Long Time Gone

On the opening pages of Long Time Gone, by MaryConnealy, you will see Justin Boden in a rush to get his brother, Cole, back to the ranch, after he has been gut shot.   Cole needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.   The only thing that has Justin concerned is that he must leave his sister, Sadie, behind with just Seth Kincaid on the lookout for her!

Once the doctor arrives on the scene, he brings along Angie DuPree, from the orphanage, to assist him.  Angie had caught Justin's eye as she entered town; however, now Justin is distracted by Sadie announcing that she wants to marry Heath.  Justin is thrown off again when he learns that Angie is going to stay overnight to keep an eye on Cole with the doctor.   You soon have the sense that something may soon be developing between Angie and Justin!

Once Cole seems to be on the mend,  Justin must turn his focus to determining where the threat to his ranch is originating.   This is a fast-paced tale to follow until the final page!


 I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my unbiased review.

Then Came You

Becky Wade's latest novella, Then Came You, will introduce you to Garner Bradford, the heir to his family's shipping empire.   When Garner first lays eyes on Sylvie,  he instantly falls in love with her.   Unfortunately, Garner walks away from his Godly belief-system and before you know it, Sylvie becomes pregnant.   Once baby Willow is four weeks old,  Sylvie decides to walk away and leave Garner holding the bag!

Soon a new character enters the scene.  Kathleen has  just graduated from college and is looking to land a job.   She finally locates an opportunity at Bradford shipping and is looking forward to a new challenge in her life.   As Kathleen is trying to settle into her new job,  Garner is trying to figure out life as a single father.   He soon meets a young woman named Kate and they get married.  They soon have a baby girl, named Nora,  who adds to Garner's family.  You will be  surprised to learn that two years later, Kate violently is killed!

At this point, I put down this novella.   I did not care for the negative direction it seemed to be moving. I was highly disappointed because I have loved all the previous books by Becky Wade!

Finding Stephanie

Finding Stephanie is the final entry to Susan May Warren's Noble Legacy series.  While her brothers Nick and Rafe have left their family
home to make something of their lives, Stephanie Noble has stayed behind trying to keep things afloat on the ranch.  She has spent a lot of her free time rescuing wounded and abandoned horses; so when Sunny, the first horse she rescued, suddenly dies, Stephanie feels an emptiness left behind.  Stephanie sees herself as a defender of the oppressed, so when she sees the brokenness in the eyes of three young people, who seem to have nowhere to call home, she cannot resist opening her home to offer them a safe place to temporarily reside!

Stephanie came upon Haley and Macey, as well as their older brother, Gideon, outside a burning building.  These three had been using this unoccupied house as a place to stay warm and had accidentally started the fire.  Unfortunately, they did not know that the new owner, Lincoln Cash, Hollywood star, has just appeared on the scene to see his home, on the ranch he just purchased, go up in smoke!  Lincoln had just received the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, so he was looking forward to relocating to his new, quiet home in Montana.  Now he is left with a mess to clean up!

As you watch Lincoln and Stephanie work together to build a safe world for Haley, Macey and Gideon, you will also see sparks beginning to form.  While Lincoln and Stephanie learn to deal with hurts from their past, you learn of a dark force working against them.  One moment you think Lincoln has a crazed fan from his past stalking him; however, you soon learn that Gideon's past is coming back to haunt them all.  Hang on for this wild ride!

Taming Rafe

In Susan May Warren's tale Taming Rafe, when you see Rafe Noble crash into Katherine Breckinridge's New York City fundraising event with his truck, you have no idea how Katherine will respond.  She is attempting to raise money to
save Mercy Hospital, the non-profit group that had been her mother's life work.  If Katherine fails, she feels like she will lose the last connection she has with her mother!

Little does Katherine know that Rafe has just lost his best friend, Manuel, in a bull-riding event and he is carrying the blame for Manuel's death on his shoulders.  As you watch Katherine follow Rafe back to recover at his family's ranch, you will be surprised to learn that Katherine has connections to more people in Phillips, Montana, than just Rafe Noble.  Katherine's past is deep in the soil of this town!

Hang on as both Katherine and Rafe deal with deep hurts from their pasts.  You will be surprised to learn by the final pages that a woman that Katherine has befriended in Phillips is actually her birth mother!

Drops of Gold

I recently ordered A Fine Gentleman, the newest tale from Sarah Eden.  Thinking of Sarah Eden, one of my favorite authors, lead me to go back and re-read one of her former books, Drops of Gold.  I loved this tale as much on my second reading as the first!

Drops of Gold is set in the English countryside, in the mid-nineteenth century.  You are introduced to Marion as she is traveling to what she hopes will be a new place of employment, The Meadows.  Marion's father recently passed away and she has been left destitute with no money and no place to rest her head.  She is hoping to acquire a position as governess to five year old, Miss Caroline Jonquil.  When Marion arrives at The Meadows, she finds a delightful little girl; however, her father, Layton Jonquil, seems to be angry at the world!

Following the death of his wife, Layton has closed himself off to so much in his life.  It is interesting to watch him slowly open up and learn to find joy again in the world.  You will also be surprised to find by the final pages of this tale that Marion did not come from the lower class, but instead she is from a much higher level of society!

Hold on as you watch Marion and Layton make plans to build a life together!

This was yet again a lighthearted and enjoyable read.  Definitely worth the time and effort!