Spectacles of Love: Spinster Orphan Train Bride

Spinster Orphan Train #2

by Teresa Ives Lilly

Charlene Trumbel is a wealthy, 29 year old, spinster daughter of a wealthy New York family. However, she is appalled at the wasteful lifestyle her family lives. When given a chance to ride on the Orphan Train to get firsthand experience to write an article to induce wealthy families to support the Orphan Train, Charlene jumps at it. However, her poor eyesight, which has caused her to remain a lonely wallflower her whole life, almost stops her from the trip. That is until she meets a young city boy who agrees to come along with her and be her eyes. Along the way, Charlene learns the ins and outs, ups and downs of what it means for the children to be sent west on the orphan train. Bronson Jacobs, owner of a Kansas brick company is on his way home when he first meets Charlene on the train. He is instantly attracted to her and interested in the concept of the Orphan Train, but he can't understand why she doesn't get some spectacles to help her see better. Bronson offers to tag along and watch the proceedings as the children on the Orphan Train are placed with families in several Kansas towns. When Bronson takes it into his own hands to force Charlene to get a pair of spectacles, will she see his act as one of love?

94 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2017

About the author

Follow Teresa at www.teresalilly.wordpress.com

Teresa Ives Lilly has authored a variety of Christian and Clean Novels and Novellas romance and mystery, historical and contemporary. She has written several chapter books and one picture book. She has also authored over two hundred unit studies for public and private schools.

Reviews

[Anne Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an inspirational love story set in the mid-1800s. The story was quite enjoyable, but don't take the historical accuracy too seriously.

Charlene Trumbel is a young woman bordering on spinsterhood and convinced she is not marriageable material because of vision difficulties. She trips over and runs into things. Her father refuses to let her have the spectacles recommended by her tutor, and her stepmother constantly castigates her for her clumsiness.

Charlene is determined to make a difference in children's lives and in her own. She decides to help take orphan children from New York City to the midwest where they will hopefully be adopted or at least employed. The problem is that, with her abysmal vision, she can't keep track of or protect the children.

She's rescued by a young street urchin, Andy, who she feeds and befriends. She convinces Andy to accompany her on the train and be her eyes. He accepts, delighted to be her assistant, and he takes his responsibility seriously. On the train, she meets another passenger (not hardly an orphan), Bronson Jacobs, and he also quickly comes to her and the children's aid.

This is a fun and entertaining story, and you can pick up your copy from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

I received a copy of this book free from the author in return for an honest review.

[Barbara Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read the Orphan Train series, but Author Teresa Ives Lilly wrote a terrific novella. The main character is reaching spinsterhood and she really needs spectacles, but her wealthy family doesn't believe so. In God's timing, you'll never know who you'll meet, where you'll find them, and what helps you to fall in love. It's a beautiful well-written novella. I enjoyed reading Spectacles of Love by Author Teresa Ives Lilly and it's Book Two in a Spinster Orphan Train Novella series.

I received a complimentary copy from the author, but was not required to review it. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.