Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love
Book Description
Unless she can trust God's love to cast out her fears, Ada may lose the heart of a good man.
Ada Wentworth, a young Bostonian, journeys to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, in the years following the Civil War. Alone and nearly penniless following a broken engagement, Ada accepts a position as a lady’s companion to the elderly Lillian Willis, a pillar of the community and aunt to the local lumber mill owner, Wyatt Caldwell. Ada intends to use her millinery skills to establish a hat shop and secure her future.
Haunted by unanswered questions from her life in Boston, Ada is most drawn to two townsfolks: Wyatt, a Texan with big plans of his own, and Sophie, a mulatto girl who resides at the Hickory Ridge orphanage. Ada's friendship with Sophia attracts the attention of a group of locals seeking to displace the residents of Two Creeks, a "colored" settlement on the edge of town. As tensions rise, Ada is threatened but refuses to abandon her plan to help the girl.
When Lillian dies, Ada is left without employment or a place to call home. And since Wyatt’s primary purpose for staying in Hickory Ridge was to watch over his aunt, he can now pursue his dream of owning Longhorns in his home state of Texas.
My Review of this book
Ada Wentworth is you, has no family, no money, nothing left from her wealthy former life in Boston. She accepts a job in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee taking care of an elderly lady, only until she can make enough money to support herself. Picked up at the train station by Lillian’s nephew, Wyatt, Ada was surprised because she was expecting Miss Fields, the lady she had corresponded with. Needless to say, she finds out that Miss Fields leaves the night before, stranding her to find out for herself what needed to be done with the lady Lillian.
Wyatt’s real reason for being in Hickory Ridge was to watch after his Aunt Lillian, so he ran a profitable sawmill in the community, hiring a number of the men to work for him. He was beside himself over this new young lady that would be staying with his aunt. Knowing how grumpy his aunt can be, he wonders hold long this lady will last without Aunt Lillian running her off.
This is a wonderful historical fiction book. Well worth your read! I liked the characters, Wyatt with his extremely nice personality, just a nice guy all the way around. Then there is Ada, witty, independent, wanting to make money to open her hat shop. And Lillian, a bit cranky and bossy in her old age, but then softens up a bit as she gets to know Ada. I found it special that Lillian didn’t get along with anyone, but as she and Ada grew closer, they developed a heartwarming relationship. And Wyatt was a sweetheart. A great catch for any young woman!
I received this book free from Booksneeze.com blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.
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