Melissa Jagears

A Chance at Forever by Melissa Jagears – Review

March 16, 2018 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

It’s a tad bit bittersweet whenever a series ends. On the one hand, I’ve gotten to know the characters in the books. They’ve become my friends and I enjoy catching up with the others whenever the next release comes out. Yet, I’m also curious and excited to meet the people and see the places authors will take me to next. Melissa Jagears ends her Teaville Moral Society series on a high note.

In My Opinion

A charming picture of how God can grab ahold of a person and change their heart, A Chance at Forever offers hope for anyone how wonders if they can become a better person. And for those who has bared the brunt of hurtful, hateful words.

Review: A Love So True by Melissa Jagears

May 17, 2017 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

I loved the main characters of Melissa Jagears newest Teaville Moral Society book, A Love So True. From the way Evelyn Wisely and David Kingsman meet, I knew their story was a unique one. From Evelyn’s seeming unlike of David and his determination to figure out why, these two form an unlikely friendship.

But they each make the other a better person. Through Evelyn’s interactions with the lesser in society (the orphaned children and the soiled doves), David takes notice of the needs for the first time. And Evelyn learns to hope for more than the minimum help she needs to make her dreams come true. Yet she also learns she is settling for less than the best in her own dreams due to a mistake in her past.

The interactions with the children at the orphanage were spot on and it was fun to catch up with Lydia, Nicholas, and Charlie from the previous stories while getting a quick introduction to the new members of the Moral Society.

In the end, Jagears’ message of God’s perfect timing rings clear and bright. Sometimes God’s answer is “wait” for the best of reasons.

My Rating:

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagears

August 15, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Can I just say this is hands-down my favorite of Melissa Jagears books I’ve read? And I’ve read several. I’ll be honest, probably the thing I loved best about this book was the Pride and Prejudice vibe: Wealthy man who has his opinions about the others in the church and a tenacious woman who is on the brink of poverty herself but refuses to back down from her mission.

In order to secure a future in spite of her mother’s failing healthy and father’s chronic gambling, Lydia King is set on winning the heart of a local politician. His mother, who makes no secret of her dislike for Lydia, gives her the task of securing a donation for the Teaville Moral Society from the town’s wealthiest man. She’s not asking for much, surely Nicholas Lowe will help those less fortunate than himself.

But Nicholas prefers to help others in his own way, not through the condescending ladies at his church, but Lydia Kings proves to be a persistent little thing. When he gives her a means of compromise, both Nicholas and Lydia begin to realize their short-sightedness and prejudices. And as they spend time together, their friendship grows into more than either of them expected.

While they both have their flaws, Nicholas and Lydia are likable characters (because Jagears isn’t afraid to show their humanity to readers). As the two begin to let go of their own prejudices and see through the eyes of the other person, they both become even better people for it. A wonderful read that has me looking forward to the next in this series.

A Heart Most Certain is available in bookstores and online now.

***Bethany House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Bride At Last by Melissa Jagears

July 21, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Silas Jonesey arrives too late to reconcile with the mail-order bride who’d abandoned him a decade ago. While Lucinda wasn’t the easiest woman to deal with, Silas knows he made mistakes too. Mistakes he still struggles with at times. He does learn that he might have a son, nine year old Anthony. Longing for the family he never had, Silas puts all of his effort into proving his paternity. The problem? Kate Dawson. The teacher loves the boy and believed she’d be taking over his care. Not to mention the other man claiming to be the boy’s father. As Silas and Kate spend time together, they become friends with the possibility of more. But can past hurts and mistakes ruin their chance to create the family Silas dreams of?

A Bride at Last had me on a rollercoaster ride with this couple. Kate doesn’t trust Silas at first, but he is determined to prove himself. Both her and Anthony. Right when you think there will be a decision made of who Anthony’s father is, they’re thrown together even more when Anthony disappears. A few times throughout the story, it looks like this couple is giving up before they even begin. But God’s forgiveness and grace are greater than fear of the past. The journey to the final page is an enjoyable one.

****Bethany House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears

November 25, 2014 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell intends to surprise her future husband by arriving a week early. She gets her own unpleasant surprise when her train is robbed and the thieves steal all of her inheritance—money she told Axel Langston she had to help him with his store. When she arrives in Kansas with a cut on her cheek given to her by one of the train robbers, William Stanton is called in to patch her up. The attractions Will feels toward Eliza is almost immediate so when he learns she’s his business partner and best friend’s intended, he knows he needs to stay away from her. When she comes into their store with no money, no place to stay, and no help, Will decides to help her. Sparks fly between the two of them until Axel returns and the real trouble begins. Both Eliza and Will have dreams that will take them in different directions—Will wants to become a doctor and Eliza wants to run a successful store. Will they follow the dreams they’ve been chasing or will they find a new dream together?

I have read both the novella and the Melissa Jagear’s other book in this series and this one was by far my favorite (you do not need to read the others to read this one. The few things you might need to know from the previous works are explained in this one). Both of the main characters were well written and endearing in different ways. Will is a tenderhearted man who wants to do what’s best for everyone. You grieve his losses with him. Eliza is a confident woman who’s not afraid of a little work and she is determined to prove her worth. I didn’t want to put the book down once I started. Definitely worth the read.

***Bethany House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.