Try it—you might like it March 24, 2008

Sharlene MacLaren releases Courting Emma, the third and final installment in her Christian Historical Little Hickman Creek Series. 

Emma Browning is the roughest, toughest woman in Kentucky’s Little Hickman Creek. As owner of Emma’s Boardinghouse, she has the daily task of dealing with unruly tenants. When a childhood acquaintance, Jonathan Atkins, assumes the post as Little Hickman’s new pastor, Emma strives to maintain her unwavering composure. Instead, his selfless spirit, heart of compassion, and strong faith work to soften her heart. 

I volunteered to be an influencer for Courting Emma because I wanted to read a genre I usually don’t read. Actually I don’t anything historical—movies, plays, books. Just the mention of a movie set in 1900 or before makes me scowl and remark “I don’t like period pieces”. Needless to say, I started the book expecting to be bored with the setting, characters, and language. WRONG! Emma Browning, Ezra Browning, Jon Atkins, and the potpourri of characters from Little Hickman, Kentucky won me over. I read while I waited for appointments, at night before bed, and in the mornings before work. I can’t say Sharlene’s book has completely converted me, but it has encouraged me to this genre another try.  

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Each book in MacLaren’s series depicts life in the late 1800s in the town of Little Hickman, Kentucky; an earthy, unsophisticated farming community nestled amongst Kentucky’s rich green grasses and mossy hillsides.  Other titles in the series include Loving Liza Jane (April 2007) and Sarah, My Beloved (October 2007).  

 

Born and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University.  Upon graduating with an education degree way back in 1971, she traveled internationally for a year with a small singing ensemble, then came home and married one of her childhood friends. Recently retired after teaching elementary school for 31 years, ‘Shar’ enjoys reading, writing, singing in the church choir and worship teams, traveling, and spending time with her family.