Reviewer: Trudy Smith
Title: Raider's Heart - 1st in the Backwoods Brides series
Author: Marcia Gruver
Publisher: Barbour
ISBN-13: 978-1-60260-948-8
Release Date: February 2011
Genre/Sub-genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 1871/Areas in and around Fayetteville, NC
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: Minimal/Moderate
Marcia's Website/Blog: www.marciagruver.com
Dawsey Wilkes wants nothing more than to see her father well again. He has fallen into despair and appears to continually get worse. Dawsey knows that the War Between the States had a profound affect on him but nothing she does seems to bring him happiness; the only thing he seems to treasure is an old "Aladdin’s" lamp.
The McRae family has heard their father’s story of "Aladdin’s" lamp for years. They all found it funny and charming but little did they know how much it has and will change their life.
Hooper McRae in Fayetteville on family business hears of an "Aladdin’s" lamp. Hooper has to find out if this is the same lamp he’s heard about his whole life but the lamp is not where he’s told it should be. Obsession drives Hooper but instead of the lamp he stumbles upon Dawsey. Things happen quickly and Hooper ends up kidnapping Dawsey; not intentionally, it just happens.
Unbeknownst to Hooper, and any of the McRae children for that matter, Hooper has stumbled upon his sister’s twin. Yes, the twists and turns and mystery behind this discovery have left them all dumbfounded to say the least. .
Because the law thinks Hooper is a thief and rebel rouser and they seem to be after him at almost every turn, the McRae’s aren’t able to take Dawsey home. During her stay, she slowly finds in the backwoods of North Carolina a loving family. Getting to know her sister Dilsey, is an awesome blessing.
Not necessarily because she wants to be, Dawsey is drawn to Hooper. He seems to be on the underside of the law and a little hot-headed but Hooper has a tender side too. Romance is in the air but how can this work?
Can Dawsey let God direct her path and not let the circumstances crowd out His direction? Will Hooper be able to convince Dawsey that he’s not quite as bad as she thinks he is? How will Dawsey and Dilsey be reunited with their father? What are the mysteries surrounding the Wilkes, the McRae’s and "Aladdin’s" lamp? How will God turn such twisted circumstances into forgiveness and love?
I have to say that after the first chapter I wasn’t sure I was going to like Raider’s Heart; but it didn’t take long before the story reeled me in, hook, line and sinker. With all the surprising twists and turns, action, romance and inspiration Raider’s Heart kept me turning the pages ending up being a fast read. The unusual mystery is captivating, the characters endearing and inspiration is heartwarming.
Marcia Gruver’s creative imagination has given her readers a wondrous opportunity to step back in time to the backwoods of North Carolina with the promise of more to come.
Trudy
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