The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark

I really enjoy all of Lawana Blackwell's novels. Thisis one of my favorites. The story is very entertaining and good. It's a good Christian romance novel.

Lydia Clark, thirty-four-year-old spinster school mistress, has resigned herself to finding fulfillment with her parents, job, and relationship with Jesus Christ. Suddenly she seems to be the object of affection by two men, both of whom do not interest her at all. Widowed Mr. Towly, old and unattractive, makes no bones about the fact that he needs a mother for his children and someone to take care of his home. Harold Sanders, crude and uneducated, does everything he can think of to attract Lydia, and, in doing so, finds himself attracted to someone else. When Lydia does finally begin to fall in love, it is with archeologist Jacob, who is desperately in love with novelist Miss Rawlins, and only wants Lydia to help him understand her books. Meanwhile, love is also blossoming with other Gresham residents; Paul Treves has finally gotten over his broken heart from book 2, and finds himself attracted to Mrs. Somerville, mysterious newcomer in Gresham. Widowed Mrs. Meeks finds herself attracted to a neighborly young man, only to realize that she can never marry him because he is an unbeliever. Noelle Somerville, who is frantically trying to run from her past and restore her relationship to God at the same time, has made up her mind never to wed a vicar, but is nevertheless hopelessly attracted to one. Love is even showing itself among the teenage set, as Laurel Phelps receives love poems from Ben Mayhew. Once again, Blackwell has woven together many different stories of the residents of Gresham, uniting them all with the steadying advice and presence of Andrew and Julia Phelps and the unconditional love and free gift of grace from Jesus Christ. Superb addition to this wonderful series!

If you start reading this book, I guaratee you won't want to put it down!!! It has a great plot with descriptive characters whom you want to meet in person, and great setting and also the forgiveness of God in the bad things they do. I identify with alot of the character's feelings and wishes. Mrs. Blackwell did a wonderful job of weaving all the characters' lives together in one book. This is one of Mrs. Lawana's best!!! Please keep writing because I enjoy your books soooo much. I hope to read "The Maiden of Mayfair" soon since it promises a wonderful read also! Keep it up Mrs. Lawana!!

"Finally, a heroine who's not necessarily beautiful!" That may sound like a strange sentiment from a devoted fan of romance, but books like this offer hope to those of us who aren't exactly models. By the way, I'm not classing this as just another romance, because the Gresham Chronicles are so much more than just romance novels. Read this book and I guarantee you'll enjoy more than just the incidental love stories. For example, if the story of Vicar Phelps and the fig bread doesn't make you smile, you're taking life way too seriously! Intrigued? Well, you'd better read the book!

What a wonderful series! Lawana Blackwell captures real feelings and pens them perfectly. A must read even if you haven't read the other two. I even laughed out loud a few times, along with feeling the character's pain. Can't wait for a fourth to see who and what develops next!