The Vigilante's Bride

HARRIS, YVONNE
THE VIGILANTE'S BRIDE

Is her kidnapper the only man who can keep her safe?

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and kidnapping a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expected to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from his pa, but instead ends up rescuing a feisty copper-haired woman who was on her way to marry Sullivan's dangerous enemy.

Emily McCarthy doesn't take kindly to her so-called rescue. Still, she's hoping Providence will turn her situation for good, especially when it seems Luke Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Luke has crossed a vicious man, a powerful rancher not used to losing, and Emily is the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE READ! THE VIGILANTE'S BRIDE HAS IT ALL -- HUNKY HERO, SPUNKY HEROINE, DOWNRIGHT EVIL VILLAIN AND A RIVETING PLOT.

LOVED THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN LUKE AND EMILY -- SPARKS FLY AT THEIR VERY UNORTHODOX FIRST MEETING. I LOVED HOW HARRIS HANDLED THE GRADUAL DAWNING OF HATE TURNING INTO LOVE. THERE ARE SOME ACHINGLY TENDER AND TOE-CURLING ROMANTIC SCENES AS WELL AS FUNNY ONES.

IN FACT HARRIS DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF BLENDING DRAMA AND COMEDY AND DRAWING OUT THE SUSPENSE. PLUS SHE ADDED IN SOME SURPRISES THAT I DIDN'T SEE COMING AT ALL. IMPECCABLE PACING KEPT ME TURNING PAGES, EAGER FOR MORE, BUT DISAPPOINTED WHEN I FINALLY CAME TO THE END. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO READING MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR.

A Soldier's Reunion

WYATT, CHERYL

A SOLDIER'S REUNION

Despite a decade apart, this isn't the reunion Mandy Manchester expected! She thought she'd put high school sweetheart Nolan Briggs behind her. Now he's back...and the pararescue jumper literally sweeps her off her feet. He's ready and willing to rekindle what they once shared. Mandy, though, isn't prepared to put her heart at risk. He left her before -- she won't trust him again. Can Nolan teach this grounded girl to take a leap of faith?

I SEEM TO BE READING THE WINGS OF REFUGE SERIES BACKWARDS! I JUST GOT MY HANDS ON THIS ONE THANKS TO A WIN AT SEEKERVILLE AND COULDN'T WAIT TO READ IT. CHERYL WYATT HAS SUCH A GIFT FOR STORYTELLING. SHE SOMEHOW MANAGES TO CONVEY SO MUCH EMOTION WITH HER CAREFULLY CRAFTED WORDS AND IT'S DEFINITELY EMOTION THAT PROPELS THE PLOT IN A SOLDIER'S REUNION.

THE FACT THAT NOLAN AND MANDY WERE HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS WITH A HURTFUL PAST HURDLE US INTO ANGST IN THE VERY FIRST CHAPTER. MANDY'S CONFUSION AND PAIN IS PALPABLE; NOLAN'S NEW-FOUND RESOLVE EXCITING. HE CAN'T LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND THEM AND THE WAY HE SETS OUT TO WOE MANDY BACK IS SUCH A ROMANTIC READ! AND THE PROPOSAL! BE STILL MY HEART!!! SO CREATIVE AND TOUCHING. ANOTHER ENJOYABLE READ BY CHERYL WYATT...AND DEFINITELY ONE TO SAVOR.

Made to Order Family

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN

MADE TO ORDER FAMILY

Three kids, a shameful past and a mess of troubles.

Single mom Rita Slocum wants to get her life back on track. Taking things one day at a time seems doable -- especially with Brooks Harriman at her side. Brooks has been there for her through good times and bad. But she's always been leery of getting too close to the broad-shouldered woodworker who keeps his past locked away. Now that Rita's opening her own bakery, she needs him more than ever. If only Brooks would open up his life -- and his heart -- to Rita.

MADE TO ORDER FAMILY IS A POWERFUL TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH FOUND THROUGH FORGIVENESS AND LOVE. HERNE HAS CREATED AN UPLIFTING AND INSPIRING ROMANCE IN SPITE OF (OR MAYBE BECAUSE OF) THE SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER IN HER BOOK. DID I REALLY WANT TO READ A LOVE STORY ABOUT TWO RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS? I WASN'T SURE, BUT SINCE I ADMIRE AND TRUST THE AUTHOR, I DID AND SHE CERTAINLY DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.

