Reviewer: Trudy Smith
Title: Letter Perfect
Author: Cathy Marie Hake
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 0-7642-0165-4
Release Date: August 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 1859/Folsum, CA
Overall rating: 5.0
Sexual content rating: None
Language (profanity) rating: None
Cathy's Website:
www.cathymariehake.com
After her mother’s death, Ruth Caldwell is sent to California to live with the father she’s never known. Through her grief, Ruth still hopes that this will finally find a place she will fit in. All her life Ruth has been a little clumsy and opinionated though she tries hard to keep the bumbling and opinions to a minimum. When she arrives in California, she discovers that her father has recently passed away too. Upon meeting her father’s business partners, she’s offered a place to stay until the question of her inheritance is settled.
At first, Josh McCain Jr. doesn’t know what to make of Ruth. Sure that she’s Alan Caldwell’s daughter since she’s the spitting image of him – in a dress – Josh knows he has to make the best of this shocking revelation. Seeking the Lord’s wisdom, he soon believes Ruth should claim the inheritance she deserves, even though it’s half of the ranch he and his father run and own.
During this time, Josh’s younger sister, Laney, befriends Ruth. They come to do almost everything together. Watching Ruth and Laney, Josh can see what a good heart Ruth has. She’s so caring and patient with Laney. Since she’s an only child, Ruth loves her relationship with Laney but she wants to do more, pull her own weight on the ranch. Among other reasons, Josh is afraid to give Ruth too much to do because he’s seen her clumsiness. He doesn’t want her hurt.
After a while, Josh becomes suspicious of all the "so-called" accidents, there are too many to be a coincident. During this time, Josh is realizing how much Rush has come to mean to him.
More than anything, Ruth wants the Lord to lead her. She sees Josh as a godly man and comes to rely on him more and more to advise her in her personal and financial matters. She too is realizing how much she cares for Josh.
It now comes down to the inheritance. Does Ruth’s inheritance have anything to do with the "accidents"? If they are not "accidents", who could possibly be behind them? Will Josh be able to protect the woman he loves? And how does the Lord lead them to do the right thing even if it may mean hurting someone they love?
Cathy Marie Hake writes an inspirational love story that will make you laugh, pull at your heart and ponder your own walk with the Lord. She also throws in a surprise or two.
Cathy Marie brings her characters to life. I loved the way she weaves Ruth and Josh’s (and even most of the secondary characters) walk with the Lord into their daily life in everything they do. I wanted to be Ruth and Laney’s friend. I could probably learn a thing or two from them. Josh is a very honest, kind and godly man, seeking the Lord’s wisdom in everything he does, a true role model.
I didn’t feel the message was overbearing or too preachy. It definitely gave me something to think about. A few other inspirational messages I received was the importance of others praying for you, and you for them; look to the Lord in all things and through life’s many trials He will walk next to you and even carry you if you will let Him. Most of all you don’t have to be "Letter Perfect" for God to love you.
This was a book that I could hardly put down. I couldn’t wait to see what was next. I can’t think of a thing I didn’t like, except maybe an Epilogue would have been nice to see how Ruth and Josh blossom and prosper in their walk with the Lord.
I highly recommend Ruth and Josh’s story, Letter Perfect. It’s truly an inspiration. I’m hoping Laney’s story will be Cathy Marie’s next book. It will be well worth the wait.
Trudy
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