Janetta Fudge Messmer’s Chords of Love warms the heart. The year is 1890, and Abigail Thompson recently moved to Central City, Colorado from Dallas, Texas with her family. Abigail instantly fell in love with Colorado, but her mother, on the other hand, hated it. Ivy Thompson loves music; therefore she insists her daughter use her God given talent to sing. However, Abigail is scared to perform. If only the dilapidated Opera House would reopen, then maybe her mother would be satisfied and take her focus off Abigail. But Abigail is not the only one who wants the Opera House reopened. Noah Presley, son of a local merchant, wants it reopened as well. Noah wants more than to run the mercantile; he wants to own the Opera House. If only he could muster the courage to tell his father. Not knowing what they are up against, the young duo decides to work together. Through prayer and determination, they strive to take ownership of the Opera House, never suspecting what they would discover.

Janetta Fudge Messmer writes an inspirational story in Chords of Love. She paints a portrait of the Rocky Mountains and places her characters in the midst of it. The young heroine is sassy and spunky, and a bit before her time. She pushes the envelope regarding what is proper for a young lady during the late 1800s. However, her feistiness is matched by her devotion to family and God. Messmer couples her heroine with a young man similar in devotion. Both of them have personal fears to overcome. The conflict resides in doing what is right and expected with doing what your heart is screaming out for you to do. This tug of war is typical to all those coming of age.

Providing a bit of mystery, Messmer subtlety pens a couple of twists into the story line. These unsuspecting events add a little zest and create shifts in the unfolding love story. I really appreciated the insertions of prayer, those silent moments of communing with God that no one else hears. These inclusions bring a deeper dynamic into the character’s personality, allowing the reader to understand the motivation of the character's actions, both the secret and known. The plot action continues to rise, and then descends into a hope-filled and satisfying conclusion. Chords of Love leaves you feeling good inside.

Step into the past with Chords of Love by Janetta Fudge Messmer, who offers this coming-of-age story of young love in first bloom. Abigail Thompson and her parents have just moved north to the town of Central City, Colorado, but her family is split on the move. While Abigail’s unhappy mother, Ivy, longs for the warmth of her Texas home, Abigail and her father, Otto, love the peaceful mountain region. And despite her mother’s wishes, Abigail soon finds another reason to settle into her new life, when she meets the handsome Noah Presley, who manages the local mercantile. He’s as shy and timid as she is daring and outspoken, but when circumstances seem to throw them together at every turn, will Noah manage to find the boldness to win her heart?

Janetta Fudge Messmer has woven a heartwarming tale of faith and love in the midst of trials. Her characters, Abigail and Noah, are a delight to watch as they stumble over their words and (literally) each other, all while trying to prove how much they are NOT taken with each other. However, Abigail’s mama knows better and does her part to dissuade them from pursuing a relationship. Chords of Love is filled with old time charm, a budding romance, and just a hint of danger. When several people set their sights on an old abandoned opera house, it causes trouble for Abigail and Noah. Will they end up on opposite sides, or can they overcome their problems with God’s help? I enjoyed reading Chords of Love. The message of faith really stood out. A well written story.