Meghan’s Choice by Donna L.H. Smith: Book Review with Celebrate Lit.

About the Book

Book: Meghan’s Choice

Author: Donna L. H. Smith

Genre: Christian Historical Western Romance

Release Date: November, 2017

Meghan Gallagher complies with her father’s demand that she work on her own for a year by choosing to tutor eight children in a wild Kansas railroad town. But she had no idea just how wild it was until she was rescued by a local dance hall the day she arrived, and soon after hit by a stray bullet. In short order, she meets a dark, handsome cowboy and a wholesome, attractive doctor who both vie for her heart. As things heat up around town, Meghan’s love life catches fire as well. Is she scandalous to allow both men to court her at the same time? And—how close a relationship with God does Meghan want? Will she draw near?

Meghan’s Choice (pre-published) was named a semi-finalist in the 2014 Operation First Novel by Jerry B. Jenkins and an honorable mention for the Golden leaf Award in 2015. Since publication, Meghan’s Choice was a Selah Award finalist and also in the Will Rogers Medallion Award.

Published in connection with Hartline Literary Agency, serving the Christian book community. Visit us at www.hartlineliterary.com.

Click here to grab your copy.

Book Review:

Going back in time, Wild West style.

I love the Old West. Probably always will. That doesn’t mean I love all historical books. But give me a western, and I’ll probably be happy.

Right out of the gate, Meghan shows herself as a bit uppity, and I can already begin to predict the unfolding of the book. Then she meets Cowboy and Doc, aka Duncan and Scott. Commence love triangle.

Duncan/Cowboy can only offer his love and the opportunity for Meghan to learn about a true walk with God.

Scott/Doc can offer Meghan the comfortable life she’s always known.

Not a bad set-up. Pretty classic actually. The question is whether you as a reader enjoy books that don’t require you to interpret every action from every angle so you can attempt to fathom the ending.

It depends on my mood, truthfully. And Meghan’s Choice hit me at the right time were I wanted a book I could read for the joy of reading. I didn’t have to twist myself in knots trying to figure anything out. I could sit down and enjoy a pleasurable read after a stressful day.

The historical detail and craftsmanship that went into the book are on point. You’re given several characters to enjoy, and Meghan learns a few valuable lessons.

What I loved most was Duncan/Cowboy’s walk with God. He shows Meghan that simply believing in God isn’t enough. You have to walk a daily walk. And the choice is up to us on how close that walk might be. When everyone else believes Duncan is outrageous in his beliefs, Meghan faces the choice of which path she’ll take.

And the banter between Duncan and Meghan left me in stitches. Barbed insults fly as fast and as often as bullets during a gunfight.

If you enjoy Old West style books, I think you’ll enjoy this one. It’s a straight-shooter, no-holds-barred, example of the choices we all face in life, regardless of the time in which we live.

I requested a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Donna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds two college degrees, both B.S. and M.A. in Mass Communication. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty years. Her debut novel, Meghan’s Choice, made the finals of both the Selah and Will Rogers Medallion Awards. Rose’s Redemption, the sequel, was just released. She blogs, speaks at workshops and retreats and although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. Recently, she took on the role of Managing Editor of Almost an Author.com, and serves as ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Mid-Atlantic Zone Director. She is also a member of AWSA’s Protégé program (Advanced Writers & Speaker’s Association).

More from Donna

Back in 2012, I wrote “Zorro” stories for Fan Fiction. I had an awful lot of fun with them, and people seemed to really like them. So, the thought came, what could I write for ‘real?’ I contemplated, prayed, and after a couple weeks or so, an idea came floating across my brain.

“Gunfight at Hyde Park.” Huh? I thought about it, and realized it was an obscure history lesson from my hometown in Kansas. I had Google it to get the details. I thought, well, I’m not gonna write a Christian romance novel just about a series of gunfights that killed and wounded more people than the OK Corral.

But I did think that the beginning of the gunfights could be the climax of the story.

Now, who should my heroine be? And the hero?

I started with that and took Christian Writer’s Guild’s Craftsman and the novel was completed in 2013—but only published in late 2017.

I’m proud of Meghan’s Choice. Pre-published it made the semi-finals of the last Operation 1^st Novel that CWG held and placed in a couple of smaller contests. Last year, it made the finals of the prestigious Selah Awards for published books through the BRMCWC, and the finals of the Will Rogers Medallion Award.

My hope is that you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.