Hearts Aglow

The first book in this Striking a Match Series [b:Embers of Love 7794853 Embers of Love (Striking a Match, #1) Tracie Peterson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435810806l/7794853.SY75.jpg 10760056] was a good Tracie Peterson read. It was a different narrative voice than what I am used to with her but I take that with it being in Texas as opposed to Montana, Pennsylvania or Alaska. However this second book in the series [b:Hearts Aglow 8125720 Hearts Aglow (Striking a Match, #2) Tracie Peterson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435464147l/8125720.SY75.jpg 12921385] is purely dreadful. I do not read Tracie Peterson's contemporary novels because every one that I have tried was pathetically depressing such as [b:A Slender Thread 360011 A Slender Thread Tracie Peterson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397600211l/360011.SY75.jpg 350127]. The last series that I read from her was a historical and most of the books were fine, but the last one was just bad in [b:Twilight's Serenade 6973766 Twilight's Serenade (Song of Alaska, #3) Tracie Peterson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454562478l/6973766.SX50.jpg 7213846]. Yet I am not certain, but I do believe this book may have been worse. First off, you definitely cannot read this book without the lead up of reading Embers of Love first. Starts off very fast paced and horribly sad. Depressed very much on the issues and problems of slavery as a topic in depth. I hope it gets “happier”. The reading in order is not a problem, but starting a book so deep and heavy is... By about page 63 I was having a hard time with this one. There is about 90% depressing material with about less than 10% romantic and happy. Around 100 pages in, I was not sure if I could finish it and said I am so bored and frustrated with this novel. Nothing is drawing me in and it is just sad and depressing. I do like the new character of the preacher's daughter but I am not sure if even she will convince me to finish this one. Honestly my last statement about this book is that if you enjoy racial hatred, mean spirited revenge, devastating natural disasters, domestic cruelty, outright depression and broken hearts then by all means read this book immediately. With all that said, I love most all of Tracie's older historical series and will not hesitate to continue to buy her books. There is bound to be a book here and there that I do not enjoy, but that doesn't make up for missing out on all the others that I love. Thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy for review through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2011/03/08/hearts-aglow-striking-a-match-2-by-tracie-peterson/