I do enjoy a good historical romance and I’m always on the lookout for new titles and authors. The Hope of Azure Springs is Rachel Fordham’s debut novel and she does a superb job of piecing together this inspiring story. It was exactly the book I needed and I loved sinking into it. Comforting, uplifting, joyful and heartwarming, The Hope of Azure Springs was a delight to read.

Seven years ago Em traveled west on an orphan train. After seven years of barely surviving, Em’s only goal is to find her sister. But when her guardian is murdered and Em is injured, she is taken to the town of Azure Springs. There, for the first time in so many years, she is fed, cared for and loved. Taken in by a kind family and protected by the town’s sherif, Caleb Reynolds, Em learns to dream again. But her heart remains focused on reuniting with her sister.

What a stunning and delightful story. At first a little bumpy in places, the tone and flow of the story soon became clear and I was loath to tear myself away from the heartwarming characters and their story of strength, resilience and love. The Hope of Azure Spring feels a little like one of the fairytales so often mentioned within its pages. This book carries a little magic with it and has a style all its own.

Em is a wonderful character. Despite everything that she has ensured and the loss she has faced she is kind and brings a little sunshine to every situation. She isn’t infallible by any means - she struggles with self-esteem and what others think of her and her appearance - but her generosity of spirit endears her to all.

At first, Caleb seems a very incompetent sheriff, bumbling through his first interview with Em. With initial judgements and a harsh tone, he hardly seemed an ideal hero. At one moment gentle and understanding and the next harsh and brash, he is easily distracted by outward beauty and initially discards Em as plain and poorly. Yet, through Em, Caleb undergoes such a wonderful growth in character. Through Em’s strength, kindness and joy, he learns to look beyond outward appearances and to return to the joy and dreams of his youth. The time Caleb and Em spend together as they build their friendship is very sweet. They compete, laugh and work together, building a depth of relationship and connection that was wonderful to read.

I adored the pacing in this novel. Everything has its time, is given its due. There is a little action and tension as they chase and capture the bad guys, but the remainder of the story flows like a gentle stream. Characters are given time to develop, unfold and grow. Relationships and feelings slowly bloom. Time is given to reflection, self-discovery, and to making independent choices.

You can tell the author poured her heart and soul into this book and it comes through every word. Utterly charming and so very romantic, The Hope of Azure Springs was a delight to read. I certainly hope that this debut will not be Rachel Fordham’s only offering, and I look forward to reading anything she next writes.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

I love it when I find a new author that writes an outstanding book. I can't say enough good things about this book!! This is not a book you will forget after you finish reading it. I can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you NetGalley and Revell Christian for the ARC copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.

The Hope of Azure Springs is an inspirational historical tale set in a time when loss and death were frequent occurrences in families. In the midst of hardship, a hope shines bright in the form of a young woman whose inner beauty helps her and others to overcome the difficulties life has dealt them to find a strong faith, everlasting love, and family. This is a story where beauty is revealed not by outer appearances but by the soul of a person. This book grabbed me from the beginning, then it go slow but I pushed through. I’m thankful I kept reading because just like the main character Em, who transformed from an injured dirty waif into a soulfully beautiful young woman, this book got better as the story evolved.

Some of my favorite quotes:
"Beauty is something we get to define. We may not see it right away, but when we do, we have trouble even remembering the other definition. We wonder how we were ever so misled. All we can see is the one person who defines it for us."

"Don't let anyone else decide which kind of beautiful is right for you. You find a girl who brings out the best in you. Who you can see a happy future with. That's your kind of beautiful."

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.