Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won’t be able to do it alone.For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, … Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He’s determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn’t expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.
Debut author Rachel Fordham invites historical romance readers to the charming town of Azure Springs, Iowa, where the people care deeply for one another and, sometimes, even fall in love.
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This book is a beautiful story set on the western frontier in the 1800’s. There are struggles, triumphs, hope lost and gained, and a beautiful slow burn love story. I absolutely loved this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
I enjoyed this clean western romance! Rachel does a wonderful job bringing these characters to life and taking us on a journey with them as they overcome their obstacles!
I love this story set in the 1880s about people who find the life they were meant for while spending time in Azure Springs, Iowa. I only wish it were a real town because I would love to live there. There is some romance but it is sweet and clean.
This book was absolutely wonderful! I adored the story, characters, and the way the author addressed the topic of grief. I only wish the epilogue had been a bit longer. The note from the author was also interesting.
The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham is a Christian historical romance.
After their parents died, Em and her sister were put on the orphan train and then adopted by families in different places. Now that Em is an adult (and her guardian was shot), she can begin searching for her sister, with the help of Sheriff Caleb.
This book is a sweet historical romance that tells of what happens when an orphan train child has gone up. I can’t imagine being orphaned and then shipped to some faraway town and separated from my only living relatives. I feel for Em in her desperation to find her sister. And it stinks that, while some of those kids were adopted by great families, many were not. In this book, the effects of the orphan train experience are still affecting the characters’ lives in many ways. I like that the author explored some of that.
The romance was another major part of the plot. The sheriff has some of his own challenges and issues to face, but I enjoyed watching as they came to trust and love each other. I also liked the way their relationship was at the end of the book.
This was an interesting historical romance that I would recommend to lovers of historical romance.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for sharing them.
This is the second book I have read by Rachel Fordham. I have also read “Yours Truly, Thomas” which you are actually supposed to read after this one but it seems that it wasn’t a huge deal that I read them in backwards order. As with “Yours Truly, Thomas”, I was drawn into this book from the very beginning. Rachel does a great job of bringing out the personality of her characters. In this book, the main characters are Em and Caleb (who also show up in the next book as secondary characters). Em originally shows up in town in bad shape. She had been shot and left for dead before arriving in Azure Springs. Also she is too thin and unfortunately is in need of a bath which is why the daughter of the people who nicely take her in does not say very nice things about her. The whole situation reminds me that you should not always judge somebody by their outward appearance especially when you do not know their story. Thankfully Caleb who is the sheriff of Azure Springs realizes that despite her appearance, Em seems to be a nice girl who needs help. Maybe he sees this because it is his job to find out who shot Em or maybe it is because he is a nice guy but I am just glad he looks past her appearance and treats her well. The character of Em shows what it means to be resilient in the face of life’s challenges. And Caleb shows what it truly means to love and care for someone. If you get this book, then you won’t regret it.
It was amazing!! Em is the most relatable heroine that I’ve ever met. I could literally place myself in her shoes in many ways.
This debut novel from Rachel Fordham is absolute perfection. This is the story of a plain, skinny girl named Em who, along with her little sister Lucy, became an orphan at a young age and took an orphan train across Iowa. Lucy was taken in by a family, but no one wanted Em. Her existence is heartbreaking and devastating, but we meet up with her seven years later when her guardian is killed, and she is injured. She winds up in the small town of Azure Springs where a good family takes her in while she heals from her injury, and things begin to change for Em. Caleb is the sheriff in town and feels responsible to find out who is at fault for this incident with plain Em and her guardian.
This story is filled with good Christian values and homely truths in a non-preachy manner. Prayer is mentioned, but that’s about the extent of the religious content. The main themes are how people respond to grief and what true beauty is, and they are expertly woven into this story. I do love a good theme! It’s the perfect inspirational novel with a touch of Old West flare.
The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham
It’s been a while since I read as sweet a story as this book portrays. I am not much for romance novels. I prefer to have a more literary or deeper read, but The Hope of Azure Springs contained likable characters, nuggets of wisdom, and enough mystery to keep my interest, even though there really wasn’t the sexual tension present in most romance fiction. I actually appreciated this. The on-again/off-again tension between romantic counterparts in novels gets often overdone and predictable.
The story follows Em, rescued from a desperate situation with a tragic past. With this background she patterns her belief in the assumption that she’s not worthy of being chosen or being called beautiful.
Caleb, the local lawman and Em’s rescuer, builds a friendship with her despite the obstacles. They develop feelings for each other, but their depth is put to the test as each of them discovers what love looks like and what it does not.
