REKINDLED

Author: Tamera Alexander ISBN: 0764201085 3/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: BETHANY HOUSE
Time Period: 1868 Colorado Territory

Ten years ago Kathryn Jennings made a vow. For better or worse. And it still holds true, even though her marriage is not what she expected. When her husband fails to return one stormy winter night, she struggles to keep their ranch solvent, but her efforts are blocked at every turn. Then, after a shocking glimpse into her husband's past, Kathryn uncovers a hidden truth. What she wouldn't give to turn back time and be able to love her husband for the man that he was, not for the man she always wanted him to be. Larson Jennings has spent his entire life running from a broken past, unable to trust, reluctant to try again. One fateful night, his life takes an unexpected twist and he is forced to make a choice. Either way, his decision will cost him his life.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

REKINDLED is a wonderful, inspirational story by debut author Tamera Alexander. It's a story of love, loss and never ending faith in God above. REKINDLED will grab your heart from the beginning and won't let go until you're done reading the book. Grab a box of tissues and prepare yourself for an exceptional read!

Larson and Kathryn Jennings run a ranch in the Colorado territory. It's a trying time for them and Larson is strong willed about telling his wife how bad their financial situation is. He feels he needs to be able to support her and give her the life that she would have had if she were still living with her family back in Boston.

Ten years before, Kathryn left her wealthy family in Boston and followed Larson with her heart to Colorado. Even though her husband has been there to protect her and take care of her, she realizes that he is slowly slipping away from her. Neither of them are aware of how badly they need the support of one another. When a chance opportunity takes Larson away from Kathryn early Christmas morning, he quickly scribes her a note and says that he will be back within a week. One week leads to two, and then to three. Has Larson left Kathryn for good?

What Kathryn doesn't know is that he's been badly injured and burned beyond recognition, and is being cared for by a loving couple. Taking care of the ranch now falls on Kathryn's shoulders. Believing her husband is dead, she will fight with her last breath to keep his memory and their ranch alive, a task that proves too much for her to handle. There's only one thing that helps her make it through each day, and that is the knowledge that their baby is growing inside her.

Larson, now being well again, but still burned so badly that he is unrecognizable to anyone who knew him before, goes searching for Kathryn. After finding her, he realizes that she could never love him, being badly scarred as he is now, but he takes a chance and works at a neighboring ranch with her. Little does he know that the friendship they now share is stronger than the marriage they had.

Without giving away anymore of this wonderful story, I'll just finish by saying that there's a very strong religious undertone, and at first, I thought it took away from the story. It wasn't until I was finished reading it that I realized how important it really was to the development of Larson and Kathryn's relationship.

It doesn't happen to me very often where I'll read a story and put it down because I'm getting all teary eyed and can't see the words on the page anymore, but it happened while reading REKINDLED. I applaud Miss Alexander on a terrific debut book!

Julie Kornhausl