Who is Flora Montgomery? Who is George Bellingham? How do they know one another? Where do we find Flora at in the beginning of the book? Who is this George Baxter person? What is he? Who is Peanut? What about Mr. Dougherty? What group is Flora with at the location she is at? When George finds Pierre, what happens? This book is as much of a mystery with suspense added in as it is a bit of romance at the same time. When things continue to happen, and Flora's father John is entrusted with the truth of who and what George Baxter is and what he is doing there, what is the outcome? When Flora finds out the truth about George Baxter, what does she say and do? What about Pierre? Why is she in his life? What does he mean to her? I find I really do not like Sarah, Flora's former best friend and confidant. Especially considering the change in Flora, which after seeing what she was like before the current situation would have been a woman I did not want to be around. This new Flora I would be happy to call a friend. Who or what is behind everything? You're going to have to read this book and see what happens, because boy is it a whopper!

There is clearly some background to this story (not sure what series it is part of), but this is the first novel by Danica Favorite I’ve read. An Unlikely Mother has a trope that seems to be gaining popularity: the heroine who was selfish or even a bully in the past, now redeemed. If it’s done well I do like it – it’s a nice change from misogynistic, one-dimensional characterisation of women.

I really appreciated that theme in this book. I also liked the slightly more innovative plotline involving a mine, immigrant workers, undercover work, etc. There are very similar themes in many of these books, and this was a little more original.

Some books in Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line (which is a Christian line) work just fine for non-religious people, with the Christian aspects only popping up every now and then, and having little impact on the story.

This is a different kind of book. Instead of the odd prayer peppered throughout, the religion is on every page, in most conversations in some way. I suppose this is really how Christian fiction ought to be, but it doesn’t work as well for people who don’t like the preaching.

I would have been fine with it except for one thing: the redemption of a “fallen woman” character. It is obviously a continuation of something that happened in another book, but it’s referenced multiple times here. The woman who had a child out of wedlock repeatedly talks about ‘God forgiving her for her sin’ in a way that made my stomach churn. While it is a historically accurate mindset, it is appallingly sexist. I’m not so sure about referring to babies as “sins”, either!

I think readers who are genuinely religious will enjoy this more than secular readers (like me). I’d like to try another book by this author at some point, however.

One little thing: a nineteenth-century woman named Shannon? It was mostly a man’s name until the 1970s!

Flora Montgomery desperately wants to overcome her reputation as the stuck up town gossip, she's turned a new page in her life, and wants to help others instead. She volunteers with her church to serve the miners at the mining camp. When a abandoned French boy, Pierre, captures her heart, she is determined to help the miner who rescued him take care of the boy.

George Baxter remembers Flora from their earlier days in Denver when they walked among the same social circles. He is investigating his inheritance because his mine is losing money, and he wants to know why because his family's finances are in an unstable condition and his brother-in-law is trying to keep George on the outside.

Will the young boy who has captured their hearts bring Flora and George together?

Flora really wants to turn over a new leaf and leave her past behind her, she is great with Pierre and because of her education she knows French and can talk to him. She's hurt people in the past, and is working hard to show that she's changed. She is thoughtful and compassionate, and really is making strides towards turning her life around.

George finds that he knows very little of his family's financial security and he wants to know what is going on at that mine in order to provide for his mother and sister, as well as for the safety of the miners. And even though he doesn't know much French, he and Pierre get along really well and Flora is helping them to communicate more. He wants what is best for Pierre, and is doing what he can to find his father.

Overall, a enjoyable read, with conspiracy, romance, I loved seeing how far Flora has come and how she has taken to heart the preacher's sermons and wants to live her life for Christ now. Pierre is really adorable. Perhaps a bit slow to start but it picked up as it went along, with everything going on at the mine and George's secrets. Enjoyable romance about second chances, and turning a new leaf.



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A sweet story that greatly demonstrates the growth and development of character a person has when wanting to be more Christ-like, when truly wanting to walk in His steps. Mix in some societal problems, family drama, a little danger, little mystery, an adorable young man from France, and childhood enemies finding themselves falling for each other and you have thought-provoking story in your hands.
The main theme in the story is the apparent change former bully and 'mean girl' Flora Montgomery is going through in her life. She used to be feared for her sharp and critical tongue. Now she is outcast and avoided after some drama she created in the town, meddling in other people's business she had no place to interfere in.
Forgiveness is not an easy and automatic thing and the struggle Flora has to go through to find her new place in the society with the new attitude with a change of heart is a lonely, uphill battle.
After losing his father in an accident George finds out the trouble in the family business. Searching for the truth about the terrible conditions at the mine the family owns, he goes undercover and runs into his childhood bully, Flora, who doesn't recognize him.
My favorite part of the story was the bond that developed between Flora, George, and Pierre. The connection was there immediately, the bonding and joy they experience in each others company were delightful.
I found it humorous how obvious the growing feelings between George and Flora were. Everyone paired them immediately, and their destiny would have been sealed if not the assumed class separation or financial troubles in George's family.
The first part of the story got a little stuck on the theme of Flora's past and need to change, the class differences in that time period and the snobbiness of the upper-class society. But when the mysteries at the mine starts to unravel, the story takes off to an exciting and exhilarating suspenseful yet love-filled journey.
The message of the kindness, forgiveness, and acceptance in the story is clear. The character development is underlined, encouraged and celebrated. The class actions and judgment of the society is challenged. And through it all, the message of love, in different forms, comes abundantly apparent.
~ Four Spoons

very sweet novel, but with virtually no character development. Every character seemed two dimensional and flimsy as cardboard. There was no depth or storyline development and every problem was almost magically instantly corrected.

What I did like about the book...the message of Christ that came through loud and clear.