Destined for You by Tracie Peterson {Book Review}

 **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are my own. 

In 1869, Gloriana Womack's family is much smaller since smallpox killed her mother and two of her siblings. She lives in a modest cottage in Duluth, Minnesota, with her father and young brother, and she has dedicated her life to holding her tiny, fractured family together--especially as her father is frequently gone on long fishing trips. Their livelihood may come from the waters of Lake Superior, but storms on the lake can be dangerous, even to those who know it well.

Luke Carson has come to Duluth to help shepherd the arrival of the railroad to the city's port, and he's eager to be reunited with his brother, Scott, who recently moved there with his pregnant wife. Competition for the railroad is fierce, with the neighboring city of Superior, Wisconsin, fighting for the tracks to come through their town instead. But the real danger lies in a resident of Duluth who is determined to have his revenge upon Luke.

When tragedy brings Gloriana and Luke together, they help each other through their grief and soon find their lives inextricably linked. If they survive the trials ahead, could it be possible they've been destined for each other all along?

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana. Learn more at www.traciepeterson.com.

The best historical fiction stories are those that truly transport you back to a different time. Destined for You does that well taking us back to Duluth, Minnesota in 1869. The story was clearly well researched (if you have an interest in railroad history, I think you'll especially appreciate this one) and I appreciated getting a glimpse at the hardships people faced in that time and place in history. The characters draw a reader in, and you will want to see their growth throughout the story. It offered a great blend of adventure, romance and a little suspense too. My favorite part of this story though was the beautiful messages of faith--- a reminder that even through hardships, God is there. There is a lot of pain and grief within these pages, but also a lot of hope too. 

If you enjoy historical romance, this is definitely worth checking out. It is the first book in the Ladies of the Lake series and I look forward to reading more.