Speak to Me of Love

by Robin Lee Hatcher

When Faith Butler finds herself and her two children stranded in Dead Horse, Wyoming, she has no choice but to take employment with mysterious recluse Drake Rutledge. As Faith shines the light of hope and happiness in the dark halls of Drake's dismal mansion, Drake is forced out of the shadows that have hidden him for so long. Only this feisty Shakespearean actress and her irresistible children could cause such a change in Drake.

Then the shadows of Faith's past descend on them all, and they much turn to their Savior for light that can cut through even the deepest darkness....

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Christian, Christian Romance

261 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 95 novels and novellas with more than five million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, Christy Award, Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award, and she is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. A mother and grandmother, Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog.

Be sure to follow Robin on BookBub so you'll receive new book and special deal alerts:
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Reviews

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a beauty and the beast story. Reclusive Drake is heartbroken and angry. Faith is abandoned and fending for herself when her daughter becomes so ill she has to stay in Dead Horse, a very small town. Faith and her two children seek refuge on Drake’s ranch. She becomes his cook an$ housekeeper and tries to pull him out of his shell. She is a new Christian who is trying to rely on God. Redemption comes but not without struggles and an old enemy.
My favorite character is Gertie, a wrangler for Drake. She is more cowboy than lady but soon falls in love with the town doctor. Two sweet romances begin.
I like the way the author used quotes from Shakespeare to echo the thoughts of Faith, who was a former actress.
* I downloaded this ebook from book funnel. All opinions are my own.*

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

This was exactly what I expected it to be which is exactly what I was looking for, haha! I do love a good Christian historical romance where I don't have to think too hard, but get to enjoy a fun story. This was exactly that. It's Beauty and the Beast meets Shakespeare quotes and it was a good time.

((still kinda mad that after specifically saying several times that he wanted to "tear George limb from limb" Drake didn't so much as punch George in the face... I wanted him to punch him in the face... that's all...))

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her daughter is VERY ill and she has no idea where to turn.
She applies for a job as a housekeeper and a cook. BUT she’s an actress. But she will do ANYTHING for her daughter - even put up with grump of a boss!! THIS is an amazing book — loved every minute of it!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently this is a revised version of an earlier book by Robin Lee Hatcher. I appreciated her testimony as to why she revised the book - she had a spiritual awakening and wanted her book to reflect her Christian principles and faith. The Shakespeare angle was unique - quotations were sprinkles liberally throughout, although I personally found them distracting. But they were important to the main character, a stage actress who had to leave her theater life because of her daughter's illness. Her sinister ex-husband, who turns up again later in the book, tests her faith and her resolve to live a new life. There were some supporting characters that I grew to love - especially the female wrangler Gertie.

[Linda Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this historical western story. Great characters and story. Glad I had a chance to read this book.

[Kathy Brickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely story! Great characters and an inspiring storyline. Makes for a great read!

[Katie (kt_readz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a local library without knowing much about it and found myself pleasantly surprised by the story that unfolded as I delved into it. The first thing that made me take this book home with me was the idea of Faith's character being a Shakespearean Actress. There is nothing more fun than to read about a character that appreciates literature and words. At least, for an aspiring writer like myself.

I admit that the idea of her living on a ranch and quoting Shakespeare is a bit of a funny and odd combination but somehow, Hatcher made it all work well together. It didn't at all feel strange to read about Faith as she quoted Shakespeare to a bunch of cowboys.

Drake's character was a bit more interesting in the sense that he was more enshrouded in mystery. He liked his solitude and he liked his routine and when those two things were disrupted... well, then he turned a bit grumpy. But it was cute to watch his character slowly change as he helped shelter Faith and her two children.

Overall, I liked this book a lot. It was a fun, relaxed read for the weekend and there wasn't too much to dislike about it. Certain aspects of the plot were a bit predictable at times but since that was what I was in the mood for I didn't really mind.

[Sara ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith Butler, a divorced actress with two children, is forced to quit her troop when her daughter (5) becomes too ill to travel. She's stranded in Dead Horse, Wyoming. Needing work, she seeks work as a housekeeper and cook at the big mansion in town, owned by the reclusive Drake Rutledge. She finds that a reason he's not terribly sociable is that his face is scarred and he wears an eye patch because he's blind in one eye.

Drake has been living in that house for like 7 years, with all the drapes drawn... dark and dreary and dusty... And Faith comes in and cleans everything up and takes all the drapes down and fills the house with light and happiness and laughter. She quickly wins over the ranch hands with her beauty and good cooking... haha!

He has a dark past he has to overcome, and she has a history she has to reconcile as well, but they fall in love and live happily ever after! Yay!

[Cathy Bickerstaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

From reading the blurb about this book, I thought it would be a retelling of Beauty and the beast. It is so much more than that. There is love and forgiveness, mostly forgiveness of self, and acceptance of true inner beauty, and helping others, just because.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book. nice light read. Themes of faith, forgiveness and trusting God are woven throughout the book. I would recomend for any lover of clean Christian romance

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actress Faith Butler is stuck in the middle of nowhere with two small children, one very ill. But what's an actress to do in the middle of Wyoming in the late 1800s? Simple, get the job of a housekeeper and hope to move on as soon as her youngest is well enough to travel. Well, the plan seems simple enough but things get complicated when this particular beauty meets the beast of the castle...her ranch.

