About the Book
Book: Rumors and Promises
Author: Kathleen Rouser
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: October 10, 2023
She’s an heiress hiding a tumultuous past. He’s a reverend desperate to atone for his failures.
Abandoned by her family, Sophie Biddle has been on the run with a child in tow. At last, she’s found a safe life in Stone Creek, Michigan, teaching piano. But when a kind, yet meddling and handsome, minister walks into her life seeking to help, Sophie is caught off guard and wary. When her secrets threaten to be exposed, will be she able to trust the reverend, and more importantly, God?
After failing his former flock, Reverend Ian McCormick is determined to start anew in Stone Creek, and he’s been working harder than ever to forget his mistakes and prove himself to his new congregation—and to God. But when he meets a young woman seeking acceptance and respect, despite the rumors swirling about her sordid past, Ian finds himself pulled in two directions. If he shows concern for Sophie’s plight, he could risk everything—including his position as pastor of Stone Creek Community Church.
Will the scandals of their pasts bind them together or drive them apart forever?
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My Thoughts:
Sophie is a woman on the run with her young daughter. She has been pretty much abandoned by her family and she really has no one else to turn to, except herself. This burden she carries is a lot for her to carry on her young shoulders and she has been running for a while trying to find solace somewhere. If not for her, at least for her little girl whom she pretends is her sister.
Ian is a minister who is happy for a new start in Stone Creek. He and his widowed sister and his nephew are all trying to move on with their lives. Ian has some dark memories from his time at the last church and he certainly doesn't want the past to repeat itself when he meets Sophie and her little sister. There is something about Sophie that is haunting her, and he feels very protective towards her. If only she will open up and trust him.
Trust is hard for Sophie when everyone blames her for the attack that left her in this predicament. She is a wounded woman battered in life and in her spirit. Can she open up to Ian and trust another man? Can she trust that all men are not alike? Is she able to forgive those who should have protected her?
This was a beautiful story of a young woman learning to trust again and a man willing to let her take her time. There were lessons to be learned on busybodies spreading rumors and a town that needed to learn to not judge too quickly, or maybe not judge at all. There was also a thread of danger that determined to stalk the loving couple as well.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author
More from Kathleen
My inspiration for Rumors and Promises came from the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and her encounter with Jesus. At the time, back in 2002, publishers weren’t looking for Biblical fiction. Instead, I felt the Lord put on my heart a story about a young woman who had to pretend her two-year-old daughter was her sister as she left behind dire circumstances at home. That was inspired by a story my mom told me about a girl she grew up who had a son out of wedlock and her parents raised him as her brother.
Since the town minister would have the most to lose if he became acquainted with her, kind-hearted Reverend Ian McCormick became the hero of the story. That’s where the comparison stops since a man with his own past failures can’t compare with our perfect Jesus. But like the woman at the well Sophie Bidershem is marginalized because of the suspicions of other less gracious individuals in the town of Stone Creek and must find her forgiveness from Jesus. And so does Ian, before they can find their happily ever after. My desire is for my readers to relate to their real-life struggles and the hope they find in Christ.
It was fascinating to see how the Lord provided for me as I researched the plight of the unwed mother at the turn of the century. I discovered that the Florence Crittenton Mission home for such mothers existed in Detroit in 1901, so that became part of the story. I even found the name of the superintendent at the time, nurse Mary Hartwell. Isn’t that the perfect name for someone who is working with young women in need?
Stone Creek is a fictional town loosely based on historic Brighton, Michigan where I live. Before 1900 it was called Ore Creek. It’s fun to include little details like the millpond or the Pink Hotel, but for the most part the small town of Stone Creek is a figment of my imagination. I hope you’ll feel as much at home there as I do.
Blog Stops
Locks, Hooks
and Books, October 23
lakesidelivingsite,
October 24
Texas Book-aholic,
October 25
Truth and Grace
Homeschool Academy, October 26
Happily
Managing a Household of Boys, October 27
Artistic
Nobody, October 28 (Author Interview)
Mornings
at Character cafe, October 28
For Him and My
Family, October 29
Debbie’s
Dusty Deliberations, October 30
Guild Master,
October 31 (Author Interview)
Exploring
the Written Word, October 31
Holly’s Book
Corner, November 1
Pause for Tales,
November 2
Cover
Lover Book Review, November 3
Connie’s
History Classroom, November 4
Gina Holder,
Author and Blogger, November 5 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/2896c/rumors-and-promises-celebration-tour-giveaway
Thank you so much for your well-thought-out and lovely review of Rumors and Promises. And thank you for hosting my book and me on your blog today.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many life lessons and messages of faith in this book. I will enjoy reading Rumors and Promises.
ReplyDeleteThis should be a enchanting read. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
ReplyDelete