Murmur in the Mudcaves by Kathleen Denly ~ Book Review

 

About the Book 

Book: Murmur in the Mudcaves

Author: Kathleen Denly

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Series: Chaparral Hearts, Book 4

Publisher: Wild Heart Books

Release Date: May 16, 2023

Gideon Swift, a visually impaired Civil War Veteran, responds to an ad for a ranch cook in the Southern California desert mountains. He wants nothing more than to forget his past and stay in the kitchen where he can do no harm. But when he arrives to find his employer murdered, the ranch turned to ashes, and three young women struggling to survive in the unforgiving Borrego Desert, he must decide whether his presence protects them or places them in greater danger.

Bridget “Biddie” Davidson finally receives word from her older sister who disappeared with their brother and pa eighteen years prior, but the news is not good. Determined to help her family, Biddie sets out for a remote desert ranch with her adopted father and best friend. Nothing she finds there is as she expected, including the man who came to cook for the shambles of a ranch.

When tragedy strikes, the danger threatens not only her plans to help her sister, but her own dreams for the future—with the man who’s stolen her heart.

My Thoughts 

Murmur in the Mud Caves is Book 4 of the Chaparral Hearts series and while it's great to read the other books in the series this one could be read as a stand alone as the characters from other books don't all make an appearance and those that do it is very minimal. This story is definitely all about Biddie. 

Once again Kathleen has developed a story that is rich in California history. I had no clue about mud caves and her descriptions really brought it to reality for me as I could picture them in my mind. Not sure I would ever want to be in them after reading this book though! LOL!!

In this story we follow Biddie as she reconnects with her siblings that she hasn't seen since she was younger. Her sister writes a letter to her requesting monetary help but instead she treks it out to where she is. While doing this trouble arises during the trip and while with her sister. Lucky for us Gideon appears in the scene. He makes the perfect hero in this story but he is definitely not your typical one. He battles with some ailments that have him wondering if he is truly good enough to have a future with Biddie. 

The plot of the story is great. It is full of adventure and some mystery. My favorite part of Kathleen's books though is how she weaves faith throughout them. In this one the main point of us being created uniquely by God is what stayed with me. These characters were all different but their one thing that connected them was that God had created them different for purpose and I really enjoyed seeing their growth throughout the story. 

Overall I really enjoyed this story and if you enjoy Christian Historical fiction then you will more than likely enjoy this one as well.

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

About the Author

Kathleen Denly writes historical romance to entertain, encourage, and inspire readers toward a better understanding of our amazing God and how He sees us. She enjoys finding the lesser-known pockets of history and bringing them to life through the joys and struggles of her characters.

Sunny California, a favorite setting in her stories, is also her home. She lives there with her loving husband, four young children, two dogs, and ten cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories.

When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, she spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

Kathleen is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the award-winning author of the Chaparral Hearts series.

Always happy to hear from her readers, you can direct message or email Kathleen and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.