"love in the balance" by regina jennings

About the book: Molly Lovelace dreams of marrying Bailey Garner. She also dreams of a life lived in wealthy society ... and as Bailey is a poor wrangler, she can't see how the two dreams mesh.

Molly knows she loves Bailey, but when her parents start to push her off on rich gentlemen, Molly wavers—should she wait for Bailey to make a name for himself, or should she marry Edward Pierrepont, a rich man who sweeps into town and wants to sweep Molly off her feet?

My take: I'm going to be completely honest here—for the first 10 chapters, I loathed Molly. She was snobbish, manipulative, and eager to blame her problems on others. Had I not agreed to review this book, I would not have finished it. After all, who wants to read about a heroine they can't stand?

But then something changed. Actually, Molly changed. Her story is a redemption story, showing how Christ can completely change someone's life. No, she didn't become perfect, but she certainly became relatable. I went from hoping Bailey would wash his hands of Molly and fall for someone sweet (like her friend Prue) to longing to shake some sense into the two of them as they clearly belonged together!

Jennings' first book, Sixty Acres and a Bride, was loosely based on the story of Ruth and Boaz. As I read Love in the Balance, I tried to come up with a story it might be based on, and I think it's The Scarlet Letter. It's not a direct retelling, though; it's more that some of the themes are similar (though you could definitely find versions of Hester, Rev. Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth in the pages of this novel). Love in the Balance deals with unconfessed sin, judging others, and forgiveness ... and it does so in a very entertaining way! 4 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Jennings' Sixty Acres and a Bride.

About the author: Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

Find out more about Regina at http://www.reginajennings.com/.

About the giveaway:
Regina Jennings is celebrating the release of Love in the Balance with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party on 4/4!

One "lovely" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire 
• A copy of Regina's Sixty Acres and a Bride and Love in the Balance

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 3rd. Winner will be announced at the "Love in the Balance" Author Chat Party on April 4th. Connect with Regina, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Love in the Balance and join Regina on the evening of April 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."