This book was cute but complex. The theme of attempting to help prostitutes escape their circumstances was well written. I especially enjoyed the ministry that served the children. The romance was sweet.

Content: alcohol, prostitution, saloons, expletive, replacement expletives

A sweet book that follows David Kingsman, a young man, seeking his father's approval is sent to a small town to close down one of the businesses.
While there, his eye is caught by a daring and extraordinary woman Miss Evelyn Wisely. First spotted by David in the Red Light District of their town, Evelyn is sold out to the cause of heloing the woman and Children escape from the lives many have been forced into one way or the other.
Evelyn's current focus is the Children who are born into the life that she wishes to help them out of.
Working in an orphanage with her parents set up by her, Best Friend and her Best Friends Husband, she does what she can. But is hoping to do more to help the women.
David is captivated by her... by her work aiming to help those in the district despite what others in the town think of them and mostly by her courage, confidence and conviction.
I loved the heart Evelyn had for the people in the red light district, her strength and her courage were very admirable.
David was equally admirable, especially when he stood up to his father in light of what was right.
I especially loved the love between them that grew over the course of the story and withstood the secrets that were kept that may otherwise have broken them apart.
Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book two in the Teaville Moral Society, A Love So True, by Melissa Jagears is a story readers will enjoy from page one. It is about a woman that works with the orphans of the red light district in hopes of getting them to leave that life and strive to make a better life for themselves. This woman also gets tangled up in a sweet romance with a man that is interested in helping her with her work. This story shows the tragedy, struggle, and hope of children in the red light district. Readers of Jagears’ previous stories will not want to miss this one.

Series: Teaville Moral Society
Genre: historical, romance, Christian
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication date: May 2, 2017
Number of pages: 368

Evelyn Wisely, the heroine of A Love so True has you on her side from the beginning. Of course you first meet her through the eyes of the hero, David Kingsley. David is on a mission to secretly get his father's business up to speed and then sell it, unbeknownst to his employees; however David has dreams and ideas of his own, and the more he becomes involved the more he wants to make it work and prove a point to his father.


In the meantime, David is intrigued with Evelyn and continues to follow her and insert himself into her Red Light District projects with the children. Over time, even over Evelyn's strong objections to David's overtures, both find themselves falling in love with each other; but Evelyn has a really big secret--one that could keep them apart for good.


David's Dad shows up and everything climaxes when Evelyn reveals to David her secret. David heads back home and Evelyn finds that her problem has resolved itself but is it too late.


Melissa Jagears does a great job with a roller coaster romance and also with dealing with complicated social issues. Her Teaville Society series introduces you to many characters with much depth. I recommend it for your reader shelf. I received this from Netgalley and from Bethany House Blogger Reviews for my honest review.

If David Kingsman had any chance of making his father proud, this next decision would be it.
David Kingsman is in Teaville, Kansas, to sell the A. K. Glass factory on behalf of his father. But he soon decides the business has more potential than his father realises, and that it would be better for them to build the business up before selling. Meeting Evelyn Wisely may or may not have anything to do with his desire to stay longer in Teaville …

Evelyn Wisely is not interested in men. Instead, she’s dedicated her life to working with her parents in the town orphanage, and to working with the children of the red light district. She’d like to reach out to their mothers as well, to give them a way to escape, but she can’t do that alone. She needs the help of local businessmen. Men like Mr Kingsman.

A Love So True is the third book in the Teaville Moral Society series, following Engaging the Competition (a novella, which I haven't read), and A Heart Most Certain (a novel, which I have read and reviewed). However, A Love So True can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel. Even if you have read A Heart Most Certain, you’ll find a lot has changed in Teaville, as A Love So True is set three years later.

I thought A Heart Most Certain was excellent, and A Love So True is just as good. It’s historical romance, but historical romance with a difference. It’s not the rosy version of history painted by many Christian fiction authors. This version has all too many fallible characters, especially those stuck in the red light district. But it’s also an illustration of Christianity, of the need for Christians to shine God’s light into those dark places. As Evelyn comments, many people are only a couple of bad choices away from such a fate.

