A Love For Keeps

Brides of Arkansas #1

by Janet Lee Barton

Will Nate be coerced into marriage? Nate Brooks feels indebted to Abigail Connors for saving his daughter from the fire that killed his wife. Abigail wishes Nate would repay her with wedding vows. After all, she loved Nate long before he married her little sister. But Nate feels no love for Abigail, only gratitude. When Meagan Snow enters Nate’s office for a bank loan, he immediately feels drawn to her. Meagan hopes to support her widowed mother and sisters by opening a dressmaking shop. Nate knows if the dresses are half as beautiful as their maker, Meagan’s business is bound to be successful. As their acquaintance turns into something more, can Meagan and Nate withstand the jealous schemes of Abigail Connors? Will they let her tear them apart or find a love for keeps?  

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

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 7, 2009

Reviews

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed this story and all the characters, aside from Abigail (who irritated me about as much as nails down a chalk board). The Snow's are absolutely charming! Nate and Natalie are a perfect match to complete the family. I really enjoyed their journey of discovering a love for keeps! I appreciated that the story was played out to a satisfying ending. Too often shorts leave you feeling like you've been cut off at the nose, but this book leaves you with beautiful closure!

Four Stars!

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Love For Keeps was a cute, light read. While I enjoyed most of the story, there were parts that didn't seem that realistic and I felt the romance was a bit rushed.

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story. The dialogue was believable, the description of the dresses detailed, and the characters were solid, if not a *tiny* bit formula. The faith in this book is strong, too - believe it or not, it's hard to find a Heartsong that doesn't treat faith like a secondary theme or something to merely wave at.

The only thing I really wish is that the author had drawn us into the location more. I always look up the places to see if they really exist, and what I saw of this town looked *amazing*. I just didn't get the scope of it and it's uniqueness from the writing. But then, it would've made the novel longer. Not that I would've complained at all about that, either.

It was a delightful read, and an hour or so well spent doing so.

[Marta Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice upbeat Christian book.

This book I enjoyed. It was nice to see Nate and Meagan come together. After he lost his wife in a fire he was left to raise his daughter. Meagan lost her dad and her mother had to work to support Meagan and her sisters. Meagan was a dressmaker and went to see Nate for a loan to start her own business so her mom could stop working. It all ended up happily ever after!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet Christian Historical Romance with mostly likeable characters.

[Shelley Chastagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clean christian romance. I liked Meg and feisty little Natalie. I found Nate frustrating in that he kept vacillating in his decisions. He would say he was going to pray about a situation, and he would, but then he would be swayed by the opinion of others. I greatly disliked that he would have followed through with a very bad decision if Abigail wouldn't have come clean. It makes me think of him as being weak. I also disliked that Meg thought badly of his invitations, believing that he was courting Abigail, but couldn't reconcile his behavior with the man she knew him to be. At what point would she not have just said "Why would you ask me to dinner when your courting Abigail?" Over all an enjoyable sweet easy read.
All read.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good clean book, was a little slow for me but a nice easy read. These we today people, I can see this happening in real life. Love, lost and try to love again with someone trying to run your life. With some telling you what is best for you, what you need to do like Abigail did. The snow's and his death wife's family would just dears. Nate is a man like a lot trying to find the right person. His daughter just loved her, but no child can be that sweet all the time lol. Who will Nate pick and will it be the right lady? Will Abigail get her way with her lies and where does that leave Meg?

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short Christian romance novella, making it a great beach read. Overall, I liked it, however, I found the ending to be a little rushed, which detracted from the story a bit. I also didn't like how there was little to no communication between the hero and heroine about their feelings, even with the setting and time period in mind! It didn't seem logical that the hero wouldn't ask permission to court Meagan, or express his esteem for her outside of her work. Abigail came across as vain and petty, even for a Christian woman. While this is the first book in the series, I'm hesitant to purchase the others just yet.

[Majetta Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very predictable with no surprises fast read. Characters were not well developed. I never was sure just how old Natalie was. Although she was called a "young girl" and a "child," some of her actions were more "young teenish" in response. Probably not one I would keep on my shelf to read again.

[Cynthiakay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book....had some very good parts in it......was a very good light read..

[Emily Shoop]

great blast from the past