Review: Honor Redeemed

Honor Redeemed
By Christine Johnson
Keys of Promise, #2
Revell, 2016


Summary

Her future--and her heart--hang in the balance.

Two years ago, Prosperity Jones waved farewell to her beloved David as the army sent him to faraway Key West. Now with her parents gone, she has but one prospect for the future: make the dangerous journey from Nantucket to Key West to reunite with David and secure a happier life.

But when Prosperity arrives penniless in the South, she is dismayed to find David has not been eagerly awaiting their reunion. In fact, he is married to someone else. Scrambling to survive and nursing a broken heart, Prosperity gains the friendship--and the affection--of a kind doctor. Could he be the answer to her loneliness? Or will her life be upended by circumstance yet again?

With a deft hand, Christine Johnson fills the senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of Key West in this heartwarming story of honor lost, honor redeemed, and a love forged in adversity.


My thoughts

Honor Redeemed is a very enjoyable story, somewhat different from a lot of historical romances that I’ve read. The 1850s Key West setting gives it a distinct tropical vibe, the love triangle creates a lot of romantic tension – and whenever I began to get comfortable with the way things were going, Christine brings in something totally unexpected. I was totally hooked and eager to see how everything would work out. It was great seeing Elizabeth and Rourke from Love’s Rescue, and I recommend reading the series in order, but this story can stand alone.

Because of the serious life issues involved, I never felt that Honor Redeemed was your typical historical romance. Themes of racial prejudice, deceit and betrayal contrast with that of duty, honor and forgiveness. Both David and Prosperity are believers, but they reflect honorableness in different ways. There’s a realness to these flawed characters and I was never sure how the romance would work out until close to the end. I wish they hadn’t been at odds with each other through so much of the book, but when I stopped to put myself in Prosperity’s place, I don’t know that I would have reacted any differently.

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“Great monuments can be lost in a day, Lieutenant,

but it takes time to rebuild. So too with relationships.”

- Elizabeth

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As for Elizabeth and Rourke – and what an example of kindness, friendship and hospitality they set! I loved seeing the friendship between Prosperity and Elizabeth grow. Elizabeth also offered wisdom and encouragement, for she was “all too aware of the cruelties society inflicts on those who do not fit their narrow qualifications for acceptance.” Honor Redeemed quietly reminds that even the strongest of Christians can fall, but that none of us are beyond God’s grace.

Recommended.

Please click on the title, Love's Rescue, to see my review of book #1.

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Christine Johnson is the author of Love's Rescue, as well as several books for Steeple Hill and Love Inspired. She was twice named a finalist for Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award. When not writing, she loves to hike and explore God's majestic creation. These days, she and her husband, a Great Lakes ship pilot, split their time between northern Michigan and the Florida Keys.

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Thank you to Christine Johnson and Revell for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.