"Three heartwarming stories of finding unexpected love."
Reviewed by Viki Ferrell
Posted June 24, 2011
Christian | Romance Historical
LOVE FINDS A HOME is an anthology of three historical
novellas that deal with how love triumphs over the loss of a
mother, a lifetime of rejection, and grief for a wife. Each
story tells of finding room for love in spite of the
heartaches and situations of each of the characters. Glenna Moore is Daddy's Girl. It has just been the two of
them for a long time. When her gambling, card-cheating
father is shot dead in front of her, she has no one to turn
to and no place to go. Comforted by a young minister on the
train, she begins to have feelings for him and his feelings
are reciprocal. Without much forethought, Rev. David Green
proposes to Glenna and, without much forethought, she
accepts. After all, the letter in David's pocket from the
church he will pastor says they look forward to meeting his
wife. Now he has one, but will Glenna know how to act like a
pastor's wife? Will she find the home and a lifestyle she
has never had? Judith King is tall with creepy eyes, one brown and one
blue. People have always made fun of her looks. How will her
new class of children see her? She has never felt she could
be loved by any man because of her appearance. But when
widower Ernie Snyder, a canal boater during the warmer
months, brings his children to her classroom, a spark of
hope ignites something between them. Judith and Ernie are as
different as her unmatched eyes. When his daughter, Grace,
has an accident, he suddenly feels the need for a wife and
instantly asks Judith to marry him. Can she give up her
teaching position and become an instant wife and mother? Dan Fisher still manages his late wife's used toy store,
Twice Loved. He promised her he would not close it, but he
needs some help. Bev Winters has just been released from her
bookkeeping job after World War II when the men came back
and reclaimed their previous jobs. She lost her husband in
this war and needs a job to get by and raise her little
girl. When she goes into the toy story to ask for a job,
there is an immediate connection between her and Dan. Both
can sense it, but neither wants to act on it. Would starting
a new relationship be fair to the memory of their lost loved
ones? Could they love twice? Wanda E. Brunstetter has given us a beautiful trio of
historical stories that will warm your heart. The historical
aspects of each story could perhaps have actually happened
in the time period of their settings. LOVE FINDS A HOME is a
quick read and a real delight.
SUMMARY
When times are tough. . .. . .will love find a home? Daddy’s
GirlGlenna Moore has become accustomed to a life of hardship
while following her father on his gambling jaunts across
America. But when a night of gambling turns into
catastrophe, will Glenna’s heart be capable of letting a
young reverend’s kindness save her from despair? Reverend
David Green trusts God in every action, but will his offer
to help a desperate young woman backfire and uproot a past
he would rather forget? Dear TeacherWherever Judith King
goes, her physical flaw—one brown eye and one blue—follows
her. As she adjusts to her life as a one-room schoolteacher
in a Pennsylvania canal town, she insists that no man could
fall in love with her. Single father Ernie Snyder is
captivated by the beautiful new schoolmarm, but believes it
is a hopeless case for a man like him to marry a woman like
her. Can two stubborn souls learn to let love into their
lives? Twice LovedA position in a used toy shop is an answer
to prayer for Bev Winters who finds herself widowed with a
young daughter after World War II. But when her employer
shows her surprising kindness, she is unsure how to react.
After his wife’s death, Dan Fisher dutifully maintains her
used toy shop and closes his heart to ever loving another
woman. Then Bev Winters enters his life, and he is drawn to
help her and her daughter. Will this working relationship
turn into love?
ExcerptChapter 1
August 1879
All aboard!" The conductor’s booming cry pulled Glenna
Moore to her feet. She glanced down at her father, slouched
on the wooden bench outside the train station in Central
City, Nebraska. His head was supported only by the
unyielding plank wall, and his mouth hung slightly open.
Glenna bent down and gave his shoulder a good shake.
"Wake up, Daddy. The train’s here, and we’ve got to go now."
Her father groaned and swiped one hand across his unruly
goatee. "Leave me alone, girl. I wanna sleep."
Glenna dropped back onto the bench with a heavy sigh,
making no effort to conceal her disgust. "You can sleep all
you want once we’re on the train." She poked him in the ribs
with a bony elbow. "You don’t want to be thrown in jail, do
you?"
Glenna’s harsh reminder of their dire circumstances
seemed to be enough motivation for Daddy. He opened one eye,
then the other, yawning widely as he attempted to stand up.
His equilibrium was not what it should have been, however,
and he was forced to grab hold of Glenna’s arm in order to
keep from falling over.
Allowing Daddy to lean on her small frame, Glenna
complained, "If you just hadn’t been so determined to finish
that bottle of whiskey, you might not be in such a state
right now!"
The empty bottle was lying on the floor by their bench,
and she sneered at it as though it were her worst enemy.
