Beyond the Silence

2016 is starting off on a great note with some incredible novels and Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse is no exception. Being a huge fan of western romances since I was a young teen, I've loved every single novel of Tracie Peterson's I can get my hands on, because she takes me back to another time period to lose myself in a virtual world of a great western romance with a strong and determined female character like Lillian Porter. Growing up in a life of well means has offered her luxuries she may have taken for granted, but still deep inside her heart a desire to follow along the same path of her mother has caught fire. Being the last family member under her grandfather's roof, he has lost all sense of purpose and has become a bitter old man instead after losing his wife and watching his daughter follow the path Lillian wants to follow.

To call to adventure out west is more than Lillian can bear along with her grandfather's temperament, so knowing that to walk away will mean she will have to find her own financial means she takes the position as a nanny in Angel's Camp, California far from the only home she has ever known. She just hopes that time will heal the wounds her grandfather has in his heart and she vows to do whatever she can to make it on her own. She just isn't prepared for the less than warm welcome she receives after stepping off the train in Angel's Camp and learning that the man, Woodward Colton, who has employed her has been accused of murdering his own wife. Yet not everyone believes the rumors circulating and since Woody hasn't been jailed for the crime, Lillian is willing to form her own opinion. The only catch is 7-year-old Jimmy hasn't spoken one word since his mother's murder. Perhaps if she can find a way to reach him, the truth may set them all free.

I received Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my own personal and honest evaluation. I love this premise because as we know there are always two sides to every story and quite often people are willing to believe what they want instead of listening to the truth. My favorite is always Tracie and Kimberley's strong willed and determined female characters who have a whole lot of gumption to dig in and not let others run rough shod over them but still keeps them feminine charm and beauty. This is what draws me to these novels is the adventure you find yourself on that moves the story forward and never becomes stagnant or even predictable even though you know in the end, romance will ensue, it doesn't come easily. This is why I love Tracie Peterson's novels and this one just finds its home next to my growing collection in my own personal library. This one gains a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Beyond the Silence, Tracie Peterson, Kimberley Woodhouse or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

You can find Tracie Peterson on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

You can find Kimberley Woodhouse on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Beyond the Silence, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour page. 

Lillian Porter takes a chance on a new job and a new future . . . but rumors surrounding her job make Lillian begin to wonder if she made the right choice in Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse's Beyond the Silence. There are rumors in town that her new employer, Woodward Colton, caused the death of his wife. This accusation doesn't match the man Lillian comes to know . . . but soon the Colton olive farm is no longer a safe place. Lillian encounters suspicious characters on their land and mysterious damage done to the farm. Will Mrs. Goodman and Jimmy be able to speak what they know in time to save Lillian from tragedy?

Tracie and Kimberley are celebrating the launch of Beyond the Silence with a Loaded Fire Prize Pack giveaway (details below) and an author chat party on February 11!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of Beyond the Silence
• A Kindle Fire 7
• A $50 Amazon gift card to load your Fire with books

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 2/11. The winner will be announced at the Beyond the Silence Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tracie, Kimberley, and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

Rainy Day Dreams

The hardest thing to comprehend when we go about our daily lives is how hard it was for those first settlers to travel thousands of miles and begin the cities we find ourselves living in today. We often forget the hardships, the struggles and adversities they faced in trying to make their dreams of a new life come true. From disease, to Indian attacks and just the journey itself is one to be commended and remembered. Perhaps that is why I have such a love for historical fiction. In the Seattle Bride series from Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith, both well known Christian Historical authors, they have once again teamed up to bring you Rainy Day Dreams, the second novel in the series.

We find ourselves watching the struggle that Kathryn Bergert faces upon arriving by ship to the town of Seattle in 1856. She was sent here to find a suitable husband by her parents, mostly her father, since the ratio of men to women is 100 to 1. Armed with a small savings and all her painting supplies, she has acquired lodging with a cousin she has never met, Mary Ann Garritson, who is the proprietor of the Faulkner House. She is also hoping the job she has been promised will allow her to make a living for herself until she figures out just what she is going to do.

When she discovers that the job she had hoped for was that of a maid instead of a manager of the establishment, she immediately begins to make plans to head back on the first available ship out and back to San Francisco. Only she isn't quite sure if she will have enough money to pay for the fare and what her father will say when she returns without a husband. She may have to buy her time, and settle with dealing with her harsh and blunt cousin as a maid until she is able to save enough money. Mary Ann tells her that she isn't going to be paid, but that she can work for her accommodations instead, and that consists of a room that has been converted from an old closet. She definitely won't have room for painting in there. What will she do now?

I received Rainy Day Dreams by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith compliments of Harvest House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This was such a delightful novel and I didn't even realize it was part of a series until the end. Now I will definitely need to pick up a copy of the first novel, A Bride for Noah, and see how they came to be a couple! You truly meet such a wonderful cast of characters in this novel along with dealing with the threat of an Indian attack in a town that is unprepared to deal with violence. I love that most of this was built on a foundation of historical facts which the authors disclose details about at the conclusion of the novel for further research. A discussion guide is also included for book groups. I absolutely loved this one from start to finish and easily give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Rainy Day Dreams, Lori Copeland, Virginia Smith or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Rainy Day Dreams by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith

You can find Lori Copeland on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

You can find Virginia Smith on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Rainy Day Dreams, please visit Harvest House Publisher's website. 

A Sensible Arrangement

Whenever I hear the name Tracie Peterson, I know I am in for a great novel, that will completely captivate me heart and soul. There is something about the unique way she writes so well that you are simply not just reading her novels, she takes you along for the ride and you become part of the story along with her amazing characters you can't help but love. In her latest series, The Lone Star Brides Series, she picks up on one of my favorite topics dealing with life in the west, mail order brides.

In the novel A Sensible Arrangement, Marty Dandrige Olson is looking for a way to escape her life in Texas. Since losing her husband to being gored by a long horn she is struggling with how to move forward in her life without him and without God. Blaming God for not answering any of her prayers, she answers an ad for a banker in Denver searching for the same thing as she is. A marriage without the possibility of love. One simply of convenience and in name only. Seems like Jake Wythe would be the answer to a prayer but Marty has all but abandoned any notion of God or prayer in her life.

