Courting Emma

Anything Is Possible!

Emma Browning runs a boardinghouse for some wild characters but her prudent, orderly nature keeps them in line. Coming into this position after a wild, unhappy past, Emma has one ever-present problem, her drunken, alcoholic father who brooks no sermons or advice to change his embarrassing behavior. But that's about to change - or is it? For Little Hickman, Kentucky has a new pastor, Jonathan Atkins, a man who sees possibilities in everyone around him and whose infectious, Godly nature just might be the force to change a few minds, hearts and souls in this staid, typical Southern town. He certainly has met his match in Emma, for sure. Notably known for her stubborn, independent nature, Emma's propensity for work and a few quiet evening hours of reading a good book is turned upside down by Jonathan's brief but disquieting comments, gentle attitude and humorous outlook. Add to that some secretive letters to Emma from Grace Giles, a woman Emma has never seen or known and an upsetting, destructive town event and the scene has been set for some unpredictable reactions, gossip and outcomes! For Jonathan and Emma have more similar backgrounds than either had imagined and events conspire to show that with God anything is possible, indeed even probable! Sharlene MacLaren knows how to fashion a credible, interesting story with dynamic characters who lead readers to mutual thoughts and feelings. The setting and characters may be distant from one's own but the questions, considerations and conclusions are universal ones that are bound to touch any open reader on a deeper spiritual level! Nicely crafted, interesting story, Ms. MacLaren! Courting Emma is a terrific read! Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on March 7, 2008

An excellent read

Courting Emma is set in the late 1800¿s with two main characters, Emma Browning and Pastor Jonathan Atkins. Emma Browning runs the local boarding house with some pretty gruff and rowdy men, though they respect her rules. Emma¿s father, Ezra, is the town drunk. Every town back then had one. Unfortunately for Emma, her father was their town¿s drunk. And Emma was abused as a child, which in turn, made her very stubborn and defiant as an adult. Emma grew up with Jon Atkins. When he came back, all religious-like, she had no use for his so-called `God¿. He had never done anything for her. She had to work hard for what she had. Then Jon does something the whole town thinks is strange. He sells him home to build a new church. But now, he needs somewhere to live and he wants to move into Emma¿s boarding house. Emma tries to avoid this, but eventually she gives in and allows the preacher to live there. His money was just as good as anyone else¿s. Jon tries to ignore his growing `attachment¿ to Miss Emma Browning, but of course, our hearts have a mind of their own. Then Emma begins to receive mysterious letters from a woman in Chicago who seems to know all about Ezra and Emma. Who is this woman? And what does she want from Emma? MacLaren has a real talent for making her characters realistic, her settings so real, you almost feel like you are there. You can picture it all in your mind as you¿re reading. The engaging conversation is lively and the slang is perfect for the time period she is writing about. You can hear the accent. You can envision the characters. You¿ll fall in love with the little town of Little Hickman Creek. Having never read a historical romance before, I was amazingly surprised at how I much I really enjoyed Courting Emma by Sharlene MacLaren. Not being a history buff myself, though I do enjoy movies that take place in the 19th century, I found I was hooked almost right away. And that says a lot in itself. A most enjoyable read and I wish now, I could¿ve read the first two books in this series first. I intend to now. An excellent read.

Best in the Series!

After reading and absolutely loving the first two books in Sharlene MacLaren's Little Hickman series, I could not wait to read the final story. The storyline for 'Courting Emma' stood out to me more so than the first two for some reason, so when the book arrived on my front porch I could not wait to get started. Sharlene did not disappoint! 'Courting Emma' is the best book in the series. MacLaren's writing and storytelling just gets better and better with every book. I loved watching Jonathan demonstrate his love to Emma, even though she wanted nothing to do with him (sound familiar?). I loved seeing Jonathan minister to Emma's father to show him Jesus with tear-jerking results. I loved watching Emma slowly warm up to Jonathan against her will, then realize she couldn't live without him. This is a fabulous story, one that I will read again and again.

Humor, Romance, Mystery, and Christ's Love

COURTING EMMA, by Sharlene MacLaren Reviewed by Marion Kelley Bullock It¿s 1893 in Little Hickman, Kentucky. Twenty-eight-year-old Emma Browning runs a boarding house full of hooligans¿six, to be exact. She¿s tough and stubborn. She doesn¿t want help from anybody, least of all Preacher Jon Atkins. He sells his house, donates the proceeds for building a church, and moves into the boardinghouse. Emma fears he¿ll try to hammer the gospel into her and her boarders. She wants nothing to do with God. She hangs on to a lifetime of bitterness toward her father, the town drunk. Emma has begun receiving letters from a mysterious someone who knows about her and seems to know secrets about her father¿s past. At the same time, she¿s flattered and a bit discomfited to receive the attentions of both Jon and Billy Wonder, a suave traveling salesman. She tries to keep her mind off the handsome preacher. Jon finds Emma lovely and fascinating. But he wants to obey the still, small voice of God. He sets out to reach the unreachables. And right alongside that desire is his desperate wanting to court Emma. Will Emma ever forgive her father? Will she find God¿s perfect plan for her life? Ms. MacLaren¿s novel is sweet, but not syrupy. Real honest-to-goodness characters with genuine emotions people its pages. They live and breathe in my mind. I feel as if I might walk down Main Street and encounter some of them. Humor, romance, and mystery team with Christ¿s love to make this reading experience one you won¿t want to miss.

Great Historical Romance!

Sharlene MacLaren's book is a great fast paced Historical Romance set in a place called Little Hickman. Everything that happened in this place you wanted to know about. The characters got into your blood and it was so sad when the book was finally over, but it also made me smile as I closed the book, a sense of great satifaction. I would recommend it for anyone even if historcials are not your cup o' tea.

No wall is too high for love to scale.

Unapproachable Emma Browning has built an impenetrable wall of protection around her heart blocking out all males in general, and her scurrilous father in particular. She runs a successful boarding house in Little Hickman, Kentucky in 1896, successful meaning she can occasionally afford to buy material to make new curtains, and if enough is left over, make herself a new dress. Her wall of defense begins to crack when a boy who had teased her as a child returns to Little Hickman as Reverend Jonathan Atkins, the new preacher, and takes up residence in her boarding house¿against her better judgment. About the same time, mysterious letters begin arriving from Chicago from someone who knows her father. Someone who talks about relatives she had never heard of, and a God who forgives us as we forgive others. As the letters continue coming in, and the preacher brings her stricken father home to live, Emma is caught in the middle with nowhere to go but up. MacLaren makes you feel like you¿ve been dropped into the middle of a flourishing 1890s town with all its eccentricities, evils, and basic goodness. A pleasurable read, with an awesome finish.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.