I always forget how much I enjoy this series, a spin-off, or maybe more an extension of the Love Comes Softly series that I so loved, chronicling the earlier years of the older Davis clan generation.

What I liked about A Searching Heart:
The writing - To be sure, it isn't fine literature. What it is is comforting, like a warm hug, in addition to requiring very little brain power. But that doesn't mean it's not well-constructed. The story and the characters are well-developed, and the plot moves along at an engaging pace.
Virginia's challenges - Most, if not all of us, have gone through first heartbreak, through the uncertainty of moving away from childhood and into being an adult, through changes of both the exciting and the unwanted varieties. I found all of it relatable and thought-provoking in a reflective way.

What I didn't care for:
Lack of explanation in a few areas - Without elaborating to the point of any spoilers, I would have liked some additional hints or explanations regarding the events involving Clara and Jenny. I also often found myself wondering what year we're actually in at this point. The passage of time is marked by changing seasons, but I like to have some sense of "when" I am in history. There just isn't enough indication from the setting details that are given.

I am never sorry when I drop into the lives of the Davis extended family. We're spanning four generations now, and it feels cozy and familiar. I love the gentle way their stories are told. They do not shy from hardship and challenges, despite the Hallmark-like feel; there is honesty as well. References to Christian faith and values are prevalent but not saccharine, and I appreciate the way they are woven in. There are two books remaining in this series and I look forward to them with a quiet eagerness.