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cindysbookcorner's review against another edition
5.0
I forgot to move my review over here! Full review: https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-hope-of-azure-springs.html#more
speakingof_amy's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
becsbookishdelights's review against another edition
5.0
This debut book by Rachel Fordham is one of the most achingly tender sweet books I have ever read. Set in Iowa in the late 1800s, The Hope of Azure Springs will make you laugh and cry and will steal your heart with its unique charm and its theme of enduring hope even in the midst of life's heartbreaks and tragedies.
Nineteen year old Em is a fighter, a survivor. To look at her as man looks she is plain and unremarkable. But on the inside she has the most beautiful, courageous, selfless heart. She finds herself at nineteen in Azure Springs, Iowa, being cared for by a loving family, the Howells. Em's life has had more than its fair share of tragedies and loss. Orphaned at the age of 12 along with her little sister, Lucy, she does what she has to do and puts both herself and Lucy into the care of the local Aid Society and winds up on the Orphan Train. She and Lucy are separated and Em ends up living in a barn that belongs to the old man named George who reluctantly takes charge of her. She spends seven years barely surviving - little food, clothing or shelter - and escapes with a near-fatal gunshot that brings her into the care of the Howell family in Azure Springs along with its sheriff, Caleb Reynolds.
This story just got sweeter and sweeter with each chapter that I read. My heart broke for Em and the heartbreak and pain she endured as a child. With most books the main character is usually extraordinarily beautiful or at the very least attractive. So I loved that Em was portrayed as "a plain girl with a plain name". But as you get to know her, you realize, like Caleb did, the truth that "Beauty is something we get to define. We may not see it right away, but when we do we have trouble even remembering the other definition."
This book was such a delight in a "breath of fresh air" sort of way. It's evident to me that the sweetness and tenderness of this story and the hope that is portrayed throughout it is reflective of the heart of its author, and I believe, reflective of the very heart of our tenderly merciful Lord, who is our blessed hope in this world and the one to come.
Nineteen year old Em is a fighter, a survivor. To look at her as man looks she is plain and unremarkable. But on the inside she has the most beautiful, courageous, selfless heart. She finds herself at nineteen in Azure Springs, Iowa, being cared for by a loving family, the Howells. Em's life has had more than its fair share of tragedies and loss. Orphaned at the age of 12 along with her little sister, Lucy, she does what she has to do and puts both herself and Lucy into the care of the local Aid Society and winds up on the Orphan Train. She and Lucy are separated and Em ends up living in a barn that belongs to the old man named George who reluctantly takes charge of her. She spends seven years barely surviving - little food, clothing or shelter - and escapes with a near-fatal gunshot that brings her into the care of the Howell family in Azure Springs along with its sheriff, Caleb Reynolds.
This story just got sweeter and sweeter with each chapter that I read. My heart broke for Em and the heartbreak and pain she endured as a child. With most books the main character is usually extraordinarily beautiful or at the very least attractive. So I loved that Em was portrayed as "a plain girl with a plain name". But as you get to know her, you realize, like Caleb did, the truth that "Beauty is something we get to define. We may not see it right away, but when we do we have trouble even remembering the other definition."
This book was such a delight in a "breath of fresh air" sort of way. It's evident to me that the sweetness and tenderness of this story and the hope that is portrayed throughout it is reflective of the heart of its author, and I believe, reflective of the very heart of our tenderly merciful Lord, who is our blessed hope in this world and the one to come.
elainegl's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book! I particularly enjoy books about the orphan trains (happy stories) and while this one doesn't deal too much with the train, the main character is a 19 year old girl who rode the train 7 years previous and was separated from her sister. I loved the characters and especially how they handled grief. I've not been through anything as terrible as losing a child, but the hope that the book gives that there can be life after that is encouraging. This could be a trigger warning for people where the grief is too fresh though. Truly a lovely book (and well narrated).
emlickliter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham – There aren’t a lot of leading ladies who will claim that being shot saved their life, but Em can! The beginning was a bit slow, but hang in there because this was such a wonderful story about family and how you find it! Happy Reading!
joyleigh81's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
4.5
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham takes us back to 1881. Em Cooper has been shot and left for dead. She was lucky to be found and transported to Azure Springs, Iowa where the Howell family has taken her into their home. Sheriff Caleb Reynolds is responsible for keeping the law in Azure Springs and the surrounding area. He wants to catch whomever harmed Em and her guardian George. Em was taken in by George seven years prior when the orphan train came through the area. She has been living in a dilapidated barn and scrounging for food since then. Three men came to the farm and proceeded to tear it apart looking for something. When they did not find it, they shot George and Em. She can provide Caleb with a description and it matches that of men who recently robbed a stagecoach. While Caleb works the case, he finds himself drawn to Em with her kind nature and generous heart. Em is eager for the bandits to be captured so she can begin her search for her sister, Lucy. They became separated when Lucy was adopted, and Em has worried about her ever since. Em is grateful her prayers were answered, and she was freed from George, but she has yet to realize that she is the answer to others prayers.
