Heart Of Stone by Jill Marie Landis
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Zondervan
Available: March 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0310328728
Genre: Historical Romance
Book received from: Publicist
Finally free to pursue her dreams, Laura Foster is trying hard not to fall in love. She knows that the Reverend Brand McCormick’s reputation would be shattered if her former life is discovered. But it’s not only Laura’s history that threatens to bring Brand down—it’s his own.
She had the darkest of pasts. And he had everything to lose by loving her. Laura Foster, free from the bondage of an unspeakable childhood, has struggled to make a new life for herself. Now the owner of an elegant boardinghouse in Glory, Texas, she is known as a wealthy, respectable widow. But Laura never forgets that she is always just one step ahead of her past. When Reverend Brand McCormick comes calling, Laura does all she can to discourage him as a suitor. She knows that if her past were discovered, Brand’s reputation would be ruined. But it’s not only Laura’s past that threatens to bring Brand down—it’s also his own. When a stranger in town threatens to reveal too many secrets, Laura is faced with a heartbreaking choice: Should she leave Glory forever and save Brand’s future? Or is it worth risking his name—and her heart—by telling him the truth?
Heart of Stone is the first book in the Irish Angles Series set in 1870 Texas.
Laura Foster has come a long way from her days as a prostitute in a New Orleans brothel. As an orphan, she and her sister were sold to into prostitution by her their uncle when Laura was eleven years old. Now, she has left that world behind and as far as the people of Glory, Texas are concerned, she is a widow and owner of an upstanding boardinghouse catering exclusively to women and families only. She is very careful to maintain her standing as a respectable woman, in doing so has made herself quite distant emotionally to those around her. Although she prefers to avoid close friendships and relationships, she is still warm and personable.
When Laura unwittingly attracts the attention of Reverend Brand McCormick she knows she needs to discourage his attentions. However, finding herself uncharacteristically attracted to him, combined with and his determination to court her, she finds it difficult to deter the friendship. Although he seems a bit pushy at times, Brand thinks the world of Laura and treats her with a great deal of respect. His admiration and kindness toward her comes through quite genuinely and his behavior is endearing.
The past has a way of coming back to haunt those who wish to leave it behind and Laura and Brand are both confronted with ghosts from the past. Laura’s reaction is to run when a man from her past comes into her life but Brand will not have it. Both Brand and Laura must come to terms with their past and their own faith as their relationship develops.
My favorite character in Heart of Stone is Laura. Although she is excessively harsh with herself, it is perhaps understandable as she deals with the shame she feels as the eldest of four siblings as she has—in her eyes at least—failed to protect them. She lost touch with her siblings after she was sold as a prostitute but has never forgotten them. The constant worry she suffers hoping no one will ever find out about her past is crushing and she lives under a great deal of stress. She is a complex character and what I loved about her was her ultimate strength in character and ability to grow emotionally.
Heart of Stone is an inspirational historical romance. It is a story of love, faith and forgiveness, not just of others but of oneself. This is not necessarily a hero-to-the rescue type of story. Both Brand and Laura look to each other in love as well as their deepening faith as they work through their the issues they’re confronted with in their journey to love.
Purchase a copy of Heart Of Stone
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*****GIVEAWAY*****
Thanks to The Book Report Network, I have one copy of Heart Of Stone to giveaway.
To enter, please leave a comment here letting me know you’d like to be entered. Contest is open until April 17, winner will be announced the following day. Open to US and Canada only please.
About FV Sophia
Sounds like a great read. I'd love to be entered
I'd like to be entered. I love a good historical romance.
dawnpnr(at)aol(dot)com
Oh! I want to read this.
weheartreading (at) gmail (dot) com
Sounds good, I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com
Golly the last time I read a Western romance was…high school. Awesome review FV.
Sounds like a sweet story. Count me in, please.
I don't know if this book is for me…It keeps getting great reviews though
I would like to counted in the contest. I like Jill's books.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com
Please enter me! This sounds great and I'm glad you enjoyed reading it!
Kelsey
krae991@yahoo.com
It sounds like a great book! Count me in please!
myra0502@yahoo.com
I'd love to read this book. Please enter me in the drawing.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
Looks like a good one! I def am a romance addict!
patronus89013 at yahoo dot com
Skimmed this review b/c we are soon all reading it at Breezing Through but Im SUPER GLAD you like it so much! Now I cant wait to read it! Thanks girl!!!
I love to enter
elizabethcerna2011@gmail.com
Sounds like a very sweet story. Rockin' review. Thanks!
Thanks for the chance to win!
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! Great review.
enter me please!
sexywomenread@yahoo.com
I've been hearing good things about this book. I would love to be entered for this one.
I follow
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Oh dear miss Fiction Vixen, please please please enter me to win this one. It sounds pretty awesome, because it's got the whole gotta work past my past thing going on for it.
-Jess.
(findtimetoread @gmail.com)
Please enter me!
email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
Thanks!!
This sounds like a great read! Thank you for the chance!
dmkayes@gmail.com
Sounds like something I would be interested in reading! Thanks for the chance!
hmahan_0529 @ yahoo dot com
This looks like a great book! cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would love to be entered to win this book. It looks very good. Thanks! bekki1820cb at gmail
I love this story and would lve a chance to win it and be entered in your drawing.
mitzi hinkey at sbcglobal dot net
We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/04/heart-of-stone.html
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Would love to win…
Please enter me-I love to read
aunteegem@yahoo.com
Please include me.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I would like to be entered in this contest, please. This book sounds like a great read.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Sounds like a good read. I would love to be entered. Thanks!
gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com
Sounds like a good historical. Please enter me.
julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
Great review. I would love to win this book. It shows the harsh times of this era and how you can pull yourself up from nothing if you are willing to work for it. Laura worked to rebuild her past and make a better future for herself.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter this great giveaway.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com