Christian Historical Romance

The Measure of a Heart

by Janette Oke

Book 6 of the Women of the West series

288 pages · First published 1992

At sixteen, Anna Trent is proud to have completed the eighth grade, but as the eldest daughter in a farming family with six younger brothers, she knows her formal education is over. Shy and uncertain of her own worth, Anna longs to keep learning even as family responsibilities demand her attention. When Austin Barker, a young seminarian serving as her community's summer pastor, recognizes her intelligence and eagerness to learn, he encourages her through books and correspondence. Their growing affection offers Anna the possibility of a future she never imagined, but her persistent feelings of inadequacy make it difficult to believe she could become a minister's wife. As Anna wrestles with guilt over leaving her family and doubts about her abilities, she must learn to recognize the value that others—and God—already see in her. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon, this gentle historical romance invites readers to fall in love, strengthen their faith, and discover how opposites can attract when two hearts learn to see beyond outward appearances.