Parting Gifts - Homespun Author:Lorraine Heath They fulfilled a promise for tomorrow with a tender vow of love. — MADDIE - Desperate for food and shelter, she came to a Texas brothel, knowing what she had to do to survive. — CHARLES - A widower with three children, he knew he wanted more from Maddie than one night of pleasure. He wanted to marry her. — Overnight she went from a dire si... more »tuation to a comfortable home filled with the warmth of family. But the truth behind their quick marriage was bittersweet for Charles Lawson knew he was dying, and he wanted more than anything to leave his children with the gift of love, with a kind and caring mother. And in his race against time, he made the boldest decision of all: Maddie could build a new life and a loving home with his brother, Jesse. For even as the tender memories of a love past live on, the heart endures, ready to love once more.« less
This is a unique story! A lesser author would have allowed this to drop into maudlin goop.
Charles Lawson is dying. He has 3 children under the age of 10 and their mother has died 2 years before the story opens.
Maddie is in a brothel; being sold to the highest bidder because she is a virgin. This fate has come to pass because Maddie's father and brother have recently been killed -- leaving her alone.
Charles bids $1000 for a night with Maddie. He marries Maddie and takes her home. Then she meets Charles' older brother, Jesse.
One unique feature of this story is that there are 2 hero's: Charles and Jesse.
I hesitate to explain more because doing so might diminish your enjoyment of the book.
I simply could not put this volume down; I read it last night. Fortunately, this is a short book (fewer than 230 pages).
I think I will remember this book for a long time; it is so beautifully written. Be prepared: it is a sad and emotion-laden tale.
4 stars. Very touching love story set in late 1800's Texas. Cried a lot. Would like to have known the author's thoughts when she wrote about Charles' condition.