‘Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon’ by Miralee Ferrell – Book Review

Summerside Press, based in Minneapolis MN, has a series of novels called ‘Love Finds You.’  The books in the series are named after American towns with unusual but intriguing names.  This book, ‘Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon’ is the third book in the series based in Oregon, a state I have not set foot in –yet!

If memory serves, this is the first Christian historical romance novel I have ever read.  I had heard about this book, and was intrigued.  The story centers on Margaret Garvey, a school teacher in the lovely town of Bridal Veil, Oregon at the turn of the twentieth century.  Bridal Veil, at that time in history, was a logging community; the town was built by Bridal Veil Lumbering Company, a company which existed in real life.  Most of the commerce in Bridal Veil was based on that trade.

Margaret has suffered many losses in her short twenty years.  Four years earlier, she was being courted by Nathaniel Cooper.  Sadly for her, her father, Jacob, was not happy about the relationship.  He took steps to cause them to separate, a situation which broke Margaret’s heart.  Nathaniel moved out of town to start a new job without speaking to her, and Margaret was confused and in despair.

Four years later, she is the school teacher at the town’s little schoolhouse.  She continued to live with her father.  Her mother had passed along years earlier.  Tragedy struck Margaret’s heart and life again, when her father died quickly and unexpectedly. 

At that time, a young man named Andrew Browning, a logger with the lumber company, began to court her.  He had been asked by Margaret’s father earlier on to take care of Margaret if anything ever happened to him.  When Margaret discovered Andrew had made that promise to Jacob, she questioned whether or not Andrew really cared about her, and was again wondering why so many people had betrayed her in life.

There is an interesting side story of two orphans, Samantha and Joel, who made their way to Bridal Veil after escaping from a cruel guardian.  They had many interesting escapades during their time in that lovely community.    

The story takes a turn when Nathaniel returns back to town to take a job at the logging company.  The paths of Nathaniel and Margaret cross.  Nathaniel discovered upon his return (through an interesting twist) that Jacob, Margaret’s father, had intervened four years earlier; Margaret wanted to marry him, but that was not to be.  Margaret is placed in the unenviable position of having to choose between two suitors.  She ultimately does make a decision (you will have to read the book; the secret’s safe with me!).   

I found this to be a sweet story of love and care for others.  Bridal Veil is portrayed as a small town whose residents watch out for each other.  It was wonderfully refreshing to this city slicker!  It made me want to visit, although Bridal Veil today is a ghost town whose current chief claim to fame is its postmark on wedding invitations.  It sounds like a beautiful and scenic part of the U.S.A.  I have never visited that part of the country, and the author's portrayal of it brought it to life for me.  It makes me want to see it for myself!

I was also touched by the faith and love for the Lord exhibited by Margaret and Andrew in particular, in this story.  Miralee Ferrell did a wonderful job in showing that following the Lord is the right path to take – and He will never steer you wrong!  Other important spiritual truths strongly covered in this novel are prayer, forgiveness, faith, trust, and God’s sovereignty.  Her primary goal in writing is to bring glory and honor to God – and she certainly succeeds in this story!   

Miralee’s next book, ‘Finding Jeena: A Novel,’ comes out in April 2010 (looking forward to that one!).  Other novels in Mrs. Ferrell’s repertoire are ‘The Other Daughter,’ and ‘Love Finds You in Last Chance, California.’  She is a wonderful ambassador of the Lord's love!