A formulaic love story with strong Christian undertones.


Destined for You is the tale of two people brought together by tragedy and grief. It is a tale of loss and hope, redemption and forgiveness, family, love, and above all, faith, with emphasis on a gentle reminder that God is always near.


This is the kind of book that inspires, and makes readers stop and reflect. Well written and with likable characters, it focuses on struggles of every day life with special emphasis on the hardships and emotional struggles that come with it. I loved the setting and the fact that both characters' motivations and behaviour seem real. And yet, there was a certain lack of depth to both characters and the relationship between them, that prevented me from connecting to either of them.
The pacing was a bit uneven, starting strong and fast then dragging on towards the middle and jumping straight into a breakneck speed towards the end, while the conflict seemed to be just touched upon and its resolution lacked punch.


But all in all, this was a lovely love story any fan of the Christian romance genre would love.


My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for the review copy.
Thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed the imagery and emotional depth of this book. Loved the cover too.
As someone who lives near Lake Superior, I can tell you that it truly is as moody as the author writes.
This was a good read!

Due to the many books that I have started and not finished lately due to the unrealistic, cliche or unoriginal, or lacking a faith base in a book from a Christian author or publisher. I've found too many and am just leaving this book as a did not finish due to my not getting into the book... I have previously really enjoyed Tracie Peterson's books very, very much, she has been a favorite historical fiction author of myself and one of my sisters, however. This one and other more recent releases however have been repetitive and I haven't really gotten into them due to the fact that they seem like they were pieced together from her former works.

This story was wonderful and homey. I loved getting to know Gloriana, JT, Luke, and Sally. It was neat to see that the bad guy was more in the background than a more present part of the story. I think this was perfectly done, because it gave the main characters room to grieve and process their emotions over some pretty tragic events. I especially enjoyed the cobbled-together family that was created in the midst of sorrow. This is just the sort of story I like to read.

One thing that rang true was that when an infectious disease swept through town, only the sick were quarantined. It was good to see that sort of logic and common sense well on display in this story.

Content: profanity, wine in food, alcohol (including sneaking it into coffee while in a non-drinker’s house)

Thanks to Bethany House for the free book.
What I love about Peterson's books, and why I've read her trilogies for the past three years is because of the faith of her characters. She doesn't preach - she guides the reader into deeper thinkings by using predicaments that test her characters beyond their limits - which is where they meet Jesus. I loved Glory's story. She is such a strong woman, and her faith is admirable. The struggles she goes through tests her endurance. I was inspired by her strength. The message of forgiveness, anger, mercy, and grace are strong in this novel. Like any of her other books, Peterson gives such realistic historical situations for her characters to endure to emulate these characteristics. I loved the characters in this one, and I can't wait to hopefully read the next two books by the end of the year.

Lake Superior with its fishing community near Duluth, MN is the setting of this story. Newlywed neighbors Scott and Sally are almost like family to Gloriana, JT and their father. An unfortunate event brings the families even closer together.

Back in Philadelphia, Luke Carson prepares for his assignment to bring the railroad to the region. He has been trusted to bring the project to life, including setting the route, hiring the workers, and maintaining a presence in the region to see to long-term projects of his employer.

Circumstances throw Glory and Luke together, but their backgrounds are quite different.

Set post Civil War, the story gives a good scene of the development of communities across the upper MidWest. We learn of the struggle between the towns of Duluth and Superior for dominance with the railroad.

Destined for You is a good start to Tracie Peterson's new series, Ladies of the Lake. I liked it and look forward to book two. Four stars.

This beautiful story from a master storyteller. The characters and storyline are both very compelling. I loved the theme of faith and hope in difficult times. It’s a wonderful beginning to a new series.

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

Destined for You
by Traci Peterson
Published March 2, 2021

I have come to depend on Tracie's books to be true to the soul! Love her historical fiction with a little romance thrown in. I have ready all of her books and I know believe this is my favorite of them all. I will recommend this.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

5 star

The best historical fiction stories are those that truly transport you back to a different time. Destined for You does that well taking us back to Duluth, Minnesota in 1869. The story was clearly well researched (if you have an interest in railroad history, I think you'll especially appreciate this one) and I appreciated getting a glimpse at the hardships people faced in that time and place in history. The characters draw a reader in, and you will want to see their growth throughout the story. It offered a great blend of adventure, romance and a little suspense too. My favorite part of this story though was the beautiful messages of faith--- a reminder that even through hardships, God is there. There is a lot of pain and grief within these pages, but also a lot of hope too.

If you enjoy historical romance, this is definitely worth checking out. It is the first book in the Ladies of the Lake series and I look forward to reading more.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

1869 Duluth, Minnesota. Historical Christian
Luke was hired by a railroad magnate to go from Philadelphia to Duluth. From a very wealthy family, he would be going to stay with the brother his father has disinherited because he had married a servant. But the brother and his wife were very happy. They lived next door to a fisherman's family who had hired him to help on their boat. Gloriana was the daughter of the fisherman. This story has a lot of perilous spots that seem to be obvious, but then take a track that is unexpected. Strong messages of faith guide the entire story, revealing God's plans for these people. Some sorrowful, some marvelous and miraculous. The author's talent for bringing characters to life make it a very interesting book. Excellent read. Isn't that a beautiful cover?
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#DestinedforYou #NetGalley

I believe I have found a new favorite author! I had only read one or two Tracie Peterson books before this one, but I can say that is about to change. My old soul loves books set in the mid to late 1800s. Gloriana and Luke's story is a touching one, with a perfect ending. I will be on the lookout for the next installment in the Ladies of the Lake series!

