“Show me the books she loves and I shall know the woman…“

Faithful Heart

Al Lacey

Angel of Mercy Series: Book Two

FOR SOME SOLDIERS, THE BATTLE never ends.

Dottie Harper fears for her children’s safety. Her husband, Jerrod, is struggling with dementia brought on by shell shock during the Civil War. It’s as though there are two Jerrods locked inside him: the tender and loving Christian man she married, and a harsh man given to unpredictable fits of violent rage. Dottie loves her husband with all her heart, and with God’s help, she’d determined to remain steadfast.

Dottie’s sister, Breanna Baylor, is a certified medical nurse. She’s headed west with a wagon train, planning to visit Dottie in California and meet her family for the first time. Along the way, Breanna meets up with wounded soldiers, contagious townspeople, and injured outlaws. Compassionate and highly skilled, she tends to their physical hurts and shares the gospel whenever she can. Litlle does she know that a life-or-death meeting awaits with her own brother-in-law.

Come alongside these two remarkable sisters, and rejoice in how God takes care of those with faithful hearts.

This is the first book that I have read from Al Lacey. I will be reading others. Faithful Heart takes us into the 2nd book of the Angel of Mercy series. Now, generally when you are reading a 2nd or third book in a series…you sometimes feel a bit lost. You may not be familiar with the characters or the situations that they have encountered in the past. It’s almost like coming to party and not knowing the guest of honor.

Because of this reservation I was sincerely thrilled when Al Lacey took the time to present the reader with a prologue to this book. By taking this simple step I was instantly at ease with reading the second book in the series. I was comfortable in my knowledge of the characters and their history as I began my journey. Mr. Lacey also took the time to add a foreword explaining the history of nursing.

Faithful Heart was a refreshing, entertaining book to read. With wonderful strong women like Dottie and her sister, Breanna, who clearly showed a love and devotion to their family, friends and most of all the Lord… Faithful Heart was a pleasure to read.

The story line starts with the relationship between Breanna Baylor and the “mysterious stranger”…John Stranger. Their relationship is one blessed and guided by the Lord yet they haven’t quite made the “official” jump into marriage. They are waiting on the perfect timing and will of God. John Stranger is a cross between an Angel, John Wayne, Rocky Balboa and Cary Grant. He is portrayed as wise, strong, daring, faithful, dedicated to the Lord and very mysterious. But all Breanna needs to know is that he loves the Lord and he loves her. I enjoyed reading their interactions but at times felt that John’s words to Breanna were just a tad too syrupy…but then that also added to the allure of John “Stranger”. Toward the end I wondered if he was truly human or angelic?

Breana is a 21st century women in the middle of the Frontier days. She is a dedicated nurse, beloved sister, faithful friend and true follower of Christ. Her bravery and sincerity play through in everything Breanna says and does…especially in her interactions with her sister, Dottie.

The second half of the story extends to Dottie. Her experiences with her husband Jerrod and their family. Jerrod is a good man but suffers from shock and stress from his time in active duty in the Civil War. Al Lacey eloquently describes the dementia that Jerrod is plaqued by. His terrible and hateful outbursts are destructive to his life and family. Your heart bleeds for Jerrod and Dottie.

Overall the story line was interesting and captivating. At the end of the book…I was wishing for more of the story. I wanted to learn more about Breanna, Dottie and John Stranger. As a women I wanted to learn more of the love lives of these two women and about the mysterious, John Stranger. Who is he really? But as a Christian…I as inspired by their faith, their resilience and their dedication and knowledge of the word of God.

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