Finished "Steadfast Heart" by Tracie Peterson for about a week, and just had the chance to review it.

This is my first Tracie Peterson novel. I've heard of her, but never had the chance to read any of her works.  She's a big name in the semi-inspirational/historical novel genre.  I was looking forward to reading this first book of her new series, 'The Seattle Brides'.  Knowing that it was the first of a series, I was hoping that it can be read stand-alone, and it will not end abruptly. Those are the type of books that I hate, because I feel like it's one of those gimmicks of authors to rope readers into reading/buying more of their books. Well, I'm glad to say, the "Steadfast Heart" is NOT one of those. Though you do sense the continuation of additional character stories.

It was a slow start for "Steadfast Heart". It wasn't really until halfway into chapter
4 when my interest
peaked enough to want to continue. For some, they might of already put the book down. However, I always try to finish what I started (but I would feel the drag if it was bad).  Anyways, back to the book. The funny thing is, I wasn't interested in the heroine, Lenore Fulcher.  I was much more interested in her best friend, Abrianna.  Now, she is a character that Ms. Peterson have spent a good amount of time building.  More than half the book is about her (at least in my mind).  From the back of the book description, this should be a novel about the search of love for Lenore. I thought that's what it will be about.  A development of the complexity of finding love (and yourself, in the process) of one, the heroine and/or two, the heroine's love interest, was my initial assessment, prior to reading the novel.   However, after reading the book, I find that the first part of character and personal realization was not Lenore, but Abrianna. Her story with the various men in her life (already touched upon in this novel) will continue in a later book of this series, most likely.  I enjoyed reading about Abrianna, but then I realize this book should not be about her. It should be about Lenore, and Kolbein Booth, whom by the way, was developed.  Ms. Peterson built Kolbein's character through his friendship with Abrianna. It's a different approach and I'm not too sure what I think about yet, since it was successful. I just find it different. One thing I do find annoying is that the love between Lenore and Kolbein felt rushed or like it was thrown together because they're suppose to be the main characters of the book.

Now, as to the plot and the pace of the story line, once it started picking up, it picked up. It was good. It was good to a point that I stayed up past my bedtime to finish the book.  My interest was with the characters and the plot.  The pace (past chapter 4) was right on. It continued and came together like a film/movie.  And speaking of which, this is a good book to make into a film or a TV movie.  I've mentioned previously in my other posts, I'm a visual person. I have images that pops into my mind whenever I read. When a story visually moves freely in my mind as I read along, I see it as a good basis for a motion picture of some sort.  This is one of those books (you'll have to deal with the slow beginning).

Steadfast Heart, Brides of Seattle Series #1 By Tracie Peterson / Bethany House Lenore Fulcher isn't pretentious despite her spoiled upbringing. Her deepest desire at the age of twenty is to find true love. However, her father believes she's wasted enough time searching for a suitable husband, and he wants to marry her off to one of his business partners--thirty-seven-year-old James Rybus. But the idea of marriage to a man so much older is out of the question for Lenore. Kolbein Booth, a lawyer from Chicago, arrives in Seattle looking for his headstrong sister who he believes may have answered an advertisement for mail-order brides. Sick with worry, he storms the Madison Bridal School, demanding to see his sister, only to learn she isn't there. But Lenore Fulcher is, and something about her captures his attention. Is this the man Lenore has been searching for? She may not have long to find out...