Secrets and Wishes

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Secrets and Wishes back cover copy: 

Stone Creek, Michigan, April, 1901 —

Maggie Galloway and Thomas Harper clash after their sons collide in a fistfight. Both widowed, they’re each doing their best as single-parents. Outgoing Maggie has dreams for a home of her own and a business to provide for her son as she searches for God’s path for her life as a widow. Reserved Thomas struggles to establish his new pharmacy and take care of his four rambunctious children while wondering how a loving God could take his beloved wife. 
When Thomas becomes deathly ill, Maggie is recruited to nurse him back to health. Taking the children in hand, as well, is more than she bargained for, but she is drawn to help the grieving family. Both nurse and patient find themselves drawn to each other but promptly deny their feelings.  
A baking contest sponsored by the Silver Leaf Flour Company brings former beau, Giles Prescott, back into Maggie’s life. When Giles offers Maggie a position at their test kitchen in Chicago, he hints that, along with assuring her a good job, it will allow them to possibly rekindle their relationship.  
But then a charlatan comes to town, and tragedy soon follows. Maggie and Thomas discover the miracle potions he hawks aren’t so harmless when an epidemic hits Stone Creek. Thomas and Maggie realize they must work together to save lives. 
Maggie finds herself caught up in battles within and without—the battle to help the townsfolk in the midst of illness and chicanery, and the battle to know which man—Thomas or Giles—deserves to win her heart.  

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book.  It’s not a mystery but it has some fun moments that make you keep reading. Even starts off with a bang!  I have to admit the opening chapter left me a little confused.  It took me a bit to get people sorted out and I was still unsure who was who and where they fit into the picture.  I’m assuming this mainly has to do with the fact that I have not read book one.  So here is where I say go ahead and do yourself a favor and read book one of the series first.  You’ll save yourself some confusion.

That being said.  Besides a few pesky things that made me wish I had known more of what is going on, this was a great read and you don’t have to read book one.  It just would make everything make more sense. 

This story follows Maggie and her son as they’re navigating life without her husband.  He was a pharmacist and could do no wrong in either’s eyes.  This might have increased since he passed over two years ago.  Enter into the town they now live in a new pharmacist and his four children.  He’s a widower too it seems.  Only he is having a much harder time of living than Maggie is.

Maggie has family here in this lovely area beside her son and to add to that she has her baking is gaining popularity as well as winning prizes.  Now, why does that name sound familiar?  Oh yes!  Her old beau is going to come to give her the prize.  Will he want to rekindle that romance?  And why does she feel so hostile to the new pharmacist?  Shouldn’t they make up as the boys did after their schoolhouse fight?  Only maybe they can do without the snake.  

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations. 

Author Bio and Social Media Links: 

Kathleen Rouser is the multi-published author of the 2017 Bookvana Award winner, Rumors and Promises, her first novel about the people of fictional Stone Creek, Michigan, and its sequel, Secrets and Wishes. She is a longtime member in good standing of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Kathleen has loved making up stories since she was a little girl and wanted to be a writer before she could even read. She longs to create characters who resonate with readers and realize the need for a transforming Savior in their everyday lives. 

A former homeschool instructor, mild-mannered dental assistant, and current Community Bible Study kids’ teacher, she lives in Michigan with her hero and husband of thirty-some years, and the sassy tail-less cat who found a home in their empty nest. 

Connect with Kathleen on her website at kathleenrouser.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser/, and on Twitter @KathleenRouser.  

Website: kathleenrouser.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerouser 

Facebook Author Page:https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser/ 

Twitter: @KathleenRouser 

Pinterest: https:/ /www.pinterest.com/kerouser/