RUTH LOGAN HERNE HAS A FRESH, DEFINITIVE VOICE AND IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO LOSE MYSELF IN THE PAGES OF ONE OF HER BOOKS. HER ABILITY TO BLEND REALITY WITH FICTION ALWAYS ENSURES A SATISFYING READ THAT LEAVES ME RELUCTANT TO COME TO THE END. MADE TO ORDER FAMILY IS JUST SUCH A BOOK.

RITA STRUGGLES WITH THE AFTERMATH OF POOR DECISIONS. HER ALCOHOLISM HAS AFFECTED HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE SHE LOVES MOST -- HER CHILDREN. BUT IT HAS ALSO BROUGHT A NEW LOVE INTO HER LIFE.

BROOKS HARRIMAN UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT RITA'S GOING THROUGH BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN THERE. NOW HE HEADS THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF AA AND HELPS OTHERS BATTLE THE SAME DISEASE. HE HAS BEEN RITA'S ROCK AND A VERY DEAR AND UNDERSTANDING FRIEND FOR OVER A YEAR BUT HAS RITA'S RECOVERY PROGRESSES, SO DOES THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

HERNE WEAVES AN INCREDIBLE LOVE STORY BETWEEN THE PAGES OF THIS BOOK. IT'S FRAUGHT WITH OBSTACLES, RIFE WITH COMPLICATIONS, BUT THAT JUST MAKES IT ALL THE MORE COMPELLING A READ. FROM A TRAUMATIZED CHILD ACTING OUT TO RITA'S BATTLE WITH HER OWN FEELINGS OF SELF-WORTH TO BROOKS' RELUCTANCE TO FACE HIS PAST, THERE'S ENOUGH ANGST TO KEEP A READER'S ATTENTION. BUT MADE TO ORDER FAMILY IS PEPPERED WITH HUMOUR AND ROMANCE AND ENDEARING HEARTWARMING MOMENTS AS WELL

Blind Hope : an Ultimate Dog & the Woman she Rescued

MEEDER, KIM

SACHER, LAURIE

BLIND HOPE : AN UNWANTED DOG & THE WOMAN SHE

Lauire's dreams had been shattered before she came to work at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch -- the ranch of rescued dreams - where broken horses and broken children encounter healing every day. In an attempt to soothe her aching soul, Laurie reached out to save a dog in need. And she soon began to realize that the dog was rescuing her.

An inspiring true story told through the engaging voice of Kim Meeder, Blind Hope reveals poignant life lessons Laurie experienced through her ailing, yet courageous canine friend. Despite the blindness of her dog -- and her own heart -- Laurie uncovered what she really needed most: authentic love, unconditional trust, and true acceptance, faults and all.

As Laurie and her dog, Mia, both learned to follow the lead of a master they couldn't see, Laurie discovered the transforming power of God's grace even for imperfect and selfish people -- and she experienced a greater love than she had ever known.

THIS NON-FICTION BOOK IS A QUICK READ, BUT NOT A LIGHT ONE. I'D EVEN GO SO FAR AS SUGGESTING THAT IT MIGHT JUST MAKE AN INTERESTING DEVOTIONAL STUDY. THE PARALLELS KIM AND LAURIE MAKE TO GOSPEL PRINCIPLES ARE VERY UPLIFTING -- SIMPLE TRUTHS, BUT ONES THAT DESERVE CONTEMPLATION.

FOR INSTANCE, WHEN MIA, THE DOG, STRUGGLES TO ADAPT TO HER INCREASING BLINDNESS, A STUBBORN STREAK HAS HER TRYING TO RACE AHEAD ON A CRAGGY BEACH. MIA KEEPS BUMPING INTO OBSTACLES -- A ROCK, A PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD, A STUMP. THE PANICKED DOG DISREGARDS HER MASTER'S VOICE AND CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS THAT WOULD END HER TRAUMA. HOW OFTEN DO WE FORGE AHEAD IN LIFE BASED ON OUR OWN WILL WHILE DISREGARDING THE FATHER'S?

EACH CHAPTER EXPLORES A DIFFERENT TRUTH ABOUT GOD'S GRACE IN AN EASY TO UNDERSTAND MANNER. THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE TO BLIND HOPE THAN A HEARTWARMING DOG STORY!