Leaving behind all her worldly good, she takes a stagecoach to Denver believing it is more suitable for women traveling alone without a chaperone, at least that what she has been told. Now traveling in the company of other women, her stagecoach is attacked by bank robbers. Rather than become a victim of circumstances, Marty pulls the pistol she always keeps handy and aids the drivers in putting a stop to the robbery. When the stage comes to a full stop, Marty learns that neither the driver or shotgun are fit to drive the stage into town. Without help they will surely die, so Marty does what anyone would do, and drives the stage into town. She not only saves the lives of the two men on the stage, but also becomes the talk of the town.

Fearing this won't lead to a good impression on Jake Wythe as a women of good character, she fears she will be rejected and sent back to Texas. But Jake sees something more in Marty than just a good candidate for a banker's wife. He sees her heart of compassion and softness without any fear of what others may think of her. Fortunately for both of them, theirs will simply be a marriage in name only and he won't have to worry about where his heart may take him instead. But it seems like God has other plans in store not only for Marty and Jake, but for those who are surrounded by their good natures as well.

I received A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. I love this book because it took me back to a much simpler time in a sense, where Marty is struggling with coming to terms with leaving behind her cattle ranching days for a life of leisure as a banker's wife, being waited on hand and foot wanting for nothing. Jake on the other hand, would gladly give up the life in Denver for his own cattle ranch. He's doing all he can to save up for his own, when rumors of an economic fallout begin to rock the social world in Denver. Will Jake and Marty be able to come to terms with a new future of compromise or will they both be faced with holding back secrets that they know will hurt the other if they should ever come to light? You'll have to see how these two work to make their differences work together and I for one can't wait for the next novel in this series. Warning: a bit of a cliff hanger ending but one I would easily give a 5 out of 5 stars for!

For more information about A Sensible Arrangement, Tracie Peterson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson

You can also find Tracie Peterson on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Sensible Arrangement, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 


Welcome to the campaign launch for Tracie Peterson's 100th book! A Sensible Arrangement launches Tracie's new Texas-based series, Lone Star Brides, that’s sure to please. As a special treat, devoted fans will be able to catch a glimpse of several popular characters from previous series.

Tracie is celebrating by giving away an iPad Mini and hosting a LIVE webcast event on 4/29.

  One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 29th. Winner will be announced at the A Sensible Arrangement Live Webcast Event on April 29th. Connect with Tracie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tracie will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, fun prizes, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of A Sensible Arrangement and join Tracie and friends on the evening of April 29th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

Gunpowder Tea

In this charming and captivating novel, Gunpowder Tea, the reader is in for a true treat and not just in the form of a warm cup of tea. Miranda Hunt has always been trying to prove something, either to herself or to her father, a former Pinkerton detective that was killed while working a case. Being the only girl in the family, she found more comfort in hanging out with her brothers learning to ride, shot and fight like any of them. That's why it came as a complete surprise to her father to learn that Miranda was being hired as a Pinkerton detective.

Now despite some inconveniences that are trailing her past, like shooting a women's husband that was already dead apprehending a thief at a funeral, she gets the chance at a lifetime if she can locate and discover just who the Phantom is. The clues point to the Last Chance Ranch in Arizona and Miranda is going there disguised as a potential heiress under the name Annie Beckman, for the ranches owner, Miss Eleanor Walker. Now all she has to do is fulfill the job requirements of the advertisement while figuring out just who the possible criminal is. But the one thing she didn't figure on is being robbed on her train ride to Arizona and having her father's pocket watch taken while she couldn't do anything about it. She must remain undercover til she knows for sure who the Phantom is.

Wells Fargo detective, Jeremy Taggart is hoping that he can locate his missing friend who was tracking down the whereabouts of the Phantom in Arizona before its too late. What he doesn't plan on discovering is that his heart will be captured in the process by Annie Beckman, a lady he meets while robbing her on the train under the assumed name of Mr. David Branch. Now it seems that both Annie and David suspect each other of working with the Phantom game while both of them try to gain the upper hand in believing that each other will lead them to the leader. It's a true cat and mouse premise that will keep you guessing how well each of them puts together all their training to discover love in the process.

I received Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are mine alone. I absolutely LOVED this novel even though I haven't read the other two preceding novels in this series, I hope to be able to pick those up and see where it all began. There are some great funny moments between the two characters before and after they discover their true identities much like a western version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The secondary characters are also a wonderful addition to keep the storyline moving and interesting like the addition of the phone line being installed at the ranch and the benefits of all the tea that Annie keeps bringing to the ranch owner, Miss Walker who HATES tea! It will keep you in smiles and sighs the whole time. There is even a great discussion guide and recipe for Gunpowder Tea Bread at the end. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Gunpowder Tea, Margaret Brownley or where you can pick up this book today, please click on the links below:

Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

You can also find Margaret Brownley on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Gunpowder Tea from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here.

• Series: The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch Series
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 8, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595549722
• ISBN-13: 978-1595549723
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches

Margaret Brownley's latest release, Gunpowder Tea, is receiving high praise, and she's celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway and a "Tea with Margaret" Facebook party!

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 7th. Winner will be announced at the "Tea with Margaret" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 7th. Connect with Margaret and friends for an evening of book chat, prizes, and get an exclusive look at Margaret's next book!

So grab your copy of Gunpowder Tea and join Margaret on the evening of November 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on 11/7!

What Once Was Lost

Just looking at the title makes me want to think of the lyrics from Amazing Grace and the missing part is what you'll find in the latest novel from Kim Vogel Sawyer, What Once Was Lost. My husband even commented when I got this novel that I sure do have quite a few from Kim Vogel Sawyer and he's definitely right about that. She truly gets to the reader's heart once you enter the world of her historical novels. This one is definitely geared for fans that love a western flair and takes you back to the late 1890's in Brambleville, Kansas.

Christina Willems has taken over the care of Brambleville Asylum for the Poor, a home for those who need a place to live and a safe haven from the world around them that sees them as the outcasts of society. She inherited the position after the death of her parents, most recently her father and was raised in helping out those less fortunate than herself. She offers comfort to a group of poor and displaced individuals until something better comes along. Tommy Kilgore is the only blind boy and it seems he receives the worst kind of treatment by the people of Brambleville, who see him as the burden to society since he was in a boiler explosion and lost not only his eyesight but also disfigured part of his body. His parents abandoned him long ago with Christina and she's been trying to find a way to reach the part of his soul that lies buried deep inside. If only she could find a way to help.

