So fun! "Holding the Fort" by Regina Jennings

about the book....

With Miss Bell as the Teacher, Everyone's Bound to Learn an Interesting Lesson

Dance hall singer Louisa Bell has always lived one step from destitution. When she loses her job at the Cat-Eye Saloon, she has nowhere else to go but to her brother, a cavalry soldier stationed in Indian Territory. But he's run afoul of his commanding officer. Unsure what she can do to help him and desperate for a job, she doesn't protest when she's mistaken for a governess at the fort. How hard can teaching really be?

Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno, especially raising two adolescent daughters alone. If this new governess doesn't work out, his mother-in-law insists she'll raise the girls herself--far away from the fort. Miss Bell bears little resemblance to Daniel's notion of a governess--they're not supposed to be so blamed pretty--but he finds himself turning a blind eye to her unconventional methods. Louisa has never faced so important a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough to help her brother and to secure the respectable future she's sought for so long?

my review....

With fun loving characters, laugh out loud moments, and a whole lot of heart, "Holding the Fort" is another winning novel from Regina Jennings. Louisa is a zany, likeable young lady who will surely win your heart within a few pages of becoming acquainted with her. Her desire to look out for her brother is a sweet one, and the misunderstanding that results in her becoming a governess makes for some highly interesting moments. Some of the scenes, of course, you may need to take with a grain of salt in terms of their plausibility. But therein lies all the fun! Sometimes, you just aren't in the mood for a book that delves deep into the tragedies of the human existence. Sometimes, you just need a book that will elevate your mood and bring a smile to your face, and "Holding the Fort" will do all that and more! And, in the midst of the fun, you will walk alongside Louisa as she is brought to the feet of Jesus, and watching her faith blossom was one of my favourite parts of this story.

Those readers hankering for a sweet romance will enjoy watching Major Daniel Adams become smitten with Louisa and her quirky ways. The puppy love that strikes Daniel definitely brought a smile to my face as I resonated with a few of his clumsy moments. The ending is made all the sweeter for Louisa's difficulty in believing that she's even lovable - and who of us hasn't struggled with those thoughts at one moment or another?

Historical fiction fans will flock to this novel in droves. I award this novel a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars, and am so glad to see that this is only book one in the "Fort Reno" series. I'm looking forward to what will come next for these characters!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

 about the author....

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history. She's the winner of the National Readers' Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.

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