The Marshal Takes a Bride

Genre: Steeple Hill Love Inspired (Historical) Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Katherine is the pretty daughter of a widow who turned to running a brothel to support herself and her child. After her mother left with a man, Katherine's tainted reputation is further shattered by an unwanted attack by one of her mother's old customers. She is taken in and given a position as the schoolteacher at an orphanage in Denver that is run by her best friend and her husband. Katherine has discovered and rescued her five year old sister who was left abandoned in a gold mining camp after their mother's death. Timid Molly now lives with her and is her joy to raise. U.S. Marshall Trey Scott is a man whose main goal is to capture and get revenge on the man who killed his pregnant wife four years before. Trey has met Katherine and Molly while visiting his good friend at the orphanage. He loves playing with Molly and is helping to pull her out of herself to be a fun loving child. Trey isn't thinking or planning to marry as he is still set on honoring his dead wife. But when Trey inadvertently compromises Katherine he offers to marry her to protect her reputation and to keep further stigma away from Molly. Katherine is a devoted Christian who believes in forgiveness and trusts God to help her in her daily walk. She refuses to be unequally yoked with Trey as she does not want to trap Trey who is still wrapped in his own pain and set on his hunt for revenge. There is more to the refusal however because Katherine has not yet learned to release her full fears regarding men and to trust God with bigger plans for her life. Can Katherine struggle past her fear and can Trey honor her demand to leave vengeance in God's hands? These are wonderfully developed characters with a sweet story. There is quite a bit of fun in this story with vivacious and mischievous Molly, prim Katherine and Trey who is fun and loving even though he has tried to bury that part of himself. This is a lovely story of learning forgiveness and trust.

I have to admit I haven't read that many inspirational books. Most I find too contrived and the Christianity is beating me over the head. Not this book. This is a wonderful story about the power of love and how it helps a couple to find a new and better way. The characters and situations were natural and not contrived. The developing faith in hard situations was something I could certainly relate to and rewarding for me as a reader. I highly recommend reading The Marshall Takes a Bride.