Kaydie

How deep does hurt go?

Is it possible for a woman to love again after being beaten and deprived of food by the husband who is now dead?
Kaydie is the abused wife, left pregnant with the man's child, and although the outward bruises and injuries are gone, inward hurts remain.
Her sister, McKenzie and brother-in-law Zach Sawyer, open their home to Kaydie. They hope a loving environment will heal Kaydie's heart .
Why doesn't Kaydie go home to her wealthy parents back East? Because they've been waiting for their daughter to come to her senses and marry the lawyer,Cedric, they chose for her, even before she married the first time. Cedric Van Auder is Kaydie's old friend, but the woman would like to make her own decisions-if she ever decides she will wed again..
After the birth of Kaydie's daughter, a ranch hand, Jonah, keeps hanging around, helping her with the child and getting acquainted.
This book takes off with a gripping beginning from one of Kaydie's nightmares from her abusive past. Then we enter the peaceful living in Pine Haven, Montana in 1889. Kaydie's insides still are in turmoil much of the time. Although there still is gripping conflict, many chapters wrap around the ordinary life in the country as Kaydie adjusts to being at peace again. With the help of her sister, friends and the Lord, she begins to heal.
Will Kaydie marry again, and who will it be? Will she please her parents by going home?
You'll find out when you read this book. I recommend it.
Note: The author provided me an advance review copy.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended

Penny Zeller has created a book whose pages leap into life as the extremely credible characters are thrust into situations that no one should ever be forced to face. Kaydie, widowed and pregnant, takes refuge with her sister and brother-in-law following the death of her abusive husband. Kaydie has determined that she will never again be in a situation where she and her as-yet-unborn child will be in danger of being abused. Deciding that love and marriage are only for others, she vows to remain single and raise her child alone. Jonah Dickenson is a man who has vowed he will never marry. Deserted by his mother when he was just a small child and left with a bitter and drunken father, Jonah wants no part of a wife and family because he fears that he will turn out to be just like his father. As we journey through the pages of this book we see Kaydie grow from a meek and cowering girl to a strong and brave young woman. Jonah has grown from the days of a wild and reckless youth into a kind, considerate, and compassionate man. As Jonah and Kaydie are thrown together more and more often, feelings begin to grow between them. However, both of them are adamant that there will never be anything more than friendship between them. In spite of their dissimilarities, Kaydie and Jonah both share a love for God and gratitude for all that He has done for them. Throughout the pages of Kaydie, you will experience laughter, fear, tears, sorrow, and joy. You will meet the self-proclaimed matchmaker, Lucille Granger, who declares that she is going to find the perfect wife for Jonah. You will also meet Kaydie's mother, who insists on arranging a more appropriate marriage for Kaydie. It sometimes seems as if Jonah and Kaydie have little control over their lives and will be forced into marriages of convenience by well-meaning individuals. As I read this book, I was frequently reminded of the scripture in Proverbs 3:5 that says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (KJV) Kaydie and Jonah thought that they knew what they wanted for themselves but Penny Zeller has very capably shown us that, " ...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 - KJV) Since Kaydie is the second book in the series, there were several occasions when I found myself wishing that I had read book one first simply because I felt that some portions of the story that were revealed from book one will make it rather anticlimactic to read the first book, which I most definitely plan to do. However, there was nothing in the story that I could not understand and Kaydie can easily stand on its own. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kaydie and I feel certain that you will enjoy it too. It gives me great pleasure to recommend it to you.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great read

I loved the first book and this book lives up to my expectations. I loved Kaydie. She has had a hard life living with an abusive husband and as the book goes on we learn more about some of his abuse. I also love how Penny didn't rush her into a relationship but showed how hard it was for Kaydie to trust men. I also loved Jonah's character. There are some incidents I found quite funny and many I found moving. I love how Penny has tackled a subject of abuse and how recovering from abuse takes time and is not a quick fix I have read other books where the fallout from being abused hasn't really been dealt with and its been very much a quick fix when in fact it takes time to overcome not just the physical aspects but more so the emotional turmoil abuse causes. I cant wait to read more books by Penny.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Sweet Love Story

Readers will find another sweet love story in "Kaydie"-- the sequel to "McKenzie." Kaydie Kraemer and Jonah Dickenson carry deep scars of rejection and mistreatment. I found Zeller's style refreshing as she wove lessons of acceptance, forgiveness, and trust into this novel. God desires to restore Jonah and Kaydie's ability to trust. This shines forth as we watch them overcome their feelings of inadequacy. Learning to love again is not an easy task. I also appreciated the way Zeller highlighted the selfish intentions of Kaydie's parents and Cedric Van Aulst. It formed a striking contrast to Jonah's true love for Kaydie and her daughter. I would like to extend my thanks to Penny Zeller and Whitaker House for sending me a copy of "Kaydie" to review. I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic Historical Read

Kaydie Kraemer is now living with her sister and brother-in-law, McKenzie and Zach Sawyer, on a ranch out in the Wild West. Her abusive husband is now dead, because of a bank robbery gone bad. She doesn’t have to worry about him hurting her or their unborn child ever again. She no longer lives in fear of someone hurting her or her unborn child. And she no longer will go hungry like she did so many times before.

