Emma Browning had a childhood not worth speaking about. As much as she tried to ignore the pain of her past, somehow in some form or another it always crept right back up in her face. One of those ways was in her sorry, old, drunkard father, Ezra Browning. After getting out from under him and suffering years of abuse at his hands, Emma determined not to ever let another soul enter her heart again. After all, if her father could damage it so badly, who’s to say another wont as easily?  

Now, in her early twenties, Emma runs a tight-shipped boarding house in the little town of Hickman Creek. Known for her excellent cooking skills and clean rooms, Emma’s boarding house hardly ever has a vacant. Suddenly when one pops up, Emma has the most unexpected request. 

Jon Atkins, the preacher of The Little town of Hickman Creek just sold his house and farm to help build the church for the town. All he needs now is a place to live. Although he doesn’t understand it yet, Jon begins to feel led to Emma’s boardinghouse. As Jon begins to obey God, never did he imagine that his heart would get mixed up in the midst of his obedience. 

Courting Emma, by Sharlene MacLaren leaves you fully satisfied! As the third in the series, it was the perfect ending to the series. Although I’m secretly wishing there may be a fourth, fifth….sixteenth. This was a wonderful story about forgiveness, redemption and love.  This is an author that will not disappoint you. I advise you to purchase her books as gifts to pass on to others or just to add to your own library. All I can ask of Mrs.MacLaren is, can you write a little faster??? 

Reviewed by Maisha Walker for the Road to Romance

April 3, 2008