Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Bethany House Publishers (2010), 322 pages
Description
Ruth Livingstone's life changes drastically the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her to a small village in New Jersey under an assumed name. There Ruth pretends to be a widow and quietly secludes herself until her father is acquitted of a crime. But with the emergence of the penny press, the imagination of the reading public is stirred, and her father's trial stands center stage. Asher Tripp is the brash newspaperman who determines that this case is the event he can use to redeem himself as a journalist. Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of the Toms River--a place where she can find a measure of peace in the midst of the sorrow that continues to build. It is also here that Asher Tripp finds a temporary residence, all in an attempt to discover if the lovely creature known as Widow Malloy is truly Ruth Livingstone, the woman every newspaper has been looking for. Love begins to slowly bloom...but is the affection they share strong enough to withstand the secrets that separate them?… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member love2readnovels
Ruth Livingstone's father (who's a Reverend) was accused of murder and wasn't sure if he would be acquitted. So he gives Ruth a new identity, thrusts a child in her arms and sends her away. He tells her she's the only one he trusts to care for the child and that she must maintain her new identity
I really enjoyed Love's First Bloom. I must say the cover is what drew me to want to read the book, it's beautiful. The story was a "easy" paced story. The topic of taking former prostitutes and helping them begin a new life with a family who was willing to take them in was very interesting. You'll find as you're reading along many questions pop up, but the author answers them all and brings everything to a wonderful and satisfying conclusion. I would consider this a light romance with some very touching moments. One line in the book that I really liked a lot was "There are no real coincidences in life for those with faith strong enough to recognize coincidences for what they really are: intricate pieces of the providential design God created for each of our lives." Be sure to read the note at the end about the Seashell. A thank you goes to Bethany House for providing me with this complimentary copy for my review.
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no matter what. Then she meets Jake Spencer. A handsome man who is recovering from an injury and wanting a quiet place to do it. (or so he leads Ruth to believe). In reality he is trying to win his brothers favor by finding and writing an article for their newspaper on Ruth Livingstone. As they get to know each other they find a great attraction between them. But what about all the lies they've told to each other? Will Jake betray the girl he's come to love for the sake of his career? And can Ruth forgive Jake for his deceit?I really enjoyed Love's First Bloom. I must say the cover is what drew me to want to read the book, it's beautiful. The story was a "easy" paced story. The topic of taking former prostitutes and helping them begin a new life with a family who was willing to take them in was very interesting. You'll find as you're reading along many questions pop up, but the author answers them all and brings everything to a wonderful and satisfying conclusion. I would consider this a light romance with some very touching moments. One line in the book that I really liked a lot was "There are no real coincidences in life for those with faith strong enough to recognize coincidences for what they really are: intricate pieces of the providential design God created for each of our lives." Be sure to read the note at the end about the Seashell. A thank you goes to Bethany House for providing me with this complimentary copy for my review.
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LibraryThing member EdnaT
Ruth Livingstone's life changes the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her to a small village in New Jersey under an assumed name. There Ruth pretends to be a widow with a small child while her Preacher Father is tried for murder of the child's prostitute mother. They are sent
Asher Tripp is the newspaperman who determines that this case is the event he can use to redeem himself as a journalist with his brother, who owns the local paper.
Ruth finds that tending a small garden along the banks of the Toms River is a place where she can find a measure of peace in the midst of the sorrow that continues to build. It is here that Asher Tripp finds a temporary residence, all in an attempt to discover if the lovely creature known as Widow Malloy is truly Ruth Livingstone, the woman every newspaper has been looking for.
When Asher and Ruth meet it is anything but love, but as they get to know each other will love begin to bloom and it it does will it be strong enough to withstand the secrets that separate them?
This book was sent to me by Bethany House for review.
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to live with some of her Father's followers.Asher Tripp is the newspaperman who determines that this case is the event he can use to redeem himself as a journalist with his brother, who owns the local paper.
Ruth finds that tending a small garden along the banks of the Toms River is a place where she can find a measure of peace in the midst of the sorrow that continues to build. It is here that Asher Tripp finds a temporary residence, all in an attempt to discover if the lovely creature known as Widow Malloy is truly Ruth Livingstone, the woman every newspaper has been looking for.
When Asher and Ruth meet it is anything but love, but as they get to know each other will love begin to bloom and it it does will it be strong enough to withstand the secrets that separate them?
This book was sent to me by Bethany House for review.
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LibraryThing member judyg54
Ruth Livingstone's life is suddenly changed when her father, Reverend Livingston, places a young child in her care and sends her away from her home, to a small village in New Jersey. She can tell no one her real name and must act as if the child is hers, until her father can be cleared of serious
Ruth finds her new life hard for many reasons, but finds some solace tending a forgotten garden along the River. Here she meets Jake Spencer, a man recovering from a serious fall (or so he says). He also is in town hiding his identity so he can "get the scoop" on Ruth for the newspaper he works for. Both have a lot they are hiding from each other and so their whole relationship is based on lies. But love does begin to bloom. Then the secrets come out and that tender blossoming love will see if it can stand the test of time.
I liked the story, but was a little confused throughout the story why Ruth's father did what he did with the child and with his daughter Ruth. It will become clear near the end of the story. It was not a fast paced, action packed, romance read, but a "slow and steady wins the race" kind of book.
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charges against him and the child's dead mother. Ruth finds her new life hard for many reasons, but finds some solace tending a forgotten garden along the River. Here she meets Jake Spencer, a man recovering from a serious fall (or so he says). He also is in town hiding his identity so he can "get the scoop" on Ruth for the newspaper he works for. Both have a lot they are hiding from each other and so their whole relationship is based on lies. But love does begin to bloom. Then the secrets come out and that tender blossoming love will see if it can stand the test of time.
I liked the story, but was a little confused throughout the story why Ruth's father did what he did with the child and with his daughter Ruth. It will become clear near the end of the story. It was not a fast paced, action packed, romance read, but a "slow and steady wins the race" kind of book.
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LibraryThing member Sonya.Contreras
Ruth Livingstone, daughter of a minister involved in helping the soiled doves, finds herself alone, with a toddler and pursued by the press for a story, true or not, about her father's involvement in a murder. She must stay under the guise of being a soiled dove in order to keep from being
Her struggles with her father's ministry, his innocence and her lies to remain protect from those around her make her question her faith and her God.
Spiritual lessons are incorporated into life's events.
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found.Her struggles with her father's ministry, his innocence and her lies to remain protect from those around her make her question her faith and her God.
Spiritual lessons are incorporated into life's events.
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LibraryThing member debs4jc
Description: Ruth Livingstone's life changes drastically the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her to a small village in New Jersey under an assumed name. There Ruth pretends to be a widow and quietly secludes herself until her father is acquitted of a crime. But with the
I found this to be a solid romance, it doesn't stand out to me but it was enjoyable enough. The scenario sets the couple up to keep some pretty big secrets from each other but of course once they are revealed all turns out well. I'm not sure I would be as trusting.
Fans of Christian romances, especially historicals set in the "olden days" will enjoy this one.
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emergence of the penny press, the imagination of the reading public is stirred, and her father's trial stands center stage. Asher Tripp is the brash newspaperman who determines that this case is the event he can use to redeem himself as a journalist.I found this to be a solid romance, it doesn't stand out to me but it was enjoyable enough. The scenario sets the couple up to keep some pretty big secrets from each other but of course once they are revealed all turns out well. I'm not sure I would be as trusting.
Fans of Christian romances, especially historicals set in the "olden days" will enjoy this one.
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