Wyoming

The Heart Answers by Colleen Coble is the third book in the Wyoming series. It is March 1867 at Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming Territory. Jessica DuBois is a flighty, shallow, and spoiled young woman (her parents have really spoiled her). However, Jessica is upset over the loss of her father who passed away two months ago. Jessica and her mother know they have to vacate the officer housing, but her father left them virtually penniless. Jessica's mother, Letty tells her about an offer from Samuel DuBois (her uncle—brother to Jessica's father). Samuel is a widower with three children. He needs a wife and has asked Letty to marry him. Letty has accepted his offer and they are moving to Fort Bridger. Jessica was hoping to return to Boston, but there is no money available for the journey. On the journey to Fort Bridger, they are attacked by Indians. Reverend Clay Cole rescues them and escorts them on to Fort Bridger. They stop at a fort along the way and Clay discovers that his cousin, Martin (more like a brother to him) passed away in a skirmish. Martin left behind his wife, Ellen and a young daughter, Franny. Ellen asks for Clay's assistance in obtaining a position as a laundress (a lowly position at forts) at Fort Bridger so she can provide for Franny. Jessica befriends young Franny and slowly gets to know Ellen. Clay is a mystery to Jessica. He actually rebuffed her (and her flirting). Jessica is more determined to win him and then dump him. But things happen on the frontier that change people. Come along for Jessica's journey in The Heart Answers.

The Hearts Answers was a good book. It is a Christian romance novel and a nice change of a pace for me (gives me a break from mysteries and thrillers). It is well-written, good pace (making it easy to read), and interesting characters. I found the novel to contain a good moral or life lesson (about trusting in God and His plan for our lives, faith, love, and forgiveness). This is the third book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. Each book in the series tells the story of a different woman and their life in Wyoming Territory. I was interested to see what would happen to Jessica and the author did not disappoint me. I give The Heart Answers 4 out of 5 stars. The story has its expected outcome, but that did not diminish my enjoyment of the story (who doesn't love a good ending).

I received a complimentary copy of The Heart Answers from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.