Recommended for those who like historical romance, and for those who like their fiction to have an edge of reality while still reflecting and reinforcing the Bible’s teaching.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

After reading the first book in this series and absolutely loving it I couldn't wait for the next book to come out.

Melissa has a unique way of writing that weaves in ministry and serving. I love it. You might think that would be boring and I might think the same thing with just hearing it but reading her books are anything but boring.

She piles layer upon layer of plot adding new things when I think nothing new can be added and putting in a twist when I never even saw a bend coming.

Evelyn has a poor self-image, I think that is something most women can relate to, yet she is very strong and stubborn. She knows what she wants...kind of :) She also has a secret and I was dying to know what it could possibly be. She seemed to innocent.

David is a wonderful hero who sees Evelyn's wonderful qualities and wants to be more like her when it comes to his future and his father.

You can read this as a stand-alone but I highly recommend this series. I could say much more but then this review would end up being way too long.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

A love so true is true, to it's name, about a love so true even Evelyn truly loves from the bottom of her heart like the rest of her family. She works with the home for the ex-prostitutes and the orphans. With that big heart she hides a large deep dark secret, a secret as to why she will not ever get married and that is until she meets David Kingsman, a businessman - GOD has different plans for her other than what she wants - so will her stubborn will win out? will she never ever be married or will sweet David win her over and open her and her heart up? I know you will be shocked when you find out why she wants nothing to do with men, it is worth the whole book just to find out. When GOD has a will HE has a way and that is what this book is about.

This book was so good!!
I wish I hadn't started reading it during the start of the week but rather a weekend so I could have had all day to read it!

Evelyn Wisely is sweet and dedicated. She wholeheartedly takes care of an orphanage alongside her parents. The author portrayed quite honestly what a social work looks like - as honorable as it is, there are many challenges and heartbreaking story; it can be both physically and emotionally difficult but as you get to know the people as individuals, how can you not be thankful you can pour some hope onto their lives?

Evelyn acts very happy that she can be working with children since she believes she will never be able to have one of her own. You see, due to a mistake she did many years ago, Evelyn has kept herself distant and aloof towards any gentleman that shows the least bit of interest in her.

But in comes Davis Kingsman to turn her world upside down. David is the epitome of a kind man, though he does have faults of his own. From the moment he first saw Evelyn, he's curious to find out more about this paradox of a woman - how can someone that at the same time acts standoffish also have such a selfless and serving heart? One not worried about her reputation when she goes to the poorest part of the city to serve prostitutes and their children.

At first, Evelyn treats the nosy stranger as she does any man - with a cold attitude and keeping him at arms length. But when a predicament causes the two of them to spend sometime in the company of one another, she finds out his true heart, and becomes aware of how much he's able to pull at her heart. However, she has a past baggage that doesn't allow her to give a thought to romance.

To be honest, I thought Evelyn's troublesome situation would be dealt quiet straightforward - at some point she'd be pushed to tell the truth to David and he'll open her eyes about the forgiveness and grace found in Christ, showing her that he also doesn't hold anything against her and sees her as pure and whole. All of these elements where dealt with, but not in the way I expected. Once I finally found out about Evelyn's story my heart was torn in a bazillion pieces. It was impossible to not have tears in my eyes - for the hope that was impossible to hold on to, for the lost dreams, for the shame she carried by herself for so long.

I understood Evelyn better. Why she was so driven to help those who had been shamed by circumstances, who don't have a voice or someone to fight for them, who don''t see a way to live a proper life. However, as much as she fought for other people, she had given up on herself. When Evelyn finally opened up, the people around her were able to show her grace and true love. To help her overcome her shame and regrets. And to help her accomplish her dreams.

What a heart-warming and hope lifting story.