When tragedy strikes the home through a fire that destroys the kitchen, Christina is forced to find temporary housing among the town's residents until the mission sends her the required funds to repair the home. She has found housing for everyone except Tommy and the last person on her list is the most unlikely of people to ask, mill owner Levi Johnson who prefers to be left all alone. Thankfully she manages to convince Levi it will only be temporary until she can find something else and it's during this time alone with Mr. Johnson, that Tommy is able to finally feel something more than simply a burden on anyone. Just what is it that Mr. Johnson does that draws Tommy out of his shell and will he be able to keep him there long enough for him to turn his life around? Just what caused the fire in the first place? Is it possible the reason Tommy fears returning back to the poor farm is that he has a secret he doesn't want revealed?

To find out, you'll have to pick up this heartwarming and emotionally moving story of renewal and restoration by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I received What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer compliments of Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. I whole heartily give this one a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion because the story is such a compelling one to immerse yourself in. You have to understand the timing in history in the late 1890's where a woman's place was not in running a business so the town isn't exactly thrilled that a poor farm in located in their small town and much worse that it is being run by a woman. Yet Christina is a fighter and a firm believer that God will give her whatever she needs to keep the poor house running and the family together despite whatever odds are against her, but can she fight the mission board as well? Is this God's true purpose in her life after all or one merely that Christina wants? You'll love exploring the answers in this wonderful novel.

For more information about What Once Was Lost, Kim Vogel Sawyer or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer

You can also find Kim Vogel Sawyer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on What Once Was Lost on the Waterbrook Multomah Publishers website, please click here. 

Stealing the Preacher

Whatever Joanna Robbins for her birthday, her father, Silas will make happen, even if it means breaking the law, stopping a train and kidnapping the preacher who is supposed to be on board. Silas hasn't forgotten his old outlaw ways after robbing enough stagecoaches and trains in his lifetime, fulfilling Joanna's only birthday wish seems easy enough to grant. However when Joanna learns just how her father has managed to bring her a preacher for her birthday, kidnapping one wasn't in her prayers or requests. Now if she can only manage to convince the preacher not to press kidnapping charges on her father.

When Joanna convinces Crockett Archer to spend a couple of hours with her listening to her reasons for wanting a preacher for her twenty-first birthday, he is more than intrigued. It is also the only way he can find freedom from the Lazy R Ranch that Robbins owns. Joanna takes Crockett to an abandoned church and tells him how difficult it has been for anyone to attend church since the local town is so far away from farming families and this old church has lost not only it's flock of believers but also any preacher wanting to stay long enough to give God a chance. Would Crockett be willing to find a preacher willing enough to give this small community a chance and she hopes in the process find a way to save her father's stubborn heart who just doesn't have time for God any longer? Seems like Crockett is about to get some interesting answers to just that very prayer when the job he was hoping to land in Brenham is given to another preacher and leaving Crockett high and dry in the middle of Texas without a job, thanks in part to Silas Robbins.

Joanna believes since her father is to blame for Crockett's lost job at the church since he was preventing from being able to preach in the local church, that her father owes Crockett a job at the ranch until they can begin to restore the old abandoned church to its former glory. Only Silas Robbins isn't a charitable man and gives all the worst and most difficult jobs to Crockett hoping that he will show just how weak a preacher man really is. But God has other plans for Silas Robbins and He's about to show him just how he can use man's weakness to bring about His own goodness and glory.

I received Stealing the Preacher compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. Historical Christian Westerns are one of my long time favorite genre's. Taking you back to a much simpler time, Karen Whitmeyer has done an exceptional job at pulling at your heartstrings in this novel. I love the way she uses the situations in this novel with Silas and Crockett almost like God pursing a lost sheep. All along the way it isn't so much what Crockett says, but the actions he does that reaches out to the hardened heart of Silas and offers him a glimpse of the life his former wife had prayed so long for before she died. I'd rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and finds its home along with my other Karen Whitmeyer novels. Welcome home Stealing the Preacher, welcome home! A must read for all western romance fans!!!

For more information about Stealing the Preacher, Karen Whitmeyer or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Stealing the Preacher by Karen Whitmeyer

You can also follow Karen Whitmeyer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour on Stealing the Preacher, click here.

Karen Witemeyer is "kindling" the excitement for Stealing the Preacher (Bethany House) with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and connecting with readers at her June 18th Facebook Author Chat Party!








One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire


• Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer 
  


Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at 4pm on June 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Stealing the Preacher" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 18th. Connect with Karen for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Karen will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.




So grab your copy of Stealing the Preacher and join Karen on the evening of June 18th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

A Texan's Choice

To say that Rosemary Colson was having a bad day was simply an understatement. Not only has her father died today, but on the heels of his funeral, an hired gun, Scout Proffitt shows up to notify the family that their farm belongs to him. He won it in a card game with their now deceased father. Seems like he never did anything right when it came to his family. Now just moments after burying her father, Rosemary watches as her mother and sister pack up what little belongings they have and ride off, leaving her behind. Her mothers parting words to her were that she made so many poor choice when it came to finding someone to marry her, that now she must make a way for herself. She has only one other choice and that's to find a way to convince Scout Proffitt to let her stay on the ranch to take care of the cooking and cleaning.

Little did Scout Proffitt realize how much he would get when he came to claim the land he had won against Ben Colson. He didn't want to spend time caring for another young woman when the last time he had done so it resulted in suicide when he couldn't offer her what she wanted. He didn't want to get involved in this situation again in caring for another, but then again, he couldn't just turn her away like her own mother did. He'd spent his whole life running and perhaps now with a chance to settle down and own a ranch, perhaps his old way of life is about to change. If only everyone else would believe that he is a changed man despite his legendary rumors that run contrary to those beliefs.

