Sixty Acres and a Bride

I loved this book! Rosa is a young bride whose husband and father in law dies in a mining accident. Her husband's family introduced her to the Lord while they were still in Mexico and helped her grow in her faith. After her family threw her out of the house because she chooses to become a Christian

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and not follow the family religion they take her in as a daughter and she ends up marrying their son not for love but because he had taken her in and was protecting her.

Rosa and her Mother in Law return to Texas to the family farm and find out that the taxes have not been paid for several years and they are in danger of losing their home if $160 is not paid within 3 months (can you imagine?). Between planting a garden, sewing/embroidery, raising chickens and keeping sheep that a family member has given them they hope they will have the money and be able to stay. Of course, men from town have noticed Rosa who is beautiful and single, a nasty neighbor starts stalking her and Rosa turns to Weston (her deceased husband's cousin) for help with protection and the farm.

The story takes place in the 1800's and you see some discrimination against Rosa who is Hispanic & a Mexican Indian. You also see her struggle as she learns American customs and the language (although her English is impeccable), her fear of the neighbor and her struggle with another loveless marriage and her pride in paying her debt and not relying on Weston beyond what he has done for her family.

The author does a wonderful job showing the difference in the Mexican and Texan customs and the story is very well told. The situation with the neighbor is tastefully done and while there is a section at the end of the book that's a bit scary there are no graphic scenes. It will be a good opportunity for you moms to discuss safety and trusting their feelings about others with your daughters. I look forward to reading more of Regina Jennings books!

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Regina Jennings' debut historical romance work, "Sixty Acres and a Bride", is written with great heart, humor, and honesty. I enjoyed this book very, very much. I could feel the author's spirit in her words. She obviously treasured her characters and crafted her story line with care. While the

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hero, Weston Garner, is a very worthy fellow indeed, it is the heroine, Rosa, who will capture the reader's affections. Rosa is the widow of Weston's cousin, Mack Garner. Rosa's husband and father-in-law were both killed when an earthquake struck the area of the Sierra Madres in Mexico where the family hoped to find a fortune in the silver mines. Rosa and her mother-in-law, Louise return to the family home in Texas, only to find that they are about to lose the ranch due to back taxes. Weston Garner is a widower who carries great guilt over his wife's death, believing that he did not help her when she needed it most. For over five years, he has kept mostly to himself, refusing to believe that he deserves to find happiness. Rosa's unpretentious loveliness, honesty, gentle strength, and courage begin to thaw his frozen hopes. She finds him equally appealing, but her marriage to his cousin was one of hidden unhappiness, and she is afraid to trust her heart. Weston is drawn more and more into helping his extended family, much to the displeasure of those around him with their own hidden agendas. You will come to love Rosa. She is a heroine to appreciate and admire, one of the most refreshing and delightful female characters that I have read about in quite some time. She is so honest and real that her beauty shines from within, making her as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. Her wise innocence is as much a healing balm for Weston's soul as is her lilting flute music soothing to his spirit. Recommended for romance lovers and readers in need of a lighter heart.

Review Copy Gratis Bethany House Publishers

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Prejudice is still the order of the day in the small town of Lockhart, Texas in 1878, especially when you're a Mexican woman. It doesn't even matter if you married into a prominent family because the women and men already have formed their own personal opinion of you. Not only that, women for the

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most part are still considered second class citizens by some men of the town, but gentlemen however still exist.

When Rosa Garner returns with her mother-in-law Louise back to their ranch that they left more than five years ago and now learn that the previous renters never paid the taxes or rent on the land. Checking with the courts, they learn they have three months to come up with $166.00 or the land will be sold at auction. Three months hardly seems like enough time, but Louise believes God will provide for the widows just like He has in the past.

When Weston Garner returns to his land, he is trying to find a way to resolve the guilt he's been carrying around since his wife, Cora died unexpectedly and he feels responsible. Not knowing what awaits him back at his ranch, he believes that God will provide Him a second chance at a new life and that he can find a way to let go of the past. What he doesn't expect is to fall in love again, this time with the new help at Louise's farm.

