While it was an interesting premise, the book felt long and a bit slow for me.  It was well written and the plot well thought out.

A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham was a lovely read of romance.  A woman traveled far away from all she knew to set about life on her own with a new set of people in her life.  What she left behind eventually caught up to her.  I found this to be so drawing that I had it finished quite quickly and enjoyed the journey with these characters.  Well-drawn up and intrigue to the last page.  
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted on Amazon, CBD, B&N

A Life Once Dreamed is another great book by Rachel Fordham. I loved it! I am giving it a very well deserved five plus stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical western romance from Rachel Fordham. The characters were likable, yet each had some issues to deal with. We all tell ourselves we aren't good enough at times, and Aggie's struggle in this way makes her seem so approachable -- but Ms. Fordham doesn't let this tendency take over the character, so she remains someone the reader would like to spend time with. I love the way Aggie's mother acted with Will -- even if, perhaps, it wasn't her place. When I finished this one, I told my husband that I would really miss these characters. They truly felt like friends. Well worth reading this one for a clean, inspirational, western love story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are my own.

Such a well written story. The story line kept me wanting to know more and to see how it ends. I really enjoyed the characters in this book and I can’t wait to read more from Rachel Fordham.  
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Once upon a time a girl named Agnes, and a boy named James grew up next door to each other. They played together, had adventures together, and became the very best of friends. As they grew up, they began to realize that their love for one another was the kind that was undying, the kind that great romances are made of, so when James proposed to Agnes, her joy knew no bounds. When she told her parents, while they were happy for her, they also knew a secret, one that would make Agnes unacceptable to James' family. Rather than make James choose between his love for her, and his love for his family, Agnes breaks things off and runs away.

Six years later, Dr. James Harris shows up in the town of Penance in the Dakota Territory. The town needs a doctor for the families who live there, and for all of the miners and lumberjacks in the area. No one worked harder to bring a doctor to town than Aggie Pratt, the school teacher. She just had no idea that the doctor she was bringing is her James. He never understood why she left when he knew she loved him. Can she keep her secrets when the one thing he wants from her is to know why she left?

This is Rachel Fordham's third book with ties to Azure Springs but I wouldn't call it a sequel to the first two books at all. It stands on its own, as a story of faithful love in the face of a pretty giant obstacle. For all six years Agnes has been in Penance, she has dodged suitors and matchmaking friends, telling them she is content teaching school and never plans to marry. When she finally appears to have everyone convinced, James shows up and throws her life's plans out the window.

Can Agnes remain strong when pressure comes from both James and the town to open her heart to him? Can she keep turning away when the only thing she really wants is to turn into his arms? When she takes in an orphaned baby, intending to raise him as her own, everyone sees only the circumstances of his birth in a brothel, not the beautiful child he is. With her job in jeopardy, is she willing to marry to give herself and the child a home, and will James still step forward knowing how his parents will react?

This book drilled home the differences between the way mankind looks at people, and the way God does. Mankind sees class differences, but God sees the hearts of people. Fordham's books have only gotten better, which is a tough feat since The Hope of Azure Springs was so very good, as was Yours Truly, Thomas. I look forward with great anticipation to A Lady In Attendance which will publish in 2021!

This story set in the western US was sweet with a bit of sass. It had the makings of a cliche western romance, but with twists of secrets thrown in, you will find yourself continuing to read to discover what they might be. 
I loved how faith, forgiveness and strong boundaries were a good theme in this story.

This book has a heart-touching storyline.  As I got to know the main character, Agnes, I began hoping that she’d find the joy of having a family, especially since it was a dream she’d given up years before.  Even though Agnes thought she’d be happy teaching school in this small frontier town for the rest of her life, her viewpoint on marriage and family changes when her former fiancé, Dr. James Harris, comes to Penance to set up his medical practice.  Both Agnes and James are kind, compassionate, and dedicated to their small community.  A series of tragic events force James and Agnes to work closely together, and both begin to hope that God’s plans for them might bring them together again.  

