Book reviews are subjective. I tend to rate books not according to how “perfect” they are, seem to be, or are said to be in general but rather to how perfect they are to me.
A Groom for Altar by Parker J. Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Description: Altar Pennington isn’t like most of the widows in Last Chance, Nebraska. After a blizzard takes her husband’s life, she’s neither mournful nor joyful at his death. Her biggest concern isn’t how she’s going to live now that she’s a widow; but how is she going to raise a child on her own? When the preacher demands that all the widows remarry or leave town, she is forced to seek a husband to provide a father for her child.
My thoughts: No, this ChristFic historical romance isn’t a Christmas story. Not exactly. But it does include Christmas and New Year’s Eve along the way, and that pretty, wintry book cover with its soft glow helps, so hey. The book’s going in this lifelong Christmas-lover’s Yuletide category, thank you kindly.
I ate up this novella in a satisfying sitting.
I did notice that the story makes some of the same points more than once, and I didn’t fully buy into an aspect of the plot that’s taken rather literally from a supernatural story in Scripture. I also didn’t find Altar’s reason for entering her first marriage to be wholly convincing.
Still, the unfolding of the “new family” theme gives this read plenty of warmth. Plus, after the intriguing prologue gave me cerebral chills, I was pretty amazed later on to find out what it meant.
Now I’m interested in reading another book in The Blizzard Brides series sometime, about Altar’s sister.
Prismatic Prospects 
I love Parker’s books!
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Heeheehee, I consider myself pretty late to the Parker party. 😀 But I’ve got more by her waiting on my Kindle. Some of her book covers are, as they say, simply irresistible.
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Ohh, I just finished reading this book two nights ago. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story. I was pleasantly surprised by John Henry!!! I so enjoyed that song of John Henry by Jimmy Dean??? as a child. But as you, I didn’t feel her reasons for marrying the first time realistic. I’m reading book nine of the Blizzard Brides. I read the very first one and didn’t know there were 32 stories in all!
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I know, so many books! 😀
I won’t be reading many more in the series, since I personally wouldn’t be able to take much more of the premise of people being coerced and threatened into marriage (especially by a dictatorial preacher). But I think the other book I may try technically veers away from the Blizzard Bride theme on that score. Heh heh heh, I know I take chances being someone who often skips reading book blurbs beforehand.
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