A Noble Groom...Review

About the book:
Michigan, 1880

Annalisa Werner's hope for a fairy tale love is over. Her husband failed her in every way and now his death has left her with few options to save the family farm. She needs a plentiful harvest. That, and a husband to help bring it in. Someone strong, dependable. That'll be enough. A marriage for love...that's something she's given up on.

So her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom. Then a man appears: Carl Richards, from their home country of Germany and a former schoolteacher-or so he says. He's looking for work and will serve on the farm until her husband arrives.

With time running out, she accepts his help, but there's more to this man than he's admitting. He's also gentle, kind, charming-unlike any man she's ever known. But even as Carl is shining light into the darkness of her heart, she knows her true groom may arrive any day.

Wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commit, Carl is freed from prison with the help of his manservant and sent to America to get away.  When he arrives in Forestville, Michigan, he promises to help Annalisa on her farm until the requested groom arrives.  Brilliant and educated, Carl longs for the academic world and, as a nobleman, has no experience with farming or hard labor.  But, charmed by the lovely young widow, he perseveres.  Neither plans on falling for the other and when the requested groom finally arrives, Carl and Annalisa must finally face their feelings once and for all.

As Carl's past comes to light, Annalisa must also decide whether their love is strong enough to challenge the prejudices and anger of her father and the other men in the community.

Carl was awesome. Bit too good to be true, but compared with Hans and the other men of the settlement, he's a true saint.   His interactions with Gretchen, especially, were delightful.  Annalisa was a strong, spunky young woman determined to make the best of her life, regardless of her circumstances.

While likely historically accurate, the treatment of women at the hands of their husbands really bothered me. These women had no say in their own lives, their husbands and fathers completely ruled their lives, even to the point of deciding when and whom they would marry.  Perhaps that was a leftover from the class differences in Germany.  At any rate, it really made me mad and I loved seeing Carl challenge it and treat Annalisa with the respect she deserved.

Thanks to Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review this book.  You can learn more about Jody Hedlund here.  You can see other reviews and tour stops here.  You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 4/13

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Comments

  1. Oh, this was an excellent review, and makes me really want to read this book! I also get mad when I hear about gender inequality, and it sounds like this book turns that on it's ear, which I like as well. Off to find this one. It sounds very good!

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