Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Her Guarded Heart by Sharlene MacLaren

March 05, 2022

Book: Her Guarded Heart

Author: Sharlene MacLaren

Genre: FICTION / Christian/Romance/Historical

Release date: February 1, 2022

At age twenty-one, Anna Hansen has had more than her share of hardship. Her mother died when she was eleven and her father just passed away under mysterious circumstances, leaving her to care for her ten-year-old brother, Billy Ray. She struggles to hang onto the family farm but it’s facing foreclosure and things are looking grim.

Next door, Jesse Fuller’s drive, work ethic, and skill ensure that his family’s farm is a growing success. His brothers think he should marry Anna to help out her and her kid brother…while also enabling the Fullers to expand their operation. But Jesse has never had romantic feelings for Anna and the idea doesn’t appeal to him.

In the meantime, Horace Blackthorn is hell-bent on acquiring the Hansen farm for reasons of his own. And he’ll do whatever it takes to get it—lie, cheat, steal…even murder.

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I am a fan of Sharlene MacLaren books and have read a few of them. The newest novel is Her Guarded Heart, which is Book 3 in Hearts of Honor Series. I have been enjoying this series, having read the first 2 books already. I was excited to read Book 3!

Anna Hansen is 21yrs old and she has had a rough life and now she is going through some super hard times. She has been left to be the sole guardian of her 10yr old brother after her Dad recently died under mysterious circumstances. They lost their mom when she was 11yrs old. She is also facing the fact that she may lose the Family Farm due to Foreclosure. Jesse Fuller is Anna's next door neighbor and also a Farmer. He has a GREAT work ethic and very knowledgeable about running a farm. Jesse's brother encourage him to marry Anna to help raise her brother and allow Anna to avoid foreclosure. The brothers are hopeful that it happens, but Jesse doesn't have feelings for Anna. Ohh, then there is Horace Blackthorn, who seems to be an evil person and wants to get the Hansen Farm for himself. Will Jesse and Anna be able to save the Farm? Does Jesse agree to marry Anna? Will Anna ever find out how her Dad died?

WOW, for a book that sounds like a Romance book from the synopsis, this book is that and soo much more. The Historical time period was well written and researched. I really love how the author makes the reader be engaged from Beginning to End. The characters were soo sweet and loving, except for Horace. I was not expecting all the twists and turns in the storyline and that is the reason I could not put this book down once I became engaged in the book. Jesse and his Family really show Christian LOVE and Support to Anna and her little brother during these trying times. Although this is Book 3 in the series, it reads well as a Stand Alone. I HIGHLY recommend reading the entire series as they are all good. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Romance Fiction. FANTASTIC BOOK!

Born and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating with an education degree in 1971, she taught second grade for two years, then accepted an invitation to travel internationally for a year with a singing ensemble. Afterward, she returned to her teaching job, then in 1975, she reunited with her childhood sweetheart, and they married that very December. They have raised two lovely daughters, both of whom are now happily married and enjoying their own families. Retired in 2003 after thirty-one years of teaching, Shar loves to read, sing, travel, and spend time with her family—in particular, her adorable grandchildren!

Shar has always enjoyed writing, and her high school classmates eagerly read and passed around her short stories. In the early 2000s, Shar felt God’s call upon her heart to take her writing pleasures a step further, so in 2006, she signed a contract with Whitaker House for her first faith-based novel, Through Every Storm, thereby launching her professional writing career. With almost two dozen published novels now gracing store shelves and being sold online, Shar gives God all the glory.

Shar’s novels have won numerous awards. Most recently, Their Daring Hearts was named a 2018 Top Pick by Romantic Times, and A Love to Behold was voted “Book of the Year” in 2019 by Interviews & Reviews. The two prior books in Shar’s Hearts of Honor series, centered on the Fuller brothers, include Her Rebel Heart and Her Steadfast Heart.

Shar has done numerous countrywide book signings and has participated in several interviews on television and radio. She loves to speak for community organizations, libraries, church groups, and women’s conferences. In her church, she is active in women’s ministries, regularly facilitating Bible studies and other events. Shar and her husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan.

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