With her heart filled with grief over the loss of her two beloved younger sisters, Emmalyne is still in shock over the tornado that shattered lives and families in their small community in the spring of 1886. Her only comfort is the nearness of the handsome Tavin MacLachlan, not only her childhood friend, but now that she is seventeen, also her pledged husband to be. With only two months before their planned wedding, the lovely red-haired Emmalyne is anxious for that to happen. While she loved and obeyed her parents, her father a strict and unbending Scot only has a heart and a temper that is filled with anger and rage - often at people, but mostly at God.

Then with a few harsh words from Luthias Knox, her father, Emmalyne's world suddenly becomes bleaker and colder than the gravesite they had just left. Her marriage was off! Luthias harshly let his daughter know that now she is the youngest daughter and it is up to her to stay at home to care for her parents and never marry.

Tavin is furious with this turn of events and begs her to run away and elope with him, but her loyalty to God and her duty to honour her parents are too strong. With bitterness and anger pumping in his heart, Tavis deserts both his love and family. Then, Luthias even moves Emmalyne's family away from the life and friends they had known.

True to her word, Emmalyne works hard and patiently cares for her family. Her heart had been heavy all these past eleven years for Tavin; yet, things only got worse. Now her tight-fisted frugal father is hellbent on moving them back to a broken down farmhouse just a way up the road from the MacLachlan home. What is she to do if Tavin came home? What would she do if he never came home? Only the kind support and soft words of the young doctor caring for her mother gave her some joy in her dreary work-laden life. Is she always to endure God's wrath as her father swore or did God have a plan for her? What could she do? Is she destined to live in this love starved existence forever? Will her father ever change?

Best-selling inspirational author Tracie Peterson has written over 95 historical and contemporary books and her fans, new and long-time loyal, are sure to love THE QUARRYMAN'S BRIDE. Peterson is a master hand at character development and her characters all ring true to their feelings and emotions and the situations they find themselves entangled with while grappling with life's adversities and small joys. Biblical scriptures and references are sprinkled liberally in the book; yet, they flow naturally and authentically as the characters would speak in that late 19th century time period. While parts of the story are dark in the details of certain situations, the plot and storyline are totally captivating, especially as the light starts to shine through the cracks in hardened and guilt filled hearts and changes can happen. A truly inspiring story of love springing anew in different ways! Enjoy!

Book Summary

Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan were destined to be together...until the tragic deaths of Emmalyne's youngest sisters. Family tradition mandates that the youngest daughter should remain single to care for her parents in their old age, and now that daughter is Emmalyne. Her father unyielding, Emmalyne surrenders to her duty, heartbroken. Tavin leaves town, equally devastated.

Years later, Emmalyne's family moves, and she and Tavin meet again. Their feelings for each other are as strong as ever, but their painful past and Emmalyne's father still stand between them. Soon both families are in the midst of the growing conflict rising between the workers at the granite quarry that Tavin's father owns and operates. When a series of near-fatal accidents occur, Tavin must figure out who is behind the attacks before someone gets killed.

Bound by obligation, yet yearning for a future together, can Emmalyne and Tavin dare to dream that God could heal a decade-long wound and change the hearts of those who would stand in the way of true love?