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A Heart Most Certain (Teaville Moral Society Book #1)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
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About this ebook
A Fresh Voice in Historical Romance!
While Lydia King's reasons for joining the Teaville Moral Society might be suspect to some members, her heart is in the right place. Because of her father's debts and her mother's persistent illness, her best chance at a secure future and curing her mother is to impress the politician courting her. Her first task--to ask the town's wealthiest man to donate--seems simple enough . . . until he refuses.
Despite appearances, Nicholas Lowe wants to help others, but prefers to keep his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, but Nicholas still intends to do things his own way. Neither predicts what they'll learn about true charity or foresee the complications their actions will bring to the town, forcing Lydia to decide where her beliefs and heart truly align.
While Lydia King's reasons for joining the Teaville Moral Society might be suspect to some members, her heart is in the right place. Because of her father's debts and her mother's persistent illness, her best chance at a secure future and curing her mother is to impress the politician courting her. Her first task--to ask the town's wealthiest man to donate--seems simple enough . . . until he refuses.
Despite appearances, Nicholas Lowe wants to help others, but prefers to keep his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, but Nicholas still intends to do things his own way. Neither predicts what they'll learn about true charity or foresee the complications their actions will bring to the town, forcing Lydia to decide where her beliefs and heart truly align.
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Author
Melissa Jagears
Melissa Jagears is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian historical romance into the wee hours of the night. She’s a Carol Award-winning author and has written the Unexpected Brides series, the Teaville Moral Society series, and Love by the Letter. For more information, visit www.melissajagears.com.
Read more from Melissa Jagears
Engaging the Competition (With This Ring? Collection): A Teaville Moral Society Novella Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for A Heart Most Certain (Teaville Moral Society Book #1)
Rating: 4.642857125 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
28 ratings10 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5After reading and loving the prequel novella, Engaging the Competition earlier this year I was eagerly anticipating this new book! And I am absolutely delighted to say that I was not disappointed, this is a fabulous book! The message touched my heart in so many ways, this is one novel that I won't soon forget! I have recently discovered that I tend to really enjoy stories of true love between a rich man and a poor girl, and Lydia and Nicholas' story was a beautiful example of loving someone for who they are rather than their money or lack thereof! I loved Lydia in the prequel and was really looking forward to her story, and it was a fantastic one! I can't say it enough, this is a phenomenal book that everyone should read!The pace was slower than I had expected it to be but that actually worked out well as I was able to savor the awesomeness!Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it! By the way, Nicholas is one of swoon-worthiest heroes I've ever read about! I plan to reread this book and the prequel novella many times in the future! I was honored to receive a complimentary copy of this amazing book from the author and Bethany house publishers in exchange for helping to promote it! Thanks!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I so enjoyed this book. I loved Lydia and Nicholas. Lydia and Nicholas want to help the poor but in completely different ways. Lydia is trying to impress the mother of the politician that she is dating so she talks to Nicholas to see if he will donate to the charity that the moral society leads. This is how she meets Nicholas but things don't go her way. Nicholas wants her to learn what the poor are really like. This made me laugh and cry. I had a very hard time putting this down. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I always appreciate a historical fiction book that teaches me while I am reading it. Author's who do their research bring more to the books that they write.A Heart Most Certain takes place in 1905. The main character, Lydia, is a young woman who wants to bring her family out of financial hole her father put them in with his gambling. Her mother is ill and doesn't have much longer to live. She is in a desperate situation and determines that the only way out is to marry for money. She has a politician who is willing, but feels she needs to win over his mother.Trying to impress her future mother-in-law, Lydia tires to talk the richest man in the city to donate to the Temperance Society. He is not an easy conquest and she finds that it takes more to talk him into a donation. This creates a friendship and mutual respect between Lydia and Nicholas where she learns the true meaning of charity.This reminded me of how all of covered under the Grace of God. Nicholas introduces her to the "unsavory" element of the community, the ladies who are prostitutes. Just being in the same room with them would shun her from polite society. I appreciated the lessons she learned about love, compassion, and forgiveness. She also discovered that not all of the women chose the life they were forced to live. It reminded me to examine the prejudices that I may be carrying around. The book was beautifully and compassionately written about what the Savior would do if her were in the slums.This is a clean romance. The nature of the book has innuendo, but it is done with taste and discretion . I read it in one day. That is saying something because it is 388 pages. This book is well worth the time to read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a very thought provoking book. Melissa Jagears dives right into the taboo subjects of prostitution, Christianity with regards to it and the orphaned children of prostitutes whose mother's have died or abandoned them.This is a historical novel, dealing with prostitutes who were forced into that way of life, from many different angles. Most women/girls who were prostitutes back then were not happy with their way of life. No one in society would have anything to do with them because they were "unclean".It takes a dedicated person to do the Lord's work in a prostitutes life. This book has a man who is dedicated to making their lives better. He tries to do his work quietly, hiring these "fallen" women as housekeepers and trying to help them make something of their lives.He is eventually found out, the community doesn't take kindly to being "duped".I enjoyed this book. It has a place on my favorites shelves. A lot of research went into making this be authentic to the time period. I received a copy for my honest review.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Melissa Jagears has captured my heart with her newest book, A Heart Most Certain. Her story is so rich with prayer and growth of faith, and held my interest throughout. I cannot recommend it enough.