"Needed it," her father mumbled. "Was dealt a raw hand."
No, Daddy, Glenna lamented silently, it was you who dealt
the bad hand. Ever since Mama died in childbirth, along with
her little brother, Glenna had been Daddy’s girl. She needed
him as much as he needed her, so she would make every effort
to bridle her tongue where his problem was concerned.
"If we don’t get on board that train heading west, it’s
going to leave without us." Glenna shuddered. "And if we
stay here, the law will either put you in jail or some
sidewinder’s bound to shoot you."
Her father snorted and gave the empty whiskey bottle a
hefty kick with the toe of his sable-colored boot. "Humph!
Can I help it if I’m better at poker than most of those
snakes in the grass?"
In all her eighteen years, Glenna could never remember
her daddy admitting he was wrong about anything—not even
cheating at the card tables. She was well aware of Daddy’s
special vest, with a single strip of elastic sewn inside.
She’d seen those marked cards he kept hidden there, too.
Glenna had no right to complain or judge her father though.
After all, he protected her and took care of her needs.
Well, most of them anyway.
Glenna glanced down at her dark-green, cotton day dress
with its formfitting bodice and tight, short sleeves. The
lower part of the gown consisted of both an underskirt and
an overskirt, pulled slightly up in the back, giving it a
somewhat bustled look. While it had cost a tidy sum when
she’d purchased it a few years back, it was now quite
out-of-date. Daddy hadn’t done too well at his trade
recently, and new dresses weren’t a priority—at least not to
his way of thinking.
Smoke and cinders belched from the diamond-shaped stack
on top of the Union Pacific’s mighty engine. The imperious
screech of the locomotive whistle and another "All aboard!"
drove Glenna’s troubled thoughts to the back of her mind.
"We’ve got to board that train, Daddy."
Her father bent down and grabbed his well-worn suitcase,
and Glenna followed suit. Due to their rapid departure, they
were traveling light. Since they had no additional luggage,
there wasn’t a need for anything to be placed in the baggage
car.
Gripping Daddy’s arm, Glenna guided him toward the conductor.
"Tickets, please!" the gray-haired gentleman barked,
thrusting out his hand.
Glenna set her suitcase down and fumbled in her handbag.
She retrieved the tickets and handed them to the conductor,
just in time to grab her father’s arm before he toppled over.
"Too bad you’re not in a private Pullman car," the
conductor said with a sympathetic look. "Granger, Wyoming,
is a ways off. It appears as though your traveling companion
could do with a bit of privacy."
Glenna gritted her teeth and offered the man a curt nod
as he helped her board the train. No one wished more for a
private car than she. Funds were low just now, and spending
what little they did have on something so unnecessary was
not a good idea. Until they got settled in the town of
Granger, their money must be spent wisely. That meant riding
in a dismal, overcrowded emigrants’ coach for third-class
passengers who soon would become a congregation of aching
spines and flaring tempers.
Visions of more affluent times flashed into Glenna’s
mind. Just thinking about their present situation sent a
chord of defiance through her soul. She hoped things
wouldn’t always be like this. Daddy kept assuring her that
someday he would hit it really big. Then he’d build a house
they could call their own, buy lots of fancy clothes, and
give Glenna a horse and buggy fit for a princess. It would
probably never happen, but dreaming of better days was all
that kept her going.
Her father had already stumbled up the steps and was
slouched against one wall when Glenna joined him moments
later. "We must find a bench," she said in a voice laced
with frustration. If Daddy kept standing there like a
disfigured statue, they’d not only have trouble securing a
seat, but they would probably be the laughingstock of the
entire coach!
With another one of his pathetic groans, Daddy pulled
away from the wall. Grabbing Glenna’s free arm, he began
shuffling down the aisle.
Glenna felt, rather than saw, the curious stares from the
other passengers as they awkwardly made their way toward a
vacant wooden bench. She kept her eyes focused on her goal
so she wouldn’t have to view the pity or disgust from those
nearby. Why couldn’t Daddy have stayed sober today? Why must
she suffer the humiliation of his actions?
She drew in a deep breath, then blew it out with such
force she felt the tiny curls across her forehead bounce. As
far back as she could remember, things had been this way
where Daddy was concerned. She hated to admit it, but
barring some unforeseen miracle, she knew things would
probably never be any different.
Daddy dropped his suitcase and gave it a good kick under
their seat. Then he flopped onto the hard bench. Glenna
placed her own piece of luggage next to his and slid in
beside him, thankful they would no longer be viewed by the
entire car. Maybe now she could find a few moments of peace.
David Green pulled methodically on the end of his
recently trimmed beard as he studied the young woman in the
seat directly across the aisle. Dark ringlets framed her
oval face, and her high-necked dress, though slightly
outdated, fit just right. He couldn’t help but notice her
flushed cheeks, wary expression, and the obvious tension in
her body. She probably had her hands full with that man who
sat beside her. Was the drunkard her father, perhaps an
uncle, or even a much too old husband?
