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| Left at the Altar |
by Margaret Brownley
Sourcebooks Casablanca (November 1, 2016)
Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow
5 Stars *****
A unique and 'engaging' romance!
In Left at the
Altar, author Margaret Brownley pens a timeless tale of love and forgiveness
in the Wild West town of Two-Time Texas where love ran deep and so did
disagreements. Set during an era in history before many towns in the West had standardized
time-keeping—guaranteed chaos, missed trains, and worse. So be prepared to lose
all track of time reading this wonderfully intriguing, fascinating, and
engaging romance!
The people of Two-Time, Texas, are fed up with running on
different times thanks to a long-running feud between the town’s two stubborn jewelers who each insist on having
the correct time. The wedding of their children Tommy Farrell and Meg
Lockwood is supposed to bring an end to this division, bringing one time to
Two-Time. However, when Tommy stands up Meg at the church, Meg’s father is
furious and has a hefty breach-of-promise lawsuit served to Tommy, further
dividing the town.
Grant Garrison, a lawyer from Boston, reluctantly decides
to stay a while in this cantankerous town to honor his recently deceased sister who loved the place. The first
two times Grant meets the jilted bride were under rather embarrassing
situations for the poor gal, but something about Meg captivates him. When Grant is hired to defend the groom from the lawsuit and the case comes
before the court, he has to remind himself who he is representing when his
feelings for the feisty but forlorn Meg grows. What will be the outcome of the
case? Can this town ever find peace and
if so, will the cost be worth it? Will Grant and Meg remain lonely or will ‘everything
be made beautiful in its time’?
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
You may find this book to purchase at these and other places: AMAZON; B&N; BAM - Remember, there's no 'time' like the present!
Click on the pic below to go to Margaret Brownley's fabulous Author page where you can find all sorts of fantastic fun facts and video's of the Old West! And of course, the low-down on Margaret's other amazing books!!
Please feel welcome drop a line below to say Hi to Margaret Brownley, and feel free to ask any questions you may have! We'd love to hear from you!
Since time plays a big part of the story, I have a question for all of you; If you could change one thing about time, what would it be?
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting with us, Margaret. To answer your question, I wouldn't change anything about time. It's all in God's hands and I have to trust Him.
DeleteYour review is just 'timeless' with its beautifully descriptive prose, NOELA! Thank you. Sounds like such an unusual and great premise for a story, and loads of fun as well! I'll have to "watch" out for this one. And if I don't stop, Noela, you just may put me in "time out!" hahaha
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies on the loss of your husband, MARGARET. Thank you for sharing with us on OWG and for continuing to write such amazing books. I adore the cover on this one. May God bless and strengthen you as we approach the holiday season. Hugs and more hugs.
Haha you had too much fun with that didn't you, Diane! :D This book is definitely one to 'make time for'!!
DeleteWaaay too much fun! Well 'time' is catching up with me so gotta run! haha
Delete
DeleteDiane, thank you so much for your kind hugs and condolences. I need all the hugs I can get!
HUGS, Margaret!! x
DeleteOoh tough question Margaret, hmmm if there was one thing I could change about time... It might be to go back in time to react differently to certain events and people before God helped mold me into the person I am today.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing these truly memorable and enjoyable stories. Each one is such a treasure!
Noela, that's an interesting thought. Imagine reliving our past youth with today's wisdom! I think there's a story there.
DeleteAnd you would be the perfect person to write it, Margaret!
DeleteI would like to go back in time to when I was younger with the wisdom I have today - and redo some things and make better & wiser decisions. Not trying to copy Noela, but that's what I would love to be able to do!
ReplyDeleteDiana, that makes three of us!
DeleteNoela, what a fun review, I had a fun-time reading your review!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your book Margaret Brownley! Left at the Alter sounds like a fun read, I will be sure to make time to read it.
Tough question Margaret...I am not sure I would want to go back in time to when I was younger and change anything. Those life experiences helped mold me and ultimately lead me to Christ and His molding me into the person I am today. However, I often wondered what it would be like to "time travel" back to a distant past, say 1800's, and experience the way they lived then.
Blessings, Tina
Hi Tina, yes, time really does have a way of molding us into better people, doesn't it? I get to travel back in time to the 1800s whenever I work on a book--and I don't have to leave the comforts of home. LOL
DeleteYes, I love those books that take me/us back in time to a different era!
