The Jewel of His Heart by Maggie Brendan

by Jane Squires
(Wasola, Mo. USA)

What a story. Julianna Brady is poor at the beginning. This is something I can relate to growing up poor. I know how it felt to not want to have someone come in your house and see how little you have.
Julianna loses her Mother at the beginning of the story. She desires to know why her father left her when she was young. But the way she ends up connecting with her father is God sent and hard for her to deal with. Because of her father's leaving, she doesn't trust men.
Her story from her Mother's death to end builds her up in fatih in God, growth in her character, and finally trust in one man, Josh McBride. She is also priviledged to get a great job at the newspaper.
Josh is a sheepherder. His story starts with someone painting a picture of him and his dog. I loved way it worked into the story. He discovers some rare stones on his land. For a while he thinks of going into mining until something happens that changes his mind. Josh is alone accept for Andy, his cook, and his sheep dog.
He comes to the point he has to chose between wealth or the greatest Jewel he has found, Julianna.
A beautifully woven story of heartache, grief, tragedies, and love. All throught God's plan unfolds.
This book was such an encouragment to me as I deal with hurt by a family member so I could very well feel for Julianna's feelings about her father.