Joel Chapman’s spirit is dying a slow, painful death. An amputee, he can no longer fulfill his duties as a cavalry soldier. According to his wife, without two good legs, he can’t fulfill his duties as a husband and provider. In a world of able-bodied men, it seems honor and faith don’t count for much.Angela Fairbanks is the daughter of a cattle baron known for his iron fist and cold heart. She … heart. She has no doubt once her father learns she is carrying an illegitimate child, he will banish her from the ranch.
A chance encounter with Joel results in a reckless but compassionate offer: for one day, he’ll play the role of her husband, and then “abandon” her. For the sake of the baby, Angela agrees to the ruse.
But when love weaves itself into the lie, Joel and Angela will discover there’s much more at risk than just their hearts. Faith. Honor. Love. Which one will they sacrifice?
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Loving the expanded version! Joel lost part of his leg in an Indian attack, taking an arrow to his knee. Infection set in and the leg had to be removed just above the knee. His self worth was seriously affected. Tossed out by his wife citing he was just half a man and could not fulfill his husbandly and other duties to her. Angela left her home on a ranch and moved to the city. She fell in love and became pregnant. Left alone and carrying a baby she heads home defeated. Her Father is not a forgiving man. Joel and Angela meet on the stagecoach and she does her best to ignore him. He can see she is troubled. When she stops the stage and asks to be left behind to walk into town on her own, Joel’s chivalry kicks in. He departs the stage as well and walks back to her. They conceive a plan after he collapses and is brought to a doctor. He will pose as her husband and after a day will abandon her. It turns out her father is cold, heartless and cruel. Joel and Angela both feel more than friendship and also both realize it is futile as Joel is a married man. They hold true to his vows throughout the book.
They are finally able to admit love when Joel’s wife divorces him. The story takes you through twists and turns and opens up a love of the west and also shows you that you can accept and exceed any physical handicap with love and encouragement. Books about amputee’s are not always heartfelt and some choose not to read them. This is the second one I have read recently. The takes were totally different era’s in time but the feelings of the amputee were still the same. They felt less a person. They were also shown love amidst the stigma of being an amputee. Well Done!
In this expanded version the added story of Henry Longfeather just adds more to the fabric of the story. Beautifully written.
I received and ARC of this book for review. All opinions in this review are my own.
I loved this story! I know some may say it borders on Christian read because a married man has feelings for another woman. I like that the author shows how real life is in this book. Even though Joel is married he is a broken man. Angela has sinned by having a relationship with a former actor out of wed lock and gets pregnant. They both are drawn to each other and help with the healing process. I love how the story shows that we all sin but God still loves us and can still show us the way we should go. We have all sinned and God keeps his hands on us and gently draws us back to him. The story draws you in from page one. The ending is beautiful, I could not put it down. I would give it more then 5 stars!
To Love and to Honor by Heather Blanton is an engaging Western romance. Having read several of this author’s books, I kind of knew what to expect and was not disappointed. This is a story of an unexpected love that grows between two broken people. Blanton does a nice job of keeping the reader’s interest with evocative characters and a plot that moves quickly and realistically. She touches on themes of forgiveness, unwanted pregnancies, the importance of faithfulness and honor. The historical aspects in the story add to the interest and show the author has done her homework in getting the time and setting right. Woven throughout are a strong thread of Godly values and the recognition that God is a personal God working in the lives of His children. To Love and to Honor is an easy read (I pretty much read it in one sitting–couldn’t put it down!) and all in all is a good read. Although it is part of a series, it is easily read as a stand-alone book and readers can look forward to checking out the books that come before. I received a complimentary copy of the ebook and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
A beautifully written historical romance that takes place after the Civil War. When Captain Joel Chapman ends up having an amputation of his leg he feels like he’s no longer the man he once was. When his wife becomes cruel towards him when he returns he leaves in search of finding employment so he can provide for them. He comes to the aide of a Angela Fairbanks, a damsel in distress who is an unwed, pregnant woman trying to return home to her less than tolerable father. Wonderful characters who show strength in the face of adversity and come together when they need one another.
This is an updated version! I hadn’t read the original, so I can’t say what’s different, BUT I LOVE THIS BOOK! I could NOT put it down! I made the mistake of starting close to midnight.
I love how Heather takes sinful people and uses them to heal and redeem each other and themselves with God’s power of love and acceptance! Be prepared to walk deeper in your faith as your challenged to love unconditionally!
I discovered Heather Blanton’s books due to my love of Christian fiction with historical western settings. Her novels meet that requirement perfectly. Ms. Blanton tends to tackle subject matters that many avoid and for that reason they are usually quite realistic and sometimes gritty. Nevertheless she manages to keep them clean with an emphasis on faith which I appreciate.
To Love and to Honor features a married man who has lost his leg due to a war injury only to be abandoned by his wife. He meets a young, unmarried woman on the stage who has been abandoned by her lover when he discovered she was expecting his child. With no other options, the young lady is reluctantly returning home to a father she expects will be less than welcoming. Although he feels defeated, Joel Chapman is still enough of a gentleman to try to help Angela temporarily. Neither expects what happens next.
Yes, neither of these characters is the ideal hero or heroine of a Christian novel but yet they are because this story is one about redemption and restoration and how the Lord uses others to rescue hopeless situations and make them new again. I loved this book and always look forward to new ones by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
I really liked this story. Joel was fighting to be accepted but for Angela he just has to be himself. Stay loyal to yourself, your loved ones and God.
Life won’t always be easy but it is it worth!