I enjoyed reading about this small community and loved getting to know the townspeople who are so important in this story.  We are reminded all throughout this book that God values each individual and has a plan for each life, no matter the circumstances of their birth.  It’s an inspiring, encouraging story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Sorry, did not finish, that was not what I expected. I could not get in to it. That was not my cup of tea.

Just like the cover - this book was beautiful!

The characters, story, and capturing of the 1800's setting was beautifully done by the Author. 

This story brought moments of sadness and joy all wrapped into one spectacular package, I was drawn into the tale from the very beginning. 

Such an inspiring tale and I loved the story's reminder of what God's love can do.

Highly recommend this read!

***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital advanced review copy of this book. All views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.***

A Life Once Dreamed
by Rachel Fordham


 Revell 
 Christian  |  Historical Fiction 
Pub Date 04 Aug 2020  



I am reviewing a copy of A Life Once Dreamed Through Revell and Netgalley:




This book transports us to Dakota Territory in the 1880’s, where we meet Agnes Pratt who six years prior had been running in search of a new start because of a shocking secret.  She found her new in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid.    The past has a way of catching up people.








After childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor.   Aggie’s predictable days become anything but once James comes to town.   James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves, the problem is he is the only person who can never know.







Will a healing light be able to shed on the past, in the shadows of the Black Hills?  Will the secret Agnes can't seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?





If you want to step back into 1880’s,  A Life Once Dreamed is just the ticket.



I find their book to be worthy of five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

Agnes & James grew up in Buffalo, New York as childhood friends and then fell in love. Prior to getting married, Agnes leaves for Penance to start a new life, carrying a secret with her. Six years later, James now a doctor, decides to move to Penance. Can they survive in the same town?

The characters, plot, and setting was wonderful. Parts of the story made me smile, cry, and laugh. I was hooked from the very beginning. This story had everything for a captivating read. Inspirational & Uplifting.

The story had mystery, a second chance at love, suspense, and lessons in what God's love can do. James learns that the family life he lived in Buffalo was flawed. He was prejudice and narrow-minded then but learns to set those traits aside in Penance. Highly recommended read.

I received a copy from the author and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author made the storyline flow nicely and it was such a feel good read. I loved the second chance at romance story and it felt like the author really put her heart and soul into the characters. I can’t wait to read more from Fordham. Highly recommend! I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Recommended. 

<b>What I liked:</b>
I always enjoy frontier teacher stories, and this one fit the bill. I like the resilient pursuit by the love interest and his patience despite being rebuffed. 

<b>What I didn’t like: </b> 
Her deep dark secret and her reasons for keeping it seemed anti-climactic. Yes, it was appropriate to the time period, but the build up and reveal did not meet my expectations. The story was predictable. The prologue seemed to set up an entirely different story than what we are given.

I did not expect, nor like, having a third POV character in the story. His perspective added little to this story and felt more like the introduction of a character in the next book.


<b>Readers should be aware:</b>adoption, single parenting, quarantine and wide-spread illness



<b>Themes: </b>acceptance, knowing who you really are

<i>I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are freely given and provided without coercion.<i/>

A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

___________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Rachel Fordham's latest story is very well written with lots good scenery described and good conversations but the female lead character just left me frustrated with her stubborn stance. 

I usually really enjoy Ms. Fordham's books and while this one was definitely well written, I didn't care for the female lead character. Agnes Pratt is a school teacher in the town of Penance, where she fled to heal her broken heart. Not that anyone else was the cause of her broken heart but she couldn't stay in Buffalo, NY after breaking her engagement. She had determined to live out her life as a spinster teacher and will find love with her friends and her students. Too bad her past comes sweeping into town in the form of the new town doctor. James Harris never understood why Agnes just left town without a word, breaking his heart and spoiling any ideas he had of love. With no idea where to look for her until recently, he has put all his energy into becoming the best doctor he knows. Now if he can convince Agnes to tell him why she left and win back her heart, he may just find all he was looking for in the small town of Penance. The plot was very good and I really liked the way the story was written. But Agnes frustrated me to no end. I realize that there was and is a stigma attached to children born out of wedlock but her deciding to break things off with James without explaining really proved that she didn't know him very well. She didn't give him a chance to support her and leave town with her, if necessary, and then continued to keep that secret from him. It made me want to hit her on the head to try to knock some sense into her. The secondary characters in the story were very well done and I liked Hannah a whole lot more than Agnes. She and James really saved the story in my opinion. Perhaps others will like this story better than I but it's not one I'll be purchasing for myself to read again. Hopefully the next one is more like her others and will be a better fit for me. 

