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Thursday, December 31, 2020

Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56: Love Comes Softly

   



    Hi! Happy New Year's Day, everyone, and welcome to my Friday post (the first one I've published since 2021 started). This one is the last in this month's Week of Book Memes, and kicks off my slow journey toward this site's first blogiversary! Yay! (To view all of the Week of Book Memes events I've done in the past, click HERE.) 

    Earlier this week, I participated in my fourth #IMWAYR, blogged about my top ten favorite books of 2020, and spotlighted Jen Calonita's newest read. Feel free to look at those if you're interested. If you've already looked at any of them, or took the time to comment, thank you so much! Every time I see that people are enjoying my posts it makes me so happy.

    This time, my Book Beginnings on Fridays/Friday 56 features a book rapidly becoming a classic. Especially if you read a lot of Christian fiction, you'll recognize this read as a pioneer in the literary world...ironic considering that it's set in American pioneer days! With a similar feel to the Little House books, it's no surprise that this well-written, emotional story has become a well-known Hallmark movie series.


Title: Love Comes Softly

Author: Janette Oke

Genre: Christian Fiction

Synopsis: Marty and Clem set out for the pioneer West full of hopes and dreams. They would stake a claim of their own on the new frontier, and build a home for themselves and their family.

But just after they'd arrived and Clem had chosen the perfect setting for their new home, an accident took his life...leaving Marty alone and pregnant. Then, on the day of his funeral, Clark Davis came along...and asked Marty to marry him!

Marty was infuriated -- but with no money, no shelter, and a baby on the way, what choice did she have? Besides, Clark said he only wanted her to be a mama to his baby girl, Missie. If Marty was still unhappy come spring, he would pay for her ticket back East.

Determined not to be a burden to Clark, and intending only to earn her keep. Marty threw herself into her new role of "Mama." But she had never been anyone's mama before, and she didn't even know how to keep a house! If only she could do right by this lonely man and his daughter just long enough to earn her train fare back home...

Now, Marty must learn wholeness and love through patience and faith.

First Line: The morning sun shone brightly on the canvas of the covered wagon, promising an unseasonably warm day for mid-October. Marty fought for wakefulness, coming slowly out of a troubled and fitful sleep. 

My Thoughts: Janette Oke does a fantastic job of infusing her writing with rich description, and gives you right off the bat the needed who, what, where, and when information for us to keep reading. Marty's obvious bad mood has me wondering why she feels that way, and already gives me a peek into her character and personality. I also know that the setting is during the American pioneering days, and can't help but wonder where she's traveling to. Even in the first few lines, I can already tell that I will relate to her, despite coming from a different time and place. In short, this is an amazing and very well-written opening!



    I'm not sure if anyone has this problem, but whenever I try to flip to the 56th page of a book, usually the only sentences are either confusing or wouldn't make sense out of context. I was so glad that the line I found on page 56 of this book was perfect for this book meme, and spotlighted one of my favorite characters!

From Love Comes Softly: Marty breathed a short prayer that if there truly was a God up there somewhere, He'd see fit to send a special blessing upon this wonderful woman whom she had so quickly learned to love.




    Thanks for taking a look at this post! I hope you enjoyed the small excerpts of Love Comes Softly.

    What about you? Have you read Love Comes Softly? If so, what did you think about it? If not,  would you consider checking out the book? 

    Some of you might have noticed that there's no Book Blogger Hop question today. That's because there isn't one! I guess the blogger running the meme wanted to allow time off for people to gather with their families today and tomorrow. So, we get a little break from that. If you like reading my answers to Book Blogger Hop questions, though, don't worry...they'll be back in future Fridays! 😊

    Next week, I'm taking a break from book reviews, because I was nominated for the Liebster Award! Join me as I answer all of the questions from the blogger that tagged me, and share a little more about myself outside of book blogging.

17 comments:

  1. I haven't read any of the books but I've seen the entire series of movies. I think I might actually own them... I really enjoyed your post :)

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Colletta

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    1. That's really interesting...I know I've done that with a couple of other series too! I'm glad you enjoyed my post.

      Thanks for reading and commenting.

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    1. I'm so glad! Thanks for reading and commenting.

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  3. Hi JadeSky!! Congrats on being nominated for a Liebster Award! Wow, looking forward to you answers.

    I've seen the first in the movie-series for Love comes Shortly and it was a lovely movie. I didn't even know that it was a book. I need to read more Christian Literature this year.

    Have a good week and an even better year!

    Thanks for visiting us earlier, we always love to have you around.

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    1. Hello! Yes, I've never heard of it before, but I was thrilled to be nominated. I'm excited to share my answers and hope you'll be back to see them too!

      Interesting...I know that I and a few other people have not read the books before this, only seen the movies. If you need help finding good Christian literature, I've always got suggestions :)

      Thank you so much for all the warm wishes sent my way, and for reading and commenting!

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  4. Your post is challenging to read with this background. I'm glad I stuck it out though, this book sounds fantastic! I love Amish/Christian fiction! Happy New Year!

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    1. Oh so after I commented, the page went normal and the post was just fine. Not sure what happened previously... must have been on my end?

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    2. Okay, got it. Hmm, that is strange! Thanks for letting me know, and for reading and commenting.

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  5. Weird issue on your blog. Hard to read. If I can, and it resets like the previous poster has said, I'll be back.

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    1. OK. IT did straighten out. Never seen a Blogger issue like this. Anyway, I dare say I've seen better descriptive writers. Don't know if I'm sold because of that, but it does look interesting.

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    2. Hmm, strange. Another blogger commented with the same issue, too. Thanks for letting me know, and for sharing your opinions on the book!

      Thanks for reading and commenting.

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  6. Those are such awesome snippets! This is a book I definitely need to read one of these days.

    I have that trouble with the 56 snippets too. It's almost always in the middle of dialogue, is very confusing, or a massive spoiler. It's so nice when it's a great line like this one.

    Happy New Year! :)

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book excerpts and agreed with me about the Friday 56 snippets. Yes, Love Comes Softly is a must read!

      Happy New Year back! Thanks for reading and commenting.

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  7. AWESOME POST!!!!!!!!!!! I've heard of Love Comes Softly but have never read it!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I gotta go back to my TBR and figure out how to make this all work. XD Also, just wondering, have you ever read Fawkes by Nadine Brandes. I feel like you've told me you had but I can't remember. Anyway, I've been in the middle of it and so far I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I kinda had to get that off my chest. XD

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    1. (Sorry for the late reply XD)

      Yay! I'm so glad you liked it! Yes, you definitely should add it to your TBR list, especially if you want to get a feel for how people lived in pioneer times! XD Yes, I read Fawkes for the first time this summer and I loved it! Have you read "Romanov"? Funny story...I went to a book signing for Romanov, bought it, and got it signed by the author...but I wasn't familiar with any of her stuff back then and didn't have time to properly fangirl over her books. Oh, well. :) Thanks for reading and commenting!

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    2. I haven't read "Romanov" yet! It's on my list of books to get!!! I really wanna read it though!!! Haha, actually I remember you telling me that story now. It'd be cool to meet Nadine Brandes!

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