skip to main |
skip to sidebar
She was a little girl when the Comanches stole her from her white family. She has lived with the Comanches for years but a deep part of her has vague memories of her white family that her soul clings to. When a Comanche warrior, she doesn't wish to marry, leaves a dowry of six horses at her family's teepee, she uses one of those horses to run away from her village back to the white world she was taken from. When her horse has an accident, she's left with an injured foot, no horse and complete exhaustion. Ned Bright is a driver for the Butterfield Overland Mail Company. Along with the mail they carry a few passengers. On one of the first runs they make, they take two nuns to their mission station. While in route they come upon a woman who's practically dead. She appears white but dressed in Comanche clothing. The nuns take her to the mission station to heal. Ned searches for the true identity of Taabe Waipu and finally finds out who she is and wants to bring her family together again. Her Comanche warrior, however, wants her back and will stop at nothing to get her. Will he be successful?
I enjoyed Captive Trail. It was one of those stories that grows on you as you read it. I enjoyed meeting all the characters. Taabe Waipu is a woman of great strength and as I was reading I was wondering if I would have been as strong she. I wasn't sure I was going to like Ned in the beginning but he really was a great guy. I would say this story is more of a historical than a romance although there is a touch of romance in it along with a bit of mystery. It's not what I would consider a fast paced story but toward the very end it became pretty intense and the ending was great! How the Lord can get us through impossible situations if we trust Him was the message I walked away with. I did feel the characters were well drawn and that the story was true to it's time period. This is book 2 in the Morgan Family Series but can be read as a stand-alone. A thank you goes to the publisher for providing this complimentary copy for my review through Netgalley.
Publisher: Moody Publishers (September 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0802405843
ISBN-13: 978-0802405845
Caffey Matthews is hiding her true identity to keep her deceased husband's enemies from finding her. She finds a new life and renews her faith in a remote ranch land. Rhee Ryland is a private investigator hired to find Caffey because his clients feel she has something to do with her late husbands shady dealings. What he doesn't expect to find is a loving, caring, down-to-earth woman who helps him remember his childhood faith.
This was a great little romantic suspense. I was quite surprised how full this story felt for being so short. I liked Rhee and Caffey and the secondary characters as well. There was one part of the story that was a little hard for me to believe (when Rhee talks to Zak's folks at the wedding) but that didn't detract from the story. There was a twist toward the end that I did not expect but I felt like it really enhanced the story a lot. The author reminds us in this tale that we should trust in the Lord and rely on Him. Always a great reminder. If you're looking for a quick but great romantic suspense give Faithful Danger a try.
Megan Connors is a Secret Service Agent who desires to one day protect the president of the United States. Ash Zinders, who's tough and critical, is also a Secret Service Agent who desires the same position of protecting the president. When the vice president's daughter, Lindsey, has behavior that's out of control and then receives threats, Megan and Ash are both assigned the difficult job of keeping her safe at a secluded ranch in West Texas. When the threats continue it's evident that more is involved than meets the eye. Megan and Ash try to fit the pieces together of a very complicated and dangerous puzzle. Will they figure it out in time?
DiAnn Mill's tag line is "expect an adventure". That's a great description for Attracted to Fire. The story was a definite page-turner as you gather information along with the lead couple. I enjoyed getting to know Ash & Megan. Their relationship seemed very natural. I enjoyed how Megan handled Lindsey and encouraged her to trust in the One who cares most for her. Getting a glimpse into the life of a secret agent was very interesting as it's something I've not really thought about. Would you be willing to take a bullet for someone? I liked how the author keeps the story at a steady pace until right near the end. I couldn't turn pages fast enough. The story felt true to life with all it's ups and downs. Along with some very tense moments there is also some great humor. I really like that. If you like a good romantic suspense then you won't want to miss Attracted to Fire. A thank you goes to the publisher for providing this complimentary copy for my review through Netgalley.
