Book Review: Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Excerpt: Edythe knew where he was leading. "I'm simply requesting your support. If William sees that you view education as important, then his attitude toward school - and his behavior - should change."

Mr. Sholes removed his hat, wiped his forehead with his wrist, and then plunked the hat back into place. "Look, you got a job to do. You want me to respect that. All right, I respect it. But I have a job to do, too, an' if I have to run to the school every time my boy gets a little ornery, I won't get my job done. So I'll say it again: I'll take care of William when he's home, an' you take care of him when he's at school. Do your job, Teacher."

Edythe's face flamed at his insolent tone. Harsh words quivered on the tip of her tongue, but she held them back. It would be pointless to argue with this muleheaded man and his mouse-like wife. "Very well." She whirled toward the wide opening at the opposite side of the barn. As she charged into the sunlight, she heard a snicker. Looking up, she spotted William in the loft window.

He grinned, the curl of his lip impudent. "See you on Monday, Miss Amsel." Courting Miss Amsel, pg 41.

Back Cover: Edythe Amsel is delighted with her first teaching assignment: a one-room schoolhouse in Walnut Hill, Nebraska. Independent, headstrong, and a firm believer in a well-rounded education, Edythe is ready to open the world to the students in this tiny community. But is Walnut Hill ready for her?

Having raised his nephews since their parents' untimely deaths, Joel Townsend is thrilled to learn the town council has hired a female teacher. His sons could use a woman's influence. But he sure didn't bargain on a woman like Miss Amsel. Within the first week, she has the entire town up in arms over her outlandish teaching methods. Of course, Joel can't help but notice that she's also mighty pretty - and just might make a good mother for his boys.

When Edythe decides to take her pupils to hear Miss Susan Anthony speak on the woman's suffrage amendment, the town's outcry reaches new heights. Even Joel isn't sure he can support her newfangled ideas any longer. And if he can't trust her to teach the boys, how can he trust her with his heart?

My Review: Someone sign me up for the Kim Vogel Sawyer fan club! Every book I've read of this author has been enjoyable, and Courting Miss Amsel is no exception. Sawyer's characters come alive on the page in a delightfully believable way. They have strengths and weakness, just like the rest of us, and thus make them easy to identify with. Of course, identifying with Edythe Amsel was easy, due to my own teaching experience. The conflicts within the story line pulled me from on cover to the other in a matter of hours. I am so thrilled to add this book to my collection!

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and fans of Kim Vogel Sawyer.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)