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53rd out of 285 books
—
200 voters
Serendipity
Todd Valmer should have known better. A farmer who's been through several disasters, he travels to Virginia to fetch his widowed mother to cook and help him around his Texas farm...or that was the plan until she keels over on the train and they get kicked off. Maggie Rose barters for a living and also makes soaps, lotions, and perfumes with a special rose recipe passed dow...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
November 1st 2010
by Baker Publishing Group
(first published 2010)
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I JUST DID AN ENTIRE REVIEW, AND IT TOTALLY DISAPPEARED. WOAH!
Well I shall just summarize what I previously mentioned. The truth is that I havent even read this book, but I read through and bled the story lines of a movie called "Serendipity". It was one of the most beautiful things that happened to me during this weekend, and probably my entire life.
I have been trying to be harsh; trying to give harsh reviews; fighting with those around just for the sake of being "harsh". I didn't realize that...more
Well I shall just summarize what I previously mentioned. The truth is that I havent even read this book, but I read through and bled the story lines of a movie called "Serendipity". It was one of the most beautiful things that happened to me during this weekend, and probably my entire life.
I have been trying to be harsh; trying to give harsh reviews; fighting with those around just for the sake of being "harsh". I didn't realize that...more
Jan 11, 2011
Molly
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Molly by:
CFBA
Shelves:
book-review
I am a devoted fan to Cathy Marie Hake now! I only read her work in the multi-authored book, Virginia Brides, and loved her work then. But, now that I have read Serendipity and I've seen the blessedly tender characters she created along with the amazing, God filled plot line, I am, forever more, a Cathy Marie Hake fan!
I loved reading Maggie Rose's story. She was a "take me as I am" kinda gal, and walking along side her, her man Todd, and her mother-law-law Helga, was truly a magnificent experie...more
I loved reading Maggie Rose's story. She was a "take me as I am" kinda gal, and walking along side her, her man Todd, and her mother-law-law Helga, was truly a magnificent experie...more
I have read a couple of Cathy Marie Hake’s and have had a similar experience with each one. On the one hand, her stories are charming and sweet. On the other hand, I’ve always had a hard time getting into the story and keeping focused on the story. Serendipity was a similar experience to my previous experiences with this author. It is very difficult to put my finger on what exactly I’m missing with these books, but I just don’t love them like I always hope to. When I look back at Serendipity, I...more
I read this on the recommendation of a friend who wasn't impressed with some of Julie Klassen's convoluted romances and thought this author's books had better stories and more polished writing.
Cathy Marie Hake definitely writes for a Christian audience; faith struggles appear continuously throughout the narrative. Yet it is no nominal religiosity that Hake offers, but a well-rounded personal commitment to trying to live better.
The plot is a worthwhile and even believable story about a young woma...more
Cathy Marie Hake definitely writes for a Christian audience; faith struggles appear continuously throughout the narrative. Yet it is no nominal religiosity that Hake offers, but a well-rounded personal commitment to trying to live better.
The plot is a worthwhile and even believable story about a young woma...more
I can't tell you how relieved I was when this story had someone other than the "love interest" man nitpicking about every little thing the woman did claiming it was not enough and/or wrong. That seems to be the case in most of the others in this series I've read and then the "we're suddenly in love" at the end always baffled me.
Here we have a nitpicky mother-in-law - granted, a lot of it was a cultural/regional difference.
I also liked that the woman didn't swallow all the garbage she was given...more
Here we have a nitpicky mother-in-law - granted, a lot of it was a cultural/regional difference.
I also liked that the woman didn't swallow all the garbage she was given...more
I liked this book. but there was just something about it that kind of didn't make sense. I mean, who would marry a girl after knowing her a week? And it seemed a bit jumpy how they would be fine, and then something would go wrong in their relationship. Definitely my least favorite book of Ms. Hake's, though it was a good afternoon read.
