Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Loving Beth by Bonnie Rose Ward

Book: Loving Beth

Author: Bonnie Rose Ward

Genre: Christian Historical Romance Fiction

Release Date: June 8, 2023

A courageous woman, a bitter man, and God’s plan.

Times were hard after Beth McCullough’s father died in the Civil War, but she and her mother are getting by on their little farm outside Rosewood, West Virginia. The kindly banker holding the loan lets them pay what they can. Then Beth’s mother dies suddenly, and the banker’s arrogant son gives her only thirty days to pay her full debt. Beth is left alone and lonely and fears losing the only home she’s ever known. It would be nice to have someone in her life like Jacob, the handsome man who found her mother. Then to her horror, Beth discovers two small children who’ve been abandoned. It’s one more thing for her to worry about, but Beth has to keep faith in God’s ability to work miracles.

Although he has to travel to Baltimore to care for his ailing mother, Jacob Wallace can’t stop thinking about Beth, but he’d promised his late wife he’d never love again after her tragic death. After receiving a letter with terrible rumors about Beth, Jacob returns to Rosewood, angry, bitter, and disillusioned, more determined than ever to keep his vow to never love again. He’s right to close his heart against Beth.

As Beth struggles to protect the children and keep her farm, she’s also defending against Jacob’s unfounded suspicions. The danger escalates with an attack and threats to her life. But God moves in mysterious ways. Is there room in Jacob’s heart for a new love? Will they learn to trust each other and have faith in God’s plan to find their way together?

 

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Christian Historical Romance Fiction is one of my favorite Genres. Loving Beth by Bonnie Rose Ward is the most recent book in this genre that I have had the opportunity to read. I was excited to read this book as it is by a "new to me" author. The book is Book 1 in the Rosewood Chronicles. 

Beth McCullough has lost both of her parents. Her Dad died in the Civil War and her mother recently passed away. Beth and her mother were struggling to pay the loan on their farm in Rosewood, West Virginia before her death. The Son of the Banker gives Beth 30 days to pay everything in FULL after her mother passes away. Beth is really worried that she is going to lose the only home she has ever known. She is wishing she had a handsome man to be alongside her, someone like Jacob, the man who found her mother deceased. Beth finds 2 children abandoned and takes them into her home to help them. Jacob Wallace has gone back to Baltimore to take care of his mother who is ill and his mind is on Beth. He has growing feelings for her, but he wants to keep his promise to his late wife to never love again. He goes back to Rosewood after receiving a letter with some info about Beth that has him angry and bitter. He returns with more determination to not let his heart have feelings for Beth. Beth is now facing 3 battles: Saving the farm, caring for the Children, and defending herself against Jacob's bitterness. Beth is attacked and it changes things for Beth and Jacob. Will Beth be able to save the Farm? Will Jacob allow his heart to accept Beth and will there be a relationship between the pair? 

WOW, I am in AWE of this book and storyline. I was immediately drawn into the book and did not stop reading until i finished 5hours later. Beth had gone through a lot and then to have the burden of trying to save the farm and home should have been enough. The Abandoned children really warmed my heart that Beth took them in to love and care for them. Jacob is a wonderful man and it was a little heartbreaking that he believed what he read in the letter about Beth. i am glad that Beth was able to defend herself and Jacob's heart softened. I really LOVE that the characters rely on their faith throughout the book. The book is one of Faith, LOVE, Forgiveness. It has many twists and turns which bring a wonderful ending. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction. GREAT BOOK!

Bonnie Rose Ward, an award-winning author celebrated for her vivid memoirs recounting life in the Alaskan wilderness, currently resides in West Virginia with her husband. Bonnie’s homestead is nestled within the serene foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. The spirit of these mountains and her husband’s familial tales from the region breathe life into her compelling narratives of Appalachian resilience, strength, and the quest for love. Drawing from her fifteen-years in the wilderness, Bonnie’s present lifestyle encapsulates the essence of self-sufficiency. Together with Samuel, she tends to a menagerie of goats, chickens, Zebu cattle, and other barnyard animals, while also cultivating their verdant gardens. When not immersed in her rural responsibilities, Bonnie transitions into her writer’s persona. At her keyboard, she masterfully weaves new tales echoing the valor of women, the fidelity of men, and the extraordinary miracles that God orchestrates in their lives. Bonnie Rose Ward is not just an author, but a storyteller—painting vivid pictures with her words that resonate with the human spirit’s trials, triumphs, and faith.

More from Bonnie

My husband, and I lived in the Alaskan wilderness for many years. We built cabins and lived off the land. While there, Sam shared stories about his ancestors—especially those of his spunky great grandmother, Easter Mullens. I was fascinated by her life. We eventually purchased my husband’s mother’s old homeplace nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, and together we built our home by hand, reminiscent of the cabins we built in Alaska. Living in the wilderness for fifteen years gave me the skills and understanding of how our forefathers and mothers’ must have lived in the 1800s. Sam often talked about his aunts foraging from the land—they knew what vegetation you could eat and what you couldn’t. I became enamored with these hardy, resilient mountain people and their stories.

I started to write Easter’s story as nonfiction, but my imagination took over and a fictional story grew from the fragments of her life and circumstances.

As you know, characters are typically a composite of people we know and characters we imagine, with a bit of ourselves sprinkled in there. Beth originally was a combination of Sam and my ancestors—at least, how I imagined them to be. As I worked with her, she took on a life of her own. Instead of simply being impressed by her courage, I realized how vulnerable she is. I also realized that being so young, she is going to make mistakes a more mature person wouldn’t. But I think her driving characteristic is her spunk. She does what she has to do to survive in a harsh world and to protect those she loves.

Jacob is a decent man whose devotion to his departed wife leaves no room for another. He has to come to terms not just with his wife’s death, but with what is expected from him as he puts the pieces of his life back together. Most importantly, he must realize his harshest expectations are those he has cast upon himself—and that his stubbornness is destroying not only his own happiness, but the happiness of those he loves.

Faith, love, and determination are the main themes of the book. Faith has been so important in my own life and got me through so much when we lived in the Alaskan wilderness. Therefore, I wanted to illustrate the role faith played in the lives of Beth and Jacob. Love comes in so many different forms, and I wanted to explore the different types of love. There’s the love between a man and a woman; the love between parents and children—even if they are not biologically related; and, of course, the love that grows from relying on good neighbors and friends. Determination is what allows us to survive the unsurvivable. Without the determination that seeds in our guts and grows to see us through the worst times of our lives, we would not succeed. Of course, determination can also work against us. When we stubbornly adhere to principles that are no longer relevant, our determination cause much more harm than good.

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Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 20 (Author Interview)

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Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 21

Texas Book-aholic, January 22

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Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 24

For Him and My Family, January 25

Books I’ve Read, January 26

Connie’s History Classroom, January 26

To celebrate her tour, Bonnie is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card & a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2979d/loving-beth-celebration-tour-giveaway

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Loving Beth by Bonnie Rose Ward

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