UNBRIDLED HOPE by Loree Lough

This is book three (and I believe the final story) in this series and it was a really good series!  I found myself really getting to know the people in these stories and understanding their struggles, joys and challenges.  It is set in the late 1880's in Texas and you really get a feel for the town, the country and the lifestyle of the people then. It was a time when people had a lot of spirit and strength and a reliance upon their God.

In this story Callie Roberts finds herself living in Eagle Pass, Texas with her brother, her only family member still alive after a steamboat explosion several years earlier.  Callie is dealing with guilt from the accident and seems to believe it was all her fault.  Micah Neville is a quiet steady rancher who tries to help out his cousin Dan by "inheriting" a baby boy from a woman who claims Dan is the father.  Callie and Micah will be brought together as Callie helps out Micah with the baby.  But there are two many secrets in both Caleb and Callie's life and it can either draw them closer when the truth is revealed or pull them apart.  This story has a wonderful romantic side to it, but there is so much more to the story than romance.  I would hope everyone would start with book one and read all 3 stories in the series and see for yourself what a great job this author has done.

MAVERICK HEART by Loree Lough

This is book 2 in the Lone Star Legends series and I liked it just as much as the first book.  It brings together two people who desire love and acceptance and when they finally find it in someone they have a hard time accepting the plans God has for them.  It is a story that takes you through many challenges and hardships.  You will have a stagecoach robbery,  spend some time on a cattle drive, enjoy the good times and the bad times with people you will come to care about.  It truly is an adventure in the small community of Eagle Pass in 1888, where book one also took place.  This could easily be read as a stand alone, but it is such as enjoyable adventure, you will want to start at the beginning with book one, "Beautiful Bandit" and keep on reading till you finish the series.  I am on to book three now, "Unbridled Hope".

Excerpt taken from the back cover of this book: "Levee O'Reilly and her husband, Dr. Liam O'Reilly, are headed from Boston to Mexico to set up a medical clinic when their stagecoach is attacked by the infamous Frank Michaels, who kills Liam.  All alone now, Levee makes her way to Eagle Pass, Texas, where she turns to teaching for her livelihood.  Rancher Daniel Neville has battled doubts and distrust for most of his life.  . . . Dan dedicates himself to serving his family and working with horses on their ranch.  Marriage is far from the top of his to-do list.  Can these two mavericks accept the plans God has for their lives?"

BEAUTIFUL BANDIT by Loree Lough

This was a great start to what I hope continues to be a great series.  In this story set in Texas in 1888, you will find Joshua Neville, a quiet Texas rancher in a bank doing some business when he witnesses a bank robbery that leave 3 dead.  But what was most shocking is that people are saying a woman was part of the "gang".  Then you meet Kate Wellington who must adopt an alias and try to flee to Mexico because she has escaped a gang of ruthless bank robbers who had forced her into a bank heist.  Josh stumbles across her hurt and helpless and seeks to care for her and take her home to heal before helping her find a way to Mexico.  The problem is he doesn't know she is bank robber Kate Welligton, but abused and running from danger, Dinah Theodore.  Watching them come to care for each other amid difficult times was a joy.

I liked the family dynamics at the Lazy N Ranch where Joshua lives and I liked the way the family embraced and welcomed Kate(Dinah).  Kate had once trusted in the Lord but her pa's death and the tragedies that followed in her life left her turning her back on Him.  She will come to realize that she survived all the tragedies in her life because the Lord strengthened her and sustained her.  When she thought He had abandoned her she comes to realize that He'd been there all along, loving her and guiding her and protecting her.  Bad things do happen to folks for reasons we will never know, but the underlying theme was that God will never forsake or abandon you.  I liked the way this author weaved that message through this story.  As the author herself said in the beginning of her book, "the Almighty called me to write faith-based fiction.  My goal with every story is to provide you with entertaining, exciting, Spirit-filled tales that feature characters who, just like we do, face tragedy and trauma . . and work their ways toward grace by following the pure, bright light of God's mercy and love."  Well done Loree Lough! Looking forward to book two next, "Maverick Heart".  Saddle up and be prepared to enjoy getting to know the "Beautiful Bandit"!

AN UNWILLING GUEST by Grace Livingston Hill

I have long been a fan of Grace Livingston Hill books.  As a teenager I grew up reading her books off my grandmother's library shelves.  One of the reason I enjoy her stories is because of her purpose for writing: "It wasn't long before Grace was a well-known author, but she wanted to go beyond just entertaining her readers.  She soon included the message of God's salvation through Jesus Christ in each of her books.  For Grace, the most important thing she did was not write books but share the message of salvation, a message she felt God wanted her to share through the abilities he had given her."

In this story we read of a New York society lady who ends up spending what she is planning to be a boring Summer in a small town visiting her Aunt.  But when her Aunt becomes ill Evelyn Rutherford must stay with a neighboring family.  Who could know the impact the Grey family would have upon this worldly young woman.  Their faith, goodness and quiet happiness would have a lasting impression upon her.  You never know how and when you will be called upon to make a difference.  The oldest daughter in the Grey family, Allison, has a hard time sharing and caring about Evelyn and for me the real impact was watching her struggle to be the kind of person God would want her to be.  There is also a tender love story intermixed within this story, but watching the changes in both Evelyn and Allison was truly the best part for me.

