There was a lot to love about the book Love in the Balance. I found myself laughing, sympathizing, and smiling throughout the whole book.
Its the year 1879 in Prairie Lea, Texas. Molly Lovelace is at the age where one starts to think about marrying. But it seems that her idea of who she should marry is different than her parents idea. Mollys parents believe that she should marry into a well-to-do family where it will benefit her social status and also their family business.
Molly and Bailey Garner are quite smitten with each other. The only problem is, Bailey doesnt meet Mollys parents standards. Bailey is having a hard time finding a job he likes or that he can keep. He tries his hand at ranching, blacksmithing, and helping at the cobblers but nothing seems to stick. If he cant stick to one job, how will he ever prove to Molly or her parents that hes a suitable mate?
In walks Edward Pierrepont. Coming from New York, Edward is a mysterious, rich man full of rich possibilities that cant help but entice Molly. Edwards wealth could be the answer to saving her fathers mill.
Molly is torn between choosing love with Bailey, or security and riches with Edward. When she makes a choice, will she question whether or not it was the right one?
I really enjoyed Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings so I was really looking forward to Love in the Balance. I was not disappointed either! Molly and Bailey were both characters from the previous book and I enjoyed seeing their stories further explored. Love in the Balance was full of fun and laughter, as well as heartache and pain. There were several mysteries woven into the story that keeps the reader guessing as to what is going to happen and how things are going to be resolved. I like the fact that these characters werent perfect. We see right from the start that Molly and Bailey both failed in certain areas, but we see them learn from their mistakes and learn to be better people. I loved seeing the character change in Molly. She may be somewhat of a selfish, spoiled brat in the beginning, but different events that happen to her cause her to reevaluate her life and look to God for the help she needs in becoming a better person.
As I mentioned before, Love in the Balance has characters from Sixty Acres and a Bride but Love in the Balance is a great read on its own as well. I would definitely recommend it to my friends and family.

I received a free ecopy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions stated are my own.

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I enjoyed this charming, small town, historical romance. Love in the Balance is set in Texas in the late 1800s, when women had few options and were often at the mercy of others. Although this is the second book in the series, I inadvertently read it prior to Book 1, Sixty Acres and a Bride. The only gap I noticed was that one or two characters, unknown to me, were briefly mentioned. In my opinion, this book can be read as a stand-alone novel, however, I will be going back and reading the first book.
Molly Lovelace, at first, appeared to me to be rather shallow and not really a very deep thinker. However, as the story moves along, it becomes evident that she is more or less, fulfilling the role in which her family has cast her. I love the way that she grows, both spiritually and as an independent woman, by the end of the book.
Baily Garner is an interesting hero, who is not always what he seems to those around him. His conflicts are mostly internal, as he strives to figure what to do in life. Even though Baily has many options and opportunities, he has little direction and is often confused.
I think Love in the Balance is a satisfying read and Im very pleased with the way the story ends. I recommend this book to those who savor historical romance.

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