The Hope of Azure Springs is well-written story with a gentle pace and a beautiful cover. I liked the main characters of Em and Caleb. The supporting characters of the Howell family and Margaret Anders (I like her attitude) helped enhance the story. Em has had a difficult life, but she does not let it get her down. She has a positive attitude and a grateful heart. Em has a different way of looking at things and she helps others with their grief. The romance was sweet, and it focused on the individual’s character (what is inside the person) instead of their physical appearance (though Caleb is handsome). I like the Christian elements present throughout the story. The presence of God in our lives, having faith in God, God’s grace and prayer. Other themes are hope, self-reliance but also knowing when to accept help from others, friendship, enduring love, and the value of self-worth. The road to a happy future is a bumpy one, and Em’s journey will be an emotional one. I like how the story goes full circle. My rating for The Hope of Azure Springs is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I hope the author gives Eliza and Margaret their own books. I would like to see their stories play out. Readers who enjoy clean western romance novels will be delighted with The Hope of Azure Springs.
The Hope of Azure Springs is well-written story with a gentle pace and a beautiful cover. I liked the main characters of Em and Caleb. The supporting characters of the Howell family and Margaret Anders (I like her attitude) helped enhance the story. Em has had a difficult life, but she does not let it get her down. She has a positive attitude and a grateful heart. Em has a different way of looking at things and she helps others with their grief. The romance was sweet, and it focused on the individual’s character (what is inside the person) instead of their physical appearance (though Caleb is handsome). I like the Christian elements present throughout the story. The presence of God in our lives, having faith in God, God’s grace and prayer. Other themes are hope, self-reliance but also knowing when to accept help from others, friendship, enduring love, and the value of self-worth. The road to a happy future is a bumpy one, and Em’s journey will be an emotional one. I like how the story goes full circle. My rating for The Hope of Azure Springs is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I hope the author gives Eliza and Margaret their own books. I would like to see their stories play out. Readers who enjoy clean western romance novels will be delighted with The Hope of Azure Springs.
skymama's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moving, emotional story. Strong theme that true beauty, that on the inside works its way out, transforming one once deemed “plain” to beautiful. Seeet romance. Faith threaded throughout.
jennbehindthebooks's review against another edition
5.0
This books was so wonderful that, try as I might, I just couldn't put off reading it for a second time! Who knows, I may even read it a third and fourth time this year?! Typically, an author's debut novel is not his/her best. Not so with The Hope of Azure Springs!
This book is filled with delightful characters that you can't help falling in love with! You walk through their trials and heartache with them, you even want to cry with them! Each character has their own struggles to overcome, their own past to move on from, and their own futures to move forward to. It is such a delight to walk with each character (especially Em and Caleb) as they heal, extend grace, forgive, let go of the past, and find new purpose in life.
Well done Rachel Fordham!!!
This book is filled with delightful characters that you can't help falling in love with! You walk through their trials and heartache with them, you even want to cry with them! Each character has their own struggles to overcome, their own past to move on from, and their own futures to move forward to. It is such a delight to walk with each character (especially Em and Caleb) as they heal, extend grace, forgive, let go of the past, and find new purpose in life.
Well done Rachel Fordham!!!
princessjdl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
5.0
This book was my first by this author and now I want to read all her books. It definitely brought me to tears.
One of the themes of the book that I appreciated most was that this story showed how we all have different heartache and pain we are working through and what that can look like in the different ways we approach grief and pain. This story showed a less than perfect world but what life looks like when you choose to live life even with pain in your past and that you can move forward making a difference in the lives of others. Definitely read this book! I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
One of the themes of the book that I appreciated most was that this story showed how we all have different heartache and pain we are working through and what that can look like in the different ways we approach grief and pain. This story showed a less than perfect world but what life looks like when you choose to live life even with pain in your past and that you can move forward making a difference in the lives of others. Definitely read this book! I can’t wait to read more books by this author.