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Wednesday, November 16, 2022

My Thoughts -Matters of the Heart Author: Heidi Gray McGill

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Matters of the Heart

Title: Matters of the Heart
Author: Heidi Gray McGill
Publisher: Heidi Gray McGill Books LLC
Release Date: July 26, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

She determines to champion the needs of others, no matter the fallout.

He’s determined to be his own man and make his own way.

Will stubbornness keep them from discovering God’s best?

Unconventional Katie empathizes with the widows and orphans of the Civil War who are searching for a place to call home in Shumard Oak Bend. But with no one to help her, she’ll need to do it secretly, a challenge she readily accepts. Katie’s taken charge before, and she’ll do it again, no matter whom she has to outwit to get the job done.

Hans vows to stop doing everyone else’s bidding. But he follows orders when a pair of emerald green eyes, blazing red hair, and freckles that dance on the bridge of a pert nose conscript him to duty. Be his own man. Who is he kidding? Skunks don’t change their stripes. They leave disasters in their wake wherever they go, just like him.

Overcoming personal obstacles and finding your true self doesn’t mean going it alone. Yet the answer isn’t always in the one you seek.

True Christian Fiction. Relatable Characters. Life-changing stories.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heidi Gray McGill

Whether historical or contemporary, you will find Heidi Gray McGill‘s works to be true Christian Fiction, full of God’s redeeming love. Everything Heidi writes is purposeful. She believes in bringing a reader into the awareness of who God is to them and how He interacts with them on a personal level. She does this by crafting characters so relatable you feel part of who they are. Heidi reaches deep into the reader’s heart through masterfully written words and offers ways toward healing by seamlessly applying God’s Word throughout her stories.

Connect with Heidi by visiting her website to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


My Thoughts

Matters is the Heart is written by Heidi Gray McGill. This is part of the Shumard Oak Bend series. I had not read the other books in the series but did it feel lost at all. This book is set right after the Civil War and opens in 1866. The author chose to see the story in Missouri and included great historical details.

Katie has come over from Ireland to live with her aunt in her boarding house. Katie has some big dreams and feels it is her calling to open a orphanage in order to care and help the widows and orphans from the war. Katie however isn’t the most lady-like woman. But her spitfire personality made me like her even more.

Hans feels like a broken failed man. He didn’t see action during the Civil War but was affected a different way. He handled a lot of the deceased individuals. He worked at a field hospital and saw broken and deceased men all day long. He returned to his families farm afterwards but his brothers wife would rather see him off then assisting. Hans isn’t sure what God has in store for him and is afraid to talk to him. Until he meets Reverend on his way to Shumard Oak.

This book has a whole cast of secondary characters that make the book feel complete. The whole town has its own dynamics including the magistrate who will do anything to make sure Katie’s dreams are squashed. The author did a phenomenal job with bringing the town to life. I felt like I was a part of the story. I could see the scenes unfolding In front of my eyes.

I enjoyed seeing the characters all evolve throughout the book. The author places some great scripture in to back up the lesson she is trying to teach. Katie and Hans have an interesting meeting and it kept me laughing throughout the book.

Historically, I felt the author did a good job creating her story as accurate as possible. There were still prejudices that those of different descent faced at this time period. The nation was still healing from a horrible war. There were some that were still stuck in their ways.


Thank you to the author, publisher and  JustRead Publicity Tours for allowing me to read a copy of this story. All thoughts are my own.



TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive an Amazon Fire 7 tablet.

Matters of the Heart JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 16, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 23, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


ENTER: HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours


4 comments:

  1. Thank you for this beautifully written review.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Books written so that the reader feels like she is part of the story and setting are the best. Matters of the Heart sounds like an awesome story.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Matters of the Heart sounds like a book that I really want to read, thanks for sharing it with me!

    Thanks, Connie, for sharing your thoughts!

    Have a marvelous week!

    ReplyDelete