Abigail Price, a recently widowed church secretary, receives a letter from an old friend, urgently requesting her presence for the opening of the Mountain Springs Church in rural Idaho. Though things are difficult at the moment, financially and otherwise, she splurges on a train ticket, not quite knowing how she’ll scrape up the funds for the return trip.Chad Patterson’s boxing career is cut … is cut short when his ailing father insists he return home to Mountain Springs to run the family sawmill. Bitter over his premature exit from the boxing circuit, Chad is even less thrilled to discover his father’s work crew is a hodgepodge of misfits, ex-cons, and all-around troublemakers.
To make matters worse, some do-gooder pastor has arrived into town and won’t quit hounding everyone about attending his church opening festivities. Plus, some hoity-toity church lady seems to think Chad and his men should simply fall in line with her every demand when it comes to cleaning up the church grounds. It doesn’t help that she’s too pretty for her own good and his rascal logging crew is all too happy to oblige. Or the way he finds himself leaping to her aid in the hopes of coaxing one of those rare but intoxicating smiles from her…
ONCE UPON A CHURCH HOUSE is a sweet and inspirational historical western romance series with a dash of magic and time travel.
Pastor Zach Shepherd feels called to plant a church in rural Mountain Springs, Idaho, a place his friends warn him is unredeemable. However, he’s a firm believer in miracles and scoffs at their dire predictions of his pending failure. He quickly sizes up the renegade collection of mostly male town folk and determines what they need (in addition to salvation) is a woman’s touch to straighten them out. Throwing on his matchmaker hat, he prays God will send a few saved and sanctified women his way to get the first marriages rolling. He specifically prays for the kind of women legends are made of — from the Bible days — never dreaming how swiftly nor how thoroughly his prayers would be answered!
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I enjoyed this first story in this series. It has a really good surprise in it, and I am assuming it will be in all the books in this series.
Get ready for a great adventure for both the hero and heroine.
Rule breaking minors in a very run down town with no law.
I highly recommend this story of a historical western town and a new preacher who was sent to this run down town who also becomes a matchmaker in this all men and one woman town.
Loved this sweet book!
Something new and amazing for Jo Grafford. The time travel part was really good and I was hoping to read more of this story. Too bad every story needs an ending. Good thing this one is happily ever after! Can’t wait to read more from this new series. Read Abigail. It’s worth it.
Loved this book!! I admit, I’m not a huge fan of time travel, so wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book, Jo’s first with time travel in it. However, I LOVED it!! I like that both Abigail and Chad went back, and the unique way it happened!! I love that Chad was open to changing, and that he realized what God was trying to do through Abigail. Abigail knew she was falling for Chad, but also realized how much Chad needed God. Can’t wait to read the next one!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
This was an absolutely charming story. I didn’t expect the time travel element and the faith of the pastor determined to open a church where no one wants it. The relationship of Abigail and Chad who are both unbelieving of miracles will be given a wonderful gift. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.
Abigail
Abigail who is recently widowed moves to Mountain Springs to work with the new pastor Zach. Abigail meets Chad who has recently moved back to be with father.
I enjoyed both the characters and look forward to reading more of this series. Chad cared for his father who was sick. Abigail was so inspirational. I loved the time travel back to the Bible times.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. This book review is my own opinion.
I want to start by saying I usually do not like time travel stories, but I loved this one. Strangely it made sense. The second thing I’d like to tell you is if you are not already familiar with the story of David and Nabal, it is in 1st Samuel 25. If there were two people you would not put together it would be Abigail and Chad, a believer and a scoffer. Jo Grafford brings wonderful characters and story line to this book. The worse part was finding out I have to wait until March for Rachel to come out.
Very good book
The characters were OK, but the language was all over the place, chronologically speaking––a strange mix of slang from the 17th to 20th centuries plus an attempt at 1600s English dialog for characters set in Judah in 1018-1010BC. (Why?)
The romance kinda hit from out of nowhere, as did his change of heart, but I guess because it’s such a short story…
I’m not sure what the purpose of the time travel bit was except to show the main characters a side of the other that they’d not seen yet.
Loved this! Such a unique story! I could hear the rams horn blowing. So inspiring to see Abigail find her faith again. I highly recommend Abigail if you like inspirational stories with a twist.
This was definitely an unexpected story line for me! I don’t want to give away any spoilers but it was intriguing! When Pastor Zach shows up in this godforsaken town in Idaho, I think I would have just kept traveling on! It really was a “nothing” kind of town! However, he felt called to be there so he stayed a wanted to renovate the church there that was practically falling down. There were no women in town so he invites a woman that he used to know to move there and be his church secretary named Abigail! She’s a spunky thing! All the men in the town are pretty much rabble rousers!!! The sawmill owner’s son, Chad, comes to town and he certainly needs religion in his life so Abigail sets out to teach him a thing or two. Pastor Zach and Abigail were very relentless in their attitude of being witnesses of Christianity and charity to the whole town! They literally change the attitudes of people in the town just by being kind. I think that’s a lesson for all of us! Great story!