In book three of the Heart of a Hero Series by Shelley Gray, A Texan's Choice shows how difficult it is to leave our tainted pasts behind us and attempt to start over again. For both Scout and Rose, the scenarios are similar but different. Each of them is strong-willed when it comes to what they both believe is right for their lives but find themselves crossing paths more often than not. When a string of thefts in town come too close for comfort the past is about to reunited with the present and Scout is about to learn that sometimes people aren't willing to let the past be forgotten!

I received A Texan's Choice by Shelley Gray compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Abingdon Press for my honest review and have to say, I love how this entire series has come together with this one being the conclusion. I've had the delight to read all the books in this delightful series and Christian Western Romances are a huge favorite genre for me. In each, there is a moral lesson that is overcome and the challenges of living the life on the western frontier make them all the more challenging, when guns are often used to resolve disputes and women can be treated as mere property. Times were hard, life was living fast and short but in the end, the goal is always achieved. It often makes you wonder how many times people wondered if there was a different way of dealing with things over the way life played out. Shelley gives the reader an idea that things weren't always easy and the choices had tough consequences in the end. I personally rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about A Texan's Choice, Shelley Gray or where you can pick up a copy of this series today, please click on the links below:

A Texan's Choice by Shelley Gray

You can find Shelley Gray on Facebook. 

You can also find more reviews from the Pump Up Your Book Tour for A Texan's Choice.

You can also find the other books in this series through your local retailer:

# 1 - A Texan's Promise
# 2 - A Texan's Honor
# 3 - A Texan's Choice

The Trouble With Cowboys

"If Dylan had a heart, she was sure it was unwoundable. Made of something springy and elastic that sent oncoming darts bouncing off. Typical cowboy.

She skimmed the menu, unseeing. "That seat's taken."

"Your sister joining you?"

Like she couldn't possibly have a date? "What's that supposed to mean?"

His hands went up in surrender. "I was hoping to join you."

"I have a date."

His head tipped back slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Ah...who's the lucky guy?"

"What do you want Dylan?"

He tilted the chair onto its back legs, and she found herself wishing it would fall. But that kind of thing never happened to men like Dylan.

"I have a proposition," he said, his eyes roaming her face.

Her cheeks grew warm and she hated that. Cursed Irish blood and fair skin. She swore he said things like that on purpose. She focused on the menu. On the photo of barbecue ribs that were actually better than they looked.

"Not interested."

"In all seriousness," he said, his voice dropping the teasing tone, "I got a horse that needs help. Wondered if you'd drop by next week and take a look at him. It's my best horse - Braveheart. He's got moon blindness. The vet thinks I ought to put him down." (pg 2-3).

And that is the trouble with cowboys, they rope you in with their kind words, endearing tone and sad puppy dog eyes and before you know it, you're bound up in emotion and put your heart on the line for love. Then they leave you just as fast as they come. At least that was the pattern that Annie Wilkerson had seen in both her own father and the man who left her sister pregnant, both of them cowboys. Now if Annie, can find a way to stay away from smooth talking Dylan, she might be safe but she had a heart for horses and agreed to work with Braveheart on her terms and not Dylans. Too bad her heart didn't understand the plan first.

In the latest novel from The Big Sky Romance series from Denise Hunter, The Trouble With Cowboys takes the reader into a very complicated situation in which both Annie and Dylan have difficulties dealing with their personal past hurts that keep them from seeing the reality of the true person in front of them. They have both vowed to make a commitment to keep from falling in love, Annie vows to swear off all cowboys and Dylan agrees never to get too serious with any one woman to avoid the pain of falling in love again. What they both will find is that God often has different plans in mind and it's only through His timing, that true healing can take place, no matter how hard we may try to dig our heels in.

I received The Trouble With Cowboys by Denise Hunter, compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I've had the complete delight to read all three books in the Big Sky Romance series and if you're a Christian Western Romantic at heart with a love for cowboys and the romance, then this series is geared to capture your heart! I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and hope Denise might be inspired to write just one more in this series. The Trouble with Cowboys even blends a portion of the novel Smitten in this one, which she co-authored with many other talented Christian writers. This is also what I would define as a contemporary western because it's based in the present not the historical old west. This has found a home in my personal library and one that I will enjoy time and time again.

For more information on The Trouble With Cowboys, Denise Hunter or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Trouble with Cowboys by Denise Hunter

You can also become a follower of Denise Hunter's on Facebook

The Big Sky Romance Series: 

# 1 - A Cowboy's Touch

# 2 - The Accidental Bride

# 3 - The Trouble with Cowboys

Denise Hunter’s “The Trouble with Cowboys” Facebook Party & Kindle Fire Giveaway



To celebrate the release of The Trouble with Cowboys Denise is hosting a fun Author Chat Party on Facebook. She'll connect with readers and give away some amazing prizes - including a Kindle Fire! 
Save the Date for October 11th!



Grab your copy of Denise Hunter’s latest book and join her for an Author Chat Party on October 11th at 8:00 PM EST (that’s 7:00 Central, 6:00 MST, & 5:00 PST)! Haven’t read The Trouble with Cowboys yet? That’s okay, don’t let that stop you from coming to the party! (You may win a copy!)



During the evening she’ll be sharing the story behind the book, posting discussion questions, testing your trivia skills, and of course, there will be plenty of chatting and fun giveaways – books, gift certificates and – a Kindle Fire! She’ll also be giving you a sneak peek of her next book too!



RSVP today and then come back on the 11th … and bring your friends!

Lady Anne's Quest

Anne Stone has been searching for quite some time for the only remaining family she has left. Her parents died within months of one another and now, her future lies in finding her Uncle David Stone. Traveling along the Oregon Trail by wagon is not where she would have dreamed her search would lead her, especially since leaving her family's estate in London, England. But if she couldn't find her Uncle David, the estate would fall into her cousin Randolph's hands because her parents had no sons to leave the estate to, and a woman could not become heir to the estate. All the money that was tied up, now rested in Anne's hand to locate her Uncle David. Since he hadn't kept in communication, she has been searching for his whereabouts for quite some time, and she now believes he has settled in a ranch in Oregon.

Anne has made those who know her real identity keep it a secret because people had a tendency to treat her differently if they knew she was an heir to an estate in London and was considered a true Lady! But that doesn't stop Dan Adams from falling head over heels in love, even proposing to Anne along the wagon trail. But Anne can't fall in love with anyone until she can resolve her future and for now that means finding her uncle, no matter where it takes her or how long she must travel.

