BOOK REVIEW:  Church in the Wildwood 

 

Church In The Wildwood purchase link

Click cover to purchase book

by Vickie McDonough

Dancing Word Reviewer

 

Title: Church In The Wildwood
Authors: Paige Winship Dooly, Kristy Dykes

Pamela Griffin, and Debby Mayne

Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 1-586-60966-1
Genre: Inspirational/Historical/Romance

A church stands as a landmark of love for four generations

"Leap of Faith" by Pamela Griffin

Everyone in town expects Amanda Hodges to marry Zeke Randall, but she only has eyes for Matt Campbell, a man new to the area. Though the regular townsfolk seldom appear to help, quiet Matt faithfully assists Amanda's preacher father build his church every Saturday. Her heart quickly warms to the somber man, but when she finds out the truth about his past, will she turn her back on him or take a leap of faith and love him for the man he is now?

"Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy" by Kristy Dykes

The last thing Shirley Campbell wants is to marry a preacher like her grandmother did. Shirley has spent her whole life working in the church and knows she wants more out of life than just teaching Sunday School and arranging church socials. Then she meets Forrest Townsend, the new preacher, and her fickle heart betrays her. Can she give up all her dreams and follow her heart? And will she be happy if she does?

"Only A Name" by Debby Maynes

The only thing Atlanta-bred Eva Hargrove finds interesting in the tiny town of Hickory Hollow is the new associate pastor, Robert Campbell. She is quickly attracted to the kind man, but her father is pushing her into a relationship with his business partner, James Randall. Eva can tell there's bad blood between Robert and James. She later learns the longtime family feud started with two men vying for the same woman. Will history repeat itself as Robert and James both pursue Eva, or can the century-old feud finally be laid to rest?

"Cornerstone" by Paige Winship Dooly

Resort owner April Russell is eagerly looking forward to Matthew Campbell's return to Hickory Hollow. Her one-time best friend and first love, now a successful businessman, is just the one to refurbish the old church. But when April learns Matt's true plans for the church and area surrounding it, will the old feud between her ancestors, the Randalls, and the Campbells be resurrected?

Church In The Wildwood takes us through several generations of people who lived near and worshiped in the little church at Hickory Hollow. In the opening story, the feud between the Randalls and Campbells is established and resurfaces in the following novellas. I found the first and last stories to be more action-oriented, and they held my interest the most. It was interesting to see how the church and the community evolved through the years. Each story has a faith message and a sweet romance that will tug at your heart and have you wishing you could visit the
Church In The Wildwood.