Jonah Dickenson works as a ranch hand for Zach Sawyer, who he sees as an older brother. Jonah knows he could never be a husband and father because he was deserted by his mom at a young age; and his father despised him. No way could he chance doing the same thing to a wife or a child.

As Kaydie and Jonah started spending time together, mostly Jonah watching out for her, they started having feelings for each other. But neither of them was ready for a relationship. Kaydie could no longer trust a man, and Jonah had no idea how to take care of a wife and baby. As this story continues to unfold, will Jonah have the nerve to tell Kaydee his feelings for her? And will Kaydie keep her feelings from Jonah to herself? And there is Kaydie’s mother to deal with. Will Jonah be good enough to marry into the Worthington family?

This is a heartwarming story from the author Penny Zeller. Throughout the story you will have joy and laughter, sadness and crying as you experience the lives of these two characters. You will also meet other interesting characters living in their small town as well.

I love how the author chose the personality of each character. They made the story enjoyable and fun to read. And even though it is a historical fiction, the characters feel like people in our everyday lives today.
This is my first book by Penny Zeller, and I can’t wait for the next one. But first I will buy McKenzie because I want to read about the beginning of the story!

The thing I loved most about the book was the scripture used throughout. It is one of my favorites; Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Kaydie and Jonah trusted the Lord to lead their lives they way He wanted. I really like the strong spiritual content of the book.

I rec’d a complimentary copy of the book from the author. Thank you so much Penny! The opinions are mine alone. I was not ask to write a positive review of this book.

Highly Recommended

What a blessing to discover this new series! I really enjoyed Kaydie and the message found within its pages. In a world that continues to soften and oftentimes eliminate the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is wonderful to have an author use her God-given gifts to give us a fresh look at how we can enjoy tales of adventure, intrigue, heartwarming love, and dashes of humor. I loved how Penny Zeller showed her characters exhibiting a love for Jesus by leaning on, trusting in, and going to Scripture for their guidance and comfort. I would highly recommend this book!

A wonderful book to read

i have read "Kaydie" several times, and have enjoyed it each time.
Penny Zeller does a wonderful job brining the characters to life and they stay with you long after you've read the book.

Kaydie a great read!

Kaydie is finally safe and living with her sister and brother-in-law on their ranch in Montana territory. Since her husband's death in his failed bank robbery, she's finally physically safe, but the memories of his abuse continue to haunt her. She's wary of men and is determined to protect herself and her soon-to-be born child. She had poor judgment once in choosing a husband and she's not going to make the same mistake twice. She builds a wall around her heart that she aims for no man to break through.

Ranch hand Jonah Dickenson is like family to Zach and McKenzie, and even though he can see how happy they are, he has no desire to wed. Marital bliss is the last thing he desires. In fact, he's not even sure there is such a thing - not for him anyway. His mother deserted him when he was very young and he was hated and rejected by his own father. He's had no good example of how to be a husband or father and is determined to remain a bachelor forever.

But from the moment Kaydie shows up in Pine Haven, Jonah has been drawn to her. Kaydie is scared and keeps her wall of protection in place. He hates that she's frightened of him and decides he can be her friend. She has her child and over time they form a strong friendship and Jonah begins to find it difficult to want only friendship. Her child has grown to love Jonah. Can she keep her heart safe?

An old friend of Kaydie, Cedric van Aulst, comes to town intent on courting her. Being a wealthy lawyer in her father's Boston firm, he can't fathom the ways of the west. He's loved Kaydie for a long time and is intent on rescuing her from this god forsaken land. He's determined to get her to Boston where she can have a life of leisure and attend charity events.

Kaydie can trust Cedric, but is that enough? Will he be a dedicated father to her child? Besides, she's grown to love Pine Haven and her life there. Will she trust God to lead her path? Will she open her heart to true love instead of settling for a safe and boring life?

I'm not going to spoil it for you, because you have to read this book! I loved it even more than McKenzie. This series just keeps getting better. I'm holding on to my bookmark and I suggest you do the same. Hailee, the third book in Penny Zeller's Montana Skies series, will be released this fall.

Charming!

For a charming tale of love and faith in the Montana Territory, look no further than Penny Zeller's Kaydie.

