10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gingham Bride, Mar 21 2010
By Susan Hollaway - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Gingham Bride (Mass Market Paperback)
Fiona thinks her life can't get any worse and dreams and plans for the day that she can escape the control of her abusive father and defeated, angry mother. Since her brother died, she has lived in a house completely void of kindness, caring, or love of any sort. Her only respite is when she finds solace in the barn with the animals and at school or church with her friends. She lives in fear that one false move will send her drunken father into a fit of rage and invite yet another beating from him. Just when she thinks life can get no worse, she finds that Ian, the man who her father had "arranged" for her to marry someday, shows up. Does he really want her or just her father's land? When terms cannot be met and he leaves, her father finds someone else for her to marry. Will she be forced to live in a worse place with a horrendous man even more abusive than her father? Ian comes to the rescue, but with terms she can't seem to understand. She tries to keep her heart uninvolved and out of harm's way. Will she keep her vow to never marry and let a man have control over her? My opinion: This is a wonderful holiday love story showing how God's love works through a patient man who lives as the Lord leads him and puts those he loves first before himself and his own dreams. This story is woven beautifully to show how God can heal the broken heart of a young girl who's lived a lifetime of pain and rejection, helping her learn to trust and even love a man who seems too good to be true. Once again, Hart had me pulled into her story from the very beginning and kept me there through the entire book. I felt as I was living right alongside her characters. I didn't want to put her book down. In fact, I want to be a part of Fiona's sewing circle. I would love to read more love stories of the characters in this book, as well as see more into the married life of Fiona and Ian. The characters are so likable that you don't want their stories to end.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Favorite Historical so far!...., April 28 2010
By T. "Auntie T" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Gingham Bride (Mass Market Paperback)
I LOVE Jillian Hart! She is one of my favorite authors. And she is the one who got me into, Historical romance, in the first place, with her books...I LOVED this book! Couldn't put it down! I absolutely fell 'In LOVE' with the character, Ian. Found myself HATING Fiona's parents! Very sweet, hearwarming Christmas romance with a 'Happy Ending!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wanting to escape the anger of one man, but falling for one that protects, Jan 15 2012
By A. Lachina - Published on Amazon.com
Fiona and Ian had been promised to each other by their grandparents years ago. Fiona wanted to escape her family and desired to never have one of her own. Ian came to meet Fiona as a promise to his ill grandmother hoping to find a way to make life better for them financially. He didn't expect to find a woman that was beautiful and that he longed to protect. It is a sweet story that starts this Buttons and Bobbins series. I loved the sacrifices they made for each other. Overall a good read that I couldn't put down until I finished all the books available in the series.