A TEXAN'S CHOICE by Shelley Gray

The author, Shelley Gray, did an excellent job on this series of stories.  I liked them all and also loved the covers on these books.  This story kind of brought a lot of the characters from all the books together.  You can easily read it as a stand alone, but you miss out on a lot of background by not reading the other two first.

Scout Proffitt arrives in West Texas to take over a farm he won in a gambling game.  He is a known hired gunslinger who just wants to put his past behind him and live a normal life.  When he arrives he finds the family (a mother and two daughters) getting ready to bury the husband who has just past away.  The mom and one daughter leave and because of bitterness in their heart, leave behind also the one daughter, Rosemarie, to fend for herself.  Scout is now stuck with a woman who is very determined to stay and help him out around the farm.  It was a very tender endearing part of the story to see these two people fall in love and each help the other one through their doubts and fears.

There was also other stories going on in this book, and all three situations come together as you keep reading. There is Miles Grant who is trying to run his ranch, keep rustlers from harming his animals or men and keep his housekeeper happy by finding a wife.  Then there is Russell Champion and his friends who are trying to find Scout and do a job that would finally free the men from being "wanted" by the law.

There was a lot going on in this story, but I thought it all came together very well and thoroughly enjoyed myself reading all three stories in this series.  Can a hired killer turn around and make something of himself.  Sure he can.  It helps though if he has someone who believes in him and truly cares for him.  It also helps that he has family that never gave up on him and prayed for him.  God does answer prayer, but sometimes it just takes a little longer than we had hoped.  Saddles up, sit back and enjoy the ride!

DARK RIVER LEGACY by B. J. Hoff

This is book 5 in this "Daybreak Mystery" series and I must say this author has a gift of weaving a "spell-binding story of faith, love and suspense".  At one scene I was almost holding my breath waiting for the "evil" man to appear in the house.  These stories all have Daniel and Jennifer Kaine in them, but in most of the stories they aren't the main characters.  In this story Daniel and Jennifer come to the mountains of Kentucky to do a workshop at a music festival.  They are staying with a good friend, Mitch Donovan, who is a professor in the small town of Derry Ridge.  Mitch has a dear older lady living close to him named Abby, who no one knows much about as Abby herself can't seem to remember her past.  But there is someone watching Abby and waiting to make his move to silence the lady before she remembers her past.  There is also a tender reuniting of Mitch and the love of his life, Freddi,  that left Derry Ridge years ago.  There is something for everyone in this story.

Three things I appreciated most in the story: 1) Freddi realized - "Gradually I began to realize that Christ had been my Savior for years - but I hadn't wanted Him as my Lord.  He had never really been first in my life."  How true that is for many of us.  We all need to reach the point where we can say, and mean it, that if we lost everything we would still have Someone "at the very center of my life who would be enough".
2)Jennifer realized - "I don't have to do anything great or fantastic or newsworthy or world-changing. . . just as long as it's pleasing to you Lord... just let me be pleasing to you." and 3) I learned to really appreciate these words to a great hymn, "On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. . . All other ground is sinking sand."

Get ready for a suspenseful love story, with an ending that will literally "sweep you away" as the floods come and threaten the town.  It was terrifying for awhile, very sad for awhile, very tense for awhile, but all ended well.  Jump in and enjoy!

VOW OF SILENCE by B. J. Hoff

Another good mystery and suspense romance story in this Daybreak Mystery series. Daniel and Jennifer Kaine once more find themselves in a mystery of why someone is out to harm their deaf friend Whitney.  Someone dressed up as a clown first tries to abduct her from the carnival they were attending and from there things just get worse instead of better.  A man named Michael comes into the story with very little background as to who he is, except for his desire to protect Whitney.

This was a very good suspense story with a very disturbed person as the man who wants Whitney for evil and not for good.  The caring and concern Whitney had for Michael and Michael for Whitney was very lovely and enjoyable to read.  I find myself reading and not wanting to put the book down until I see how it will all end.  There is one more book in the series and I look forward to see what trouble the Kaines find themselves in next.

THE TANGLED WEB by B. J. Hoff

Another good suspenseful story in the Daybreak Mystery series.  This story takes place mainly during a snowstorm at a camp that is being watched over by two couples (which you meet and get to know very well as you read books one and two).  They think they are the only ones around until Jason, Daniel and Jennifer Kaine's adopted son, says he saw two small children in the woods.  They believe he has imaginary friends until the children are found.  When they discover why the kids are hiding and realize the danger they are all in the storm is raging outside.  Gabe and his wife Lyss leave in their 4 wheel drive for town to get help, their phone lines are down, and they run into trouble.  Daniel and Jennifer also run into trouble and the story keeps you turning pages to see how it will out turn out.  It was a book I found hard to put down as it was intense at times.

