Having raised his nephews since their parents’ untimely deaths, Joel Townsend is thrilled to learn the town council has hired a female teacher. His sons could use a woman’s influence. But he sure didn’t bargain on a woman like Miss Amsel. Within the first week, she has the entire town up in arms over her outlandish teaching methods. Of course, Joel can’t help but notice that she’s also mighty pretty—and just might make a good mother for his boys.
When Edythe decides to take her pupils to hear Miss Susan Anthony speak on the woman’s suffrage amendment, the town’s outcry reaches new heights. Even Joel isn’t sure he can support her new fangled ideas any longer. And is he can’t trust her to teach the boys, how can he trust her with his heart? (From the back of the book)
Title: Courting Miss Amsel, Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer, ISBN: 978-0-7642-0784-6, Publisher: Bethany House, Released:2011, Format: Trade paperback, $14.99, How I Read It: Trade Paperback that I purchased, Rating: 4 Cups
My Thoughts:
Edith Amsel decided that her purpose in life was to teach, thus she sworn off marriage, left her father and her siblings, and headed to Walnut Hill, Nebraska where her teaching style pushes the limits of the locals.
Joel Townsend—a gentleman to his core—is raising his brothers sons by himself. Needing to find a wife to mother his children, he finds himself drawn to the new schoolmarm yet when he discovers something about Edith his feelings start to change.
So the title is Courting Miss Amsel, and while Joel fancies Edith and she reciprocates the feelings, there was little to no courting going on. When they shared a page you could plainly see the sparks flying between them. Although for an inspirational romance there was little interaction between the two of them without it being in a social setting, (church, school, general store) I was hoping that there would be a bit more courting in the book.
What I enjoyed about the book was the fact that it was more so a book about finding oneself and Edith’s journey to self-discovery was an interesting one. Joel’s realizations were a bit more subtle but just as interesting.
The only thing that I was a bit annoyed with was the fact that every book set in the era makes mention or revolves somewhat around woman’s suffrage. I know that at the time it was a hot topic and I am all for woman’s independence, yet not all women would be casting off their aprons so occasionally I would love to see this omitted from novels in this era.
Overall, I found that I enjoyed this novel. It reminded me of the Christy novels I read as a teenager.
Courting Miss Amsel was the first novel I read by this author and I have to say I am looking forward to reading more from her.
Until We Meet Again,
Best Wishes & Happy Reading,
