Maggie Brendan has done it again. This is the first book in a new series that promises to be just as engaging as the last series she wrote. It will draws readers in to the story and leaves them wanting to see more of the story unfold.

Catherine Olsen is a beautiful lady touched by tragedy and heartache living in Holland. She has struggled to hang on to her life as it is turned upside down. However, after the sudden and unexpected loss of her parents the finally tragedy shatters Catherine's heart. Left with the charge of her two sisters Anna and Greta, and longing for a new start in life Catherine answers an add for a mail-order bride. Through the correspondence with Peter Anderson Catherine falls in love with the caring and tender Peter Anderson.

Across the world in Wyoming Peter Anderson is the only son of a doting and controlling mother. Clara, Peter's mother, has his life planned. She has given him the farm that was once her and her husband and she has chosen the "perfect" bride for him. Dorothy is a Cheyenne socialite and is deemed a perfect match despite the fact that Peter has no feelings past friendship for the beautiful lady. Wishing to find someone to share love with Peter places an add for a mail-order bride and begins correspondence with Catherine Olsen. In her letters he finds a woman that truly is his answers to prayers. Not telling his mother his plans, Peter brings Catherine to Wyoming to be his bride.

Thus begins the tale that will bring the reader to the edge of their seats. Brendan has done an excellent job at making her characters real and believable. Will the things left unsaid by Peter and the secret heartache that Catherine has hidden tear the two apart. Or will their individual faith and their united love be enough to overcome these things and begin a healing process for Catherine. Is love really enough?

This story is written so well that it is an easy and quick read. I found myself in tears when the fullness of Catherine's heartbreak is revealed. I then found myself angry at those who dared to meddle in the matters of the heart. I wanted more than anything for the truth to come out before it was too late. Truly this is one story that does keep the reader guessing until the end what the ultimate outcome will be.

Excellent job Maggie Brendan! I can't wait to read the following stories in this series.

Thank you Revell for this review copy.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. ( )

While the book itself is clean, I felt that the writer did a terrible job drawing me in...because I never did feel any sense of connection to the characters. It was too dry. It's still a good book for the Christian community, but it just lacks the things I need to be hooked into a good read. ( )

I'm trying to think about how to describe my dislike of this book and there's no pretty way to say it. It was just way to simplistic and dull. Everyone and everything is described as "sweet," the characters are not at all realistic or relatable. It annoyed me to no end the way that Peter treated Catharine's two (slightly) younger sisters as if they were children; in 1887, many women married very young- 16 was not unheard of. Greta's headstrong teenager attitude did not fit very well with the times. Actually none of the dialogue really did- it was all way too modern.

The romance did not make any sense to me- Peter did not behave like a man, but rather some woman's fantasy of a man, and therefore he came off way too feminine. I mean, what was that whole bit at the end with the china and each piece representing something? Please. Cheesy and unrealistic.

The entire time I was reading this book, I kept thinking of a line from Pride and Prejudice where Elizabeth accuses Jane of thinking too kindly of everyone, in a way that makes everyone behave unnaturally. I think that concept (on steroids) sums up this book. ( )

This is another Christian historical romance characterized by shoddy historical research. It's the 1880s, and women wear overalls (and think it's cute). Like I've said in previous reviews, women in the 1800s absolutely did not wear overalls. When I read a book set in the 1800s where a woman wears overalls and thinks it's a normal thing to do, the author is immediately discredited.

Catharine, Greta, and Anna are Dutch, but their surname is Olsen. Another Dutch character is named Karl Johnsen. Neither of those surnames are Dutch; they are both Scandinavian. Again, this kind of error discredits the author and makes it look like they couldn't be bothered to do basic research.

Greta is 17, and the other characters make a big deal out of her turning 18, because then she'll be an adult and they can't tell her what to do anymore. First of all, that attitude is very modern, and secondly, the age of majority back then was 21, not 18.

Other annoying things include Peter and Catharine having a "cute" mud fight (this stupid cliche needs to die), characters referring to the "weekend" (I don't think they had weekends back then), the twins calling Catharine "Miss Catharine" instead of "Mrs. Andersen" (wouldn't have happened), Mario offering "refills" at his restaurant (sounded really modern), very modern attitudes towards divorce, Catharine wanting to name a daughter Willow (not impossible, but very implausible), and several over-used plot devices (Big Misunderstanding and Failure to Communicate).

Some things that didn't make sense aren't necessarily related to historical research. For example, Peter is a wheat farmer. He has a nice house, but no servants. Last year's wheat crop got eaten by locusts, and this year's crop is threatened by locusts. So, do Peter and Catharine economize? No, they stay at luxury hotels, go to the opera, and throw Greta a birthday party catered by an Italian restaurant. The scene at the end of the book where Peter gives Catharine the dishes also didn't make any sense. Why is he giving Catharine so many valuable dishes to hold at one time? In real life she would have dropped them.

Finally, how in the world did Peter and Catharine even find each other? Did Catharine subscribe to Wyoming newspapers in Holland? Did Peter place an advertisement in a Dutch newspaper?
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DEEPLY DEVOTED by Maggie Brendan is an exciting inspirational historical romance set in 1887 Cheyenne Territory, Wyoming. The first in “The Blue Willow Brides” series. What an amazing story of diversity,forgiveness,healing,secrets,faith,romance, where a highborn Holland lady and a simple wheat farmer learn love,to let the past go and move forward to their future together. Catharine Olsen leaves her homeland in Holland with her two sisters to become a mail order bride in Wyoming.She leaves behind a tragic past,and sets out for a future with a wheat farmer,her two beloved sisters,her mother’s set of Blue Willow China,and her faith. Her new husband,Peter Anderson,is unaware of her companions,while a bit perturbed by this unexpected surprise,he is not disappointed to find Catharine to be everything he thought she was…until his mother has her investigated. This is a fast paced story with vivid characters and is filled with romance,and faith.A must read for any historical,romance readers.While,this is an inspirational story it is not “preachy” story,but a story of love,forgiveness,and healing. This author has done in again in “The Blue Willow Brides” series with “Deeply Devoted”as a wonderful start to a sure to be wonderful series.This story will touch your heart as two different culture comes together to find love and peace. Received for review from the pubisher.Details can be found at Revell,a division of Baker Publishing Group and My Book Addiction Reviews. ( )