Secrets and Wishes by Kathleen Rousler Book Review and Promo Blast

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Stone Creek, Michigan, April 1901 — Maggie Galloway and Thomas Harper clash after their sons collides in a fistfight. Both widowed, they’re each doing their best as single-parents. Outgoing Maggie has dreams for a home of her own and a business to provide for her son as she searches for God’s path for her life as a widow. Reserved Thomas struggles to establish his new pharmacy and take care of his four rambunctious children while wondering how a loving God could take his beloved wife.

When Thomas becomes deathly ill, Maggie is recruited to nurse him back to health. Taking the children in hand, as well, is more than she bargained for, but she is drawn to help the grieving family. Both nurse and patient find themselves drawn to each other but promptly deny their feelings. 

A baking contest sponsored by the Silver Leaf Flour Company brings former beau, Giles Prescott, back into Maggie’s life. When Giles offers Maggie a position at their test kitchen in Chicago, he hints that, along with assuring her a good job, it will allow them to possibly rekindle their relationship. 

But then a charlatan comes to town, and tragedy soon follows. Maggie and Thomas discover the miracle potions he hawks aren’t so harmless when an epidemic hits Stone Creek. Thomas and Maggie realize they must work together to save lives.

Maggie finds herself caught up in battles within and without—the battle to help the townsfolk in the midst of illness and chicanery, and the battle to know which man—Thomas or Giles—deserves to win her heart. 

  

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MY BOOK REVIEW

This was my first time reading a Kathleen Rouser book. I didn't realize "Secrets and Wishes" was the second book in the series. The first book is "Rumors and Promises."  

"Secrets and Wishes" is Romantic Christian historical fiction. It takes place in the early 1900s located in a small town in Michigan. Maggie Galloway is a widow trying to raise her son by herself. She is a strong outspoken woman and also a lady. During that time period, it was a man's world so she had to be an outspoken as well as a ladylike too.  

Thomas Harper also lost his spouse and is raising four children all while trying to run the apothecary by himself. Thomas and Maggie disagreed on a lot of things, but they also found a lot of things in common. Throughout the novel, Rouser did a great job of weaving in faith base messages without sounding preachy. 

Throughout the book, we are taken into the life of Maggie and Thomas and all the events going on in the small town such as a baking contest. There is never a dull moment and unanticipated twists. 

I love her writing style. I was never bored or confused. She definitely did her research.  It was fun reading a story taken place in Michigan when I live in Michigan. I would love to meet Kathleen Rouser because it would be so much fun writing a script adaption on her story for Hallmark because her locations came to life, the details of the apothecary from that era were incredibly on the nose and interesting. I am fascinated with historical fictions especially when the time period is the 1940s or older. In 1900s they had to deal with so many epidemics and inventions. In the early 1900s apothecary and medicines being peddled by traveling shows that caused harm at times.  I can tell Rouser also loves her history because of the details throughout the book. 

I would highly recommend reading this heartwarming series. I look forward to reading more stories set in Stone Creek, Michigan with all the wonderful people in the town. 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen Rouser is the multi-published author of the 2017 Bookvana Award winner, Rumors and Promises, her first novel about the people of fictional Stone Creek, Michigan, and its sequel, Secrets and Wishes. She is a longtime member in good standing of American Christian Fiction Writers. Kathleen has loved making up stories since she was a little girl and wanted to be a writer before she could even read. She longs to create characters who resonate with readers and realize the need for a transforming Savior in their everyday lives.  A former homeschool instructor, mild-mannered dental assistant, and current Community Bible Study kids’ teacher, she lives in Michigan with her hero and husband of thirty-some years, and the sassy tail-less cat who found a home in their empty nest. Connect with Kathleen on her website at kathleenrouser.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser/, and on Twitter @KathleenRouser.

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