DeleteTina I agree that many of these experiences help mold us... But part of me still would like a do-over of some of them, lol. I would LOVE to be able to go back to the 1800's for a time. I've stared at old photographs often, wondering what it would be like. But I think I would like the option to return too. ;)
DeleteA beautiful review, Noela - thank you!! Such an unusual, cute, and delightful storyline - I see a possibility of a triangle and plenty of sparks flying, for sure, LOL. I love the cover, and can't wait to read 'Left at the Altar'.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to relive my life - it was hard enough the first time around, LOL. All kidding aside, I agree with Tina - as much as I regret some of the disastrous choices I made in my younger life, they taught me many lessons, molded me into the person I am today, and have enabled me to be able to relate and reach out to so many people who are now in the same unhappy, desperate situation I was before following God's plan for my life.
Thanks for being here with us on Overcoming With God, Margaret!! You're in my thoughts - hugs!!
Bonnie, I think we all made mistakes in our younger days. It makes you wonder how any of us survived.
DeleteThank you for your thoughts and hugs!
Thanks Bonnie, and oh yeah... The first time round was definitely hard and most of it I wouldn't want to repeat! Like Margaret said, makes you wonder how we survived! I still think it would be fun to go back knowing what I do now. At least in some circumstances. ;)
DeleteWonderful review! I love the cover so much. This book is going on my list. My comment about time is that I need for it to SLOW DOWN! Didn't we just celebrate Christmas last week?
ReplyDeleteThank you Marcia! Haha, slowing down time was my first thought actually! Time does go by way too fast these days, and yes I'm pretty sure it was just last week we had Christmas. ;)
DeleteSlowing down time was my first thought, too. It seems like each week passes in a blink. It's scary.
DeleteMargaret, I didn't realize you had lost your husband. My sincere condolences. ❤️
ReplyDeleteMarcia, thank you.
DeleteI always enjoy reading Margaret's books. I like the quirky characters and humor in her books.
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming by Pam! Those are some of my favorite things about Margaret's books! I love the fun and fascinating facts throughout those stories as well. :)
DeletePam, thank you. I always shake my head in wonder when people mention humor. I don't see that in my writing. Years ago, I sent a ms to an agent (my first historical). When I met her at a writer conference, she told me she almost fell out of bed laughing. Thinking she meant it in a negative way I was crushed. Imagine my surprise when she agreed to take me on as a client.
DeleteI would love for time to slow down a bit. My grands are growing much too quickly! Sloooooow Down!
ReplyDeleteOh I so know what you're talking about there, Melanie! I'm sure Margaret does, too! :)
DeleteOh, yes, Noela, I sure do know what you're talking about. We don't have any babies in our family and I sure do miss them. The last of my grandkiddies just passed me in height. I'm now known as shorty.
DeleteThanks Margaret for what sounds like a fun, interesting story! Was thinking about how different our time keeping was across the country back in the 1800's just recently. Looking forward to reading this book. If I may ask a question; What's your favorite time period to write about? Thanks also to Noela for this review ,you really sparked my interest. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks SO much for your comment and your question to Margaret, Lynne! I do hope you'll get to enjoy this wonderful story soon!!
DeleteMy stories mostly take place between 1880 and 1890. There's a reason for this. That was the time period that best mirrors modern times. Victorians had to deal with the new tech world (trains,telephone, electricity) just as we do today. Would you believe that the telegraph has been called the Victorian Internet? Reading old newspapers is like reading current news. I actually came across an article printed in 1900 which asked the question; is the climate changing? People lost their jobs due to the new technology just as they're losing jobs today. And yes, immigration was also a concern, as was poverty, health care and education.
DeleteIt's my hope that readers are encouraged when they look back in time and see that people not only survived these difficulties but flourished.
I am so sorry for your loss, Margaret. There's always something I wish I could go back in time and change but if I did that, I may not have the family I have today. Despite life's challenges and disappointments, I wouldn't change a thing.
ReplyDeleteI love the premise of Left at the Altar and look forward to reading it.
Anne, thank you so much.
DeleteI'm always amazed at the things that divide us as a people and as a nation. It sounds crazy to have a town divided by time, but that really did happen and it's no more crazier than some of things that divide us today.
Thank you for stopping by, Anne! I always enjoy reading your thoughts. Enjoy Margaret's book when you get to read it! ;)
DeleteI'm a very practical minded person and when I look at my past and the various "mistakes" I've made, I know that it was always in God's hands and used to shape me into who I am today. Philippians 1:6
ReplyDeleteMargaret - I am huge fan of rom-coms. In fact, it's my favorite romance sub-genre. I've been looking forward to your new book since I first saw it up for pre-buy. Congrats and best wishes on its release!
Funny to think of there not being a 'standard' time!
ReplyDeleteNow if we want an accurate time we just look at our cell phones. Even with the recent time change it's always right.
Pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
NOELA, thank you for this wonderful review! Margaret, congrats on your release. I love the expression on the model's face...so perfect.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138 at gmail dot com