What are you willing to do when you are desperate, and everything is at an end? Author Jan Sikes explores this question by introducing Layken Martin, a World War II veteran in A Beggar’s Bargain. Layken returns to his hometown of Missouri after being discharged to find a foreclosure notice from the bank for his family farm. He wants to honor his father’s dying wish and keep the farm going. The banker rejected his initial offer but later changed his mind, giving him a proposition -- marry his daughter Sara Beth in exchange for a two-year extension. Layken agrees. Will he be able to find the healing he longs for after the war and turn a profit with the land while also becoming a husband? If he fails, all will be lost.

Jan Sikes reveals different sides of humanity from the negative to the positive in A Beggar’s Bargain. I was left feeling hopeful with thoughts that love will prevail. Layken, and the legacy his mother and father left behind, highlight honor, integrity, kindness, and loyalty. The theme of helpful neighbors and a strong community became clear when a fire struck Layken’s farm. All the neighbors his parents helped in the past showed their support to restore what was lost. I enjoyed the relationship Layken and Sara Beth created, going from strangers being forced to marry to falling in love. Their actions to keep working hard to make things work lead to romance. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy drama and realistic fiction.

A Beggar's Bargain is a work of fiction penned by author Jan Sikes in the literary style and the recent historical and family saga subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience. Layken Martin returns home from World War II to find his family farm in ruins and facing imminent foreclosure. Desperate to save the farm and honor his father's dying wish, Layken seeks an extension from the local banker, only to be denied. In a shocking turn of events, the banker proposes an alternative: marry his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, in exchange for a two-year extension on the loan. With no other options left, Layken agrees to the bargain, knowing that he now has two years to rebuild his life on the farm while navigating marriage to a stranger, all with the threat of losing everything looming over him.

Author Jan Sikes has crafted a highly immersive and emotive tale of desperation, sacrifice, and unexpected alliances against the backdrop of post-World War II America, a perfect combination in a gripping novel filled with powerful highs and lows. Layken's struggles and the difficult choices he faces resonate deeply, drawing the reader into his world with close narration, and evoking a wide range of emotions that sink in deeply. Sikes's vivid storytelling and compelling character work also extend into the ensemble cast and smaller roles, populating this post-war world with realistic people on the edge of survival after a world-shaking event. I was also impressed with the level of historical detail in the day-to-day struggles of life on the farm and in such austere times. Overall, A Beggar's Bargain was a truly captivating read that left a lasting impression, and I would certainly recommend it to fans of historical family dramas everywhere.

Readers of historical literary fiction will love this story of sacrifice and determination. It reminded me a lot of Sarah Plain and Tall. From hardship comes great things.