Ashes on the Moor

How to break into a new-ish-to-me genre, Christian romance? Venn diagram book bloggers' recommendations and my library's catalogue.
DNF at 22%.
I liked some of the ideas: the autistic son of the H who corresponded to the h's experience with her autistic brother–that's a quite interesting idea to me. HOWEVER I couldn't get past some big flaws. The villains in the piece were 2D with no motivation. But so were the MCs! The daily lived life of a village in that time and place was entirely missing from the experience, as was the daily lived details of heat, water, chores, light, toilets, cleaning–basically, any practicality of life–in that time/place DESPITE it being a plot point. Clearly this author has never hauled water, heated it over a stove, slept in the cold, been dehydrated/hungry for a day, lit the house with an oil lamp or candle, etc. I. just. can't.
Anyone got any good recommendations in this genre?

I really loved the atmospheric writing in this story. It tapped into much of the bleak mood associated with moors and life near them that's present in many classics, and that brought the late-Victorian feel of the story to life very effectively. Added to that, the heroine has just lost her family and everything she has ever known, getting dumped in a small country school to sink or swim as a gravely unqualified teacher.

I loved her pluck as she realizes she can't give up or give in, that she has to fight to gain a future. And before long she bonds with the local children, and she's ready to start fighting for them too.

I loved the banter between her and her neighbor, who's so clearly ready to take her down a notch or two but then ready also to help her learn how to survive.

The layers in the story kept me flipping pages and it was hard to put it aside to do anything else.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.