Imagine being on the edge of having everything you desire, including a courtship with the new beautiful teacher. Everett Thompson finds himself in that position. Then some investments go bad, and a blackmailer tries to destroy everything.

Margaret Foster, a Northern abolitionist, comes to San Diego to teach after Everett Thompson offers her the job. But she finds herself under scrutiny when she fails to meet the expectations of several parents and board members.

The author does an excellent job of creating a story where relying on and discovering a relationship with God proves the only path to having the desires of one’s heart. The supporting characters in this story provided a large portion of creating a story I could not put down. So check out this book for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own ( )

Wow! Harmony on the Horizon, Kathleen Denly’s third book in her Chaparral Hearts series, is just amazing!! While Harmony is set in 1865 San Francisco and San Diego, the issues presented are just as relevant today as they were then. Prejudice in many forms, false rescuer mentality, gossip and mob pressure, self-importance, and the list goes on. I could not believe how many issues Denly covers, including salvation, while creating a very riveting and action-packed storyline.

Fletcher Johnson is one heroic, young man we meet, whose aim in life is to right wrongs, one person at a time. Fletcher believes the end justifies the means, as he defends the downtrodden. Sometimes I liked Fletcher, and other times I really wanted to set him straight.

Katie Mizedale, a hapless, daydreaming maid, shares my sentiments about Fletcher. Katie’s faith is astounding, especially given her background.

Enter center stage the main heroine of the novel, Margaret Foster. Bravely coming west from Boston to teach, the year she ends up with in no way resembles what she had been expecting.

Part of that is due to Everett Thompson, who is determined to build a great city out of San Diego. A floundering businessman, he finds that the school teacher he hires may be more than he bargained for.

A historical western romance not to be missed!!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

Several children rushed past her to pick up jellyfish and toss them into the water, but Rosa hung back, wringing her hands. “But they're so dirty and gross.” Margaret bent low to meet the girl's eyes. “Sometimes we have to get messy to show that we care.”

God's changes don't imprison us, they set us free. They help us to become better and give us strength and joy, even when the world would try to steal those things from us.

Why must doing right so often come at great cost?

How could these people hear God’s Word and yet be so hardened as to nurture hatred in their hearts? Did they not know they were in the presence of the One who offered unconditional love?

The story was at complete odds with Fletcher's idea of God as an angry judge waiting to criticize and condemn everyone for failing to live up to His impossible standards…Had he misunderstood who God truly was? ( )

This is a nice story set in the late 1860s. The author takes us on a journey to San Diego when the town was barely surviving. Margaret’s plans have changed since her teaching job she thought she had in San Francisco does not work out. I’m not sure that her accommodations in San Diego were ideal when she first arrived. The food in the hotel was not something I would want to eat. Her room is beyond safe, warm or clean. In the midst of all this, she still finds strength to overcome her obstacles. I admired her ability to find good when things looked so dark.

Everett is a man with a mission to succeed. He has several businesses that he hopes will help him maintain a steady income. I didn’t think he quite had the business sense he needed and it sure came to pass when things started going wrong. Now he has to make tough decisions that will cause others to lose their jobs or even their homes. I wondered why he made such poor choices at times. Maybe he has gotten in over his head.

I liked how Margaret stands up when people in the town have a problem with who she dines with. The color of the person’s skin makes some of the townspeople uncomfortable but it does not bother Margaret. Little does she know that her job of a teacher is now in jeopardy. How narrow minded some of the people are. Her teaching ability is good but I think jealousy and pride were causing some of the women to judge Margaret harshly.

The story touches on subjects we still face today like poverty and racism. The author does a good job of talking about this in the story with grace. The use of faith in the book is well done and adds compassion to those who need it. Throughout the story you see how trusting God and standing up for those who are mistreated affect several characters. I must mention Katie and Fletcher. I liked them but for some reason I didn’t connect as well with them as I did Margaret and Everett. Overall the book is good and has many lessons to learn from.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

If you enjoy historical fiction with strong leading women, you’ll love Harmony on the Horizon! I connected with Margaret and Everett and Katie and Fletcher. I related to Margaret the strongest, though. I admired her appetite of teaching and her faithful and passionate strength. Her teaching is inspiring, and her romance is sweet, sweet, sweet.

I love to travel, and enjoyed visiting the mid 1800s. Though life wasn’t easy in this era, these characters are easy to love and root for. 1860s California was a challenging place, corruption prevailed, dreams were threatened, and yet faith and love conquered.

Although this book can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading all three stories in order. It’s exciting to see these characters bloom, grow, and inspire.

I'm excited for others to receive the blessings within these pages! Harmony on the Horizon overflows with great characters and scores of emotions.

#ChaparralHearts #HarmonyontheHorizon #ChristianRomance #ChristianFiction #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. ( )

Margaret Foster is a teacher who wants to change the world, but it's 1865, and brave, outspoken Northern women aren't highly favored in San Diego! Author Kathleen Denly offers a stunning portrayal of Margaret's desire for everyone to be treated the same, and her efforts to make it happen. I loved the object lessons that she used in teaching her students, and her faith shone brightly through the stories that she shared with them. I also enjoyed seeing the attraction that sprung up between her and Everett Thompson, but a secret from his past may prevent it from developing into something more.

Harmony on the Horizon is the third book of the Chaparral Hearts series, and a great chance to catch up with characters from the previous books. It's an exciting story with several intriguing characters, two sweet romances, and a mesmerizing plot that is rich in historical detail and Christian faith. Margaret's Christian witness is a beacon for Emmett, and Denly reminds us that God created ALL men, He loves them ALL, and it's our duty to treat ALL of them the same. I recommend Harmony on the Horizon to all who enjoy historical Christian romance.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts. ( )