I love historical fiction romances ~ they are one of my favorite genres to read and how I missed reading more of Ms. Coble's novels till now is beyond me!

The Heart Answers by Colleen Coble is book 3 in a 4 book series but it can definitely be read as a stand alone book. I have not (yet) read any of the other books in this series but I was able to follow this story with ease. This well written novel is packed with drama, gentle romance, wit, drama, suspense, Faith, redemption and an ending that touched my heart. Well worth the reading!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing and Netgalley for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

The Heart Answers by Colleen Coble is the third book in the Wyoming series. It is March 1867 at Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming Territory. Jessica DuBois is a flighty, shallow, and spoiled young woman (her parents have really spoiled her). However, Jessica is upset over the loss of her father who passed away two months ago. Jessica and her mother know they have to vacate the officer housing, but her father left them virtually penniless. Jessica’s mother, Letty tells her about an offer from Samuel DuBois (her uncle—brother to Jessica’s father). Samuel is a widower with three children. He needs a wife and has asked Letty to marry him. Letty has accepted his offer and they are moving to Fort Bridger. Jessica was hoping to return to Boston, but there is no money available for the journey. On the journey to Fort Bridger, they are attacked by Indians. Reverend Clay Cole rescues them and escorts them on to Fort Bridger. They stop at a fort along the way and Clay discovers that his cousin, Martin (more like a brother to him) passed away in a skirmish. Martin left behind his wife, Ellen and a young daughter, Franny. Ellen asks for Clay’s assistance in obtaining a position as a laundress (a lowly position at forts) at Fort Bridger so she can provide for Franny. Jessica befriends young Franny and slowly gets to know Ellen. Clay is a mystery to Jessica. He actually rebuffed her (and her flirting). Jessica is more determined to win him and then dump him. But things happen on the frontier that change people. Come along for Jessica’s journey in The Heart Answers.

The Hearts Answers was a good book. It is a Christian romance novel and a nice change of a pace for me (gives me a break from mysteries and thrillers). It is well-written, good pace (making it easy to read), and interesting characters. I found the novel to contain a good moral or life lesson (about trusting in God and His plan for our lives, faith, love, and forgiveness). This is the third book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. Each book in the series tells the story of a different woman and their life in Wyoming Territory. I was interested to see what would happen to Jessica and the author did not disappoint me. I give The Heart Answers 4 out of 5 stars. The story has its expected outcome, but that did not diminish my enjoyment of the story (who doesn’t love a good ending).

I received a complimentary copy of The Heart Answers from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. ( )

The Heart Answers is Book 3 in Colleen Coble's Wyoming series. We first meet the spoiled Jessica Dubois in the first two books. I extremely disliked her in those first two books. She was really a despicable character, always wanting her own way and very very vain. When I read that she was going to have her own story I was wondering how the character was going to be redeemed but God works miracles even with the most depraved person. At the beginning of the books she her mother has remarried to her husband's brother in order not to be homeless and to be a mother to her new husband's children. Jessica is still self-centered not wanting to do her share of the work. She still thinks highly of her looks. She knows her beauty can turn men's heads and uses this to her advantage. However, we slowly see a softening in her character. She forms an unlikely friendship with newly widowed Ellen who has a young little girl, Franny. In order to make ends meet Ellen has to take on the lowly job of a washerwoman. Jessica loves the child and often takes care of the child when Ellen is working. Spending time with the child changes her heart since she has to think of someone besides herself.

There is a mutual attraction between a certain Rev. Clay Cole and Jessica but Clay Cole does not trust a beautiful face. I did not like Clay very much. For a preacher I thought he was too judgemental and self-righteous. Not matter how much Jessica changed nothing was good enough for him. He even gave up on praying for her salvation! Good thing God did not give up on Jessica. I thought she deserved a better man than Reverend Clay Cole ( )