Review: Trouble in Dry Springs by Kristina Hall
Trouble in Dry Springs by Kristina Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, what a beautiful Western! I am such a fan of the old style of Westerns (think 1950s movies), and this book reminded me so much of those. But even better, because it had biblical themes and truth interspersed among action and intrigue!
Characters: Eliza and Jesse are both characters you’ll just have to root for. Eliza was so sweet and obedient even in the hard times (something I wish I could do better!) Her relationships with her brother and Mrs. Reilly were both so kind even when those two characters were not exactly the easiest to get along with. Then there’s Jesse … this poor man who also had to put up with a lot of trying situations. But he as well always attempted to do the right, even when it was hard. Sometimes he failed, but as a righteous man, he might have fallen seven times but got up again. The side characters were brilliant – Mrs. Reilly and Colonel Burke being two of my favorites. The humor was much-needed with Mrs. Reilly, and adding Burke into the mix definitely added humor … and a lot of action. (Also, that poor dude needs his own personal doctor.) Anson, Eliza’s brother, was another side character that I was more conflicted about. He had this wonderfully complex situation that just made me wonder about him so much. He was so kind and gentle with Eliza, but then on the other hand … so much intrigue that made him a great character!
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: The old West setting was so fun to explore – all the open plains, small towns, and smokey saloons. The writing style complimented the setting, given it highlighted enough details to give a good picture of what was happening without being overdone. And as for the plot … so much intrigue. It starts out a little bit slower, but don’t settle in – things start moving, and by the end, it’s just a rollercoaster!
Theme: Beautiful truths of contentment, obedience, and trust in the Lord permeated this book. Eliza’s acceptance and lack of bitterness over not receiving what she wanted really showed the power of contentment and waiting for the Lord’s timing. Instead of frantically trying to do things her own way, she trusted the Lord and did what was right. Such an important reminder!
Endorsement: With lovable characters, an engaging plot, and a sweet romance, Trouble in Dry Springs is a must-read for fans of historical Christian fiction. You’ll have plenty of good guys to root for and bad guys to abhor, all in a beautiful and realistic setting of the Old West. With truth-filled themes and humor interspersed, this novel is a Western you will struggle to put down.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
View all my reviews
