A Love Restored by Kelly Goshorn

One of the most fun things about book reviews is when I get to write about a book written by one of my friends. Kelly Goshorn heads up my cluster of the American Christian Fiction Writers Virginia chapter. Without her I probably wouldn’t still be writing. It certainly wouldn’t be as much fun. I’m thrilled to welcome her to my blog today. I’ve read a lot of historical romances and her brand-new book A Love Restoredis great.

The story charts the romance between Ben, an ambitious apprentice surveyor, and Ruth Ann. Ruth Ann elicits public disapproval by teaching at the Freedman’s school. This is the 1870’s in northern Virginia. Still technically the south but with pockets of sympathy for northern abolitionists.

Ben is swayed by public opinion because Ruth Ann is unfashionably heavy. So begins the battle between his head which is guided by sight and his heart, tempered by faith.

Kelly has an M.Ed in History and I began by asking her what made the choose the 1870’s for her first book?

Thank you for interviewing me on your blog today, Debb. I’m so glad you enjoyed Ben and Ruth Ann’s story. What Debb didn’t mention is that we are early morning writing buddies and critique partners as well.

I chose to set A Love Restored in 1873-74 because that is when the Washington & Ohio Railroad made its way through Clark’s Gap and to my hometown of Purcellville, Virginia. My hero, Benjamin Coulter, works for a Land Mapping Agency that is surveying the route. The arrival of the train in my fictionalized town of Catoctin Creek brought great fanfare and future economic prosperity.

Typically, writers put something of themselves into every book, and given that Ruth Ann isn’t shy with her opinions, I did wonder if Kelly (a real sweetheart) saw much of herself in the character?

My sister would chuckle and tell you emphatically that I have an opinion about everything. She would be right, but I do think I’ve mellowed quite a bit from my younger self. There is a great deal of me in Ruth Ann. Benjamin and Ruth Ann’s story chronicles the real-life romance between my husband and myself. Like my heroine, I can be a tad bit stubborn (a-hem). In a former life I was a teacher, I can’t carry a tune with a handle on it. And I’ve struggled with self-doubt and poor self-esteem because of my weight issues. The story is really about my journey to self-acceptance and seeing myself as a beautiful, Godly woman.

And as writers we are regularly reminded by other writers to consider our readers above all else when we write (except Jesus, but He is the ultimate reader). I wondered if Kelly had a dream for how A Love Restored might touch people that pick it up?

A Love Restored is not only a story of love, romance, heartache and restoration, but also a story about the power of words over our lives. It is a story about the struggle each of us faces to take our thoughts captive to the truth of Scripture so we may experience the fullness of God’s unequivocal love for us. As Benjamin and Ruth Ann discover, it is only then that we are truly able to give and receive love unconditionally.

My prayer for you and your wonderful readers is that you will not allow the enemy to steal the joy that is rightfully yours as a child of God. Speak the truth of the gospel over yourself every day and ask God to give you His eyes to see yourself as He does.

“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b

A Love Restored is a beautiful love story with some unexpected plot twists, packed with historical detail and at times heart-stopping action. The characters are vivid and the description of fictional Catoctin Creek creates a whole town in my imagination. For a debut novel, this is excellent and comes highly recommended by the avid reader of historical romance.