Destined for You is the first book in Tracie Peterson‘s new historical romance series Ladies of the Lake. Set on the shores of Lake Superior, one of my favorite settings, I knew I had to give this book a read.

The fitful lake has taken it’s toll, but Gloria Womack finds a kinship in grief when Luke Carson arrives in town. Together they face caring for an infant, Gloria’s younger brother, and navigating the challenges brought about by living in such a cold, cold place. Plus, Luke is tasked by his boss with bringing the railroad to Duluth, despite the opposition from people in Superior, Wisconsin.

This is a story of loss, forgiveness, and new beginnings wrapped up in messy relationships. Gloria’s honest struggles with her faith as she works through her grief adds depth to an otherwise quick read. I wished we could have seen more of Luke’s struggles. I liked his character though he came across as a bit too perfect at times and the build up to some of his troubles fell a little flat. However, Gloria and Luke were such a likable pair, I was really rooting for them to get their happily ever after.

If you’re looking for a light, sweet romance set on Lake Superior, give Destined for You a read.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Destined for You is the first book in the Lady of the Lake Series by Tracie Peterson. The story is set in the late 1800's in Duluth, Minnesota during a time when the great rail road was expanded North. I found this story to be well written with an interesting plot and engaging characters. This story is full of faith, family and clean historical romance.

I really enjoyed reading Destined for You this book and I can't wait to read the next novel in this series, Forever My Own being released on July 6, 2021!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Bethany House Publishing and Ms. Peterson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Destined for You is the first book in the new series of Ladies of the Lake by Tracie Peterson. The story takes place in Duluth, Minnesota along Lake Superior in late 1869 and 1870. The railroad is just getting built to that area and with it brings Luke Carson from Philadelphia to oversee that project as well as several other building projects of his boss, Jay Cooke. Luke is excited to make the trip and take on the task as it will allow him to stay with his brother Scott and his new wife, Sally as they are expecting their first baby. Luke will also bring a personal secretary, Theodore Sedgwick, whose parents live in Duluth but is a man with his own agenda.
Gloriana Womack is a true Minnesota gal, daughter of a fisherman and now the lady of the household since her mother and two siblings succumbed to scarlet fever a few years ago. Glory is not afraid of hard work and making ends meet on the salary of a fisherman. She has become best friends with Sally since she and Scott came to town and her father, Norman Womack, has taken Scott under his wing and hired him onto his fishing crew and rented them their cabin next door.
Scott, Sally and Glory are anxiously preparing for the arrival of the new baby, as is JT, the eight-year-old brother of Glory. Luke arrives in Duluth just after a terrible storm out on Lake Superior and Sally is in labor. Glory is very glad that he arrived when he did.
The author weaves a beautiful tale of suffering and endurance as well as friendship and deception. Her characters each face their own walk with God. I so look forward to the next in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #DestinedForYou #LadiesOfTheLake #TraciePeterson

Destined for You, by Tracie Peterson, is the first book in the Ladies of the Lake series that takes place in 1869 in Duluth, Minnesota. This is a wonderful story that focuses on grief and forgiveness. This story is so realistic and inspirational. Gloriana lost most of her family to smallpox and now her father’s boat has gone done taking her father and their renter. Gloriana has a younger brother to care for. Their renter’s wife went into labor and has given up. On her deathbed she asks Gloriana and Luke, her lost husband’s brother, to care for her newborn daughter.

I just love this story. The author has done such a good job of bringing to life the dangers of the winters in the Duluth area. I writing is so descriptive, I could almost hear the waves crashing against the rocks and see the boats being tossed around. This story shows the struggles Gloriana has with her faith as well as providing for her brother and the way the community cares for those in need.

I voluntarily read an ebook copy of this story which was provided by the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Be prepared to be swept away to time of fishermen on Lake Superior and newly built railroads. Tracie Peterson is a master at Christian historical fiction and you will immediately be drawn in to Luke and Glory's story as they meet and their lives become intertwined with one another's after tragedies in their families. There is a theme of forgiveness and redemption which makes for a perfect read during Easter-time.

If you like historical fiction like I do, set aside some time to get lost in the past and in a beautiful love story.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I have a fondness for Tracie Peterson and have enjoyed her many books, this one did not disappoint!
It is set in fall of 1869 in Minnesota, she has suffered loss and hardships. She is wondering existance of God and his goodness. She meets another person and romance blossoms. it was a heartwarming and touching story of 2 people who have had sadness in their live and how they continue to trust God and who He is.

When Gloriana and Luke both lose family members in a tragic boat sinking during a terrible storm their lives are thrown together. Family, tragedy and faith along with a little mystery made for a wonderful clean historical romance.

Hope and healing:
It was interesting learning more about life on the Great Lakes back in the late nineteenth century, especially how perilous fishing could be. Poor Gloriana had suffered so much loss during her short life yet I liked how she was still a generous and loving caregiver to those in her care. It was nice seeing her also find friendship and love from Luke and I was really rooting for things to work out for them.
I thought the message of learning to trust God in both the good and bad times was well presented and I appreciated the hope that was given. There was also an inspiring theme about forgiveness and restoration. Woven throughout the book was a light element of danger and mystery which added good depth to the story.
I really enjoyed this latest historical fiction by a truly talented author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.