~ She thought she’d lost everything ~ Instead she found what she needed most. ~
Illinois ~ 1854
Becky Hollister wants nothing more than to live out her days on the prairie, building a life for herself alongside her future husband. But when a tornado rips through her parents’ farm, killing her mother and sister, she must leave the only home she’s ever known and the man she’s begun to love to accompany her injured father to St. Louis.
Catapulted into a world of unknowns, Becky finds solace in corresponding with Matthew Brody, the handsome pastor back home. But when word comes that he is all but engaged to someone else, she must call upon her faith to decipher her future.
I finished Cynthia Roemer’s Under this Same Sky over the weekend. If you are looking for a sweet romance that also keeps you asking questions, you’ve found the right book. Becky Hollister’s life is turned upside-down when a tornado destroys her family’s farm, killing her mother and sister and injuring her father.
Pastor Matthew Brody makes the rounds to check on his congregation and discovers Becky and her pa in need of serious assistance. He helps Becky rush her father to the doctor’s home.
Her pa’s injuries lead to his blindness and he makes the decision to attend a school for the blind far away from their prairie home–without Becky.
Becky is heartbroken and wants nothing more than to be with her only remaining immediate family. She hatches a plan to stowaway in the wagon Pastor Brody will drive Pa to St. Louis in. On the way–after Pastor Brody and her father discover her presence and decide to allow her to stay–Becky’s admiration for Matthew begins to develop into affection.
But the next year will be spent hundreds of miles apart. Can their budding love survive the distance? And the rearrival of Matthew’s old sweetheart back home? Can Becky find the faith she needs to accept her family’s tragedy?
Elegant, just-right descriptions, strong emotion, and growing faith lines make this book worthy of your must-read list.
I asked Cynthia a couple questions after I finished reading. I hope you’ll enjoy her responses as much as I did.
What was your favorite scene to write and why?
Oh, several scenes come to mind. I had fun with the somewhat humorous exchanges between Matthew and his old sweetheart, Sarah Prescott. I also enjoyed the scene in which Becky helps reunite young Emily with her brother. But my favorite scenes to write would have to be the final scenes with the happily-ever-after ending. It took over 300 pages to get to those oh-so-satisfying final scenes where love and faith triumph. Such fun!
Becky was my favorite character. I fell in love with her quiet, shy nature. Who was your favorite character?
I’m so glad you connected with Becky. I enjoyed stepping into her character. I also enjoyed the housemaid Nettie. She was so much fun to create. But I think my favorite character would be Jimmy (named for one of my favorite actors, Jimmy Stewart BTW.) Jimmy had such keen insight and wisdom into life. As one of my Amazon reviewers said, “He was the perfect friend for Becky.” I loved his faith and the way he spoke to Becky’s heart.
If you would like to learn more about Cynthia consider visiting her social media pages listed below. And, most importantly, if you’d like to read Under this Same Sky (and enjoy it as much as I did), please click here.
AUTHOR BIO:
Cynthia Roemer is an award-winning inspirational writer who enjoys planting seeds of hope into the lives of readers. Raised in the cornfields of rural Illinois, Cynthia enjoys spinning tales set in the backdrop of the 1800s prairie. She writes from her family farm in central Illinois where she resides with her husband and their two college-aged sons.
Thank you, Cynthia, for appearing on my blog! I hope you readers will check back next week for an interview with Artist Becky Eileen. And don’t forget to sign up for my email friends group for bonus materials and early access to my next interview!
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