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (October 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1414348649
ISBN-13: 978-1414348643
Carrie Carter runs Carrie's Cafe with her sister, Lindsey, in Seaside, New Jersey. Greg Barnes is an ex-cop, now property manager, who comes into the cafe everyday to eat. He pretty much keeps to himself, still hurting from the loss of his wife and children three years ago. Carrie is very drawn to Greg but he doesn't seem to notice she exists. Then her dishwasher is found dead and her waitress disappears. Greg finds himself wanting to help her and in the process also notices how very attracted he is to her. Carrie has some real trust issues and Greg doesn't know if he can ever love again. Will they be able to confront their fears and find love or will it be too late?
This was a story that caught me by surprise. The cover and title led me to think this was a cozy-type mystery. But it was oh-so-much-more than that. It's written in a first person POV which I must admit is not my favorite viewpoint. However, I found myself really drawn into the story and caring about the characters. The main characters have moments of reflection which tell their background story. I felt like all the characters, villains included, were very well drawn and realistic. This author tackled the subjects of love, loss, child abuse, cults, murder, alcoholism, PTSD and second chances. The seriousness of the subjects was not at all what I expected when I began reading the book but it had a depth to it that really surprised me. The theme running throughout the story was 'there is a time for every purpose under heaven' and I think the author did a wonderful job playing that out. The story starts out at a somewhat slow pace but continues to build and culminates to an nail-biting conclusion. I have to add that though the story dealt with serious subjects there were plenty of humorous moments to break the tension. I thoroughly enjoyed Shadows on the Sand and would definitely recommend it to those who like a good romantic suspense. A thank you goes to the publisher and Librarything for providing this complimentary copy for my review.
Cassandra Channing finds herself in the position of caring for her mother and sisters. She has money to invest but no one will allow to because she's a woman. Left with little choice she aligns herself with Captain Luke Heaton, privateer, also know as the town rogue. Luke enjoys gambling and the taste of rum to bury the ghosts that seem to haunt him. In a game of piquet he wins a ship that needs repairs but then loses the money needed to repair it. He's delighted when Cassandra offers to invest in his ship. He can finally work closely with the woman he has always loved from afar. Cassandra has strong feelings toward Luke but is apprehensive about trusting him. Her friend Noah Brenin assures her that Luke is a good man. When circumstances arise that cause Cassandra to question what Luke is really up to she gets involved in way more than she bargained for.
Surrender the Dawn is the story I have waited for. We first met Luke Heaton in Surrender the Heart when his position was Noah's first mate. I admit I was drawn in by his roguish way and have been waiting for his story. I was not disappointed! Though rough around the edges he definitely won my heart. I totally enjoyed the banter between Cassandra and Luke. I sometimes wanted to shake Cassandra for her 'quick-to-think-the-worst' attitude. But I know I can be guilty of that as well. The theme running through the story is 'whatever happens to us, be it good or bad, is for our best interest and that God is good ALL the time'. A great thing to remember in our troubled times. One thing I always appreciate about MaryLu's writing is the amount of research she does. I love the way she brings history to life in a living breathing story. In this particular installment there is a special appearance of someone famous on the ship toward the end of the book which I thought was a really neat touch. Great job MaryLu! This is the third book in the Surrender to Destiny Series. It can be read as a stand alone but I would definitely recommend you start with book one, Surrender the Heart, then book 2, Surrender the Night for a much richer reading experience. A thank you goes to the author and publisher for this complimentary copy for my review.
Elizabeth Evans comes to stay with her brother in El Paso to learn the newspaper business. His writings expose the problems and dangers of living along the US and Mexican border. Elizabeth never expected to find herself in a shoot-out and then kidnapped by a corrupt Mexican general. Jake Nelson is a Texas Ranger. He and his men are the law in that area of unrest. When they get wind of Elizabeth's kidnapping they ride out to bring her back. Both are immediately drawn to each other, but Jake knows a Rangers life makes marriage and family almost impossible or does it? and Elizabeth isn't willing to risk heartache once again or is she?.
