Love in the Balance - a Bethany House review

Regina Jennings is a fairly new author. Love in the Balance is her second novel published, and her first novel Sixty Acres and a Bride, which I reviewed, was absolutely fantastic. So, when I had the opportunity to get my hands on this second novel, I jumped at the chance!

Love in the Balance is a historical romance, Christian fiction, set in Lockhart, TX, in 1879. Molly Lovelace has been brought up by "fancy" parents. Her father owns a mill, and they want only the finest things for their daughter--including a well-to-do bachelor to wed. Molly, although liking some of the finer things in life, wants to get out from under her father's controlling clutches. So, she moves out of town and gets a job working for a judge.

Meanwhile, she has her eye on a handsome hard-working, though poor Bailey Garner. She finds his character and his handsome good looks charming, and she finds herself drawn to him inexplicably. In turn, Bailey is captivated by HER, too.

But when a family tragedy strikes and Molly sees her opportunity to wed someone well-off, who is she going to pick? Someone who can provide for her and appease her father, or the man who she really has her eyes on?

I'm not gonna tell!!! You'll have to find out for yourself.

I really like Regina's writing. She has a knack for creating personable, hilarious characters and situations. The characters were not without flaw--Regina created them to be realistic and sometimes frustrating to the reader! Sometimes I wanted to shout out, "C'mon, people!! Common sense, here!" at some of the characters. haha Also, I felt that the storyline wasn't completely predictable. She took me by surprise with the direction she took the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more! This is definitely an author you will want to watch!

I received Love in the Balance as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Bethany House Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.