A Heart Most Certain

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Average customer rating 4.5 (6 comments)

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I've been a fan of Melissa’s since I read her first novella and I have only gotten more impressed with her as I’ve read each of her novels. This is the first book of her second series and it got off to a great start! Lydia and Nicholas were both very interesting and well written characters. Everyone sees Nicholas as stingy with his vast wealth because he never gives publicly to the church or any of the causes brought to him. But unbeknownst to the town he gives regularly and generously but he prefers to keep it all private and to decide exactly who it will go to. Lydia has a good heart but she's a bit naive. After striking their bargain Nicholas opens Lydia's eyes to the many areas of need including that of helping prostitutes escape the lives they never wanted or no longer want. They both had areas of their heart they needed to work on whether it was realizing that not everyone in the church is a hypocrite and that you can't save the world on your own, or learning to care more about following God and helping those in need than the way others view you. I loved watching their relationship, they were exactly what each other needed and their romance was quiet and sweet. There were several characters in this book that I would have quite happily smacked but there were also a great number of lovable ones and together they made a wonderful story! In closing I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can't wait for book two!

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I appreciated the compassion of the main characters in this book. Both Lydia and Nicholas have strong ideas of the most effective way to improve society and the circumstances of the poor, and their differences complement each other as they compromise a little and teach each other a lot. The problem of prostitution is addressed head-on, and many attitudes about it are represented in the various community members. I appreciated that Lydia and Nicholas learned from each other's unique way of solving problems while still sharing a common goal of helping those in need. The first half of the book was a bit slow paced for me, but the author did an excellent job of providing a foundation for the events that came later in the plot where there was much more happening and the suspense is heightened. I loved that Lydia is a voracious reader! She uses her love of books to connect not only with Nicholas but other women from different walks of life. Nicholas definitely reminded me of Mr. Thorton from North and South (but more more philanthropic)- a hard, unyielding exterior but a heart of gold inside, just trying his best in the way he knows how. The feelings between Lydia and Nicholas are a slow simmer through most of the book but when they finally express their feelings it is full heat! Their special moment is descriptive with emotion, words, and action, and it made the book for me since I'm one who reads for the romance. (I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

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Friday, August 26, 2016 A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagears, © 2016 A Teaville Moral Society novel, Book 1 This is the best of the best! An eyeopener to "You've done it unto Me" wake-up call Teaville, Kansas 1905 I wake up this morning and my whole world changes! I have a mission to collect money for two sewing machines for Teaville Moral Society quilts. Me, Lydia King, to find Nicholas Lowe the oft talked about rich man in our town. I am expected to give to the highfaluting, nose-in-the-air do-gooders? I think not! I give to her and the whole town will be knocking at my door. N. Lowe Lydia is an avid book reader. To her advantage, Mr. Lowe has quite a few. Requesting funds, he loans books to her. Her interests open conversation going with him to supply needs directly. She learned that building relationship has a greater opportunity to bring change in lives; stepping into the unknown brings greater freedom. The pastor's wife quits expectations to gain a greater depth; realizing and pursuing need for a closer relationship with God than what people think. Nicholas finds changes in his outlook, the more he is with Lydia. Trust factors have kept him by himself in his endeavors. He finds that living for the present is much more rewarding than making up for the past. This story views how others are seen; as an onlooker or in some way extending a hand to help another climb out of an imprisonment they cannot escape on their own. Thank you to Bethany House for review copy.

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If you love to read romances with brooding heroes and smart, sassy heroines, run, don’t walk, to your local bookstore and pick up A Heart Most Certain. If you love to read historical novels, ditto on the running. If you love books with suspense, yeah, you’re getting the picture. This book has it all and then some. To say I loved this book seems pretty tame. This book grabbed me with the giggles, reeled me in with that brooding hero and sealed the deal with that historical suspense. I spent WAY too many nights reading “just one more page” (alright, I mean chapter) and endangering first my Sunday morning alertness for the sermon and then my Monday morning work performance. It was worth it, though – so, so worth it. Expect to be challenged. Expect to see yourself, even in some of the more undesirable characters. Expect to learn something as you read. Expect frequent bouts of laughter but do NOT expect to come away from this book unchanged. You will find that your capacity for compassion – especially for the outcasts of society – has expanded with each page you turn. Don’t wait to start the journey! This book rates among the best I’ve read this year (and according to my Goodreads Challenge that total is up to 118 for the year.) I highly recommend A Heart Most Certain. It’s a 5 star read all the way.

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Review: A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagears 4 Stars! After reading and loving the prequel novella, Engaging the Competition earlier this year I was eagerly anticipating this new book! And I am absolutely delighted to say that I was not disappointed, this is a fabulous book! The message touched my heart in so many ways, this is one novel that I won't soon forget! I have recently discovered that I tend to really enjoy stories of true love between a rich man and a poor girl, and Lydia and Nicholas' story was a beautiful example of loving someone for who they are rather than their money or lack thereof! I loved Lydia in the prequel and was really looking forward to her story, and it was a fantastic one! I can't say it enough, this is a phenomenal book that everyone should read! The pace was slower than I had expected it to be but that actually worked out well as I was able to savor the awesomeness! Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it! By the way, Nicholas is one of swoon-worthiest heroes I've ever read about! I plan to reread this book and the prequel novella many times in the future! I was honored to receive a complimentary copy of this amazing book from the author and Bethany house publishers in exchange for helping to promote it! Thanks!

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Lydia knows what it is like to be poor and embarrassed by the actions of a family member. So she joins the Moral Society of her church. When the leader, her future mother-in-law, tasks her with getting money from the stingiest man in town. If she can get the money than she'll be considered worthy and a the type of wife that Sebastian needs for his political career. But Nicholas isn't really stingy. He just prefers to do his charity work anonymously and under his own terms. So he agrees to a wager of sorts with Lydia in hopes of showing her his side of things. Neither one gets exactly what they bargained for. I've enjoyed all of the books by this author so far. But this one is my new favorite. I loved the uniqueness of the characters, the bit of drama/suspense that was thrown in at the end, the beautiful pictures she painted, and the strong faith of the main characters. The story is definitely entertaining and I had fun reading it, but it also had some deeper elements that made me think about charity, Christian giving, and faith. The well written plot and detailed descriptions brought the story to life. This book would be enjoyed by someone who enjoys clean romance, deeper issues, a little bit of drama, and fun, historical characters. Overall, this was a wonderful book that I really enjoyed and I am looking forward to the next book by this author. I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.