I do not cry very often at books, but I needed a tissue for this one. It has so much suffering and heartache but ultimately, redemption.

The story is about Em, a scrawny girl who comes to Azure Springs, Iowa on the orphan train. No one chooses her but an old, angry man. For seven years, Em lives in a barn loft doing hard work and eating little. When the old man is murdered, Em is shot and left for dead. This begins the next chapter of her life. She meets a new family who welcomes her with open arms and show her true love. At the same time, the sheriff of Azure Springs also falls for Em.

The story started out slow, but it kept my attention enough to keep reading. I'm glad I did. This book turned out to be very good. I liked the characters and the author uses good description to put the reader in the story. Anyone who likes historical fiction will enjoy this book.

Wow! I always love it when I find a new author and Rachel Fordham is on my list of one of my new favourites!

The Hope of Azure Springs has so many layers to it that it is hard to know where to start. Let's start with our two main characters Em and Caleb. Em has had a rough life, and the author managed to pull on my heartstrings more than once describing her story. Caleb has had some heartache as well and how the two are brought together and how they grow together is a beautiful thing to watch. I started this book on Tuesday. On Wednesday I stayed up until 3:00 am to finish it! I could not put it down! And I couldn't turn my brain off to settle down after reading the book. That's how good it is!

The underlying theme of beauty and what that meant was something I found very interesting. Em considered herself plain and unattractive. In fact, she had resigned herself to the fact that no one could ever love her. But she did not see her character and how beautiful it was to those around her. This is something people who struggle with self-esteem need to grasp. So you aren't a model? So what! Beauty is fleeting, it's what is on the inside that counts, and as Em grows in this story, her inner beauty turns more than one person's life around.

You will love this story which is filled with all the elements you want in a historical romance - growth in the characters, suspense, adventure a few chuckles and by the end (for me at least) a lot of tears. Reserve your copy now. This is one book you want to read!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.