When Anne finds her Uncle's ranch, she is more than surprised to see he is not alone and not at all like the Uncle she remembers from her childhood. Long gone are his well-bred manners and English accent. He has gained considerable weight and has apparently married a woman named Millie. When she informs him of the deaths of his only brothers, he doesn't seem the least bit concerned and instead wants to know more about his inheritance. Anne soon realizes along with Dan that the man, she believed was her Uncle is not really him and soon learns it is a man her Uncle hired to watch over the ranch in his absence while he went mining for gold.

They call in the sheriff who has the man arrested but the woman, Millie flees on horseback. It seems Sam Hastings and his sister Millie are con-artists and have been hired to make sure that David Stone winds up dead and that Anne Stone doesn't find him. What could the connection be and who is behind it all? Will Anne find her Uncle before the Hastings do? Can she save him in time?

I received Lady Anne's Quest by Susan Page Davis compliments of Barbour Publishers and Net Galley for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from start to finish. I couldn't imagine how a lady of proper upbringing could endure have to search for her uncle along a wagon trail and later on horse back during the worst types of weather imaginable while learning that she would need to depend on others to help her along the way from Dan Adams to a cast of lovable characters like the miner Whitey! This one is a must read for those who love a bit of historical elegance along the western trail! I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read more in the Prairie Dreams series! This is the second book in the series and since I hadn't read the first one, I can honestly say it doesn't need to be read to understand where this one picks up. However, I can't wait to go back and see what I missed out on in the first book!

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616264403
• ISBN-13: 978-1616264406
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches

Lady Anne's Quest by Susan Page Davis

You can also find Susan Page Davis on Facebook by clicking here.

The books in the series are:

The Lady's Maid (1st)
Lady Anne's Quest (2nd)
A Lady in the Making (3rd)

End of the Trail

Brooks Morgan never saw the importance of learning how to run his family's ranch because he had no intention of taking it over when it was time. He also never understood the needs for doing so many chores when there were plenty of other brothers and sisters to do it. He'd rather spend his time fishing, hanging out with his friends or riding his Morgan, Jester. Yet when a confrontation with his father left him feeling less than wanted, he rode off and never looked back.

Yet when opportunity presented itself to Brooks through needs of an elderly but friendly old man, Will Langston who hired him to help him out while he was dying, Brooks knew he couldn't run from this. In time, he actually grew to appreciate and care for Will and when fate dealt him a winning hand in a poker game, he found himself the new owner of Raven Creek Ranch, a 4000 acre cattle ranch owned by Will, with the promise he would care for Keri. When Will returns from town he finds the cabin in a disarray and Will looks to have been murdered. Rather than spend his time searching for revenge, the Marshall tells Brooks to head out to the ranch and leave the investigation to him.

Keri Langston has spent two grueling years at Wesleyan Female College in Georgia and couldn't wait for her final days to be free. Even though she went under duress, she knew her Uncle and the boys on the ranch couldn't help her with knowing what a lady should know even though she didn't want it. They knew if she didn't attend finishing school, the likelihood of her finding a suitable husband would be hard to come by. Now she was looking forward to getting back to her Uncle's ranch and out of corsets and dresses and back into trousers and boots!

When Keri arrives in town, she finds it odd that no one arrives to pick her up from the train station but believes perhaps her Uncle or one of the ranch hands didn't receive her letter informing them of her arrival and decides to head home. Along the way, she comes across a man about to be hanged and she knows that no justice ever comes from vigilante hangings. She is advised by the men to head on out so they can dispense with their task but Keri doesn't like anyone telling her what to do. She warns the men to turn the man loose or risk her wrath with a loaded shotgun. She sends them enough knowledge about her shooting skills when she shots the noose off the man and they leave but with a warning, they are both going to pay for this! What Keri doesn't realize is the man she saved is Brooks Morgan, the new owner of the ranch she still believes is hers and this is where the story gets exciting! But you'll have to pick up the book because that is all in the first couple chapters and there is loads more excitement behind the covers of Vickie McDonough's latest novel, End of the Trail, the six and final book in the Texas Trail Series.

So if you love a great western romance with a little bit of intrigue and laughs tossed in for good measure, you'll want to pick this one up. But with it comes a warning. If you haven't read the other 5 books in the series, you'll want to pick those up as well but you can read this one as a stand alone and still LOVE it! They are written by different authors but it is a series you will truly love from beginning to end as they each contribute something unique through their writing skills to make this an incredible ride!

I received End of the Trail compliments of Moody Publishers and Net Galley for my honest review and have to say being a huge Christian Western Romance lover, this one spoke to my heart and soul. I love the strong female character of Keri Langston and seeing how she handles the men that she meets along the way, doesn't show a girl can't wear a dress and still know how to rope, ride and shot like the best of the men. I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and just know you'll love it too!

For more information on End of the Trail, Vickie McDonough or where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

End of the Trail by Vickie McDonough

The other books in the Texas Trails series are:

#1 Lone Star Trail by Darlene Franklin
#2 Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis
#3 The Long Trail Home by Vickie McDonough
#4 A Ranger's Trail by Darlene Franklin
#5 Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis
#6 End of the Trail by Vickie McDonough

Over The Edge

How can you completely forget that you're married? Or that you have a son? Well that's exactly what is happening to Seth Kincaid, the youngest of the Kincaid brothers who suddenly finds himself at the scene of a stagecoach robbery. Only Seth is the one being shot at. When more men arrive from Colorado City with the sheriff, the learn that the only occupant remaining in the stagecoach is a woman, named Callie who was defending the coach against the robbers who already shot both the driver and his partner.

When Seth finds out the woman in the coach is his long-forgotten wife Callie, he immediately picks up right where he left off, carrying for her injuries and learning he has a son, Connor that was rescued by the parson when he left to go find help during the robbery. Now Callie is hailed as a hero by the town for saving the lives of the men from the stage coach but she only wants answers to why Seth left her and never came back. But Seth has been having many lapses in memory and that is why he is living on the land provided to him by the remaining Kincaid brothers, Rafe and Ethan in his own cabin. This way they can watch over him but still allow him to live an independent life.
Only what will they say when they learn that Seth has a family that has come calling for him?

