💍💒 "Dreaming of Tomorrow" (Tomorrow Series Book #3) (2020) 💒💍 - Book Tour & Review #DTPrism
Love leads them to a lifetime of commitment where the dreams they have held onto for so long start to come true.
Popular and eligible, Logan De Witt must convince the women in town that he is engaged to be married. A quiet, simple ceremony is what he has in mind for his wedding day, but when the date and time of his bride's arrival is published in the newspaper, the whole town joins in the celebration proving to Logan and his new wife their sincere friendship and support. Added to the excitement of Logan's marriage is the question of what the congregation should do with the unexpected donation of an orchard.
Karen Millerson is counting the days until her long-distance engagement comes to an end and she may travel to Oswell City to marry Logan. More than anything, she wants to share in his life as a help and support, but keeping a house and finding her place in the community requires much more work than she ever expected.
Learn, laugh, and love with Karen and Logan as they start a new marriage and work together ministering to the citizens of their small town.
About the Author
Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor's degree in Religion with a Christian Ministry emphasis, and in Music. Michelle is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2015. Michelle writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle's stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God's love through the window of a good story.
Her first book, Hope for Tomorrow, released in 2018. The sequel, Promise for Tomorrow, released November 2019. The third book in the series, Dreaming of Tomorrow, releases November 2020.
Tour Giveaway
Open internationally
Thank you in advance to the author, Michelle de Bruin, for providing a complimentary review copy through Prism Book Tours. A positive review was not required, all thoughts and words are my own.
This is not my first time reading the author’s work. Previously, I was a reviewer for the second book in this series – “Promise for Tomorrow” (PFT) – the earlier part of this year (2/21/2020). Although I recently purchased the first book “Hope for Tomorrow” (HFT), I have yet to read it.
As stated, these books are part of a series and it would benefit the reader to read the first book “Hope for Tomorrow” all the way through to this one which is the conclusion of the series – or it certainly seems like it. It picks up right after book #2. Unlike that one, this didn’t have the same “standalone” read type feel and I was certainly glad I had read #2 before this one.
These are clean, Christian/faith themed reads, and the themes are very integral to the story as well as the lives of the main characters Logan and Karen told in third person from each one’s POV.
The first two books have covers that seem to go with the time the books are set in (1910’s); this cover seems a bit too modern for me.
The characters, Logan and Karen, were introduced in the first book (HFT). There are some returning favorites (mainly Logan and Karen’s family) and some new people in this book. One of the new characters I grew to love and then tragedy struck. I was almost left in tears at the sobering reality of childbirth mortalities back over 110 years ago.
Some of the characters from PFT do not return and I was eagerly awaiting a conclusion to the school fire and what was to become of the school in Silver Grove, as well as a theft and the fallout from that. While there was someone in jail, I wanted to see how the families were fairing. None of the non-family characters from HFT or PFT return nor are they mentioned. There is more focus on Karen’s family this time though.
The blurb on the back of this book states something about Logan being “popular and eligible” those this isn’t the case. Logan was technically engaged to Karen by the end of HFT, only he didn’t have a ring nor did he announce it. HFT continued on from there. Anyone who has read the entire series is sure to pick up on that.
This begins with him not only trying to adjust to new glasses. Those who’ve worn glasses most of their lives (uh-huh … me, over 30+ years) can relate to this. Even more so with a new prescription if it’s been a few years, or not.
In addition, Logan is trying to fend off Flora Mae’s (Florence) advances and trying to convince her he is engaged. Yet she ropes him into a pageant. This was a character I wasn’t familiar with as I didn’t recall her in PFT. I will have to read HFT to see if she appears there. But, it is apparent she and Logan seem to have a history.
Logan had planned a more formal statement to his congregation regarding the engagement, but had yet to do it.
Most of this story goes through what was already established in PFT – Logan is back in Oswell City to minister, Karen is in Chicago teaching to earn money for their new life while getting everything ready for their wedding in January.
Logan’s church gets an orchard as a donation, and he meets up with Nellie Ackerman the resident of the house. While cranky, she has a lot to tell about love. It is in remembering that she heals and Logan helps her by listening to her.
Logan eventually travels to Chicago to see Karen and her family, but runs afoul of her Uncle Henry who doesn’t like preachers because of Karen’s father. He even goes so far to give Karen “regrets” during a dinner and insists Logan will mess up. And when something goes missing – Logan is to blame.
Logan heads home and continues his work, along with what to do with the orchard, though it seems the plans are already there when immigrant families show up. The orchard has a chance to become a transitional housing along with being profitable.
It isn’t until the Millerson family heads to Oswell City that Henry sees Logan’s true character during a crisis and comes around, even giving his blessing. Henry admits that he later found what he accused Logan of stealing – it was misplaced.
This, like PFT, has some drama that while minor – has series consequences for those involved. When the “crime” has been solved, this story goes back to focus on the wedding and an upcoming pregnancy.
There is a tragic moment in this that is absolutely gut-wrenching and tears at your heart. I would’ve liked to have seen how the family was doing at the end of the book.
The author crafts this story in short chapters which definitely made it easy to read and keep up with the story without losing interest. There were some areas that lagged and others that sped up a bit. De Bruin’s writing is definitely descriptive and vivid which draws the reader so far into the story they almost feel like they’re there with the characters.
There was one issue where I felt Karen overreacted to a decision Logan made without her. How he dealt with it was loving and sweet. It served as a reminder that communication is another element of a good marriage (or relationship).
Overall, I really enjoyed this beautiful, poignant, endearing saga of love; that added a devastating, and heart-breaking reality of immeasurable loss.
Fans of the author, genre, and those who’ve read the two previous novels are sure to enjoy this story.RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
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