Three Times Blessed

Title: THREE TIMES BLESSED
Author: Lori Copeland
Publisher: Avon Inspire
2009
ISBN: 978-0-06-136493-8
Genre: Inspirational/historical

Audrey Pride and her friend, Copper, are moving to Thunder Ridge, Texas, to be near their best friend, Willow. Both Audrey and Copper have accepted teaching jobs in nearby towns and the three friends are anxious to be together again. But when Audrey arrives in town, she discovers that she’s accidentally taken out the water tower, and while the town has been suffering a drought, not the opposite is true. It won’t stop raining.

When Audrey learns that her teaching job isn’t available after all, she’s forced to take a position in a funeral parlor, preparing female bodies for burial. And with the job, comes a wagon train with an epidemic.

Audrey doesn’t really want to take the job, but she has no choice. Besides, she wants to stay in town because she has her eye on widower Eli Gray…a man who doesn’t seem to want anything to do with her.

THREE TIMES BLESSED is the second book in the Belles of Timber Creek series, but it easily stands alone. However, readers might want to read the first book in the series, Twice Loved, to learn Willow’s story.

Audrey is a realistic heroine, forced into situations that are beyond her control, yet she has to adapt to the changes and new rules if she wants to survive. I also couldn’t help but fall in love with Copper, and a secondary character that I hope will make an appearance in the third book in the series, Copper’s story, coming in the spring of 2010.

Don’t miss THREE TIMES BLESSED. While dealing with the unpleasantness of death and disease, there is still an undercurrent of faith and hope, and plenty of laugh out loud moments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Discussion questions and an exerpt from One True Love are included at the end of the book. $12.99. 264 pages.