A Shore Thing

CAROBINI, JULIE

A SHORE THING

Callie Duflay just isn't like the rest of her family. While they've built white-collar lives, she prefers getting her hands dirty by working with kids and local California causes. So when she learns a beloved piece of untouched property in her town of Otter Bay may soon be developed, she naturally confronts the architect assigned to the project.

Gage Mitchell may be an easygoing, eco-friendly professional but he's not about to back off this job no matter how cute Callie or her pet pooch, Moondoggy, may be. His reasons and hers are noble -- both have a heart for protecting God's creation, and the truth is these two could be perfect for each other outside this face-off.

But will they ever figure that out?

THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN FOR ME! I LOVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ANGLE AND CALLIE COULD BE ME...WELL IN THE DESIRE TO PROTECT THE EARTH AND LIVE RESPONSIBLY IN ORDER TO LESSEN MY ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT. I LOVE THAT CALLIE GETS THAT AND LIVES IT TO HER FULLEST. CAROBINI DOES A WONDERFUL JOB OF DESCRIBING THE BEAUTY OF THE LAND THAT CALLIE IS FIGHTING TO PROTECT. SHE MANAGES TO CONVEY THE MAGNITUDE AND SACREDNESS OF GOD'S CREATIONS IN SO MANY SCENES. BEAUTIFULLY, BEAUTIFULLY DONE.

I'M STILL SMILING OVER THE DOG. PERSONALLY, I THINK EVERY GOOD ROMANCE SHOULD HAVE A DOG. :-) BUT THIS ONE STEALS MY HEART, JUST LIKE HE STEALS CALLIE'S. A DOG CAN GO A LONG WAY TO REVEALING CHARACTER AND LETS JUST SAY THAT GAGE HAS A WHOLE LOT OF CHARACTER!

CAROBINI HAS USED A MIXED POV -- BOTH 1ST AND 3RD PERSON. CALLIE'S SEGMENTS ARE IN FIRST PERSON, GAGE'S ARE IN THIRD. I'VE NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE IT AND YOU WOULD THINK THE FLOW OF THE BOOK WOULD BE BUMPY BUT IT'S NOT. I REALLY LOVED CALLIE'S VOICE AND FELT LIKE I KNEW HER SO MUCH BETTER SO MUCH FASTER BECAUSE OF THE 1ST PERSON POV. SHE'S QUIRKY AND FUNNY AND PASSIONATE.

THERE'S A STRENGTH IN GAGE, A KIND OF NOBILITY THAT HE ATTEMPTS TO REPRESS IN ORDER TO GET HIS ARCHITECT BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND. HE HAS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS YOUNGER SISTER AND HER SON...MAKING ME HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL WITH SUZ AS THE HEROINE.

TOGETHER, GAGE AND CALLIE ARE PERFECT...OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A DIFFERENT PLACE AND ANOTHER TIME. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK, ATTRACTION DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WILL BE ENOUGH TO GET THESE TWO TOGETHER -- THOUGH IT'S A DEFINITE START IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I LIKE HOW CAROBINI BUILT THE ROMANTIC TENSION, BUILDING ON THAT ATTRACTION AND SLOWLY DEVELOPING IT INTO SO MUCH MORE. THERE ARE SOME SENSATIONAL ROMANCE SCENES WITHIN A SHORE THING.

CAROBINI SHOWS WONDERFUL INSIGHT INTO RELATIONSHIPS. THEY READ SO REAL! CALLIE'S FAMILY IN PARTICULAR. THE DYNAMICS ARE BELIEVABLE -- FALLIBLE PEOPLE WHO CAN BE INFURIATING AT TIMES, ENDEARING AT OTHERS. ALL OF THEM DEFINITELY A LITTLE DYSFUNCTIONAL.

THEN THERE'S THE CORRUPT POLITICIANS AND SHADY DEALINGS. THIS BOOK HAS IT ALL -- ROMANCE, ANGST, SUSPENSE...AND, OF COURSE, A HAPPILY EVER AFTER. PLUS IT'S REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING ELSE I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME. A DEFINITE MUST READ.

A Hopeful Heart

A HOPEFUL HEART

SAWYER, KIM VOGEL

Can she turn her second-best chance into a golden opportunity?

