Love Finds You in Wildrose, North Dakota by Tracey Bateman is an historical romance set in 1895. Tracey Bateman is a fine writer and her stories are always fun. But I listened to this story on my Kindle during a seven hour drive away from my home and two days later, back again … and though the Kindle is quite clear in a quiet house, I couldn't get it loud enough to ear with road noise. So picture me with the Kindle tucked under the seatbelt and my chin, listening as I drive down the road.
Also remember the Kindle doesn't read like an audio book, so I needed to listen closely to overcome the voice not stopping at periods feature. Imagine hearing this without pause: "whether he knew it or not Finn needed her too chapter seven Rosemary awoke to cold, wet droplets falling on her face."
Okay, all that was just to share a new experience. Back to the book review.
Rosemary Jackson travels to North Dakota to stay with her twin sister and her sister's husband, after Rosemary's father has died and her Kansas homestead has been sold. Winter weather keeps her with neighbors where she finds out her sister is expecting a baby. Unfortunately, when Rosemary arrives at her sister's soddy no one is there and she finds a grave. Her sister has died.
The baby has lived, but isn't thriving, and Finn, Rosemary's brother-in-law, is barely functioning. The obvious thing to do would be to marry Rosemary so that she can care for the child while he gets back to farming, but Finn loved Rachel and is still grieving too deeply to consider the proposal.
I liked Rosemary's take-charge personality, how she wasn't bullied by tradition, men's chauvanisms, or an outright cattle ranching bully who wanted to scarf up all the settlers' claims. I liked how Finn had to work through his grief and how the tables turned on him and he become the one who wanted to marry. I liked the plot twist around the sheriff. I liked the historical facts fed through the story.
I wouldn't say this was an unforgettable Bateman book, but it was a straightforward, enjoyable Christian romance. If you like the Love Find You books, you will definitely like this one.
