Faithful of Heart

Peterson (A Moment to Love) pairs two do-gooders divided by a thorny family history in this solid series starter. After meeting at a charity event in Philadelphia in 1866, Judith Ashton Stanford and Dr. Roman Turner bond over their shared desire to help the needy, especially orphans and widows of the Civil War. Four years later, the pair cross paths again in Minnesota, where Judith has traveled to meet her wealthy estranged grandfather, who is dying. Roman’s shocked to discover that Judith’s the granddaughter of James Ashton, a corrupt businessman who once swindled his father, and is unaware she plans to use the inheritance for charitable purposes. As James tries to reconcile with a skeptical Judith, she and Roman discuss their faith and consider what it means to forgive others. Just when it starts to look like a happy ending might be on the horizon, a greedy lawyer determined to steal Judith’s inheritance threatens to wreck the relationship and their plans to finance a new hospital and orphanage. Readers will have no problem rooting for plucky, idealistic Judith as she works to do good in a society ravaged by war and class divides. This satisfies. (Mar.)