The story takes place in Teaville, Kansas, 1905. STOP! Seriously? Well, be still my heart… what a perfect name for a town! It takes a hard look at how the poorest parts of town survived by being a “red light district”, and the very difficult attempt some made to climb out of that life. It also shows how the middle and upper class viewed those people as so much “less-than” believing they were at fault and did not deserve any grace or mercy. However, that is not the case for every citizen. Nicholas secretly gives charity and does good works to better their lives and make a difference. Lydia King, although quite poor in her own right, also does her part, by being a part of the Teaville Moral Society and sewing quilts for the less fortunate. When the group decides they need sewing machines to increase their production, she is tasked with requesting a donation from the town’s miser, Mr. Lowe. This story was packed with detail and deceit. But it was also rich with people desiring to better themselves for God's glory, and a beautiful love story stitched together over time and circumstances orchestrated by the hand of God.
5 stars
© 8/2/2016 Bethany House, 388 pages
I received a copy from Bethany House Publ., in exchange for my honest opinion, with no other compensation, which I am privileged to provide.
Reviewed: 8/15/2016 - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5After reading and loving the prequel novella, Engaging the Competition earlier this year I was eagerly anticipating this new book! And I am absolutely delighted to say that I was not disappointed, this is a fabulous book! The message touched my heart in so many ways, this is one novel that I won't soon forget!
I have recently discovered that I tend to really enjoy stories of true love between a rich man and a poor girl, and Lydia and Nicholas' story was a beautiful example of loving someone for who they are rather than their money or lack thereof! I loved Lydia in the prequel and was really looking forward to her story, and it was a fantastic one!
I can't say it enough, this is a phenomenal book that everyone should read!
The pace was slower than I had expected it to be but that actually worked out well as I was able to savor the awesomeness!
Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it! By the way, Nicholas is one of swoon-worthiest heroes I've ever read about! I plan to reread this book and the prequel novella many times in the future!
I was honored to receive a complimentary copy of this amazing book from the author and Bethany house publishers in exchange for helping to promote it! Thanks! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A HEART MOST CERTAINby Melissa JagearsThis is a very thought-provoking book. Melissa Jagears dives right into the taboo subjects of prostitution, Christianity with regards to it, and the orphaned children of prostitutes whose mothers have died or abandoned them.This is a historical novel, dealing with prostitutes who were forced into that way of life, from many different angles. Most women/girls who were prostitutes back then were not happy with their way of life. No one in society would have anything to do with them because they were "unclean".It takes a dedicated person to do the Lord's work in a prostitute's life. This book has a man who is dedicated to making their lives better. He tries to do his work quietly, hiring these "fallen" women as housekeepers and trying to help them make something of their lives.He is eventually found out, the community doesn't take kindly to being "duped".I enjoyed this book. It has a place on the shelves of my favorite books. A lot of research went into making this be authentic to the time period. I received a copy for my honest review.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Friday, August 26, 2016A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagears, © 2016A Teaville Moral Society novel, Book 1Isn't this cover beautiful? But... don't let it fool you. This girl has spunk!This is the best of the best! Began reading A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagears before bed and took it with me to read a fEw chapters ~ I woke up at 10:50 :D and beginning the 21st chapter. Everyone would have an eyeopener to "You've done it unto Me" ~ a wake-up call.Teaville, Kansas 1905How could it be that I wake up this morning and my whole world changes! I am sent off with the mission to collect money for two sewing machines to make quicker work of quilts being made by the Teaville Moral Society ladies. Me, Lydia King, setting off to find Nicholas Lowe the oft talked about rich man in our humble town.I am expected to give to the highfaluting, nose-in-the-air do-gooders? I think not! I give to her and the whole town will be knocking at my door. ~ Nicholas LoweLydia is an avid book reader. To her advantage, Mr. Lowe happens to have quite a few. As she continues to return to his office to request funding, he loans books to her. I liked how her interests opened up doors of conversation as she