I am really enjoyed Melissa Jagears’s latest series of books, The Teaville Moral Society. And her latest book is no exception to the line of well-written books.
While I am not sure that A Love So True is one of my favorite books by Jagears, it was still a good book. The story continues to tell the tale of individuals who are dedicated to helping women get out of the red-light district. And in some ways, this one stands out. What I really loved about this particular book was the heroine. She had a secret and no one but her knows what it is (not even the reader!). And to be honest, I couldn’t help but try to guess at it while I was reading. Turns out, it’s one of those secrets that I could never guess but it explained everything perfectly. And I loved that.
The one thing that held me back from giving this book 5 stars, however, was that I felt like the start of it was slow and it took me awhile to get acquainted with the characters. Perhaps if I had started this book right after the previous one they may have helped but it is still something that hindered my overall enjoyment of the book.
But, with all of that, I’d still recommend this book. And I would add that it is probably worth reading the books in order. This is the second book of the series, but there is also a novella that goes along with it as well.

The Teaville Moral Society is at it again. The purpose of the ladies' group is to help wherever needed, and Evelyn wants to help the soiled doves more than anything. Melissa Jagears has brought us to another fascinating time with the Moral Society. Evelyn meets David quite by accident, but he keeps looking for ways to bump into her and see her, while she shies away from him, not wanting to be involved with a man.

A Love So True is one of those books that not only entertain, but inspire. After I finished the book, I wanted to look around to see what I could do for others. Right now, my husband and I are trying to raise money for a Serious Fun Network Camp, called Camp Korey. Even so, this doesn't seem like enough to do. I've got to think this thing through.

But back to Evelyn and David...Evelyn's parents are helping her run an orphanage, populated mostly by children of the soiled doves Evelyn so wants to help. David is in Teaville at the behest of his father to sell a glassworks that he won in a poker game. David's father has a wife picked out for David and his feelings for Evelyn have no place in his father's plans.

This is definitely a five star book, meant to be savored as you read it, two thumbs up, and a rescued soiled dove.

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.

A Love so True by Melissa Jagears is a welcome addition to the Teaville Moral Society collection. In Southeast Kansas, circa 1908, a young man named David Kingsman arrived at A.K. Glass factory by his father. Always ready to turn a profit, David's father wanted him to get that factory ready to sell. Instead, David fired two "key" employees who Loafed on the job and settled in to make necessary changes to the factory. Hoping to impress a difficult to please father, David sees potential in the business that may prove it worthwhile for the family business to invest in this factory and the city.

Evelyn Wisely is a young woman dedicated to the orphans in Teaville. Children of the local soiled doves lived in the orphanage started by Lydia and Nicholas Lowe. Housed in a mansion Nicholas built, the children thrive under Evelyn's care with the help of her parents, .....not content to house only these orphans, she visits other children on Saturdays to give them a much needed warm lunch to eat with a meaningful bible story. She was determined to feed their souls along with their bodies. It never seemed enough, however, to serve these children. She wanted to serve their mothers by helping them improve their lives by leaving the dreaded profession of prostitution.

It takes one person to convince another to make a change in society. Caring for the unloved and getting others to see them as God's creation is no small feat. The perseverance and dedication to bring these unloved women and children out of such a deplorable lifestyle was an amazing fight that I don't know I possess. While this is fiction, the implications of the impact on those who did fight to make changes for the desperate women who were plunged low to a life of prostitution and alcohol were phenomenal. The children who were left in the wake of that lifestyle were left to fend for themselves. This is a difficult topic and Melissa Jagears engaged this reader's awareness in the midst of a wonderful novel.

Evelyn and David develop a high regard for one another as the book tackles obstacles they must each overcome in order to be free to fall in love. There is so much more inside the pages of this book than a simple love story. I recommend this book with warmth for your summer reading pleasure.

