Book Review: Finding Rose by Stephanie Humpheys

I do enjoy a good historical fiction novel, and if it comes packaged up with a heart-touching romance, all the better.  That's why I enjoyed Stephanie Humphreys' first novel, "Finding Rose."

Rose and her family live in Logan, Utah, and have created a lovely home for themselves.  The persecutions of the Saints in Missouri and Nauvoo seem but a distant memory for the people of the community, who have been working hard to build up the state of Utah and live the gospel as they choose, far away from those who oppressed them.

When Rose's father is called to take his family to Canada to help build irrigation canals, Rose doesn't want to go.  She feels secure in her town and is deeply rooted to her home.  But her father, a bishop, takes his responsibility seriously, and has taken steps to sell the farm and move the family.

Miles Crandall is a young doctor, just graduated from medical school.  He takes a trip to Utah to visit the elder who converted him to the gospel - Elder Sean Sterling, Rose's brother.  When he first meets Rose, their mutual attraction is instant, but is quickly replaced by irritation as their relationship does not get off to a smooth start.  Meanwhile, Rose, determined not to go to Canada, decides to encourage the romantic attentions of a local boy in hopes that he'll propose and she'll get to stay in Logan.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, because I want you to read the book, but I will say that this book is a great blending of history and romance.  The author sets the tone of the era instantly without using info dumps or other contrived means to work the history into the story.  The characters' emotions are portrayed realistically, and the writing is very polished.  Although this is a first novel, the skill level of the author is quite advanced, and I can tell that Stephanie has spent time studying the craft.

I highly recommend this novel and encourage you to pick one up for yourself for Christmas this year.  You do give yourself Christmas presents, right?  Well, you should!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.  This did not influence my opinion of the book. In fact, I had the chance to read it before it was published, and I enjoyed it a great deal then, too. 

And now, a note from the publisher:

It's blog tour time for Whitney Nominee
Finding Rose by Stephanie Humphreys.

We're excited because we've got some fabulous reviewers on board,
not to mention that we'll be giving away THREE copies!
The tour runs from November 22-December 3.

Want to win a copy of Finding Rose? It's easy. Check out the fabulous reviews and leave a comment letting us know why you're excited to read Finding Rose. Remember to include your email address. If you tweet about the blog tour, or post about it on your blog or Facebook, leave the link in the comments section, and you'll receive an additional entry.

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Will Rose honor her father's last wish?

Rose stood and dropped her father's hand. "You're tired, Papa." She pulled the quilt over his thin shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.

"Think about what I said." He gently squeezed her hand. "I wish you would consider giving Miles a chance."

"Miles! I wish Sean had never brought him here. He's so serious. In all the time he's been here, he's hardly ever smiled. . . . He annoys me and I wish he would go home." Still, Rose couldn't help but think of his gentleness when he cared for her father.

On his deathbed, Rose Sterling's father asks her to consider Miles Crandall as a suitor. Then Rose is sent to live with an uncle in Spring Creek, Montana, far from her carefree life with her family in Utah. Miles is
returning to his hometown of Spring Creek to set up a medical practice, so Rose is certain her being sent there is a setup. Yet Miles doesn't seem interested in her, and after Rose falls ill in Montana, he seems content to act as her physician and friend. When Rose captures the attention of Miles's younger, flamboyant brother as well as the town sheriff, Miles retreats even further from any attempt at courtship.

How can Rose honor her father's last wish if Miles doesn¹t even try to court her? Will she have the courage to put her heart on the line and fight for the one she really loves?

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December 3
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