I really enjoyed this lovely story. I might have made Em’s emotional struggles a little deeper. With the amount of hurt and neglect she carried, she did seem to rise above her issues with out too much inner conflict.
Rachel Fordham is a wonderful writer – I was so engrossed in the story I didn’t want to put it down – looking forward to reading all of her books
This was a very inspirational storyline. It takes the characters through trials and gives an insite to their feelings. Then takes us on a journey to see how they handle the situation. There are ups and downs, but in the end we get to share in their joy. Loved this book.
The Hope of Azure Springs is a wonderfully charming historical fiction written by Rachel Fordham. This debut novel captured my heart from the very beginning where readers find Em with ‘life in her. Not much of it though’ and never let go until the very satisfactory ending. I love reading about life in the ‘Wild West’ of the 1800s–imagining what life was like back then and wondering what I would do in similar circumstances. Fordham has done a great job of describing this era and drawing the reader into the scenes and the lives of her characters. The characters are strong and engaging, with emotions and reactions that resonated well with me. I enjoyed how the author unfolded their pasts layer by layer. There are lots of fun scenes involving tree climbing, frog catching, and unintended mud baths which help to keep the pages turning. The story is not just about hard times survival but it speaks to maturity and growth in understanding those around us and recognizing that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and self-worth comes from within not from our appearance or circumstances around us. The book also offers historical insight into the Orphan Train phenomenon that happened during this time–such sadness and tragedy amongst the initial hopes of those involved. I highly recommend this book for readers who love inspirational historical romance stories. I can’t wait to read this author’s next book. I was given a copy of this book through JustRead’s Blind Book Tour and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
The Hope of Azure Springs is an emotional ride from the very first page—and one I wouldn’t have given up had I known in advance.
Written with insight into the hurting places many people never share, Rachel has written a story with complex and rich characters that are real and not contrived.
It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this book delves deeply into this premise. What defines beauty?
Em arrives in town dirty and starving with a gunshot wound and no social graces. When she looks in the mirror she see a plain, skinny, unattractive girl. As she shares stories of princesses and handsome princes with the young girls in the house where she’s staying, she wonders if anyone would ever love her.
Separated from her sister as a child and rejected over and over again on the Orphan Train she longs to see her again. Deep down she longs for much more, but feels she will always be unwanted.
Caleb has been interested in the most beautiful girl in town, but through circumstances he is thrust into the presence of Em, who doesn’t have the physical attributes that society calls beautiful. He sees nothing attractive in her, but as he begins to know her, he changes. He begins to see that beauty is more than skin deep.
“This maiden was different. She had a magical kind of beauty. The kind that can only be seen if you know how to truly look at a person.”
“Did you know goodness is the fairest of all the beauties?”
Seldom do I get overly emotional reading a book, but when Em finds her sister, I was an emotional mess and cried buckets of tears.
This book is highly recommended. I loved every minute of it.
I just finished this wonderful book. Although I couldn’t wait till the end, when it was finished I wished this story could go on and on. The main characters are people you come to really care for deeply. As soon as I finished this book, I pre-ordered the author’s second book, which doesn’t come out until July. I now look forward to reading anything by Rachel Fordham!
This review is based on the Audio version.
Where do I even begin? I loved this book!!! It is filled with so much heart, hope, and all the emotions.
Em is barely alive when she found bleeding and taken to the doctor in Azure Springs. Needing a place to recover she is taken in by a loving family, with the exception of the eldest daughter, Eliza is a spoiled snob.
The most handsome sheriff, Caleb is anxious to find the bad guys and help Em as much as he can. I can’t give details but they are in for a few surprises.
There are some very heartbreaking moments too. I’ve listened to this book at least three times and still get tears in my eyes at a certain point.
I loved seeing Em blossom into the woman she was meant to be. Many life lessons are learned by those around her and maybe even by some who read or listen to this story.
The ending tugs at my heartstrings.
The narration by Coleen Marlo brings this wonderful story to another level of emotion.
I never would have guessed this was a debut novel. I look forward to reading more and more by Rachel Fordham!
I’m always excited to read an author’s debut, especially when it’s in a favorite genre. The Hope of Azure Springs is an endearing historical romance that perhaps doesn’t follow the typical plot of other historical romances. Em, who has lived in nearly deplorable conditions since she was a child, was never shown simple kindness, let alone love. After her negligent guardian is killed and Em injured, she is brought to Azure Springs, where she is given the chance to experience the kindness, care, and friendship of others.
