Bandit’s Hope

by Marcia Gruver

About the author:
Marcia's deep south-central roots lend a Southern-comfortable style and a touch of humor to her writing. She tends to weigh in occasionally on eternally significant issues, and her true passion is Christian fiction.

Marcia uses writing to share her faith in Jesus Christ. She says:

"Writing is a blessed vocation, even without the unction to write for God. When you experience the sensation of the Holy Spirit guiding the pen, it becomes a high calling. Writing is this introvert's God-given way to share the Good News."

Check out her blog:

Book Trailer  


The Blurb:
Reddick “Tiller” McRae is on the run again. . . this time from the ruthless band of thieves he’s been a part of since leaving his North Carolina home years ago. Searching for the fulfillment and peace his outlaw life denied him, Tiller winds up on the doorstep of Bell’s Inn where the sweet-faced proprietress, Mariah Bell, captures his interest.

For Mariah, handsome, take-charge Tiller McRae is the last thing she needs. After the secret deat of her father, Mariah is out rto find and we3ak and spineless husband to hide behind while she carries on as the new owner of Bell’s Inn. Tiller just won’t do. . . but as he stays on as a boarder, Tiller begins to take up residence in Mariah’s heart, too.

Will the consequences of deception make a future together impossible?

What Others Say:
By Diana Flower. This review is from: Bandit's Hope (Backwoods Brides) (Paperback)

Marcia Gruver has crafted another masterpiece of a book in Bandit's Hope; a tale of love, forgiveness, greed, and deceit, in 19th century Mississippi. Mariah Bell is a beautiful half Choctaw woman, and owner and proprietess of Bell's Inn, a place that she has promised her deceased mother never to give up. In keeping that promise, Mariah becomes a harborer of a very dark secret, that if revealed, threatens her very relationship with those she loves. Tiller McRae lands on the doorstep of Bell's Inn in need of shelter for a few days, and Mariah hires him as a handyman to perform long overdue repairs on the inn.

Tiller, a product of an unjust childhood, ran away from home ten years ago with his friend, Nathan, and ends up in more trouble than he can handle; a life of an outlaw and a swindler, but a life that he is tired of and willing to give up for the beautiful Mariah. But if she finds out of his secret past will she have him?...especially when two very handsome braves and a childhood friend are all vying for Mariah's hand as well? And when a severely injured Otis Gooch is brought to the inn to be nursed back to health, what secret does he hold, that terrifies Tiller to the core, should the elderly man ever regain his memory and reveal it? And who steals Mariah and why, and will the men reach her before it's too late?

I absolutely loved this tale, with its wonderful characters, twists and turns, and pageturning excitement! Marcia Gruver is a master storyteller, who laces her novels with rich Southern humor (I loved Otis Gooch!) to offset the dark times her characters face. With a strong spiritual thread of love and forgiveness throughout, this book is a must read! Although Raider's Heart is the first book in the Backwoods Brides Series, Ms. Gruver does a good job of recapping so that it may be read as a stand alone, although I highly recommend both! Nicely done!

My Take:
I enjoyed Raiders Heart and was delighted to be reunited with some of the characters of that book in Bandit’s Hope. I didn’t like Tiller in the opening pages. But as learned and loved and grew I learned to appreciate him. I loved Otis Gooch and how he helped Tiller learn to accept Christ’s forgiveness. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  An enjoyable read.

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Book Contest: 
Barbour Publishing sent me a reviewers copy of Bandit’s Hope and I'm offering to pass it on to one blessed reader this week.

Book Contest weeks are from Saturday, when the review is posted through Friday. I attempt to post a new book review each week which may or may not have a contest connected with it. See the Book contest information on the side bar.

Leave a comment on any of my blog my posts this week along with information how to get hold of you if you are the winner. Posts on facebook do not count. We only check the messages on the blog to pick a winner.

We will send one special person a copy of Bandit’s Hope.

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