Love Comes Softly

I've read this book many times over, yet each time I'm as moved as the first! It's artfully told with a quiet strength. The story builds beautifully in a way that's moving, and with soft and gentle humor too. Marty and Clark learn to love each other in difficult circumstances. And the lesson of "love sometimes comes softly" . . . is a wonderful reminder that love (even romantic love) grows within us in different ways, as we learn to unselfishly serve one another. Read it - you won't be sorry. Thank you, Janette Oke!

Great short story. Hits the most important parts of what marriage and life are all about. The richness of a man is his family and the loss of loved one leaves lingering grief. I enjoyed it very much

I have read and reread this book (and whole series) numerous times throughout the years. Each time something new speaks to me as I read about Marty's thoughts, experiences, and growth. Have tissues ready because if you fall in love with characters like I do, this book will make you cry though it will also make you smile about all the wonderful things in life. And may burnt biscuits never happen in your kitchen.

I mostly liked this series. I found the books really interesting in the beginning, and losing steam towards the end. I got really bored with them (especially book 4) in the last third of the stories. She’s a great author, but it’s like she puts everything into building the story, and SHE loses interest in the finish. These are the first JO books that I have read, I’ll definitely try a few more.

Lovely, engaging, comforting. Truly enjoyed reading this book and inspirational. Can’t wait to read the next in the series. Recommend.

I haven’t had a book touch me in a long time. I couldn’t put it down and read it from cover to cover in one night. I found the rest of the series at thrift store and can’t wait to binge read them all!

The book begins with the funeral of newlywed Clem. The young couple had followed their dreams of owning property out West and now an accident has left Clem’s pregnant wife, Marty, alone to survive. Clark Davis, a widow too, with a little girl named Missy decides to make the Marty an offer of marriage. She was to be her daughter’s mamma and take care of the house, in exchange, he would provide for her and pay for her passage for her to go back home to the East in the spring time. Marty agrees seeing that she had no better plan for surviving in the winter. The book then follows the story of this “family” as they grieve the loss of their loved ones and begin their new way of life in the best way possible.The book gives great insight to the reader about life in the Old West during the mid 1800’s. The reader learns of the excitement of young couples in search of their own property, their drive for adventure. Janet Oak not only tells us about the hardships and ways of life in the West, but she transmits so much feeling through her characters that the reader seems to actually experience those moment. No history book can do that. It is not only the death of Clem that emerges the reader to the story. Throughout the book one learns about the living situation in the West; the seasons for farming, the way food was stored and cooked, the daily hardships of keeping the fire burning. One of the things I enjoyed the most about the book was the values that are transmitted to the reader. There was a culture of solidarity in Old West which is clearly shown in the book. Neighbors would help each other during hard times, both through moral support and physical work. Another very important aspect of the western life which is described in the book is religion. Puritan roots and faith were very deep-rooted beliefs for many of the people in the west. Being also a Christian novel, the book portrays the value that religion had as well as the moral and social role it played during those times.I was very surprised by a passage in the book in which the value of tradition and gender-role is showed. Clark and Marty are constantly trying to fill their “part of the deal” as man and woman of the house. In this scene the reader can see how the duties of a man and a woman were so well defined. “He was simply providing what was needed for those under his roof, a thing he had been taught was the responsibility of the man of the house...” (77). Some people may find Clark’s mentality as very misogynist, conversely I find it to be noble. A person’s honor and responsibility is extremely important.It is important to notice how the Western life remained one with the most pure American values. As life in the East was driven by money and power and slavery in the South violated the American principle of freedom, the West remained untouched. Settlers strived to own their own piece of land and live a free, calm and puritan life. Such philosophy led to the lack of major economic developments and technological advances in the West. There was no desire for much more than land and peace. Although the world may not see this as a good decision today, I believe that if the Western life had what Americans valued the most then it must’ve been a tough but happy one, such as the one told in this book.I would recommend this book to any romantic person. The story flows very easily and its vocabulary is colloquial yet right. Janette Oke not only provides a romantic and sweeping story but grandeurs the importance of values and faith during the harsh Old West. The reader will be hooked by the story and its loving characters and furthermore will experience the life of the Old West. One will not regret reading it.