Book Review of 'A Lady Divided' by Sandra Ardoin

Hello Bookworms!

I am a sucker for a good historical fiction with a strong heroine and the novel I am featuring today fits that bill in the best way.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Christian Historical Romance and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Lady Divided by Sandra Ardoin, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Lady Divided
Series: House of Fire #1
Author: Sandra Ardoin
Publisher: Corner Room Books
Release Date: August 28, 2025
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Just when she thinks she’s defeated the past, it returns with a vengeance.

Fighting to keep her late husband’s dream alive and her land-grabbing neighbors at bay, Laurel Tillman longs for a peace she knew before the war. But when her skill with a rifle saves a stranger from a mountain lion attack—a man whose life she once wouldn’t have hesitated to take—wartime memories rush back.

While raising her daughter and taking responsibility for the stray women who work on her sheep ranch, Laurel can’t wait to get the injured Yankee out of her house. Getting him out of her heart is an entirely different matter.

Quinn Spencer, a former Union cavalry officer, owes Laurel a debt, but his career as a new lawyer in town comes with a warning to stay away from the unconventional women of La Casa del Fuego. Then, with the discovery of a dead man on Laurel’s ranch, Quinn must choose between his career and justice for a woman who can’t bear the sight of him.

As they battle an unknown adversary who sets out to destroy Laurel, will she join forces with her former enemy? Or will she allow the past to overcome any chance of a truce between them . . . and, possibly, something more?

Meet the women of La Casa del Fuego—House of Fire—as they are forced by circumstances to live their lives outside the bounds of accepted femininity.

My Review

A Lady Divided was a slower pace than the novels I’ve been reading lately, so I felt like the pace was slow to start, but once I took a deep breath and let myself relax into it, I really enjoyed this story. Laurel is guarded for most of the book, and the mystery of what happened to her husband, as well as her affinity for soldiers, looms as she cares for a wounded Quinn. It’s evident she has a big heart but also has a chip on her shoulder.

The dynamic on the farm is refreshing as we see the women efficiently run a farm themselves during a time where this was greatly frowned upon. Laurel’s tenacity is felt through the pages as she stands firm in her convictions and overall stubbornness. I adored her as it’s clear she’s protective about her land and those she holds dear and is strength personified.

The precocious little Becky had my heart from her first scene. She is sunshine in an adorable little package, and there were so many moments I found myself smiling at her quick wit and youthful charm. She also shares her mother’s stubbornness, which, like Laurel, can be both a blessing and a curse.

This was such a good novel with so much depth and heart that I was easily lost in the narrative. The world building was fantastic, and I truly felt like I knew these characters on an intimate level. The love story was a tremendously slow burn, yet it was felt so deeply with the characters driving the narrative masterfully. This was a slower-paced story that forced me to slow down and enjoy the ride, which I happily did.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Also Available

About the Author

As the author of reader-described heartwarming historical and contemporary romance, Sandra Ardoin engages readers with page-turning stories of love and faith.

She is the married mother of a young adult and co-sitter for a granddog. As well as being a team member in her church's library, she reads Christian fiction, binges TV shows with her husband, and seldom says no to eating out.

Visit her at sandraardoin.com. Connect with her on BookBub, Facebook, X, and Goodreads. Subscribe to the newsletter and keep up with what’s new, discover what’s upcoming, and learn of specials.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card and two (2) ebooks of their choice from Sandra Ardoin’s Published Books!

(1) winner will receive three (3) ebooks of their choice from Sandra Ardoin’s Published Books!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 25, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 1, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!