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I can only imagine what is must have been like for Agnes to give up everything and travel to Dakota Territory, but unfortunately her new life was short lived. When her childhood sweetheart shows up in her new life, she has to do all she can to keep her secret, especially from him.   I liked in how the book progressed we got to see a glimpse of life during this time period and see the relationship grow between Agnes and James and how they worked on overcoming the past. 

    I received a copy of the book the review is mine.

I really enjoyed a Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham. I found the characters interesting and the plot engaging. There is a bit of mystery and romance that kept me reading well past my bedtime. This book transported me back in time to the days of frontier medicine on the Dakota Territory. If you like historical fiction, this book will not disappoint.

I was blessed to receive an electronic copy via the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Oh my! This book was wonderful! The storyline and characters felt so real and believable. And such a love story! I loved that they were childhood friends and already loved each other from the beginning. The memories, the complexities of being in a relationship not just starting one was refreshing to read about. I was also excited to see an epilogue that wrapped up the story. I always want to know the more long term ending and this book delivered that. I really liked Hannah's character, I can't even imagine what it would be like to have such a true friend. I read the whole book in one sitting! Couldn't put it down! Highly recommend!

I have to start by saying this book was absolutely wonderful! Ms. Fordman is a wonderful author! The pace was perfect and the characters had wonderful depth. I was pulled into the story within the very first chapter, and had a very hard time putting the book down at all. It's been a while since I've been drawn into a book so completely that I've lost so much time out of my days reading. 

This book is about stereotypes, and sacrificial love. It is about forgiveness and compassion, This was a love story from many angles. I feel blessed to have experienced this wonderful novel.

The main character, Agnes (Aggie) left from her wealthy home when she discovered a secret about herself just as she was about to marry her love of her life boy next door. She and the boy next door grew up as best friends, and then as future husband and wife. However, when she discovered her "secret", she ran away after telling him she could not marry him, and never telling him why. For the next 6 years, neither of them could ever consider anyone else to love. They were brought together again in the wild frontier, and the story that unfolds is impossible to put down! All I will say is that this book is totally worth the read. I'm not going to give anything further away. Enjoy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The trait of a quality romance novel is for the reader to feel the love of the characters through the words of the author.  That’s what Rachel Fordham gives us here.

This is a lovely story about Agnes Pratt, who leaves her love, James Harris, rather than cause him any pain.  She settles in Penance.  As a group of settlers, begin to form a town, Agnes finds her niche as the school teacher.  She comes to love each of the children, even the mischievous ones.  She makes friends and becomes an integral part of this caring community.  Her closely controlled life is threatened when James arrives in town as the new doctor.

James wants to rekindle the relationship with Agnes  She knows this must be avoided if she is to keep the important secret that caused her to leave him in the first place.  As he becomes intertwined in her new life, her resolve begins to waiver.

This novel is truly enjoyable and refreshing.  At times it is joyful, sweet, sad, tragic, hopeful and heartbreaking.  It keeps the readers interest throughout.  The story is engaging, despite or maybe because of the lack of intimate scenes.  Reading a story of love written in this manner is truly a blessing  The time period is perfect for a story of secrets that cannot be told in a minute on a cellphone or that require a lengthy travel to find someone.  No hopping on a plane to see someone makes the suspense in the story exquisite.


I received an ARC from Revell Publishing through NetGalley.  The in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.  I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.