Review of "Sixty Acres and a Bride" by Regina Jennings

Rating: 4 Stars

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Summary: She's Finally Found a Place to Call Home... How Far Will She Go to Save It?

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With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.

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Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. 

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Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future. Read an excerpt: http://ow.ly/9sK2C.    

Review: Regina Jennings puts a fresh spin on the well-known and often retold story of Boaz and Ruth in her debut novel, Sixty Acres and a Bride.  While the overall plot is somewhat predictable, the Texas setting, Mexican protagonist, and finely crafted details, create unique intricacies. The novel began a bit slowly for me as I tried to connect with the characters.  Both Rosa and Weston have back stories that are gradually revealed over the course of the novel.  As a result, the reader grows to know the characters and connect with them by the end of the novel. 
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Rosa is a unique heroine, who can be called a woman-child.  Her Mexican ways are not always welcome or understood in her Texas town.  She faces harsh judgement for actions which would be considered normal and acceptable in her Mexican village. Jennings captures the pain of discrimination through Rosa's character.  Rosa displays an admirable character and faith despite her many hardships; and her willingness to sacrifice her future for her mother-in-law is particularly poignant.  While her past and present struggles make Rosa a woman, she also possesses an endearing child-like innocence and spunk that lightens the tone of the novel. 
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Weston is, in many ways, the classic hero: strong, confident, and possessing an admirable character.  As a pillar of the community, he could easily reject Rosa, believing that an association with her would mar his reputation.  Instead, he becomes her friend and protector.  As he struggles with his growing attraction to the young Mexican beauty, his scarred past is slowly uncovered, revealing a layer of self-doubt and pain. The love story between Rosa and Weston is not easy or painless, but there is a tenderness and perfection amid the rough patches. 
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Jennings' description of the Texas landscape and the sheep ranch is a welcome departure to the more traditional settings of historical fiction.  The details of the daily chores involved in running a ranch and the struggles in covering expenses add realism to the plot.  So often ranch life is romanticized in novels, and I appreciated Jennings' less glamorized approach.  
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Sixty Acres and a Bride is a strong introduction to the work of Regina Jennings.  I look forward to reading her future novels. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

About the Author: Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Meet Regina here.

Learn more about Regina by visiting her website, www.reginajennings.com.

Buy the Book: www.amazon.com

Blog Tour Schedule: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours

Read an Excerpt:

Sixty Acres and a Bride

Mine is the Night By Liz Curtis Higgs

Rating: 5 stars

Do you ever just feel like you just need a vacation and a chance to escape from your daily routine?  Like many readers, settling down with a good book to read at night allows me to take those mini-vacations and journey into another time and place. Isn't it exciting, when every once in a while, you encounter a treasure? When I first received Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs, the cover captured my interest.  While the cover resembles a Renaissance painting, the spine has the appearance of an old novel.   It may not always be true that you can judge a book by looking at its cover; but in this case, you can.  From its stunning cover to its last page, Mine is the Night captured my interest and imagination.

Mine is the Night takes its readers into the breathtaking country of eighteenth century Scotland.  Elisabeth Kerr and her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr, arrive in the village of Selkirk as widows with limited resources. As married women, Elisabeth and Marjory led a life blessed in material riches, but now they must rely on the strength of their faith and the generosity of Marjory's cousin Anne as they settle into a new beginning.  For Marjory, returning home brings both sadness and comfort as she remembers her past and tries to embrace her future.  Elisabeth Kerr is a Highlander by birth and faces her new circumstances by being resourceful and using the talent of her needle.  While she can masterfully mend any garment, her heart has been torn by a marriage filled with betrayal and hurt.  Will her new friends in Selkirk, and especially Lord Admiral Jack Buchanan, help to heal her wounds of distrust?

With vivid details and descriptions of the lush Scottish countryside and village, Liz Curtis Higgs took me on a journey that was highlighted by endearing characters that captured my heart.  While I have not read the prequel, Here Burns My Candle, I understood the sense of loss that Elisabeth and Marjory were experiencing as they tried to adjust to their new lives.  By sharing the story from the viewpoints of Elisabeth, Marjory, and Jack, Higgs created character depth that allowed me to understand each person's motivation and viewpoint.  I sympathized with each character's struggles and shared their happiness as well.  Since I enjoy watching period BBC dramas, I felt that I was watching a movie unfold in my mind as I read the authentic Scottish dialect and envisioned the setting.   For readers who may not be accustomed to reading or hearing the dialect, Higgs provides a glossary of terms at the end of the book.


Mine is the Night is a masterfully woven story that will enchant its readers. I highly recommend fellow readers to come along and become swept into its journey.





Mine is the Night is available for purchase at the following locations:
Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Multnomah/ WaterBrook Press through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”