In the Kincaid Bride Series by Mary Connealy, Over The Edge is the third novel that digs deeper into the lives of each of the Kincaid brothers with this one detailing Seth's life a little more. The brothers lives and those of their families still remain at stake when a man is still looking for them, Henry Jasper Duff who he believes has his money that was stolen by Wendell Gilliland. Now Jasper has had to live on the run hiding with his wife Bea, from those that he owes a great deal of money to from his opium trades. No matter how much Bea tries to convince him to forget the money, Jasper is just bidding his time until he can corner the brothers and get back what he believes belongs to him.

I received Over The Edge compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. Having read the previous two in this series, Out of Control and In Too Deep, I couldn't wait to read this one to get to know Seth Kincaid more. Having experiences PTSD from the Civil War, Seth at times has the mind of a much younger man who sees things in a much simpler format, being more spontaneous in his actions and a bit impulsive at times without thinking things through. He also suffers from horrible nightmares which Callie still remembers that border more on night terrors. I couldn't wait to see where the money has been hidden or if there is a stash of money since it has been the conflict that runs through the other two novels in the series and keeps the family's constantly looking over their shoulders for the next threat on their lives. I can easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and if you truly love a great Christian Western Romance with a touch of suspense added, then you will LOVE this series.

For more information about Over The Edge, Mary Connealy or where to pick up this book, you can click on the links below:

Over The Edge by Mary Connealy

You can also check out more reviews from the book tour at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance.

You can find Mary Connealy on Facebook by clicking here.

Cowgirl Trail

Maggie Porter has grown up on the Rocking P Ranch and has come to love everything there is to about ranching, from riding horses, roping and driving cattle. As a young girl at 13, she had developed a school girl crush for ranch-hand Alex Bright because he didn't treat her any different because she was the bosses daughter.

Now that she has returned to the Rocking P as an older women, she wonders if that same crush exists and she can't wait to see Alex again. When she arrives home on the ranch, she learns Alex has been promoted as foreman, but even though her heart continues to chase after Alex, she finds out that things on the ranch aren't running as smoothly as her father would like. Maggie returns home after a long stay from helping her ill mother at the sanatorium and later attending her funeral, she finds her father isn't his usual self. She believes he is taking her mother's grief harder than she expected and learns that he has relinquished most of the ranch's task to Alex instead of being there on hand to help.

Maggie learns from Alex that most of the men are considering striking against the Rocking P, since her father has taken back some of the benefits they used to have working for him, from herding their own cattle on the ranch, to basic help in maintaining the bunkhouses and they haven't had a pay raise in ten years. Things get worse when Leo, one of the ranch hands is injured and her father refuses to help. He tells Leo that his wife will have to take him to town to see a doctor because he can't spare any men. That leaves Leo's wife, Sela to have to manage with an infant and leave her three young boys in the care of Dolores, the housekeeper. But when her father learns of this, he dismisses the boys and Sela to town because he can't afford to help them manage their family affairs on the ranch.

This places Maggie and Alex in the middle as Alex attempts to keep the men working on the ranch at least til they finish the cattle drive and they can get paid, while Maggie tries in vain to find out what is going on with the change in her father. It goes against how he has managed the ranch up to this point and if they can't reach a compromise, the ranch will fail.

In the novel, Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis, the reader is transported back to Brady, Texas during the late 1800's for a look at what it takes to manage and run a large cattle ranch and how people made a living back then, either running a ranch or helping to maintain it. I feel for Maggie Porter, because as a daughter she is stuck between her loyalty to her father and toward helping the men when she feels her father is out of line. Will she be able to help them all find a compromise or will the ranch be lost along with her dreams of falling in love with Alex?

I received Cowgirl Trail compliments of Moody Publishers and Net Galley for my honest review and being a huge fan of Christian Western Romances, I absolutely loved this one. Susan Page Davis creates a different type of conflict and the way she has Maggie attempt to handle this as the only child of the Rocking P is brilliant and virtually unheard of in most western fictional books but one that works well in this one. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and shows the strength that can be required of us when faced with challenging and difficult situations if we are willing to look to God for answers! This is book 5 in the Texas Trails series and one I've really enjoyed if you love westerns!!

For more information on Cowgirl Trail, Susan Page Davis or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Cowgirl Trail by Susan Page Davis

You can also stay up with the latest from Susan Page Davis on Facebook.

Tall, Dark and Determined

Wanted:

3 men, ages 24-35.
Must be God-fearing, healthy, hardworking single men with minimum of 3 years logging experience. Object: Marriage and joint ownership of sawmill.
Reply to Hope Falls, Colorado, postmaster by May 17

Braden Lyman convinced 4 women to invest in a Colorado mining town, Hope Falls. When the mining town suffers a tragic mine collapse, leaving Braden himself a victim now bedridden, the town itself is on the verge of collapse. The women who were in Charleston at the time, rush back to Hope Falls after learning Braden has miraculously survived, it's only to hear him denounce them as fools. Lacy, Braden's sister convinces the women that despite the mine collapse, she has an idea that could help the town recover. She proposes turning the mining town into a sawmill by buying up the surrounding land, but they need to hire men - and they need investors - or husbands and that is where the idea for the ad came into play. Little did the women imagine that these men would show up in person to apply not only for the job but for potential husbands as well.

Chase Dunstan, has tracked one of his former brother in laws, Robert Kane, to a jail cell to learn about his own brothers death in a mine collapse that left his sister, Laura now a widow using what little money there was as a settlement to start a new life. He has to know the answers to the reasons behind the collapse, the way it was handled afterward, what current plans pushed Braden to stay in Hope Falls and what did any of this have to do with the incredible ad. He believes that there is more to this collapse than what he knows and sets out to investigate in Hope Falls, when the ad arrives in the paper looking for experienced logging men/husbands. Might just be the perfect way to get to know the owners of the town and look for clues to what might have happened to his brother in law.

