by a new friend who helps her out on the street. Due to the fact she owns a large ranch now that she is a widow, she is very reserved how much personal information she gives out about herself to strangers. What harm could a few twists of the truth be?

Thad finds himself falling for a stranger. She doesn’t realize that he has a well-known cattle ranch. He struggles knowing how to tell the truth to the woman he wants to spend his life with. When the truth comes out, how can he right this wrong?

The story was full of humor and laughs. The story was one that captured your interest and kept you reading until the very end. One suspected how the story would go, but the author had a few surprises that were not expected.

I would recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.
Profile Image for Cover Lover Book Review.
1,503 reviews87 followers
March 4, 2023
Emilie, in Love in Disguise, is a spunky character who has secrets, tells half-truths, and made me laugh throughout the story. Although the story is lighthearted and humorous in parts, it has a sturdy foundation of Spiritual faith, truth, and honesty.

I enjoyed Thad as well. He is an interesting gentleman and easy to connect with. But a relationship between these two is quite tricky, because they are both lying.

This story mixes hidden identities, secrets, history, and romance to deliver a sweet, witty, and meaningful redemption story.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.
2,055 reviews
June 18, 2022
Love in Disguise was a cute, oftentimes humorous, sometimes serious read of two neighbors who have yet to meet but certainly have an animosity towards one another. Emilie Crawford, lately widowed, loves her gardens and her flowers but the pesky neighbor, Mr. Evanson will not keep his cattle in his own field and those said cattle are determined to destroy her property.

Thad Evanson doesn't like his neighbor too much either since the accusations her late husband made against him previously. Those accusations were of a serious nature that could have seen him in dire straits.

However, through a series of comical errors, Thad and Emilie do meet. They just don't know who they are really meeting. And as time goes by their stories become deeper and more entangled and a little bit harder to straighten out. Especially now that these two unfriendly neighbors have their hearts on the line. Neither of them really lied about anything, as you will see, but nonetheless their courtship becomes a comedy of errors due to misconceptions, some of them quite ridiculous.

This was a fun read with some serious topics and I enjoyed watching these two stumble and bumble out of the mess they both inadvertently caused. Their path towards true love was paved with painful lessons and some outright hilarious situations.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/202...
Profile Image for Dylan West.
Author 4 books68 followers
June 9, 2022
Clean Romance, Wholesome Story

As a Christian, I loved the open presentation of the Gospel given in the story. Scriptures are quoted and applied to daily life, characters wrestle with their conduct before God and others. A major character even becomes a Christian. That said, not all readers will enjoy such an open delivery. The message of this book is not subtle in the slightest.

The author's writing is clean, clear, and easy to follow. I listened to this whole book on my kindle with text-to-speech enabled and never had to stop and reread for clarity. And there's a great mix of humor, loads of dramatic irony where I knew more than the characters did about what was really happening, and interesting choices driving the story along. There's no graphic content, no cussing, no violence--clean enough for all ages, which I found refreshing. And the historical side is well done. I can tell the author did her research. Except for a few parts, I found the pacing to be excellent. Romance isn't my genre, but I enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Mary Hake.
Author 4 books413 followers
June 14, 2022
Who would have ever thought that keeping their true identity hidden could lead to so much trouble? When Emilie met Thad in Missoula, they each mistakenly assumed the other lived in the city. Although the two have much in common, such as wealth they don’t want flaunted so it won’t attract unwanted suitors, they also suffer from similar misconceptions and pain from their pasts. This makes for an interesting dilemma, which the author intriguingly explored as their relationship developed and then struggled. Can the pair ever overcome their distrust and hardheadedness. While reading this historical novel, readers may pause to think if they ever make some of the same errors in relating to others and, hopefully, learn from these characters’ mistakes. It did seem to develop a little slowly with all the repeated activities but when more conflict interfered, the story grew more compelling. It could make a nice book club choice to discuss. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Connie Hill.
1,896 reviews46 followers
June 18, 2022
Love in Disguise is a Christian Historical Romance that is written by Penny Zeller. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be the last. Her writing flows nicely, and you can feel the story come alive off the pages.

This book is set in 1911 in Montana. Emilie wants to assert her independence and is insisting on carrying her own parcels. Thad was not paying attention to where he was going. He was watching the new automobile that was traveling by,. The two of them crash into each other. However, neither one of them are completely honest with each other about their identities, I found this comical because they did not expect to see each other again. Emilie is a widow, and meeting Thad has given her a new spark in life. However, Emilie has strayed from God. Thad invites her to church and Emilie is a little uncomfortable.

The book is well written. The characters are well developed. The author writes great descriptions to
Profile Image for Ashley Dawn.
Author 41 books81 followers
June 26, 2022
I enjoyed this book. Half truths and misinformation seriously give me anxiety when I read. It can be funny but I also sit there and stress about what will happen when the real truth comes to light. I’m this book, the author crafted the story well and while I had anxiety about it, I also enjoyed the story.

Thad and Emilie were good characters. I liked their first meeting and how it all played out from there. She made wonderful secondary characters that I loved! It was a clean read that I simply had to finish because I had to know what all happened!

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
Profile Image for The Jesus Fandom.
492 reviews32 followers
March 7, 2024
The actual plot is not what the blurb says. Her feminist stuff is never a big deal. The book completely hinges on them lying and having miscommunications. It's still fun, but not in the way I'd hoped (and honestly after a while it got very annoying)
Profile Image for Shonda.
Author 10 books48 followers
June 17, 2023
Such a great story! I laughed out loud and enjoyed the characters so much. A fun story that keeps you guessing when will the two main characters finally find out the true identity of each other. Sweet heartfelt romance, well written and entertaining!
429 reviews3 followers
June 12, 2023
A cowboy falls in love with his widowed next door neighbor.

Enjoyed being with this author again. Thad and Emilie story had a fun start. It was interesting how they met and then kept up the facade for the longest time. It almost destroyed things when the truth came out. It was neat how Emilie finally found a man she could truly love in Thad. It almost took losing Emilie to death for Thad to see how much he loved her. It took Thad cows for Emilie to see something new. They had a great bunch of people working for them both to give it them the encouragement and advice to continue their relationship. Even with bumps in the road their love endured. Will read more by this author.
Profile Image for Jody.
235 reviews11 followers
April 2, 2023
Fun book! I so enjoyed the little humorous sayings like, “As Pa used to say, it’s as plain as the beak on a chicken.” Sweet romance, some heartache, some humor all make for a wonderful read! Highly recommend!
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