Maggie is a young woman who lives with her elderly 'uncles', and is a bit of a nurse. When Todd Valmer shows up for help for his mother, they think it's love at f...more
Maggie is a young woman who lives with her elderly 'uncles', and is a bit of a nurse. When Todd Valmer shows up for help for his mother, they think it's love at f...more
Set in a time of the late 1800’s Serendipity offers a simple story of a couple married out of circumstance, that find true love and make endings meet with Maggies lovely gift for making lotion and soap. Unfortunately...Serendipity was not for me. I think the hardest was the dialect, the hillbilly mountain 'twang' turned me off immediately from the first chapter and because of it I couldn’t connect to the characters or the story itself. Lines that were intended to be funny, rubbed me the wrong wa...more
I loved this book. Great characters, Maggie Rose is someone you will find quirky and amusing and delightful, Todd is a strong, upright, moral man that is endearing, his mother is annoying, obnoxious, bitter and resentful... mix that all up and you have a fun book. The premise of the book is wonderfully charming and as Maggie Rose has to make up her mind whether to stay the only female in her little village of old men or to go with Todd after his spur of the moment marriage proposal as he passes...more
Title: SERENDIPITY
Author: Cathy Marie Hake
Publisher: Bethany House
August 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0321-3
Genre: Inspirational/historical
Maggie Rose is the only woman in Carver’s Holler, and she cares for a bunch of old men. She barters for a living, and makes soaps, lotion and perfumes from roses. Now her uncle is pushing her to marry—only trouble is, there’s no eligible men. Maggie says that God would have to bring a groom by.
That very evening, during the worst snowstorm the areas seen in years, To...more
Author: Cathy Marie Hake
Publisher: Bethany House
August 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0321-3
Genre: Inspirational/historical
Maggie Rose is the only woman in Carver’s Holler, and she cares for a bunch of old men. She barters for a living, and makes soaps, lotion and perfumes from roses. Now her uncle is pushing her to marry—only trouble is, there’s no eligible men. Maggie says that God would have to bring a groom by.
That very evening, during the worst snowstorm the areas seen in years, To...more
Cathy is one of my favorite authors! I love this series she's writing. Serendipity probably isn't my favorite among them, but I still really enjoyed it. It's interesting to read a romance between a married couple and this one is definitely unique! I loved that about it!
I think Todd was in love with Maggie way before either of them realized. It showed in many of his actions. Of course, he was acting on the command for a husband to love his wife and that's what he was striving to do. But still.
M...more
I think Todd was in love with Maggie way before either of them realized. It showed in many of his actions. Of course, he was acting on the command for a husband to love his wife and that's what he was striving to do. But still.
M...more
I don't know where to begin. After 50 pages I merely skimmed the rest of the book. There was nothing redeeming about this book. The characters were shallow and well....silly. Mrs. Crewel was just immature and spiteful. I guess this is supposed to add tribulation to the newly married couple but it didn't come across that way. The "romance" between Todd and Maggie was just painful, awkward and forced. I didn't find the Christian elements uplifting or inspiring. This is just a perfect example of a...more
While taking care of Todd's mother Helga, a head strong woman name Maggie finds she likes Todd. He on the other hand, likes her as well and also needs help in taking care of his mother in his new farm.
Soon, Maggie agrees knowing what to expect and she and Todd get married, move to Texas along with Helga.
Sure the couple like each other, but find they're different, opposites really. Eventually they'll learn to love each other. Right?
Maggie was very patient with her mother in law. At least there...more
Soon, Maggie agrees knowing what to expect and she and Todd get married, move to Texas along with Helga.
Sure the couple like each other, but find they're different, opposites really. Eventually they'll learn to love each other. Right?
Maggie was very patient with her mother in law. At least there...more
Todd Valmer should have known better. A farmer who's been through several disasters, he travels to Virginia to fetch his widowed mother to cook and help him around his Texas farm...or that was the plan until she keels over on the train and they get kicked off. Maggie Rose barters for a living and also makes soaps, lotions, and perfumes with a special rose recipe passed down from mother to daughter for generations. She hasn't wanted to marry...until that handsome Texan shows up. Her heart skips a...more
Listened to Serendipity by Cathy Marie Hake. Todd Valmer should have known better. A farmer who's been through several disasters, he travels to Virginia to fetch his widowed mother to cook and help him around his Texas farm or that was the plan until she keels over on the train and they get kicked off. Maggie Rose barters for a living and also makes soaps, lotions, and perfumes with a special rose recipe passed down from mother to daughter for generations. She hasn't wanted to marry until that h...more
This book actually bugged me. I had a hard time with Maggie and Todd's relationship. Maggie is unnaturally patient and charitable with her new husband and even more so with her mean bitter mother-in-law. Yes, there were times I admired Maggie, but it actually wore me out reading constant, Saintly forebearance for a stupid man and his sick mother. I never grew to like Todd with all his idealistic ideas about what a wife should and shouldn't be, say or do. His mother was well written to chap you r...more
First reviewed here: http://overweight-bookshelf.blogspot....