When he arrives in Hope Falls, Chase sees men being forced on to the train against their wishes to go. He also sees a man, Granger, who he used to work for three years back working as a guide through prospective timberland higher in the Rockies. Having Granger here in Hope Falls, the claim they're trying to build a sawmill gains credibility. Grangers know lumber like no other family in North America. But why were the men calling him Creed? These men were the rough customers who insulted ladies and brawled in the streets, and now caught fighting were being ordered to leave town on the next train out of Hope Falls.



What exactly was really going on in the town of Hope Falls and just what did the ladies behind the ad have to do with it all? You'll have to pick up a copy of Kelly Eileen Hake's novel, Tall, Dark and Determined to find out. This is the second book in the Husbands for Hire series and draws an interesting parallel on the mail order brides idea. This book does have a confusing start, but once you iron out the details of who is whom, you're off on a really great adventure. At times, it seems the story is a bit faced paced and I found myself going back to re-read parts of it again to clarify what I had missed. I would have preferred to see this one slow down a bit because the premise behind it all was a great reason to draw my initial interests in.

I received this novel compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for my honest review. Being a huge fan of the western romance genre I was hoping for a bit more than I got. However, I am determined not to give up on this series just yet. I rate this one a 3 out of 5 stars and look forward to picking up the first book in this series, to see if I may have missed something that would have aided me in understanding the story of these characters more.

For more information on Tall, Dark and Determined, Kelly Eileen Hake or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

Tall, Dark and Determined by Kelly Eileen Hake

Beauty for Ashes

Once again Dorothy Love has managed to draw me in as a reader and create such timeless characters that I am immediately rooting for them the entire way through the novel. In the second book in the Hickory Ridge Romance Series, Beauty for Ashes picks up with the life of Carrie Daly who is making preparations to attend her brother Henry's wedding. While retrieving her dress from the dressmakers, she finds herself in immediate danger from a runaway horse who is spooked from the whistle of the train. Just at the last minute, Carrie is rescued by Griffin Rutledge, a handsome horse trainer in town on business.

This is the true definition of falling in love, and the sparks between Carrie and Griffin are immediately lit even though Carrie is being courted by Nate Chastain, the local bookstore owner. Nate's been proposing to Carrie for many years but she just can't seem to find the same feelings for Nate as she did for her husband who left her a widow. Could the sparks between Griffin and Carrie be what has been missing for both of their lives?

When Henry's new wife, Mary and her young sons, Caleb and Joe, leave Carrie with no alternative but to move out of her family home, she finds a room in the Verandah Hotel where she hopes to earn money taking care of the cooking and cleaning. However she finds once more, that she has been replaced by Rosaleen Dupre', a fancy lady with a sorted past, that will weave her way in and around the residents of Hickory Ridge, even though they won't see it coming.

I received Beauty for Ashes compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I love the strength that Carrie possesses, not being afraid of what people think, and isn't afraid to speak her mind. I can't imagine being treated so poorly by her new sister-in-law, Mary who seems to think that Carrie will now be her maid while she is living in the house. Not only that but her younger boys, Caleb and Joe have no manners or respect for Carrie, telling her on one to many occasions that she is not there mother and they don't have to pay her any mind! I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the third book in this series.

If you've never read any of Dorothy Love's book, please pick up this series. She will take you back to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee for a definite adventure in western historical fiction with some great romance thrown in for a treat! The best part of this book is that it can be read as a stand alone, but trust me, you'll want to pick up Beyond All Measure to capture the whole story of the residents of Hickory Ridge!

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love

You can also find Dorothy on Facebook by clicking here.

Chasing The Sun

Author Tracie Peterson has launched a new series of Christian Historical Westerns with the Land of the Lonestar Series and the first book, Chasing the Sun. Set in 1863 in Texas, the reader finds herself with the main character Hannah Dandridge who has received news that her father has been taken prisoner by the Yankees by her father's business and law partner Herbert Lockhart. Even though Hannah doesn't believe her father has done anything wrong by merely going to Mississippi to bury his mother and Hannah's brother Benjamin who died when the Yankees attacked Vicksburg. Thanks to the rapid response in receiving the news two months after their deaths. Now her father is missing and she doesn't know what has happened.

Now the sole responsibility of caring for the ranch her father had recently acquired and since Hannah's doesn't know how long it will be before her father returns, this is a great burden to bear. Not only does she need to care for the upkeep of the ranch but also for her two siblings, Andy who was eight and Marty who was five. How could she possibly keep the news from them about the whereabouts of her father? Now Mr. Lockhart wants to extend his partnership to include Hannah and she is considering the possibility if her father never returns. Hannah sees no other prospects at 24 and saddled with her current burden until William Barnett shows up wounded at the ranch.

Thus the storyline begins to unfold with the intentions of both Barnett and Lockhart ultimately trying to win Hannah's affection. Yet just who will Hannah chose and what will become of the ranch and her father?

I received, Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and have to say I loved it. Even though you can probably predict the outcome by the end, the story that Tracie weaves allows the readers to root for the good guy and boo for the bad one! Another winner for those who love western romances with a Godly message blended in. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my book.

For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

You can also find Tracie on Facebook by clicking here.

Love Blooms In Winter

It's 1892 in the small town of Dwadlo, North Dakota just as winter is beginning to set in. When I refer to Dwadlo being a small town, it is just that. All the buildings in town from the post office, general store, bank and the residents homes are all within a few short blocks either way. The train station literally ends at Dwadlo and here is where we find the setting of our story and meet the characters from Love Blooms in Winter, book 1 in the Dakota Diaries series by Lori Copeland who is fast becoming a personal favorite writer for me.

Here we meet Mae Wilkey who runs the post office within the general store and helps out when she can with the customers who come in for various supplies. Mae is also the sole provider for both herself and her younger brother Jeremy, who is 13, but mentally acts like 9 due to issues with his birth. Mae's parents died and now she cares for Jeremy as well as Pauline, a 92-year-old woman who needs constant care to due her age and mental capability. She lives alone caring for all the towns stray animals who are constantly finding their way to Pauline's home. Mae fears that once she marries Jake, the local well-to-do lawyer, there will be no one left to care for Pauline.

