Synopsis:~
Their whirlwind romance takes the hard road toward happily-ever-after as disaster tests their love and their faith in God’s goodness.
Sophie Shultz smiles at her future even when she doesn’t feel like it. After a lifetime of fearing she’d never fit in anywhere, she’s found a place to belong in the small town of Big Prairie. When a country drive leaves this city girl stranded in the mud, the cowboy who stops to help gives her plenty to smile about. For real. Lance Carson is tall, handsome, and kind, if a little on the quiet side—not to mention the owner of Big Prairie’s celebrated vineyard. Her adopted hometown keeps getting better…
Lance has always preferred solitude, but when he rescues Sophie, he develops a new appreciation for companionship. It doesn’t take long for him to lose his heart as she fills the aching void life’s disappointments have left behind. But a feud with his wild brother has put him in a hard spot, pushing him to a decision that will ruin his relationship with many of Big Prairie’s citizens—and devastate Sophie. Before he can figure out how to tell her, someone tattles on his plans.
As their relationship is put to the test, conflict presses in from every side. Can this rapidly grown romance sink its roots deep enough to weather the storms, or will Lance and Sophie lose their way?
Small town Christian stories of romance and redemption, begin the Big Prairie Romance series today!
My take:~
Jennifer Rodewald pens a beautiful story in her second Big Prairie Romance, When I Lost My Way. The attraction is instantaneous between Sophie and Lance and the immediate sparks evolve quickly into a heartfelt relationship between the young vineyard owner and the city transplant who finds herself more accepted in the small Nebraskan town, than in the city of Omaha, where she grew up, always feeling a little out of place. The two fall hard and fast and with their relationship cemented by halfway through the book, I knew Jennifer had some challenges planned for this opposites attract couple. As I’ve come to expect with Jennifer’s stories, issues and themes are authentically driven and she has you so invested in her characters’ struggles. Interracial relationships, family tragedy, sibling estrangement, and community division are all part of this engaging story. I was so engaged as Sophie and Lance ran into communication difficulties due to their differing personalities and hurts in their past, the issues taking time and effort to resolve, reflecting real life not simply an escapist love story. Minor characters, including Sophie’s father by adoption, added so much warmth and wisdom to this story.
I highly recommend When I Lost My Way to readers who love a wonderful romance that reflects the realities of love, life, and redemption. The teasers in this story for the next Big Prairie romance has me eager for more!
With thanks to the author for my review copy. All opinions remain my own.
Jennifer Rodewald/J. Rodes lives on the wide plains somewhere near the middle of Nowhere. A coffee addict, pickleball enthusiast, and storyteller, she also wears the hats of mom, teacher, and friend. Mostly, she loves Jesus and wants to see others fall in love with Him too.
She would love to hear from you! Please visit her at authorjenrodewald.com or at www.facebook.com/authorjenrodewald
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Buy at Amazon: When I Lost My Way
June 11, 2020 at 12:25 am
Thank you so very much for this warm review, Rel! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this Lance and Sophie’s story, and honored that you’ve reviewed it.
June 11, 2020 at 11:53 pm
I’ve read several of Jennifer’s books and without fail the characters are deep and well fleshed out. There are these sudden bursts of such profound wisdom that it makes you just STOP …… and reflect on how that statement applies to your own life. It’s like an Easter egg hunt – – you see the backyard – it’s appears the same and then – BAM! – a bright blue egg pops out of this “normal” picture and you see it and you run to pick it up and lay it gently in your basket and then you start looking again – and BAM! – now you spy a purple egg and you run for it. That’s the way her stories are, you are reading along with strong character driven people, with real life situations going on – and BAM! – – up pops a nugget of wisdom that you just have to stop and pick it up and hold it and roll it around in your brain (basket) and reflect on it’s beauty and then off you go again in the story until the next nugget of wisdom happens. In this particular story – “When I Lost My Way” – there is Miss Jane who I wish I could live next door to – but then my husband would never see me – (lol) – – what a boatload of humor and practical wisdom this matriarch is! I could go on & on – – but I encourage you to read a Jennifer Rodewald book – – any of them – – you will read and see for yourself. It’s hard to say which has been my favorite so far because each leaves it’s own mark – – but I did particularly enjoy “The Carpenter’s Daughter” – – this is not a paid announcement – just a review from a very satisfied reader.