Shelf Life: His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

3 out of 5 stars

Years ago, Amanda Bell promised her dying mother she would take care of her younger sisters. Marriage has never crossed Amanda's mind . . . until she meets Captain Kent Littlefield, a Federal solider stationed at nearby Fort Washington in Texas. As she and the captain form an acquaintance, feelings for him stir inside her. Yet her father denies him permission to court her. When Kent receives new orders, Amanda believes their love is not meant to be. Once the Civil War breaks out, Amanda knows in her heart that their worlds were too different for any relationship to have taken root. But her feelings change Kent shows up at her family's plantation, wounded and possibly dying. As she nurses her country's enemy back to health, their love for one another returns. Can she honor her family's disapproval, her country's cause, and even her mother's dying wish in order to be with the man she loves? Torn between love and loyalty, Amanda must decide the true desires of her heart.

His Steadfast Love is, without a doubt, a novel that pulls you into the story-line. Beyond that, I didn't find much else to hold my interest in this story.

This story, in general, seemed to move way too fast. Readers weren't given enough time to invest in an emotional attachment to the characters--or their predicaments--before the tides turned and thrust into the conflict of war.

Amanda's relationship with Kent seemed underdeveloped in the beginning. This underdevelopment, in addition to Kent's early departure, didn't give readers enough time to feel any conflicting emotions toward Amanda's situation. In fact, his departure seemed almost nonchalant. Had the author built up to the moment when her father disapproved of him as a suitor, by providing more intimate scenes between them and deepening feelings toward one another, I think it would have been enough to heighten the emotions attached to the event.

The same is true with Amanda's brother. The story had barely started when he went off to war. Amanda's fear for her brother life and constant worry, seemed equally blase because their relationship was underdeveloped.

This story, at least in the beginning, missed a lot of opportunities to provide readers with the character's thoughts. The way a person thinks can reveal a lot about them, and making readers privy to the characters' inner monologue would have aided in forming connections to the characters.

Now, that being said, once the story reaches the point where Amanda nurses Kent back to health, it really does hold interest. The characters at this point, are very well developed, and what the story lacked in the first half of the book it now makes up for by giving readers a page-turning dilemma.

Regardless of its flaws, His Steadfast Love, is still an interesting story to explore.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author

Golden Keyes Parsons is the author of the highly acclaimed Darkness to Light series. She's been nominated for several awards, including the ACFW Book of the Year. She and her family live in Texas.

Website Facebook

Goldenkeyesparsons.com