David shook his head. Surely this delicate beauty could
not be married to such an uncouth fellow! Those long, ebony
curls and fetching brown eyes could easily have wooed a
younger, more distinguished, and pleasant man than the one
sitting next to her. Why, the paunchy, middle-aged man was
slouched in his seat as though he hadn’t a care in the world.
How despicable. Then a verse of scripture popped into
David’s mind. "Judge not, that ye be not judged." He
swallowed hard. Thank You for reminding me, Lord. But for
the grace of God, there go I.
David’s thoughts were pulled aside as the man who shared
his seat spoke up. He blinked. "What was that?"
"I said, ‘When do you think the train will pull out?’ "
the young man asked. "We’ve already had several delays
today, and I’m getting anxious to see this trip come to an end."
David turned his full attention to his chum—a name given
to those who shared seats on the emigrants’ coach. The man
was already onboard the train when David got on in Omaha,
Nebraska. He’d introduced himself as Alexander P. Gordon, a
Scottish author and poet. He boasted of having a modest
reputation as a "travel writer."
Before David could open his mouth to reply to Alexander’s
question, the train whistle blew three quick blasts, and
their humble coach began to rock from side to side. The
swaying motion was almost gentle and lulling at first, but
as the train picked up speed, David could hear the familiar
clickety-clack, slap-slap-slap of the wheels. Soon their car
began to bounce like a rolling ship at sea.
David tried to ignore the distraction and smiled at his
companion. "Guess that answers your question about when
we’ll be leaving Central City."
Alexander nodded. "Yes, indeed."
A boisterous hiccup from across the aisle pulled David’s
attention back to the lovely young woman and the inebriated
man whose head was now leaning on her slender shoulder. She
looked so melancholy—almost hopeless, in fact. His heart
went out to her, and he wondered what he might do or say to
make her feel better. After all, it was his calling to
minister to others.
"Tell me about this place where you have been called to
serve, Reverend Green."
David turned back toward Alexander, but the man’s
attention seemed to be more focused on his red, irritated
wrists, which he kept scratching, than on what he’d just
said to David. Alexander had told him earlier that he’d
acquired a rather pustulant itch. Probably from the cramped
quarters aboard the train he’d ridden before meeting up with
David.
"I’ll be shepherding my first flock in a mining town
known as Idaho City," David replied, averting his gaze from
Alexander’s raw, festering wrists back to the woman across
the aisle.
"Hmm. . .that would be in Idaho Territory, if I’m not
mistaken."
David nodded. "Quite right."
"And you said you recently left divinity school?"
"Actually, it was Hope Academy in Omaha. I just finished
my training a few weeks ago."
"Ah, so you are what some Americans refer to as a
‘greenhorn’?"
David chuckled. "Some might say so. However, I have had
some experience preaching. In fact, I spent a few years as a
circuit rider before I decided to attend the academy and
further my ministerial studies."
"I see. So, are you married or single?"
David’s eyebrows shot up. "I’m single. Why do you ask?"
Alexander frowned. "Most men of the cloth are married,
aren’t they? I would think it might even be a requirement."
"Why’s that?"
"Too many temptations. The world is full of carnal women
who would like nothing better than to drag a religious man
straight to the ground."
David chewed on his lower lip as he pondered this
thought. Perhaps Mr. Gordon was right. It could be that he’d
been too hasty in accepting this call from the good people
of Idaho City Community Church. He thought about the letter
inside his coat pocket. It was from one of the church
deacons, and as he recalled, it made some reference to him
being married. In fact, the deacon’s exact words had been:
"The ladies here are anxious to meet your wife. I’m sure she
will feel quite welcome in our church and soon become a part
of our growing community as well."
I wonder what could have given them the idea that I’m
married, David reflected. Perhaps Alexander is right. It
could be an expected thing for the shepherd of a church to
have a wife.
A deep rumbling, followed by a high-pitched whine, drew
David’s attention back to the young lady across from him.
The man’s loud snoring was clearly distressing to the woman,
and she squirmed restlessly in her seat.
If only my chum would keep quiet a few moments, I might
think of something appropriate to say to her.
Though more than a bit irritated, David listened
patiently as Alexander began a narration of the many
illnesses which had plagued him all of his twenty-nine
years. David was twenty-six, and he hadn’t had half as many
ailments as this poor chap.
As though by divine intervention, Alexander suddenly
became quiet. David cast a quick glance in his direction and
found that his chum had drifted off to sleep. Drawing in a
deep breath and sending up a quick prayer, David made a
hasty decision. He would get out of his seat, walk across
the aisle, and see if that young lady was in need of his
counsel.
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