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Penny pinching, Mr.
McBride seems intent on making a deal in his best interest, even if it
involves the sale of his eldest daughter, Leana in marriage. Leana is
plain, stubborn and older. Spending her life caring for and raising
younger sister, Rose, hasn’t left Leana much leisure time, but she
fiercely loves Rose and is not sorry for the role she’s been led to
play. Leana is obedient to her strict father’s wishes – most of the
time. When Father bargains her in marriage with Mr. Fergus McDougal
Leana can only think of how she knows the man who she describes as “
past forty and looked older still – a dried up, ill fashioned farmer
who’d worked his first wife into an early grave –.” Still, she may give
way to Father’s desire but when a handsome, charming cousin arrives,
Leana experiences her first crush - she is smitten.
Beautiful, younger
and more emotional sister Rose cannot stand the thought of her lovely
sister marrying a wretched man like Mr. McDougal and when she discovers
Lena’s secret desire, Rose pledges to change the marriage course for
Leana. Will Rose be able to keep her promise? More importantly what role
will Rose play in her sister’s life?
James Lachlan McKee
second born son of Alec and Rowena McKie has left home. Jamie, as he is
called, out-smarted his stronger, wilder, older brother, and with the
help of their mother, deceived his father. Now, he runs from a shameful
deed concocted by his mother and fulfilled by him. He also seeks his
uncle in order to ask for one of his daughters in marriage. Which one
will best serve his interests? Leana or Rose.
Just as in Old
Testament tales of feuding brothers Jacob and Esau, and sisters Leah and
Rachel, (Genesis 27-29) we find siblings embittered against each other
deceit and lies take center stage as selfish ambition and lust blind the
eyes of the soul and lead people astray.
Master storyteller
Liz Curtis Higgs brings us back to 1788 and throws us into an ancient
mix, of custom, deceit, betrayal, tradition, and faith. Thorn In My
Heart is a heart-wrenching tale that will leave you crying and
celebrating at the same time. It teaches as well as entertains and
should you like to read this book must be on your list because sometimes
the situation seem impossible but “with God, nothing is impossible.”
Ms. Curtis Higgs
offers a wonderful Thorn In My Heart reference page on her web site.
Along with interesting research facts and notes, a free Bible study
guide and a free Discussion guide are available, making this an
excellent book for women’s bible study, book clubs, home-schoolers, etc.
http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/Fiction/thorn.htm
Thorn In My Heart
earns the Reviewers Award and I impatiently but respectfully wait for
the sequel- Fair is the Rose, due in 2004.
Reviewed for The
Road To Romance by Linda Mae Baldwin
December 21, 2003 |