I have read serveral Melissa Jagears novels and I have to say this was not my favorite. Perhaps it was the subject matter. This one deals a lot about prostitution and trying to help woman caught in brothels and the resulting children of this life. While it is a noble calling It wasn't subject matter I found particularly compelling. I think Evelyn's mission is very principled but I just couldn't see how David was not turned off after her repeated rebuffs. The romance was rather forced and David's support of her cause despite her repeated snubs was unlikely. This was a difficult book to plod through. I admit, I skimed whole chapters because I just wasn't drawn to the characters or the subject.
I felt since I had agreed to read and review the book I should try to get through it. While it is a noble topic I felt like it was rather heavy and not a great setting and circumstance to throw in a romance. It really didn't work for me.

I enjoyed this book. I loved that Evelyn worked in an orphanage as that has been something that interests me. I wasn't sure how to feel about Evelyn's secret but liked how she acted because of it and how she kept her integrity during the time before she realized how it ended. I also liked how David still loved her in spite of Evelyn's secret. I enjoyed seeing characters from previous books in this series. This book spent some time in the red light district but I would still consider it a light historical romance that dealt with a few darker issues without diving too deep into them.

I appreciated the focus of this book on the importance of not only helping orphans, but also their mothers escape lives of prostitution and poverty. Evelyn is single-minded in her mission to provide safety and security for those who will reach out and accept support, even sacrificing her reputation and hopes for a future family. For much of the book I didn't understand her hang-ups about men and her fear of romance, but eventually the secret is revealed. David admires her in spite of her brusque attitude toward him, and his cheerfulness and sincerity build the foundation of their developing friendship. Lydia and Nicholas from the previous book are close friends of Evelyn's and help her when they can, despite not understanding her reasons for shunning men. They fully appreciate her help running their orphanage and her goal of starting a women's home. Various mishaps happen throughout the story that give David and Evelyn opportunities to grow closer together, and through the ultimate test they face, they learn to trust in God's timing and plans, even when it's difficult.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32510785-a-love-so-true" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Love So True (Teaville Moral Society #2)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476312214m/32510785.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32510785-a-love-so-true">A Love So True</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6929011.Melissa_Jagears">Melissa Jagears</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1931522457">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
It's 1908 and the setting is in Southeast Kansas. David Kingsman just wants to make his father proud. It's all he's ever wanted in life...to have his father say, "Well done, son!" at the end of a business deal. The glass factory is in need of something major...in the forms of a shut down and sale to the highest bidder. David struggles with this as he is in Teaville to assess the business in his father's portfolio. Is shutting down really the best answer? <br /><br />Evelyn Wisely is a young, single woman with a servant's heart. She braves the red-light district of Teaville to rescue any woman who expresses an interest in leaving a soiled past for a much cleaner one. Evelyn also has a huge heart for the children in the orphanage that her family manages. Evelyn has no regard for herself or her future...and marriage is definitely not an option. <br /><br />David is quite smitten when he first lays eyes on Evelyn but is very intrigued by her work in the red-light district of town. Whatever is a lady of her station doing in such desolate and dark areas? David can't seem to get Evelyn out his mind despite the denials of his advances. Will he be able to wait this journey out to win her heart? <br /><br />This is the second book in the Teaville series. I did not realize this, nor was I affected by that news. I would like to go back and read the first book now, knowing that this is a series. If I were to choose a favorite character in this book, hands down it would be David. I admire his persistence, his patience, and the way in which he turned his circumstances into something much more positive. Reflecting back, I didn't realize just how giving he was, as the book really focused on the amount of giving that Evelyn exuded. David is the strongest developed character in this book and I found myself falling under his charm a time or two. <br /><br />There is a portion of the book where the characters become very open about their faith and how they are going to deal with the situation at hand. There are tender moments between couples at various stages of relationships in this book. However, I would feel comfortable with my teenager reading this book. <br /><br />I did have a difficult time getting into this book but I feel it was more of a matter of somethings I was going through personally when I first started this book. It did not pick up for me as quickly as I would have liked but the ending did seem to come quickly. The longer I read this, the more I did enjoy the story. Many other reviewers have had a different experience (Loving it all the way through) so again, I feel it might have been where I was in life when I started reading this book. <br /><br />Many thanks to Bethany House Publishers and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6929011.Melissa_Jagears" title="Melissa Jagears" rel="nofollow">Melissa Jagears</a> for providing a complimentary copy for me to review through Netgalley.com. What you have read here are my honest thoughts on this book.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/736648-julie">View all my reviews</a>

