The Chapel Car Bride

February 27, 2017
This book is inspired by 19th-century itinerant preachers and chapel cars, specially built houses of worship in train cars used to spread the Gospel throughout sparsely populated parts of the U.S. Hope Irvine, a preacher’s daughter, is always thrilled to join her father on his adventures as a chapel car preacher and can’t wait to set off on his new assignment to Finch, W.Va. Although she and her father want to help, the coal mining community is reluctant to accept them. Luke Hughes, a local miner, finds his faith refreshed with the arrival of Hope and her father. Luke offers to help them navigate Finch’s closed culture, but quickly they discover the town’s many challenges come from both inside and out. The story becomes murky, however. The book is categorized as a romance, but scenes of authentic romance between Luke and Hope are few. Also disappointing is the prominence of a third character, from whose point of view Miller frequently writes scenes,who lacks a character arc and abruptly exits with little resolution. Miller’s (The Artisan’s Wife) fans will enjoy this romp following the traveling chapels of yesteryear. Agent: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such