Bound with Love: A Priceless Treasure Changes the Lives of Four Couples

by Joyce Livingston, Cathy Marie Hake, Joan Croston, et al.

God can work in mysterious ways...even through a rare heirloom like a copy of the Gutenberg Bible. Who would imagine, though, that a Bible could bring such intrigue? Lady Lorice reluctantly enters... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593101414
• ISBN13: 9781593101411
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing
• Length: 349 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Four Gems!

Let me begin by saying, this book is entirely out of the realm of my normal reading habits, but something about it looked so inviting on the discount shelf at the Christian Book Store, and I'm not one to pass up a great bargain. I thought I'd give it a try and if nothing else, I could give it my daughter who enjoys romance novels. What I found in BOUND BY LOVE was an absolute gem that was far more than I ever expected. The book is written by four different authors, each covering a different saga in budding romance and family lineage, spread over four centuries and each having guardianship over a Gutenberg Bible. It begins in 1715 with a spectacular story written by Cathy Marie Hake. I thought surely the editors assigned Mrs. Hake the task of hooking the reader into a rather enthralling story, which she accomplished remarkably well, and the book would quickly go downhill from there. My apologies to the other author's. I must admit, upon finishing the first story, I cheated a bit and turned to the back of each story to find different writers, the second of which is none other than Mrs. Hake's High School aged daughter, Kelly. I won't go so far as to say Kelly's story was the best written of the four, but it was the most interesting, to me at least. Her story takes place in the early 1800's and revolves around a British Earl has hired an aged bookbinder to refurbish his library. The bookbinder brings along his helper, who happens to be a 24 year old demure daughter with a profound love for books of antiquity. The third story resumes at the onset of WWII, with the book being housed by an antique book dealer in London. Only the second of the two original Gutenberg volumes remains and must be guarded against falling into the hands of those who want it returned to Germany. The old dealer entrusts his American born granddaughter with the book and it's safe passage to America. Finally, we end in present day Dallas with the shortest of the four stories. This is my least favorite, but may be very likely due to the accurate portrayal of how life itself has degenerated over the generations as much as the story itself. Don't get me wrong, the story is well written, though it did come off as a bit rushed and highly unplausable. Also, the repetitious inclusion of Christianity comes off as forced and becomes detrimental to the overall story. Overall, this is a gem of a book that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good CLEAN romance novel. I also recommend this to newly married couples. You will find words here that will enhance your relationships. Pastor Monty Rainey

Inspirational, historical romance at its finest!

This wonderful book was such a joy to read that I wish I had gotten around to it much sooner than the year it languished on my bookshelf! I suppose it's because I'd been making a conscious effort to steer away from historical romances, and it came as a delightful surprise to discover that this was not a typical one. It was a refreshing difference that men were not the usual chauvanistic, domineering and arrogant characters who expected their women to be submissive and obedient. Right From the Start by Cathy Marie Hake is set in Germany in 1715. Lady Lorice was promised to Gareth of Ravenhurst when they were both children. Over the years, their families became bitter enemies, and it came as a great surprise to them that the betrothal agreement hadn't been rescinded by the time their parents died. Gareth honors the promise, willingly enters into the arranged marriage, and treats Lorice with a touching amount of kindness, acceptance and protectiveness. As their lives are threatened by an unknown force, their trust and love blossoms through daily mediations over the precious family Bible, a rare original Guttenberg. My favorite story in the collection is A Treasure Worth keeping by Kelly Eileen Hake, which I was amazed to learn was written by a high school student! Set in Regency England in 1832, it centers around the renovation and cataloguing of the Earl of Pemberton's massive personal library. Fed up with the spoiled debutantes his mother attempts to match him with, he delights in the refreshing presence of the book restorer's intelligent daughter. Love blossoms when they discover a secret room containing, amongst other treasures, the Ravenhurst family Bible. Of Measureable Worth by Joan Croston is set in London during WW II. Ann Heydon works in her grandfather's vintage bookstore, where she meets and is courted by writer Peter Austin. When the Nazi's threaten the shop's Ravenhurst family bible, Ann must secretly carry it to America for safekeeping. Peter follows her, Ann must decide if he is on her side or with the enemy. My least favorite story of the collection was set in present-day USA. The Long Road Home by Joan Livingston was almost offensively preachy. Instead of being inspiring with its Christian and Biblical message, its heavy-handedness became a turnoff. Nick is a reformed criminal who admirably turned his life around with the help of a benefactor and newfound faith in God. He is attracted to a rough-around-the-edges waitress named Angela, but she doesn't share his faith or understand his calling to do missionary work. When Nick's benefactor dies and leaves him the Ravenhurst family Bible, will it draw Nick and Angela to a common ground together or pull them apart forever?