The Calling of Ella McFarland by Linda Brooks Davis is an entertaining novel with romance and plenty of historical details about women’s suffrage and life in Oklahoma territory during the early 1900s.

Ella McFarland hopes to attain a teaching position at Worthington School for Girls. Though Ella is well-qualified, her sister has an out-of-wedlock child, and this has damaged the McFarland family reputation. Nevertheless, the school board considers Ella as a candidate.

However, Ella’s teaching dream evolves when she comes to the aid of a young, abused girl named Lily. Soon Ella realizes God’s calling for her life is different than she first imagined and may even include a romantic relationship with Andrew Evans.

This novel has plenty of tension to keep the reader intrigued. For example, Ella’s sister Viola has a nasty attitude that adds interest to the story. The thread of romance between Ella and Andrew is well done, and I enjoyed the historical perspective about women’s suffrage.

Finally, the story has an important spiritual theme that illustrates an essential truth about the Christian life: Often God’s plans are different than our own, but his are always better. For these reasons, I recommend The Calling of Ella McFarland by Linda Brooks Davis.