A wonderful read!

Historical fiction, along with Amish fiction, is my most favorite of genres, so I love jumping at the chances to read new ones and travel back in time. So, that's what I did with this one and boy, was I pleased! While McKenzie, book 1 in the Montana Skies series, needed some improvement, Kaydie did not. Penny Zeller's second novel shows that her talent is better than before and really captured me this time! I really enjoyed the feeling of having the chance to travel back to the time of train travel and horses.

Kaydie's story picks up exactly where McKenzie's left off. I fell in love with her character instantly and prayed for her through out the novel. I really loved having the chance to watch her grow in trusting more and more people after being an abused wife. God's guidance and love spoke volumes in this sweet story, especially as Kaydie finds a friend in the God-fearing man, Jonah (of course, I am partial to characters named Jonah since that is my sons name ;-)!).

All in all, Zeller's work was fantabulous this time around. I definitely recommend this book to all with 5 star praises. I'm looking forward to many more books from this new author, especially another installment in this sweet series!

Wild West Living!

Kaydie Kraemer is still traumatized by the memories of abuse by her now deceased husband, Darius Kraemer, and she takes great comfort knowing he is dead.

McKenzie, Kaydie's sister, and her husband, Zach Sawyer, find Kaydie and take her to their ranch in Montana. There she feels like can finally breathe again. When found, Kaydie was with child. She had also desperately learned how to cocoon her emotions inside so as not to fall for another manipulative, lying man's words of love.

Jonah Dickenson is a ranch hand on Zach's ranch. Abandoned by his mother and rejected by his father, he has a distasteful view of marriage. He has few close relationships, but there's something special about Kaydie that just might change his mind about bachelorhood.

Kaydie is my first taste of Penny Zeller's writings. I enjoyed her reminiscent points of view interspersed into the main portion of the novel. It elaborates on some of the missing ingredients to bring the reader up-to-speed as to what has transpired previously in the lives of Kaydie and McKenzie. Some of which are absolutely hilarious!

The sister-to-sister interactions are woven into the action in a
very real way, since they are now older and married. Their vibrant love and respect for each other is touching and desirable. It reflects on their childhood years, despite their mother's values of their upbringing.

I appreciated the slow, quiet romance building between Kaydie and Jonah, although she was still hesitant of a new relationship. Having the relationship interrupted by the arrival of a suitor, Cedric Van Aulst, picked out by her parents, ups the ante on whom she will allow herself to marry. Cedric fits her comfort zone for marriage, but who meets her current values, especially regarding her daughter, Bethany Ethel?

The way Penny pushes the envelope on Kaydie's relationships with Jonah and Cedric is full of tension and yet uplifting, as Kaydie relies on the Lord to direct her path. Previous promises made were kept in the midst of the rivalry for her affections, and emotions explode!
Some of what also endeared me to the novel also dates me-three-legged and gunny-sack races, Fourth of July celebrations, baked goods and sewing competitions, along with the social baskets, the latter of which I've only read about, however!

The most important thing, a relationship with the Lord, is graciously woven throughout the book through prayer for direction, help in time of need, and the basis of a marriage. A delightful read about the West and relationships!

Special thanks to Cathy Hickling of Whitaker House for sending me a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Touching Inspirational Romance

After years of pain and starvation at the hands of her cruel husband, Kaydie Worthington Kraemer can finally rest on the Montana ranch her older sister McKenzie and her husband Zach Sawyer call home. Kaydie finds herself wary of men, despite her newfound safety and discovers those protective walls may be hard to escape. Especially once her newborn child arrives.

But Jonah Dickenson, the Sawyer's trusted ranch hand, does his best to care and comfort both Kaydie and her child, but even he must fight the haunting memories of a difficult childhood. Both Jonah and Kaydie must lay their fears aside before they could ever consider marriage. When Cedric Van Aulst, an old family friend proposes a marriage that promises safety and wealth, Kaydie must choose between a safe marriage and a faithful one. Both come with a high cost.

Penny Zeller creates a sweet character in Kaydie, one you wish you could hug or comfort through the adversity that befell her. Kaydie's story is wrought with heartbreak and pain, but filled with redemption. It was a pleasure to read.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Great Read - Page Turner Interest - Montana Skies Series - Book Two

Penny Zeller has done it again. She's got another book that makes you wonder if the heroine is such a good person UNTIL you read more about her heart. This book could be a stand-alone but is even better when read ALL of the series. Zeller's refreshing and unique twist in the mail-order-bride books has given my love for those another dimension. I'm recommending Kaydie as well as McKenzie (her Montana Skies series first book) to my children and grandchildren. Kaydie is going to be joining McKenzie on my personal library shelves.