Letter Perfect by Cathy Marie Hake

I discovered the writings of Cathy Marie Hake, a Christian fiction author, a couple months ago. I had seen the book “Fancy Pants” in the Christianbooks.com catalog and decided it looked interesting. After reading the book, I was hooked on Cathy Marie Hake. Once I find an author whose writing I enjoy, will go through all their books. So, decided to read Letter Perfect. The book is set in the late 1800’s and is about Ruth Caldwell, a young woman who just happens to be intelligent, yet she is a klutz. She has been kicked out of several finishing schools for ladies because she just doesn’t fit in and sets a bad example for the rest of the girls. When her mother dies, she is forced to journey out west to a father she has never meet. Her arrival brings about more mayhem and sparks soon fly between her and the son of her father’s business partner

Excerpt Page One

“Exactly how much damage can one tiny fish bone do? Ruth Caldwell wondered if she simply ought to swallow the wretched little thing. Knowing my luck, it’ll get stuck and I’ll choke to death.

Just as she decided to lift her napkin and discreetly get rid of the pickery little nuisance, Miss Pettigrew looked at her. Ruth’s blood ran cold and she plastered a smile on her closed lips.

Well, at least my mouth is shut.

The headmistress of Pettigrew Academy graced Ruth with a chilly nod. After her afternoon debacle, Ruth didn’t expect any better. A mere slip of the tongue and she’d managed to introduce the new pastor to the Garden Society as “Reverend Mark Clumsy” instead of “Reverend Clark Mumsy.” In doing so, she’d embarrassed herself and reflected poorly on the Academy.

Oh, how can I get rid of this bone?

She lifted her napkin. The silver candlesticks teetered precariously, then fell onto Miss Pettegrew’s prized snowy Irish line tablecloth. It wasn’t until her plate began to tip and girls started squealing that Ruth realized she hadn’t grabbed her napkin—she’d been pulling on the tablecloth!”

Letter perfect is an amusing, entertaining read.