I received Sixty Acres and A Bride by Regina Jennings compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. This is a debut novel for Regina and I think she did a fantastic job! This book teaches the reader through the story of Weston and Regina how God can repair anything in someone's life and ultimately provide a new chance at life, if they are willing to be open to let go of guilt that isn't theirs to carry and are willing to forgive. This also teaches the dangers of letting pride get in the way. For fans of western romances, this will hit home for you! I personally rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

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I truly enjoyed this story. I finally got a chance to sit down to read it and finished it in 2 days. I would love to see another book following Weston and Rosa story. Great story that keeps you reading until the last word

This story had potential, but the story was flat not a lot of chemistry among the characters and when there was they sort of were too wrapped up to see it

so looking forward to this debut from Regina Jennings...
had a blast at her FB party -
ended up winning my own copy making friends just by being part of the celebration ~
can it get better?
i'll let you know when it's arrived in my post & i've had the opp to read it! ... ;)

I had seen this floating around my goodreads and amazon recommendations, based on similar books I'd read. But I kept avoiding it. The cover didn't really appeal to me, nor the title, and when reading the synopsis, I wasn't really interested in the Mexican historical aspect. That's when I realized

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that with historical fiction, I'm primarily interested in English, American and maaayybe a little French. Not much else.

I've been craving a good historical romance and after loving Ms. Jennings' novella and third book in the series, I decided to give it a shot.

OHMYGOSH I loved it! There was such a complexity of emotions and depth to the relationships. I loved that Weston didn't cheapen his first marriage by reducing it to less than it was. He loved her even though he finally allowed her her share in her own death.

I loved the biblical themes and the connection to Ruth and Boaz.

Despite the characters growth throughout the novel, they were still consistent to their personalities, the strengths and weaknesses.

Their reservations and the barriers to their relationship were believeable and understandable.

This is a book I will read again and again.

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The story line was okay, but I felt that the characters were rather weak. I was disappointed that Molly didn't appear to have as much of a major role as I would have liked. Rosa was "okay" as a beautiful woman but I would have liked to have seen more character development!

The story line was okay, but I felt that the characters were rather weak. I was disappointed that Molly didn't appear to have as much of a major role as I would have liked. Rosa was "okay" as a beautiful woman but I would have liked to have seen more character development!

Regina's description gave depth to the story and the characters.

She gave an interesting dimension to the Biblical account of Ruth and Boaz from a woman just learning about the Bible.

I did get bogged down when the character did not grow, musing for several chapters. I found myself skipping parts

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that she had already described well.

I don't know how I would have done it better, but the end came and then there were so many threads that had to be tied up that it had to keep going.

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I was disappointed in this book. It was primarily based on the story of Ruth but doesn't do justice to it. The heroine compromised both herself and the individual who then felt forced to marry her, instead of something more closely tied to the story if Ruth, such as the bride and the land being a

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package deal.

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I was disappointed in this book. It was primarily based on the story of Ruth but doesn't do justice to it. The heroine compromised both herself and the individual who then felt forced to marry her, instead of something more closely tied to the story if Ruth, such as the bride and the land being a

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package deal.

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My middle name is Naomi, so when I read that Sixty Acres And A Bride was an adaption of the story of Ruth and Boaz, I wanted to read this book.

I have read the Book of Ruth many times, and was anticipating the characters being more like the corresponding ones in the Bible. But maybe the author

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interpreted the characters in the Bible differently. That caused some confusion for me. Also, so much of Rosa was written in second person.

Rosa Garner (the Ruth character) had been converted to be a Christian, and she was a Mexican. Her family worshiped Our Lady of the Holy Death. I do not see how this is like the story in the Bible. I read about the history of the religion which is condemned by Catholic Church. I wish that the author would have given more background to it. Growing up in the United States, I did not know about it except for the Day of the Dead in Mexican Culture. I have so much to learn.

The character of Rosa is confusing to me. Rosa is hardworking, both spirited and demure. I read about what are the messages of The Book of Ruth and one of them is that God loves all of us no matter what race or religion we have. Ruth in the Book of Ruth is a Moabite (worshiper of Chemosh, the Fish God or Destroyer, thus pagan.

Weston Garner (the Boas character) feels guilty of his wife's death and does not want to marry. In the Bible, Boaz has proven himself as strength, a man of character and good reputation. That matches Weston's character. Both men wanted to be fatherly and protect Rosa or Ruth.

Rosa and Ruth both planted gardens, and it goes on and on. Some things in both stories but other thing do not fit.

I did enjoy the story, but I got tangled up in whether the two stories were alike or very different. I did not understand some of Rosa's action and thoughts. I would have liked to have her speak in first person, if she had, I think I would have understood her more.

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