⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (3.5 stars)
I normally wouldn’t pick up a book like The Lady’s Mine, but it was a book club selection—and I’m glad I gave it a chance, even if it didn’t completely win me over.
Set in the rugged mining town of Calvada, California, Francine Rivers introduces us to Kathryn Walsh, a fiery suffragette exiled from Boston by her stepfather. She inherits her late uncle’s newspaper and quickly finds herself shaking up a corrupt and chaotic community. The setup has all the makings of a satisfying Western: a gutsy heroine, a brooding saloon owner (hello, Matthias Beck), and the kind of moral showdown that’s become a Rivers signature.
I appreciated Kathryn’s feminist stance, especially within the Christian fiction genre—it’s refreshing to see a woman advocate for social justice and equality. That said, while the author tells us Kathryn is strong, she’s often depicted in tearful breakdowns that undercut her resilience. The tone also veers into corny territory more than once, making certain moments feel more melodramatic than moving.
The faith themes are front and center, as expected, and while the romance builds slowly, it never quite catches fire. Compared to Rivers’s other works like Redeeming Love or The Masterpiece, this one doesn’t have the same emotional resonance. Still, it’s an enjoyable, clean read that brings a fresh setting and message to historical Christian fiction.