Our Good Life participates in affiliate marketing and other forms of advertising. We only recommend products and services we believe in and think they will be of use to you.

A Stolen Heart #ourgoodlifebooklist

The first in a series, this historical fiction novel, A Stolen Heart by Amanda Cabot,  takes place in fictional Cimarron Creek, Texas.  Lydia Crawford, a "Yankee" from New York, has the audacity to move to Texas years after the end of the Civil War, while tensions are still tight from the carpetbaggers who swept through town and stole from the residents.  She does get a warm welcome from the Sheriff, Travis Whitfield, who is expecting his father to come home.  His father is the worst of the residents for hating the Yankees, as he lost his leg in the war.


Lydia comes to Cimarron Creek to find her fiance and to marry, but learns quickly that he has married someone else and has disappeared mysteriously.  Thus begins our journey through a windy road of crime that has come to town.  Edgar's disappearance, the rape of a woman, the poisoning of farm animals, all since Travis has become sheriff.  At a loss of what to do, Lydia is saved by Travis' delightful aunt Bertha, who offers her lodging, but a lot more, friendship.  Lydia vows never to marry, since Edgar betrayed her, and Bertha offers her a shoulder to cry on and comfort with sound advice.

The story moves forward with more crime, and with Lydia's increasing friendship with Travis.  The two work together on the crimes, while Bertha helps Lydia open a candy shop.  This is my favorite part of the book, reading about the plans of the shop, the candies they will make, the designs, the interaction of the town's unfriendly women to Lydia.  The only thing that would have made it even better would be a recipe for the fudge!

My skeptical side wonders how a candy story that sells chocolate could manage in the heat of Texas. There weren't many confectionaries during that time and in a small town, these folks seemed to have plenty of money for their treats. We don't hear about kids drooling at the window or coming in to beg for a treat, even though in Lydia's former life she was a schoolteacher.

The book has a Christian background that plays an important part, and it does delve into the evil that can hide in a person's soul.  It isn't all cherries and rainbows.  The author does a great job of making sure that these elements are equally distributed, without getting too dark or too syrupy.

All that said, I did enjoy the book and I plan to read book two when it is out.  I recommend it to you, too, are you interested in reading it?

I was given this book by Revell Reads in exchange for my honest opinion.

Would you like to comment?

  1. Yup, I am adding this to my summer reading list. We are getting our beach pass this month, so that means LOTS of time to read is coming my way.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like an interesting book. It is not my normal genre that I am typically drawn too, but I like trying out new things :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love reading books with a Christian story line, so I bet this is a really good one!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds like my type of book :-) I really enjoy Christian fiction and will have to put it on my list!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This sounds like it's right up my alley. I tend to limit my fiction choices to historical settings.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am needing to find a good series to restart my love of reading. I love historical fiction so this is right up my alley.

    ReplyDelete

  7. I really enjoy reading historical fiction when it helps me learn more about a time period. I like the mystery of crimes solving as well. Sounds good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This book sound lovely. I shall look for this on Amazon. xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. I seriously have a STACK of books a mile high to read. If I ever get to them. Between working full time and blogging and being with my family, I feel like I need more hours in the day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. lydia5:18 PM

    I've beenreading so much historical fiction lately, this look like a perfect read!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds like an interesting read. I like the mixture of crime, a person out of place but trying to find their way, and starting a confectionary.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This book looks really good! It's always nice to find books with a Christian value.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This looks like a lovely book, adding it to my reading list!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I haven't read Amanda Cabot before but it sounds like I should check her out! I love historical fiction and it's nice to see that while there is some romance it's still done in an authentic wholesome way.

    ReplyDelete

Welcome! If you liked what you read, please take a moment to share by tweeting, pinning or yumming! Much appreciated!