A TEXAN'S PROMISE by Shelley Gray

Vanessa Grant has always loved Clayton Proffitt, foreman of her family's ranch, the Circle Z. When Clayton finds Vanessa crying in the barn one night he discovers that her stepfather, Price Venture, made unwelcome advances toward her and left marks on her back with his belt. Remembering the vow he made to her real father to watch over Vanessa, he packs a few things and takes her away that night. As they head West together their feelings for each other grow deeper and deeper. Price and her brother Miles are also heading west in search of them. The journey is long and difficult. Will their love and faith survive all the things they must face along the way?

A Texan's Promise is going down as one of my top favorites! A gritty and realistic tone gave this tale a real authenticity. From the first page until the hair-raising conclusion I was absolutely glued to the pages. I loved everything about this story including the cover. The characters were very well drawn and fully fleshed out. The dialog was totally awesome. The romantic tension between Clayton and Vanessa sizzled. The electricity between them was so strong it lit the room I was reading in. I loved it! One thing I thoroughly enjoyed was that there was lots of interaction between Vanessa and Clayton. Clayton was a swoon-worthy hero! I loved the way he was with Vanessa. Vanessa was a great heroine with lots of spunk but a tender heart. The author tackled the subjects of abuse, trust, forgiveness, war, honor, friendship, love and faith. I especially liked watching the growth of the characters. It really felt natural and not forced at all. God is always with us was the theme running through the story. A good reminder when we face difficult things. I highly recommend A Texan's Promise. It's truly inspiring. This is book one in The Heart of a Hero Series and you can bet I'll be watching for the next installment. Fantastic job Shelley!!! A thank you goes to Abingdon Press for this complimentary copy for my review.
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (October 2011)
ISBN-10: 1426714599
ISBN-13: 978-1426714597