THE MEASURE OF A LADY

Author: Deeanne Gist ISBN: 0764200739 6/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: BETHANY HOUSE
Time Period: mid 1800's (Gold Rush Era)

Rachel van Buren arrives in Gold Rush San Francisco with two wishes: to protect her younger siblings and to return east as soon as possible. Both goals prove more difficult than she could imagine as her brother and sister are lured by the city's dangerous freedom and a missionary-turned-gambler stakes a claim on her heart. Rachel won't give up without a fight though, and soon all will learn an eloquent but humorous lesson about what truly makes a lady. Speak Politely. Even when you're the only respectable woman around, protesting the decadence of a city lost to gold fever. Dress Modestly. Wear your sunbonnet at all times. Ensure nobody sees your work boots muddied by the San Francisco streets. Remain Devoted to Family. Protect your siblings from the lures of the city, even against their wishes. Stand Above Reproach. Most difficult when a wonderful man turns out to be a saloon owner. Rise Above Temptation. No, not even just a little kiss... When these rules become increasingly difficult to uphold, can Rachel Van Buren remain a beacon of virtue in a city of vice?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Rachel Van Buren is a woman with two younger siblings to provide for, in a town where the only opportunities most women can find are marriage and pleasure. Determined to set a good and morale example for her siblings, she finds a means of honest employment. Her work brings the handsome character of Johnnie into her life, and has her questioning her morale strength.

If you're looking for a book full of romance without descriptions of everything "between the sheets", then this one is definitely a winner. Rachel continually struggles with the morale dilemmas she faces, not only in her personal life, but also in the lives of those closest to her. Does she make mistakes? Of course, she makes mistakes, but not the ones you would think.

It was refreshing to read a romance filled with real world problems. The story may take place 150 years ago, however, the same issues still arise today, just in different forms. Watching Rachel learn to view the world in a whole new light without giving up her fundamental beliefs is heart-warming and, at times, inspiring. I also like knowing that this is a book I wouldn't be afraid to let my daughter read as she reaches her teenage years. Who says you can't have a great romance without all the descriptive bedroom scenes?

Amanda Rutherford