I think this whole series would make for a great  movie.  Daniel and Jennifer keep getting themselves in trouble and it is interesting watching them get out of it.  Especially interesting is the fact that Daniel is blind.  I love the way the author handles his blindness and how well Jennifer works with him.  And their son Jason is great and Daniel's dog Sunny is also endearing.  These stories are quick reads and always full of adventure, suspense and love.  Daniel and Jennifer have a  faith that is real and so is their love for each other and those around them.  There are two more books in the series and I am looking forward to reading them!

THE DOMINO IMAGE by B. J. Hoff

This is book two in the Daybreak Mysteries and picks up shortly after where book one leaves off.  I would recommend you read book one, "Storm at Daybreak",  first as it helps you get to know the couple (Daniel and Jennifer) who seem to be the thread through each of the other stories.  This story was full of mystery and suspense, where I wasn't sure until the very end just exactly who to trust.

Daniel and Jennifer Kaine are enjoying their honeymoon on a lakefront cottage when they stumble upon Vali Tremayne's house.  She was a former contemporary Christian music star who has gone into seclusion when she lost her fiance in a mysterious plane crash 3 years ago.  They quickly become friends and then all 3 of them find themselves targets of someone who is out to do them harm.  Vali has two men friends who are trying to help her, one by getting her back into her music and the other by shielding her from anything and anyone.  Both of these men seem to have something to hide.  It was one of those stories where you think you know the good guy and the bad guy but just aren't 100% sure until near the end of the book when it all comes to light.  Looking forward to seeing what suspenseful adventure Daniel and Jennifer find themselves on next.

As a note, this title and cover has been revised and the new title is "The Captive Voice" which I think fits the story line much better!

STORM AT DAYBREAK by B. J. Hoff

This was just an all around good story.  The book says that the author "weaves spellbinding stories of faith, love and suspense" and this is a very good description of what this story was like.  Jennifer Terry accepts a position as executive assistant at a Christian Radio Station.  Her employer is Daniel Kaine, who was blinded in a car accident by a drunk driver.  Jennifer finds herself really liking her new employer and is astounded by how well he accepts the fact that he is blind.  She is struggling with how a sovereign God can let bad things happen to good people.  Then there is the person who for some reason is out to do Daniel harm and it all climaxes in a life and death situation.

I really liked the wisdom that came from Daniel as he tried to help Jennifer and  one example was "Jennifer, He will never, ever give you less than His best for your life.  Even when it involves loss or suffering or a broken heart, He knows exactly what He's doing."  Daniel kept a journal of his thoughts as he "bounced back" from the realization that he would never see again.  Near the end of the story Jennifer gets a chance to read it and his thoughts in his journal for me was worth the whole story.  Of course Daniel's tender feelings for Jennifer throughout the book were also very romantic and sweet.  I just closed the book wishing for more and guess what?  There are 5 books in the series so I am on to book 2, "The Domino Image"!

DAPHNE DEANE by Grace Livingston Hill

This is another classic Grace Livingston Hill story.  A story of a young man who grew up and away from his values and beliefs that he had as a child.  He finds himself in a world of money and social status.  But when he goes back to his home town to sell his parents home he finds himself remembering what he left behind and realizing how important it really is to him and how superficial his life is now.  He meets Daphne in his hometown and she is one of the reasons that Keith Morrell starts to rethink his life.

Even though this story was first written in the 1930's,  it is very applicable to today and what people struggle with.  It is not a fast paced story, although there is some danger and intrigue in it and a tender love story too.  I have long been a fan of this author and her writing style.  She always makes her stories have obvious "good" and "evil" in them and she also incorporates Christian values and principles in her stories.

FORSAKEN DREAMS by MaryLu Tyndall

Two things drew me to read this story.  One, the beautiful cover they put on this book and two, the author, who is a favorite of mine.  She loves to write about adventure on the open sea and this book was another great adventure.  I will say that at the beginning you are given a list of characters and it seemed daunting to me to keep track of everyone as I started to read.  But keep going, because each character will become familiar to you and the further you read, the better the story gets.

Colonel Blake Wallace is leading and organizing a group of people to the country of Brazil to begin a new colony.  The war between the North and the South has just ended and this is a group of Confederate people who no longer want to live under the rule of the Yankees. Eliza Crawford is a widow and was a Confederate army nurse who was married to a Yankee general (but no one knows that yet).  There are a list of more people you will get to know but these two are the central part of this story.  They both have strong feelings for one another but when it is discovered that she was married to a Yankee most folks on the ship want her thrown overboard.  Eliza though is someone who is always willing to help those in need regardless of how she is treated.  The Colonel has a hard time forgetting and forgiving and I appreciated the flawed characters and the way the importance of forgiveness was stressed in this story.  There was no lack of adventure, danger, intrigue and romance in this story.  It left itself wide open for other stories in this series as the colony lands in Brazil and begins their new adventure.  Looking forward to reading more in this series.

The bio on this author at the back of the book says "her passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but open people's eyes to their God-given potential."  I would say this books hits that mark!  So come aboard and be prepared for some rough seas ahead.