Battle For The Classroom

One Plus One Equals Trouble by Sondra Kraak is a Christian historical romance set in 1891 in the small town of Pine Creek.

The novel is highly amusing. The antics of Claire and Barrett as they bounce off each other in competition to be the only teacher in the town are delightful.

The novel brings small town life really alive for the reader. Much of the novel is set in the one roomed classroom with thirty four pupils. The reader gets to know the teachers and the pupils intimately. There are cute little girls and jovial boys. There is both the air of competition and of respect between the two teachers. Both have very different reasons for wanting the job.

The novel shows the dangers of listening to or spreading gossip. Gossip can destroy careers and relationships. Claire and Barrett are both characters of integrity and no matter how much they are goaded, refuse to speak ill of others or add to gossip.

There is the theme of dreams or ones heart’s desire. Sometimes in order to receive our dream, we need to release our grip on it and trust in God for our welfare and our future.

Claire has spent her life playing second fiddle to her twin sister. She even lost her fiancé (before the book opened) to her twin. Claire wants to succeed at something. She wants to succeed at teaching. Claire views herself as a failure. Claire is so busy at working at being successful that she forgets about God’s love. “If she could let go of the idol of success, relax, and let God’s love into the broken places.” She has locked up her emotions and her heart to protect herself, but she has locked out life. She needs to open herself up to trust both God and people.

This is the first novel that I have read by Sondra Kraak and I really enjoyed it. I want to read more by her. The characters are lively and both the dialogue and the situations are highly humorous. The setting is so well described that the reader feels not so much like they are reading a book, as walking through it.

Download One Plus One Equals Trouble today and transport yourself back to 1891 and small town America. Enjoy the goings on in both the classroom and the town from the comfort of your own sofa.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON

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