"A Love So True" is a Christian romance set in 1908 in Kansas. It's the second book in a series, and you can understand this book without reading the previous one. This book spoiled some of what happened in the previous story, though not in a major way. While I enjoyed this story, I felt like the first book had a stronger story line.

Evelyn wanted to start a women's home in addition to running the orphanage, but she needed to get local support before Nicholas would finance it. I wondered how she thought she had the time to run the home since she was needed full time at the orphanage. Then again, this challenge seemed to exist more as a reason for Evelyn and David to spend time together than as the point of the story.

They were attracted to each other, but Evelyn pushed David away due to a shameful secret in her past. When writers spend most of the book only hinting at a character's motivating secret, it almost always turns out to be something that doesn't really stand in the way. And, yes, it's basically just her pride standing in the way of being free to love David. There were some issues that could have caused emotional conflict in their relationship (like where they would live), but these were resolved very easily.

The Christian element was Evelyn admitting her past rebellious act and accepting forgiveness and love. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.

This is book two (three if you count the novella, Engaging the Competition) of the Teaville Moral Society. Book one is A Heart Most Certain. I loved reconnecting with some characters from past books, however this is a stand alone novel as well. I do look forward to more in this series.

Evelyn Wisely is a kind loving woman with secrets that keep her pushing men away. When David Kingsman, a handsome stranger, pushes through her defenses can he be a friend and only a friend?

I enjoyed the mystery behind Evelyn, and David learning to stand on his own. Their common goal, even if David does not realize it was his goal, leads them on an exciting journey to finding joy and happiness even when all seams lost.

Melissa Jagears is a great christian romance writer, I always look forward to her new books.

I enjoyed reading this story. I wish I would have known about her past sooner though. I spent much of the book wondering what she had done that she felt so ashamed of. To find out what it was finally, was anticlimactic. I still enjoyed the characters and the plot.

Kansas - 1908

David Kingsman works for A. K. Glass and is the owner’s son. Sent by his father to the factory to decide if it should be sold, David is reviewing the books and wondering if he needs to fire some of the employees. His father is a demanding man who insists that David do whatever he says. His father is pushing him decide on selling the factory and get back home but David is reluctant to leave.

Evelyn Wisely is part of the Teaville Ladies Moral Society which helps the local orphanage. The ladies work hard to provide food for the children of the prostitutes. Evelyn’s dream is to have a home to house these poor women. Currently, Nicholas and Lydia Lowe have hired some prostitutes who want a better life for themselves. They have given them jobs in their home and it has worked well. Of course, there are those who think it is a terrible idea.

Evelyn and David meet when he smells the food that the ladies have prepared for the children to eat in a picnic atmosphere outside. He is interested in what the ladies are doing and he is also interested in Evelyn herself.

When an outbreak of smallpox strikes one of the young boys Evelyn is concerned about, she and David enlist the help of Mr. Hargrave, an elderly widower, who agrees to let them use a room in his large home to care for the boy until he is well. Evelyn had smallpox as a child and David has been inoculated.

While David and Evelyn are attracted to one another, Evelyn is reluctant to leave her life’s work helping others. She is also hiding a secret that she is very reluctant to share. Is there hope for them to be together?

This was a good book but I would suggest reading the first book in the series “A Heart Most Certain” to help get a better understanding of the storyline.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.