A lovely blend of small-town coziness, strong faith, and wholesome romance with a good dose of humor and adventure.
My rating: ★★★★★
What a fun read! Those who are well acquainted with my reading tastes know that I’m picky about my romances. So I’m thrilled to have a series I can recommend without reservation.
All the small-town feels
Alena Mentink has created a lovely blend of small-town coziness, strong faith, and wholesome romance with a good dose of humor and adventure. We all know someone like the characters who live in Osceola, Nebraska, and we all know that family bonds can be the hardest relationships to preserve—or restore.
I admit I occasionally wanted to shake some of the characters, especially when certain ones seemed impossibly oblivious. But as a congenitally oblivious person myself, I also wanted to hug some of those same characters. Of course, every good story needs a villain or two, and we certainly have that—the sort of villains who make us cheer when they get their comeuppance. Poor Jase seems to attract trouble, and the climax is positively unputdownable.
A refreshingly sweet and wholesome love story
There’s plenty of drama and suspense here, but there’s a lot of comic relief too. Mentink’s witty banter and writing style are great for a smile any time. All the sibling relationships make for some fun scenes, and I loved the combination of Jase and Andy. Miriam’s devotion to her family comes through in so many ways, and it’s sweet to watch.
What is really sweet, though, is the romance. There is nothing unwholesome about this relationship, and it unfolds in such gentle, committed ways. If you tend to shy from romance that takes your mind places you don’t want it to go, this book will be a wonderfully refreshing discovery. And if romance is your standard fare, this book delivers all of the sweetness and none of the spice.
Is A Time of Proving for you?
I read A Time of Proving before going back to the first book in the series, A Choice of Love, and I’m happy to report that they can be read independently of each other. But if you’ve already read A Choice of Love (which I also recommend), reading A Time of Proving will feel like coming home.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves uplifting, faith-filled fiction with God-honoring relationships, strong (and sometimes frustrating, sometimes hilarious) family bonds, and a good fight scene or two.
Buy A Time of Proving on Amazon (affiliate link)
If you enjoyed this book review of A Time of Proving by Alena Mentink, you might also enjoy my book review of Grace and the Preacher by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Read the review here on Goodreads or join my newsletter list for book recommendations, a free short story, author updates, and more.
Do you love stories of true faith?
Christian historical fiction series For Liberty & Conscience brings you faith-filled adventures bursting with courageous characters and biblical truth amid the danger of America’s founding. Click a cover for details or see all books here.
Happy reading!
Jayna Baas is the author of Preacher on the Run and director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. Learn more about Jayna here or join her email list for more recommendations.