Book Review: Ellie's Haven by Sharlene McLaren

Book Description

Ellie Booth is on the run from her bootlegging stepfather whom she’d witnessed murder a man in their home state of Kentucky. Landing in Wabash, Indiana, she seeks a cover identity and hastily marries Gage Cooper, a widower with four children. Ellie quickly falls in love with the Cooper kids, and, not long after, with their father. But tensions mount when Ellie’s stepfather picks up her trail and Gage discovers his new bride hasn’t been entirely honest with him. Filled with colorful historic detail, emotional drama, and lighthearted humor, Ellie’s Haven is the action-packed follow up to Livvie’s Song in MacLaren’s River of Hope Series, set in 1920’s Wabash, Indiana. 


My Review:
I read this book as part of First Wildcard Tours. This is the second in the River of Hope Series but could be read alone. In the book we see Ellie leaving her step-father after he murders someone in there home and going to Wabash Indiana. Here is ends up meeting Gage who is the father of 4 children who need a mother. She marries Gage in a marriage of convenience. Ellie is a country hillbilly who hasn't been outside her area in all her life. Seeing her new discoveries from her eyes is interesting, things many take for granted. Gage is an interesting man who is struggling as a single dad but at times can't see the forest for the trees. We also have an investigation by the murdered mans employer which has some interesting things happen. When the stepfather finds where Ellie is, he goes to get her to make sure she doesn't talk. The story flows well and made me want to keep reading to see what would happen next. The books shoes that when it comes to important matters humans are often stronger than we may think we will be. The book also teaches not to judge people by there appearance. 
Great book.