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Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Book Review and Giveaway - Her Guarded Heart Author: Sharlene MacLaren On Tour with Celebrate Lit

 

About the Book

Book: Her Guarded Heart

Author: Sharlene MacLaren

Genre: FICTION / Christian/Romance/Historical

Release date: February 1, 2022


At age twenty-one, Anna Hansen has had more than her share of hardship. Her mother died when she was eleven and her father just passed away under mysterious circumstances, leaving her to care for her ten-year-old brother, Billy Ray. She struggles to hang onto the family farm but it’s facing foreclosure and things are looking grim.

Next door, Jesse Fuller’s drive, work ethic, and skill ensure that his family’s farm is a growing success. His brothers think he should marry Anna to help out her and her kid brother…while also enabling the Fullers to expand their operation. But Jesse has never had romantic feelings for Anna and the idea doesn’t appeal to him.

In the meantime, Horace Blackthorn is hell-bent on acquiring the Hansen farm for reasons of his own. And he’ll do whatever it takes to get it—lie, cheat, steal…even murder.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author


Born and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating with an education degree in 1971, she taught second grade for two years, then accepted an invitation to travel internationally for a year with a singing ensemble. Afterward, she returned to her teaching job, then in 1975, she reunited with her childhood sweetheart, and they married that very December. They have raised two lovely daughters, both of whom are now happily married and enjoying their own families. Retired in 2003 after thirty-one years of teaching, Shar loves to read, sing, travel, and spend time with her family—in particular, her adorable grandchildren!

Shar has always enjoyed writing, and her high school classmates eagerly read and passed around her short stories. In the early 2000s, Shar felt God’s call upon her heart to take her writing pleasures a step further, so in 2006, she signed a contract with Whitaker House for her first faith-based novel, Through Every Storm, thereby launching her professional writing career. With almost two dozen published novels now gracing store shelves and being sold online, Shar gives God all the glory.

Shar’s novels have won numerous awards. Most recently, Their Daring Hearts was named a 2018 Top Pick by Romantic Times, and A Love to Behold was voted “Book of the Year” in 2019 by Interviews & Reviews. The two prior books in Shar’s Hearts of Honor series, centered on the Fuller brothers, include Her Rebel Heart and Her Steadfast Heart.

Shar has done numerous countrywide book signings and has participated in several interviews on television and radio. She loves to speak for community organizations, libraries, church groups, and women’s conferences. In her church, she is active in women’s ministries, regularly facilitating Bible studies and other events. Shar and her husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan.

 

More from Sharlene

  • Setting is Lebanon, Ohio, after the Civil War
  • The lead character’s father dies under mysterious circumstances; the next day, President Lincoln is assassinated
  • This is Sharlene’s 24th novel with Whitaker House

My Thoughts

Sharlene MacLaren is one of my favorite Christian Historical Fiction authors. Her stories are always so historically accurate. She writes a lot of her books during my favorite time periods, the Civil War and right after. This is also set in my home state of Ohio. So I was excited to see this.  Her Guarded Heart is book three in the Hearts of Honor series. I have read one other book in the series, and they can all be read as stand alone books. 

 Anna  and her brother Billy Ray have gone through a lot of hardships. Their mother died and their father passed away under mysterious circumstances. Anna is doing everything she can to try and save their family farm, which is now facing foreclosure. My heart just went out to Anna. She is a likeable character. 

Jesse Fuller is Anna's neighbor. They have the farm next door. He is encouraged to court and marry Anna. His family wants to combine the farms. Jesse does not see Anna in that light. However, you will see both of these characters grow and evolve through the story. 

One character that I was not found of was the town pain in the butt, Horace Blackthorn. He is convinced there is treasure that is on Anna's family farm and will not stop until he gets it. Could have been behind her father's death? 

I loved the balance of romance, mystery, and all the historical richness. The author wrote some realistic characters. The story flows nicely. I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own. 

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 22

Connie’s History Classroom, February 23

For Him and My Family, February 24

Fiction Book Lover, February 25 (Spotlight)

deb’s Book Review, February 25

Inklings and notions, February 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 27

Artistic Nobody, February 28 (Spotlight)

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 1

Texas Book-aholic, March 2

Bizwings Blog, March 3

Simple Harvest Reads, March 4 (Spotlight)

Britt Reads Fiction, March 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sharlene is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card and a 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/1ab32/her-guarded-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

3 comments:

  1. Nice to know this can be read as a stand alone. Her Guarded Heart sounds like an intriguing read.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this book, it sounds like a wonderful story. I love the cover and synopsis and I am looking forward to reading this one myself

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  3. I love the cover. It sets the stage for the book.

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