Though at first I worried that Em would come across as too sweet, that wasn’t the case. Willing to work hard to provide for herself, she is both resilient and vulnerable, determined to repay the kindnesses paid to her in Azure Springs. Caleb, the town’s sheriff, seems an unlikely hero at first. Easily swayed by the town beauty and what others expect of him, he at first sees Em’s frailty as a deterrent to solving the mystery of who shot her and murdered her former guardian. As they interact with more frequency, a true friendship develops that was delightful to watch grow. While there were times that I felt the dialogue is a bit awkward, but overall, the writing style has a simple yet endearing way about it that kept my attention throughout the whole story. There are some lovely lines as well:
“Her once savage wound, though tender, was healing. She often looked at it and in a strange way felt gratitude for it – it’s brought her from her prison in the woods to this good home.”
“Sometimes the steepest roads lead to the greatest views.”
“Let them say what they would; she knew her own story, and they would not steal the measure of joy she’d found.”
The plot of the novel sets a lovely pace. The opening easily grabbed my attention, then the scenes that follow allow the reader to catch their breath and slow down along with Em. While there is an antagonist in the story, it’s not a cheesy, cartoonish villain and the amount of time spent on that part of the story was just the right amount. The theme of overcoming tragic circumstances resonated with me deeply while reading this story, and I was surprised by the way the author wrapped up a few loose ends. Though the story does have romance, my favorite aspect is Em’s character development and realization of her own self-worth. For other plot points, while perhaps some of the outcomes are sad, they are also realistic and make for a more poignant ending.
Fordham’s debut shows remarkable promise for her forthcoming novels, and I’ll be looking forward to reading what she pens next.
I received an electronic advanced copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
Very good debut novel by Rachel Fordham. I enjoyed having a main female character that was not your typical beauty but the focus was on her inner beauty and strength.
There was a lot of interesting background characters. Lots of healing old wounds. Loved the epilogue! One of those endings that makes you close the book with a big smile.
Fordham explores the tragedy of the orphan trains, with wit and romance. Em is a great character, and we see the panorama through her eyes, mostly. The sheriff, Caleb, is a somewhat predictable male hero and love interest, but has his own hurts and motives to overcome. Altogether an engaging read.
Where do I even start with this beautiful book? It is always my goal to write a review within a couple of days, if not hours, of finishing a book, but this one has taken me a quite a bit longer. I keep starting a review and then having to go back to it, over and over.
In The Hope of Azure Springs, Em is a young woman separated from her sister while on an orphan train in rural Iowa. Her guardian doesn’t seem to really want her. He’s not affectionate toward her, but he’s also not cruel. Em learns how to fend for herself, but not really how to care for herself. She believes that no one will ever really want her and has resigned herself to that.
Caleb Reynold’s is charming, attractive, and reliable. As the sheriff of Azure Springs, he finds himself searching for the men who killed Em’s guardian and attempted to kill her. They form a beautiful friendship and he finds himself drawn to Em because he can be himself with her. Their friendship is one of my favorite parts of this story!
This is Rachel Fordham’s debut novel and leaves me wanting more. The idea that beauty is more than visual is a resounding theme of this book and one that almost every woman can relate to! The question is can Caleb rely on what his heart says and not only what his eyes see.
“Don’t let anyone else decide which kind of beautiful is right for you. You find a girl who brings out the best in you. Who you can see a happy future with. That’s your kind of beautiful.” Rachel Fordham “The Hope of Azure Springs”
What a fantastic debut novel for Rachel Fordham! This novel takes place in a small Iowa town in 1881 where we find a wounded girl who is nearly dead. Her name is Em and as her story unravels, we learn about how she came to be in Iowa on the orphan train several years earlier. Through a series of losses, each seeming greater than the last, she finds herself in Azure Springs, where she learns how to live and love again. The town sheriff, Caleb, sees Em as a case to solve, but as he digs deeper into the her past to catch the criminals who left her for dead, he learns that there is much more to Em than meets the eye.
The story line itself is fantastic – holding to a bit of romance and a bit of mystery, some drama and a lot of character growth and development. While Em is the focal point of the story and her growth and healing are central, she also brings hope and healing to several others in the town of Azure Springs and beyond. Her sweet and humble spirit, strong work ethic and ability to be honest and put people at ease in her presence allow her to bring that same healing to others around her. The focus of the book itself is about this healing and growth and learning the meaning of true beauty.
I loved the characters and enjoyed the subtle twists and turns – this wasn’t a run-of-the-mill romance story. The story had great depth itself. I had laugh out loud moments and several tear-jerking moments. The ending was such a beautiful turn of events and I just loved how it turned out. I hope the author offers some spin-off prequels to go into further depth on some of the minor characters of this book as I want to learn more about them as well. Overall, kudos to Mrs. Fordham on an excellent debut. I would highly recommend!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Revell publishers for an advance e-copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own and I was under no obligation to provide it.