Robin Lee Hatcher
Catching Katie (2004)
Author: Robin Lee Hatcher
Genre: Romance (Christian/Historical Romance)
Plot Summary:
When lively Katie Jones returns to her small hometown of Homestead, Idaho, she brings along her passion for women’s rights. She’s determined to inspire the women of Idaho to vote in the upcoming elections and be independent thinkers. Katie’s also determined to dedicate her life to women’s right, and never marry or even fall in love. What she doesn’t count on is her childhood friend and newspaper editor, Ben Rafferty. As love sparks on both sides, Katie struggles to hold on to her suffragette ideals even as her heart tells her differently. Meanwhile, her bold ideas about women’s rights spur conflict among the townspeople of Homestead. SPOILER: Due to car trouble and a nosy reporter, Katie and Ben marry abruptly to avoid a potential scandal. Katie is focused on winning a seat in the House of Representatives, and she and Ben grow apart until they both learn to compromise.
Geographical Setting: Homestead, Idaho (small town)
Time Period: 1916
Series: Fourth in the Americana Series
Appeal Characteristics:
Katie Jones is a feisty, entertaining and strong-willed main character. As the leading man, Ben Rafferty balances Katie’s irrepressible energy with a calm thoughtfulness. Homestead is populated with colorful characters ranging from Ben’s sweet sister Sophia and Katie’s wise mother to the man-hating schoolteacher Blanche. The story moves at a brisk pace and develops the romance quickly, keeping the reader thoroughly engaged. Newspaper article excerpts are used to tell parts of the story and provide an epilogue as well. The story is infused with inspirational themes, as Katie struggles to do what she feels is God’s will. Homestead’s small-town charm provides a comfortable setting while historical details supply additional interest. Hatcher’s style is light and flows well without ever being preachy or heavy-handed.
Read-alikes: All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt follows a young Englishwoman who decides to become a missionary in China rather than pursue marriage. Readers looking for another independent heroine that finds romance while trying to avoid it might investigate this book. Christy award-winning author Deeanne Gist’s Courting Trouble features 30-year-old Elsie who is tired of singlehood and is determined to marry one of the eligible bachelors in her Texas town. Fans of Katie’s quirky personality and high energy may enjoy Elsie in this historical romance with Christian themes. The Bachelor List by Jane Feather is the first in a trilogy about three sisters in London. In this book the eldest sister, a passionate supporter of women’s rights, falls for a politician with opposite views. This book could interest readers looking for books featuring lively characters and a focus on women’s rights, with stronger romantic content. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is a personal recommendation of Robin Lee Hatcher and deals with a young former prostitute that finds love with a devout Christian and discovers her own faith in the process. Readers that enjoyed the religious overtones of Catching Katie will surely appreciate this book, and fans of Robin Lee Hatcher will be interested in the book that most inspired her to write spiritual fiction. Violet Hayes is the high-spirited heroine and narrator of Lynn Austin’s A Proper Pursuit. The book follows Violet to Chicago to find her mother and, through her three great-aunts and grandmother, gets involved in the suffrage movement, elite society and a Christian revival. Readers that enjoyed the subject of the suffrage movement and the family dynamics of Catching Katie could be interested in Austin’s book.
Red Flags: A brief scene of violence, some minor allusions to sexual situations
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