Book Review | Love’s New Beginning by Penny Zeller

Today I am reviewing Love’s New Beginning by Penny Zeller out Tuesday 13 December 2022.

Book Description

Where it all began…

Lydie Beauchamp recently moved with her aunts—sisters Myrtle and Fern—to the untamed Wyoming Territory. When a teaching position in nearby Willow Falls captures her attention, can she leave her aunts, one of whom just suffered a broken heart, and embark on this new adventure? Will she find the courage to persevere in the midst of challenges, one being a handsome challenge named Solomon Eliason?

Reverend Solomon Eliason has the goal of making a difference. Hired as the pastor of Willow Falls, he must convince the congregation that he is able to undertake the role of a reverend. When he’s nominated to be the adult in charge of the annual prank tradition at the school, he embraces the idea, thinking the new teacher will be an elderly crotchety woman like his former teacher. What he doesn’t realize until it’s too late is that the teacher is far from crotchety and elderly.

When Lydie’s and Solomon’s paths cross in an unexpected way during the prank tradition at the Willow Falls school, can Solomon redeem himself in the eyes of the lovely new teacher?

Take a glimpse into where it all began with Lydie and Solomon’s story in this tender tale that reminds us that God can and does use willing hearts for His purposes.

My Review

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Another good read by Penny Zeller. This is the prequel to Forgotten Memories and it didn’t let me know. If you haven’t read Forgotten Memories, I would suggest reading this book first. You can read my review here.

We were introduced to Solomon and Lydie in Forgotten Memories and it is good to see how their own story started. Solomon is in his first church as minister.  He is constantly compared with the previous minster and often told he’s too young. He also is dealing from a childhood with a grandfather who thought he wasn’t good enough. We see how he wants to make a difference but struggles with memories and thoughts.

Lydie is at her first school after moving west here her two Aunts that raised her. The school has a new tradition of pranking new teachers on the first day of school. This leads to some distress from Lydie especially when she finds out Solomon was part the whole idea and puts him on the back foot.

I loved how we found out more about both characters and how similar tragedies in childhood can have totally different outcomes. What if Solomon’s Grandfather loved him for who he was. Or Lydie’s Aunts had treated her like a servant. Both lives would have been so different. We see the struggles Solomon have with his thoughts and it is good seeing the growth in the book. It was also good getting to know the secondary characters that still have a part to play in the next book.

This is the perfect start to the series and a perfect book for the Christmas season. There are also some secondary characters who try to steal the story. Fredrick is a child with a gift for story telling. Aunt Fern and Myrtle also like to steal scenes. I have never had huckleberries or Huckleberry pie but if I do get a chance to taste it I know who I don’t want cooking it.

A good read and I look forward to the next book in the series next year.