Three Times Blessed

By Lori Copeland

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In post-Civil War Texas, Audrey Pride is excited to visit her friend Willow in Thunder Ridge, after which she expects to take up a teaching post. But she arrives to find that the school board doesn’t have enough money to pay her until the following year, which leaves Audrey with no means of support. Swallowing her qualms, she agrees to a job as an undertaker’s assistant. Days of rain in a normally dry locale results in a wagon train full of sick people stopping in Thunder Ridge, which provides her with more work than she bargained for. Can Audrey keep body and soul together in these conditions, while pursuing young but dour widower Eli Gray, despite his lack of encouragement?

With the exception of a brief prologue, this inspirational novel starts pretty much in media res, assuming that you have already read the first book in the Belles of Timber Creek series. The story is fast-paced, with lively, though not very deep characters. But look elsewhere for historical accuracy. I doubt that people in 1860s Texas would have used the expressions “upside the head” or “uptight.” A list of discussion questions for book club use is included.