So Mae takes it upon herself to find out of Pauline has any living relatives who might be able to care for her. While cleaning out Pauline's desk, she uncovers the name and address of Tom Curtis, but the problem is, Pauline in her moments of clarity can't remember if he's related to her or not. So Mae sends a letter explaining the circumstances in hopes that Tom is in fact related to Pauline and can come care for her in the time she has remaining.

When Tom Curtis receives Mae's letter, he thinks it's a practical joke being played on him by one of the railroad employees. However, when a second letter arrives, Tom makes arrangements to check out the details of the letter and arrives to pay Mae a visit. What he doesn't plan on, is that his so-called routine life is about to get the biggest upheaval he will ever know.



I received Love Blooms in Winter compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and was captured in Mae's story. Not only in caring for her mentally challenged younger brother Jeremy, but also for her neighbor Pauline. Mae is a true do-gooder with a heart for everyone. She tries her best to be the best she can, even though she has been waiting six long years for Jake to ask her to marry him. She is by far, my favorite character in the book, because she is always putting everyone else's needs above her own. I can't wait to read the next book in this series as Lori Copeland writes her stories so well, you feel like you're part of the action! I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Love Blooms in Winter by Lori Copeland

Long Trail Home

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Long Trail Home Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (November 1, 2011) by Vickie McDonough



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Vickie McDonough is an award-winning author of twenty-four books and novellas. Her books have won the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, Texas Gold, the ACFW Noble Theme contest, and she has been a multi-year finalist in ACFW’s BOTY/Carol Awards. She was voted Third Favorite Author in the Heartsong Presents Annual Readers Contest in 2009. Vickie is the author of the fun and feisty Texas Boardinghouse Brides series from Barbour Publishing. She has also authored two books in the Texas Trails: A Morgan Family series, in which she partners with Susan Page Davis and Darlene Franklin to write a six-book series that spans fifty years of the Morgan family. Also, next year brings the release of a new series from Guidepost/Summerside: Pioneer Promises, set in 1870s Kansas.



ABOUT THE BOOK

The Long Trail Home is third in a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. Although a series, each book can be read on its own.When Riley Morgan returns home after fighting in the War Between the States, he is excited to see his parents and fiancee again. But he soon learns that his parents are dead and the woman he loved is married. He takes a job at the Wilcox School for the blind just to get by. He keeps his heart closed off but a pretty blind woman, Annie, threatens to steal it. When a greedy man tries to close the school, Riley and Annie band together to fight him and fall in love.But when Riley learns the truth about Annie, he packs and prepares to leave the school that has become his home and the woman who has thawed his heart. Will he change his mind and find the love he craves' Or will stubbornness deprive him from the woman he needs' Through painful circumstances, Riley and Annie learn that the loving and sovereign hand of God cannot be thwarted.



If you would like to read the Prologue of Long Trail Home, go HERE.

Hope Rekindled

Sometimes placing your faith in God's Hands, uncertain of where the outcome might be is a true test of a believer.

Just when life seemed to have settled down for Deborah Vandermark and her soon to be husband, Dr. Christopher Clayton Kelleher, that it's about to be thrown for a loop. Just a week before their wedding is planned, Christopher receives a telegram from his family in Kansas City. A tragedy has occurred and he is needed quick. No other details are known since sending a telegram can be quite expensive and his family wouldn't be able to afford much.

Placing trust in God's Hands, Deborah does her best to provide confidence and assurance to Christopher that she will wait for him, no matter what, and that his presence is needed with his family now, whatever has happened. Although she begins to question what will happen to them and their plans for a wedding and a future.

When Christopher arrives in Kansas City, he is more than shocked to see that his family home is nothing more than a pile of smoldering ash. His home has burned to the ground and claimed the life of his mother and father, leaving his five younger siblings behind as orphans. Not knowing how Deborah will handle the responsibility of having a ready made family, he offers up a prayer to God and rests knowing that whatever will happen, won't be a surprise for God.

While Vandermark Logging struggles financially now that the sawmill has burned to the ground, they await the decision of Stuart Albright and Mr. Longstreet to determine whether or not it will be rebuilt. The Vandermarks are locked into a contract with Stuart that prohibits them from selling their logs to anyone but Stuart and right now, he isn't in any hurry to make a decision. He makes it known to Deborah Vandermark, that since her family interferred with his plans to wed Lizzie, his goals are to make them suffer even if it means killing someone in her family, including her.

In the latest book in the Striking A Match series, Hope Rekindled by Tracie Peterson, picks up the story of the Vandermark's once more in book three. This one is a true testament of where the faith of one family and the community of Perkinsville will be tested and the battle between good and evil will be waged.

This series has been such a great one to be a part of for the entire journey and this one will hold the reader to the very end to see how it will all play out. From the complicated, love-less marriage between Stuart Albright and his wife Jael, to the financial struggles of Vandermark Logging when people are leaving town in hopes of a better life someone else. In addition, Deborah and Christopher have their own struggles in dealing with their upcoming marriage and the addition of five children to their soon-to-be family.

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review, and can say once more I fell in love with all the characters. Deborah is my favorite because she struggles with her personal faith more than once in deciding what God's will is for her life, becoming a wife, a doctor or a mom with Christopher. She also is challenged in dealing with her families financial struggles as well as supporting the black community in Perkinsville, while racial tension runs rampant with The Hand of God controlling the law in the town. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars!!!

Here's even more great information about the book, the author and where you can pick up a copy of Hope Rekindled.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hope Rekindled Bethany House (June 1, 2011) by Tracie Peterson



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.

She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.



In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.



She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.



Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.



Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max. She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books





ABOUT THE BOOK

Will Love Escape Her Grasp?



Life seems to be falling into place for Deborah Vandermark. On the cusp of finally marrying Christopher, the man who claimed her heart, she is devastated when he receives an urgent telegram. Bound to his family obligations, Christopher travels to Kansas City, uncertain of what he will find there.



When her fiancé returns to Texas, Deborah is faced with a very different future than she expected. She finds herself plagued with questions and uncertainty...about marriage, motherhood, and her passion to train as a physician. And when an old adversary reveals a contract that may spell ruin for Vandermark Logging, Deborah's life seems to be spiraling out of control. Can Christopher and Deborah find a way to claim the future they long to share when so much stands in the way?



If you'd like to read the first chapter of Hope Rekindled, go HERE.