Dowryless and desperate, Tressa Neill applies to the inaugural class of Wyatt Herdsman School in Barnett, Kansas. The school's one-of-a-kind program teaches young women from the East the skills needed to become a rancher -- or the wife of one. But will Tressa have what it takes to survive Hattie Wyatt's hands-on-instruction in skills such as milking a cow, branding a calf and cooking up a mess of grub for hungry ranch hands?

Abel Samms wants nothing to do with the passel of potential brides his neighbour brought to town. He was smitten with an eastern girl once -- and he got his heart broken. But there's something about quiet Tressa and her bumbling ways that makes him take notice. When trouble strikes, will Abel risk his life -- and his heart -- to help this eastern girl?

THIS IS SUCH A FRESH LOOK AT THE MAIL-ORDER BRIDE STORY LINE. I LOVE THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF A HERDSMAN SCHOOL. HOW BRILLIANT IS THAT?! AND 'AUNT' HETTY NEARLY OUTSHINES THE HERO AND HEROINE. SHE'S JUST SUCH A SOLID, COMFORTING, NO-NONSENSE BUT COMPASSIONATE WOMAN. AND HER FAITH IS UNSHAKABLE. SHE'S THE ANCHOR IN THIS BOOK.

TRESSA NEILL IS A HEROINE AFTER MY OWN HEART. SHE STARTS OUT SO TIMID, COWED BY EMOTIONAL EVENTS FROM HER PAST WHICH HAVE MADE HER LOSE SIGHT OF GOD. HER LACK OF CONFIDENCE MAKES HER A SCAPEGOAT FOR SOME OF THE OTHER GIRLS AT THE SCHOOL. THE GROWTH IN HER CHARACTER IS SOME OF THE BEST I'VE EVER READ. IT WAS SO NATURAL AND PLAUSIBLE AND REALLY PULLED ME IN.

ABEL SAMM'S PREJUDICES AGAINST THE EASTERN WOMEN AND HIS BATTLE WITH HIS ATTRACTION TO TRESSA IS INFURIATING, FUNNY AND ENDEARING. HE HAS SOLID REASONS FOR NOT BEING INTERESTED IN AN EASTERN BRIDE -- OR ANY WOMAN FOR THAT MATTER AS HE STRUGGLES TO HOLD ONTO HIS RANCH. AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THERE'S A CATTLE RUSTLING MYSTERY THAT NEARLY COSTS ABEL HIS LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD AND PUTS TRESSA IN DANGER.

THE INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE OF PUTTING YOUR FAITH IN GOD IS INTRICATELY WOVEN THROUGHOUT THE PLOT. IT FLOWS NATURALLY AND BEAUTIFULLY AND MAKES THIS AN ENJOYABLE, UPLIFTING READ.

Fatal Loyalty

DUFFY, SUE

FATAL LOYALTY

Andie Ryborg has nowhere else to go. Her father's campaign for governor and his aggressive war on drugs has chased her from their family home. Drawn to Miami's exotic Coconut Grove, Andie hopes to find a quiet refuge where she can discover herself apart from the public eye. But even in that seclusion, even with an officer assigned to protect her, Andie's privacy has been violated. Someone is watching...

Evan Markham's entire life has been a tug-of-war between what is and what could. He is drawn to a life that is beyond his reach, and emotions have clouded his judgement. Evan knows that earning someone's trust isn't easy, especially when he plans to break it. But in the secret corridors of the criminal underworld, he knows what must be done, and he is determined to see it through. Whatever the cost...

When enemies close in, a sudden turn of events leaves them both questioning. Where is God in all of this? Who is this enigmatic stranger who offers to help? They both know their lives are in danger. But what about their hearts?

THIS BOOK IS PURE SUSPENSE. THE PAGES ARE RIDDLED WITH CLIFF HANGERS AND THERE ARE SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS AND POSSIBLE SUSPECTS THAT I WAS READY TO BELIEVE ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN -- AND MOST OF IT DID.

THE ROMANCE DOES TAKE SECOND BILLING, NOT COMING TO FULL FRUITION UNTIL VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE BOOK BUT THIS IS SUCH A WHITE-KNUCKLE PAGE TURNER I BARELY NOTICED.

THE STORY IS TOLD FROM MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW, WHICH SEEMED TO DISTANCE ME FROM BECOMING AS EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED AS I LIKE BUT I STILL COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. THE LAYERS OF SUSPENSE ARE PURE MAGIC.