Holding the Fort by Regina Jennings

Major Daniel Adams invited Miss Bell to the Fort because he had girl trouble... Now his female complications were only multiplying. How many secrets did the new Governess have?





Hey Readers,
Happy New Year!!!
Its 2018 and I wanted to give you my first "Must Read" of the year,  Holding the Fort by Regina Jennings! 
 Holding the Fort is a Historical Fiction story set within the walls of Fort Reno in the year 1885. I would recommend this book if you:

• have read any of Regina Jennings books before,
• like to read books by similar authors such as Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy,
• want to read a story filled with secrets, humor and a bit of romance, 
• just want to start the year off with a fantastic new book!

So here is the story, 

Louisa Bell has had a hard life. After a very difficult childhood that ended with her mother dying when Louisa was still very young, Louisa has done what she had to do to ensure that her and her brother survived. The book starts out with Louisa getting let go from her most recent job as a singer at the Cat-Eye Saloon. She knew it was a horrible place to work but as a singer she had gotten paid and she was blessed to because she never had a man touch her. As she was packing up her personal items, she received a letter from her brother who was a Calvary Solider stationed in Indian Territory that stated that he had gotten in trouble with his commanding officer again. Since she now had nowhere to go, She decides to head to Fort Reno and talk some sense into her brother so that he did not end up like herself.  On her way to the Fort, Her stagecoach has to stop because of issues with the coach so she finds herself near a creek with a new little friend that she met during the delay. While she was there she saw the most unusual sight, A Calvary officer who was trick riding! He was standing barefoot in his saddle while riding his horse! Unfortunately, once the officer saw her, he fell off his horse and severely injured his head. After seeing if she could help the officer and promising a older Mennonite woman that she would deliver a package to the Commander, She finally arrives at the Fort. Unfortunately, the current commanding officer (because Major Adams was currently unavailable)  mistakes Louisa as the new Governess hired to teach Major Adams two girls. Louisa accepts the job even though she was not educated enough to be a teacher thinking that it would just be like acting on a stage. However she did not expect to have such smart pupils and a way to handsome and suspicious Major watching her every move, But if she is not successful with this job, Will her and her brother be arrested for her deception? 

Major Daniel Adams has his hands full with his two young girls and a Mother-In-Law who wants to take them away to be "properly educated" .  He has tried to teach them everything they need to know but he knows that they really need a woman to help them since their Mother died. He is immediately suspicious of the new Governess because Miss Bell is not the old strict widow that he was promised was coming.  He decides to give her a chance because he does not have any other options and because she had kept quiet about his riding accident that she witnessed before she arrived. He observes that she has the mannerisms of a Governess and the skills but lacks the confidence that he assumed that one had to have to that profession , It is almost like she was just acting out the part. He also is annoyed that she seems to be attracted to Private Willis (who was her brother, but of course the Major does not know that) As the days go on, he finds himself oddly attracted to Miss Bell but he is also wary of her because he knows that there is something about her past that she is hiding. 

Louisa is trying to be confident in this performance but could she make this family love her? 

Because unfortunately she has already fallen in love with the Major's family. 

What Did I Think?

So this is the first book in the Fort Reno Series and it was amazing! 

I loved how the author describes the Fort and gives us a glimpse of how the Major and his family lived. My favorite character was Louisa because she was so ambitious going all the way to Indian Territory to tell her little brother to behave ( like any big sister should ) But I really liked how even though the job as a Governess started out as just a way to talk to her brother, She jumped in with both feet and studied the topics that she was lacking knowledge in and genuinely wanted to teach the girls the subjects they would need to succeed. I love the interactions between Louisa and Major Adams, How He always expected her to be like his soldiers when he spoke with her, but she always said what was on her mind without caring what he thought. And I loved how Louisa finally discovered that  God would forgive even someone like her.  Overall I rated the book 5 out of 5 stars*****

NEW FOR 2018... THE EMOJI SCALE!
So for this year, I am also rating my "Must Reads" by emoji's! 
But I will start this on my next "Must Read" (even though it would have been a WOW emoji!)😮

Don't forget to check out this book and other books by Mrs. Jennings ... Here is the link! :
http://www.reginajennings.com/books



Happy Reading :)

  I would like to thank Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy. I was not asked to write a favorable review, Just a honest one.