The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall

From the publisher:
Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance;Vance Everstone. As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiancé who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust; and who to leave behind.
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This is the fourth book in the Everstone Chronicles and it is my favorite! 

Vance.  I know you are supposed to hate him at least in book two of this series, but I had a soft spot for him.  And then, to read this book....brilliance and totally happiness for my romantic heart.

Violet Hawthrone is a perfect character.  She is genuine and her character was a pleasure to read.  She isn't defeated by the changes in her life and instead innocently and bravely goes forward.  The coming together of her vulnerability, innocent, and bravery with Vance's dark past, his present conversion, and intensity is something amazing to read.  Both characters have flaws in them that conflict with the other but you cannot help but cheer for them.  I devoured this book as I wanted to know the finishing story for Vance and Violet and loving each page as I read.

I love the lessons Vance and Violet learn together.  Spiritually forgiveness and redemption and new life are things all Christians have to deal with and it was well written and dealt with, especially with some difficult topics.

I enjoyed reading more about previous characters from the other books and learning more about their stories.  As the Everstones are family it was great to read more about them.  Again, Dawn Crandall is great with secondary characters and it left me hoping and wanting her to write more to this series to bring other character's stories to life. 

I loved Vance and Violet's story and I think you will too!

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.