Healing Love

Cottonwood Series, Volume 1

By: Sophie Dawson

Narrated by: Lori Smith

Cottonwood, Iowa, 1875

Lydia Walcott is on the run. With a broken arm and a wounded spirit, she is escaping the hands of her cruel brother and the marriage he has arranged. She's running to the unknown, praying God will lead her steps. Seeking shelter from an ice storm in a livery stall, Lydia goes to sleep, hoping that in this small town of Cottonwood she'll find a job, a place to live, and friends.

Dr. Sterling Graham, having just delivered a baby, rides back to town over ice-covered roads. He's confident and secure in the knowledge that he is loved and respected by the people of Cottonwood. Exhausted from the long night, he decides to sleep on the cot in the livery. Sterling's reputation and career, along with Lydia's hope for a new life, are put in jeopardy when gossips spread the news that Doc spent the night in the stable with a woman. The story grows as "facts" are added.

Without money to travel west, Lydia feels trapped by her sense of responsibility for the doctor's good name. Even with his practice at risk, Sterling's compassion for the young woman whose physical wounds he treated stirs his heart. Something needs to be decided that will repair the damage to Sterling's career and give Lydia the home and safety she needs.

The unwelcome solution is that they marry. How do they learn about each other and mesh two lives into a successful marriage that honors God while coping with issues of trust, pride, epidemic, and injury and the fear that Lydia's brother will find her?

©2012 Susan D. Ewing (P)2015 Susan D. Ewing

love it!

the story was very good. loved all the details. and Lori did a wonderful job

Great story!! Can't wait for more!

I was hooked after the first page when we meet Lydia who is planning her escape from a cruel and abusive brother. She does escape and lands in Cottonwood on a dark and cold night. There she finds herself in another hard place when gossip links her with the town doctor, Sterling. With few options left to them, Sterling and Lydia wed. Sterling soon learns Lydia needs time to heal from her past. With the help of friends and their faith he allows her that time...except there is always that chance that her brother will find her in Cottonwood.

I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this story and the message of healing it contained. The narrator did a marvelous job with the story, timing and characters. I am looking forward to listening to more in the series.

horrible narrator

the story was good and could be better if the narrator would bring it to life she reads lifeless and dull I will not be listening to anymore books from her she did a horrible job of reading

It was okay

I thought someone was being silly when they mentioned the amount of scripture used in this book, but they’re right, it’s over the top.

The story is okay if somewhat predictable, but that’s okay this plot usually is.

This is kind of a spoiler, but not really ,make of it what you will:
I felt like there was a big jump in the storyline. It seemed as if the heroine went from too shy to kiss her husband on the cheek to pregnant in a blink. *Now* I read or listen to Christian fiction for several reasons, primarily because I like stories that are clean and align with my faith. That being said, I don’t want some big scene, but showing how their relationship built over time would be nice. It’s kind of conventional in these type of stories that the evolution of the couple’s relationship drives the story forward.

Let’s be real, it’s a romance I want more “awwww!” Moments!

Oh, and the reader wasn’t terrible, but the way she pronounced mercantile as “mercantle” made me laugh out loud—literally.

Story bogged down by scripture

I enjoy Christian fiction but this one bogged down the story, which was good, with too much scripture. It really wasn't necessary to include such lengths of verses or sermons. Don't know that I'll read the sequel even though I enjoyed the story, because I don't want to be preached at so much. I'll read my own Bible, thank you.