The beginning of the book was reminiscent of Snow White with Maggie caring for her numerous quirky elder "uncles." This is an interesting twist on the "marriage-of-convenience" plot line; instead of dependent children, Todd has an ailing mother that needs caring for and Maggie presents a competent and beautiful relief to his dilemma. I am not a violent or angry person, but I would have taken a frying pan to Maggie's mother-in-law for a...more
The beginning of the book was reminiscent of Snow White with Maggie caring for her numerous quirky elder "uncles." This is an interesting twist on the "marriage-of-convenience" plot line; instead of dependent children, Todd has an ailing mother that needs caring for and Maggie presents a competent and beautiful relief to his dilemma. I am not a violent or angry person, but I would have taken a frying pan to Maggie's mother-in-law for a...more
Maggie lives in Arkansas and cares for her uncle and "uncles." Todd passes through town with his Ma, who's in desperate need of a doctor. Todd decide to marry Maggie mainly to care for his Ma on his Texas ranch, but also as a help for him. Magpie (she's a collector and barterer) is so loving and accepting, even when those around her (Ma) are downright mean. A gentle, flowing story taking place in the late 1800s.
The reasona gave it 3 stars is because I didn't really like the husband or the mother-in-law, obviously. It made me cry a lot because I felt bad that she married into a marriage that had a lot of strife. She put up with so much. I know that Hake's books are suppose to have commedy and this did, but it was more sad then happy for me. I also thought the husband being a German farmer and the wife Irish from Arkansas was wierd. it didn't hold that much for me and definitely wouldn't really recommend...more
This story started off cute, but soon ran into an over abundance of misunderstandings and too much nagging mom. Overall it was a cute story line, but I found myself becoming annoyed with the petty misunderstandings that were continually blown out of proportion and the mom who kept falling into the same behavior over and over again.
I did not enjoy this book as much as the others this author has written. The mother-in-law was very mean spirited and hateful throughout the book and Maggie and Todd never really seemed to resolve their differences. It was almost as if they came from 2 completely different worlds. I did enjoy that much of the book took place in Gooding, Texas and there were cameo appearances of characters from her earlier books.
Serendipity was a sweet romance that had the unusual added element of a not-so-nice mother-in-law living in the same one-room cabin as the newlyweds. Needless to say, this added a large portion of the conflict of the story. (Maggie had way more patience than I would've, I have to admit.)
Other thoughts:
As per my usual reaction to Cathy Marie Hake's books, I liked the story and the characters, but, I don't know, the writing wasn't always the clearest, I guess. The conversations didn't always mak...more
Other thoughts:
As per my usual reaction to Cathy Marie Hake's books, I liked the story and the characters, but, I don't know, the writing wasn't always the clearest, I guess. The conversations didn't always mak...more
I was a bit disappointed with this book. From the summary on the back it sounded very interesting. But the plot was a bit dry and very repetitive (they'd get into a fight, make up and it would start all over again). It was also a bit jumpy and hard to follow at points. But it did have some good qualities as well.
I liked this book as far as a decent Christian romance goes. I do not like it as well as other books I have read published by Bethany House. Mainly, I found the story line to be quite unrealistic, just to good to be true. If a reader can get past that, then it's an okay read.
I didn't like this book at all really compared to her others, but I must own all her books. The story was sweet just a little slow. And a little confusing about some points. And frustrating.
I did not enjoy this one as much as I remember enjoying her other works. The husband was much too austere and domineering to be likable. I found myself mad at him for most of the book and sorry for the girl who married him. She had it rough and it didn't seem like anyone gave her any credit.
Yikes! Not good writing! The characters are flat and predictable. The dialogue stilted and unrealistic. The plot and setting cliche and ho hum. Not worth it.
Confusing at first, but very cute funny at times, great story about the roles of a husband and wife in a Christian marriage. I want my husband to read this! ;)
completely tolerable B-grade christian historical romance
suffers from a little whiplash in some sections -- love him, leave him, love him, leave him
suffers from a little whiplash in some sections -- love him, leave him, love him, leave him
I liked the heroine and the story had some cute moments, but most of the other characters drove me crazy. It was overly preachy for my tastes too and not nearly enough romance.
I listened to this book on CD. The narrator was fantastic. It took me awhile to get into it but couldn't stop listening to it near the end.
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As a child, Cathy Marie Hake had an imaginary playmate. Now "grown up," she indulges in a host of imaginary friends as she writes. She teasingly says she decided if those voices in her head were talking, she might as well write down what they said and make a living by doing it. She met her sweetheart in the High School department at church and married him after finishing nursing school. They live...more
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“Inside marriage, those feelings are pure. God wouldn't order us to be fruitful and multiply if He didn't want us to share intimacy. It fosters a special closeness.”
—
4 people liked it
“You could foster happiness and add to our joy - or sow hurt and discord. It's a choice you make each day, each hour, and with each thought.”
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2 people liked it
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Feb 16, 2011 09:20pm