In this sweet story, I couldn't help but fall in love with every character. I liked that Faith was an actress, which gives us something a little unusual in the Old West. The children are darling and precocious and the side romance with Gertie is too funny and cute for words. I really did love this book. My only complaint is the subplot at the end felt a little too contrived to be believable, but you know, I'm willing to like the book anyway. It really was just good, clean fun.

[Eden Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok, I liked the characters a lot, I liked the idea but the way it’s written wasn’t very appealing to me. I felt it lacked something, but I’m not quite sure what. I wanted more of a relationship with God, from the characters and less reiterating the same idea I felt were already mentioned 2 pages ago. I also was getting quite annoyed with the characters. I obviously like romance that’s why I’m reading this, but it was borderline cringe and lowkey made me have second hand embarrassment. Which I actually don’t think I’ve ever felt this immensely, from a book like this before. Usually I long to see cute moments but i think overall every thing just felt to easy and thus happening to quick. It was a fine read just not something I would ever in a million years think about reading again.

[Cathy Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are 4 characters in this book that hold themselves back from love due to things in their past that makes them feel unworthy. The author weaves tales of self-awareness, self doubt and finally forgiveness and acceptance, into each of their stories. Each love story crosses cultural norms, that may have kept their relationships from advancing.
I appreciate the continual theme of God's forgiveness being needed to allow freedom to love fully. There were surprise interactions with the 7 year-old boy in the story that made me laugh and smile.
I've read many books written by Robin Lee Hatcher, and have never been disappointed!

[Courtney | Soul of a Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. There are several POVs, which I found disorienting at first. But as the story progressed, I was grateful for the shift in perspective. Readers get a bonus romance in this book! I wasn't a thousand percent behind it at first. In fact, I wasn't really sure how I wanted it to go until the end, but I'm just glad for the happiness of one of my favorite characters in the book.

This is a quick, uncomplicated read and I'm grateful for it. I was in a bit of a reading slump and this book was exactly what I needed! ❤

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light read. Actress Faith meets recluse cattle-baron Drake. Her two children are cute characters and the townspeople and farmhands are likeable.

I liked the real emotions of life that were played out. Albeit, a little dramatic at the end when Faith throws up her hands instead of trusting the man she professes to love and is walking down the aisle to marry. Seemed a bit much at that point of the story. However, with that being the pivotal play in how the story ended. If not, it would've needed a different ending storyline.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shakespeare, Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre), and cowboys, all in one book! What more could you ask for! This is a great reminder of God’s love for us, even when we don’t feel His presence. He is always working behind the scenes to work all things for good in our lives.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result…” - Genesis 50:20

[Amiyah Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It honestly was a beautiful love story I was in love with it and honestly I can see how sometimes it'd be scenarios in life where God use people to demonstrate his love to us and providing it comfort; also giving us that love of Christ where no matter what we are loved like no matter what we've been through we are still love no matter how people look at us we're still loved and I feel like that what is painted in marriage. ❤️

[Melody Tregear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!
Again: wow! What an amazing story. This faith-filled story is really worth reading. The characters, most of them, are likeable. Plus the love story developing on the side was so good. Truly worth reading. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
P.s. this is one of the best Beauty & the Beast renditions I've read.

[Carrie Causey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical romance takes place in 1886. The main male character is a little bit like the Beast in Beauty and the Beast at first. The main female character has a sick child needing to rest and not travel to recover.

It is about a mom doing what she needs to do to help her daughter get better and blessing others along the way. I recommend it.

[Gabrielle Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and story line. I enjoyed that they both had difficult pasts and their love story was so believable. Definitely a book I thought about for a little while after I finished it. My daughter has cancer so the parts where the little girl was sick was pretty difficult but overall this was a pleasant east read.

[Mollie Abkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book to start the year with - light yet engaging, while it is charmingly confronting the ideas of past hurt, forgiveness, and openness to new beginnings.

Is it overly complex or unique? Not really, but I think it’s a better reading experience for it! It’s truly the love letter to God that the author intended it to be, and I’ll happily dive into her other novels in the near future.

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters were all realistically done. None was perfect.
I liked that they slowly come to realize they love each other, against their will, as each had good reason to guard their heart.

Very enjoyable!

[Alora · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, well-written read that I finished in one sitting. I wasn't aware that it would have Christian themes before picking it up, but as an agnostic, it wasn't overwhelming.

[Cynthia]

Easy read

[Julie Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little sappy and predictable, but well written and I’d read more by this author.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I really don’t have anymore to say than that.

[Soph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this sweet, Christian, historical romance! It was easy to follow along, and was fairly quick paced which I enjoyed.

[Melba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet & endearing story, filled with angst & heartbreak; as well as, being filled with love & redemption. Loved this!

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, easy read. I enjoyed this book.