goes with him to supply needs directly, rather than his giving her money for her cause. She learned that building relationship brought a greater opportunity to bring change in lives. Stepping out into the unknown brings greater freedom than she had experienced.A character I appreciated was the pastor's wife who quit peripherals of what was expected of her, to gain a greater depth. Realizing and pursuing her need for a closer relationship with God rather than motives of what people would think.Nicholas finds changes in his outlook, the more he spends time with Lydia. Trust factors have kept him by himself in his endeavors. He finds that living for the present is much more rewarding than making up for the past.This story views how others are seen; as an onlooker or in some way extending a hand to help another climb out of an imprisonment they cannot escape on their own.***Thank you to author Melissa Jagears and to Bethany House for sending me a review copy for the August 2016 Fiction Blogger Review! This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Title: A Heart Most Certain (Teaville Moral Society #1)Author: Melissa JagearsPages: 393Year: 2016Publisher: BethanyMy rating is 5 stars.Nicholas Lowe is the wealthiest man in town and also the stingiest according to most townspeople. Lydia King is tasked with getting a donation from Mr. Lowe for the Teaville Moral Society. She is given this task by the group’s leader to see if she is worthy to be a member of the group as well as worthy of her son’s affections. Lydia is being courted by Sebastian Little, son of the town’s new mayor as well as having political aspirations of his own. Lydia is desperate for a way to get her father out from under his gambling debts as well as provide care for her dying mother. Lydia’s parents think marriage to Sebastian will solve all their problems. Lydia is not so sure, but what else can she do?As Lydia is unsuccessful in getting a monetary donation from Mr. Lowe, she returns multiple times to try again. She refuses to give up. What will Sebastian’s mother think? She already holds Lydia in low regard as she has no social standing and no money. She and Mr. Lowe begin an unsteady friendship when he grants her three wishes for the use of some of his money. What happens next will change their lives forever.I thought this story very deftly portrayed the hypocrisy that can be present in some churches today with speaking one way, but acting quite another. Scripture can be accurately quoted, but when it comes time to actually do something about a problem or an issue then it is either ignored, swept under the rug or left for someone else to deal with. I thought it interesting to read about the very limited life choices a woman in that time period. I enjoyed getting to know the real Nicholas behind the gruff exterior. I really liked how Nicholas and Lydia became willing to obey God regardless of the cost to them and how they were willing to put the words of Scripture into action.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Title: A Heart Most Certain (Teaville Moral Society #1)Author: Melissa JagearsPages: 393Year: 2016Publisher: BethanyMy rating is 5 stars.Nicholas Lowe is the wealthiest man in town and also the stingiest according to most townspeople. Lydia King is tasked with getting a donation from Mr. Lowe for the Teaville Moral Society. She is given this task by the group’s leader to see if she is worthy to be a member of the group as well as worthy of her son’s affections. Lydia is being courted by Sebastian Little, son of the town’s new mayor as well as having political aspirations of his own. Lydia is desperate for a way to get her father out from under his gambling debts as well as provide care for her dying mother. Lydia’s parents think marriage to Sebastian will solve all their problems. Lydia is not so sure, but what else can she do?As Lydia is unsuccessful in getting a monetary donation from Mr. Lowe, she returns multiple times to try again. She refuses to give up. What will Sebastian’s mother think? She already holds Lydia in low regard as she has no social standing and no money. She and Mr. Lowe begin an unsteady friendship when he grants her three wishes for the use of some of his money. What happens next will change their lives forever.I thought this story very deftly portrayed the hypocrisy that can be present in some churches today with speaking one way, but acting quite another. Scripture can be accurately quoted, but when it comes time to actually do something about a problem or an issue then it is either ignored, swept under the rug or left for someone else to deal with. I thought it interesting to read about the very limited life choices a woman in that time period. I enjoyed getting to know the real Nicholas behind the gruff exterior. I really liked how Nicholas and Lydia became willing to obey God regardless of the cost to them and how they were willing to put the words of Scripture into action.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”