A River to Cross is an EXCELLENT story and going down as a top favorite of mine. WOW, from beginning to end I could not put the story down. I absolutely loved our lead couple. Jake and Elizabeth were outstanding characters. I fell in love with Jake. He has all the things I love to see in a hero. You really have to read the story to appreciate his character. Elizabeth was spunky, smart and full of grit. A great match for a certain Texas Ranger. I really appreciated the fact that there was a lot of interaction between the two of them. (To me that's what really makes it good.) And boy was it fun to watch. I also loved Jake's men. Seeing how they worked together was amazing. This story had it all, action, suspense and romance but it also had some very good humor. I found myself laughing in several spots. I enjoyed learning about Texas Rangers. How and why they got started along with how they were trained. It was a very interesting and turbulent time. It sounds like some of the things from today's headlines. The beautiful cover of this novel drew me in but the story inside is over-the-top-good! If you enjoy a great historical then don't miss this one. I highly recommend A River to Cross. Great job Yvonne! A thank you goes to the author and publisher for this complimentary copy for my review.
Izabella Golec has a past she'd like to forget. Like stalking her art professor, her unbecoming behavior toward him and the subsequent marriage to him. Roman Ricci also has a past. One where he was deeply hurt by a woman and for that reason he doesn't trust them. Not even Isabella. Especially when she walked out on him. But what happens when Roman, a now well know artist with a changed heart, shows up at Izabella's bed and breakfast? Can Roman melt her icy heart? Perhaps Cupid Cat will give him a hand!
I LOVED returning to Harmony Village and catching up with all the folks there. Once again Cupid Cat is up to his match-making tricks. Izabella and Roman are his focus this time around. Ladies, if you love romantic men then you will LOVE Roman. Wow, his way with Izabella had me fanning myself while I was reading! Izabella was a great leading lady. One who was flesh and blood real. Trust was the theme of the story. Not just learning how to trust 'someone' but mainly trusting God. Especially when we see things that cause us to doubt. This author weaves into the story the fact that we should never take our eyes off the Lord and always give Him our unconditional obedience. Great stuff! The best part is, that this great and timely message is wrapped up in an awesome story that you just can't put down. Harmony Village is so inviting it makes you want to live there. Actually while you're reading the story you feel like you do. On Wings of Trust is the fourth book in the Harmony Village Series and one I definitely recommend! Can't wait for the next installment! A thank you goes to the author for providing this complimentary copy for my review.
Lady Kendra Townsend is devastated when her father dies in an accident. Her wicked uncle Andrew is now in charge of the estate and requires that she marry the scoundrel he has chosen for her or sail to America and live with family she's never met. Knowing that God will take care of her and not wanting to marry the man her uncle chosen, America seems like her only choice. That is where she meets Captain Dorian Colburn. He's very handsome in a pirate kind of way. Captain Colburn has been burned by beautiful women before so the last thing he wants is to have to look after an English heiress. But as they journey together they find their attraction to each other growing. All is not well though for Kendra. Danger lurks ahead. Will Dorian decide this beautiful heiress is not only worth saving but risking his heart as well?
What a great adventure! This author does a wonderful job of drawing you into the story and keeping you involved until its heart-racing conclusion. I must say I am a real fan of pirate stories and when I saw the beautiful cover and the title, I knew it was a 'must read'. While this is not your typical pirate story it did have pirates in it and contained plenty of action, suspense and romance. I enjoyed the whole cast of characters. Dorian is a strong hero who is very protective of Kendra. Kendra is strong in determination. I loved watching these two interact. I also really liked Dorian's friend John. What a fun personality he had. The underlying theme of this tale was trusting and relying on the Lord. I think the author painted some great pictures of what unforgiveness and greed looks like as well as what trust and obedience looks like and the outcome of them both. If you enjoy a great historical adventure then I would definitely recommend Pirate of My Heart. A thank you goes to B&H Publishing for this complementary copy for my review.
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: B&H Books (September 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0805448152
ISBN-13: 978-0805448153
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
.JPG)
Posts
