Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley

Book Description:

Disgraced dime novelist Kate Tenney fled the city that banned her latest novel for the emptiness of the desert. Answering an ad to be "heiress" to a vast cattle ranch in the Arizona Territory, Kate hopes ranching turns out to be as romantic as she portrayed it in her novels.
But what awaits her is a life harder than the one she just left. There is no room for mistakes on a working cattle ranch, and Kate is ill-prepared for her new life. She quickly learns that dawn comes early. But she is tenacious.
Having been abandoned by a string of men, Kate has no intention of ever marrying. But she didn't expect to meet Luke Adams, either. Luke awakens feelings inside Kate she doesn't recognize, and his steady presence is a constant distraction. She has only written about love in the past, never known it herself. But her feelings for Luke stand in the way of all she has to gain if she is chosen as the heir.
Perhaps God brought Kate to the barrenness of the desert to give new life to her jaded heart.

My Thoughts:
This book was pretty good.  Kate was/is a novelist and has determined she is going to be the heiress of Last Chance Ranch.  When she gets to town, her ride isn't there, an inept outlaw shortly kidnaps her and she is rescued by the town's handsome blacksmith.  Ranching is harder than she'd ever thought possible, she wasn't expecting everything that is being thrown at her.  Especially the feelings she begins having for a certain blacksmith that could end her plans to be an heiress.
I liked Kate.  She was a hard working, if a bit off balance character.  She is determined to make sure she is the 'heiress' to the Last Chance Ranch and the never get married clause will never be a problem.  Luke is a strong steady man that could just awaken the heart she believed would never love.
I rate this a 4/5.  It was entertaining.
Thank you to Booksneeze for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

Book Description:
Lucy Marsh has lost everything but her determination to provide for her brother and sister. When she realizes her father's death was no accident, she decides to accept a proxy marriage in order to get her siblings out of harm's way. But trouble follows her to Wichita Falls, Texas, and nothing there is as she expected.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. Lucy is having a horrible time. All she wants to do is take care of her younger siblings and it seems nothing in life is helping her! That is until she is given a marriage proposal. She seems to have no other options so she accepts and moves her and the children to Texas to meet her new husband!
I loved Lucy's character. She was so loving and caring, especially with her brother and sister. She makes most all of her decisions simply for their benefit. Nate, her new husband, is a unique man. I like how they had to work together and learn to love each other. They go through a lot and lean on God.
I rate this a 5/5. I completely enjoyed this book.
Thank you to litfuse for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

To Dance Once More by Sherri Wilson Johnson

Book Description:
All Lydia wants is to travel the world before she has to settle down with a husband. But she may not have that choice anymore.April 1886.Debutante Lydia Jane Barrington lives a carefree, protected existence on Live Oaks Plantation in Florida. But while her sisters happily learn the traditional tasks of women and talk of courting, Lydia dreams of adventure and independence. Even her friendship with handsome Hamilton Scarbrough isn't enough to hold her back.Then one day Hamilton opens Lydia's eyes and her heart to love. But before they can receive permission to court, Lydia overhears a secret conversation about an unscrupulous business deal. Worse, it has everything to do with her and her future. Now she's faced with the biggest decision of her life-to concede or to fight. Either choice will require great sacrifice...and, perhaps, countless rewards.Passion. Friendship. A bitter enemy. A life-changing decision.Set in Victorian-era Florida.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book.  Lydia's ideas for life are nothing like her sisters'.  She doesn't want to just be married and have a family.  She wants her freedom and to make a difference!  She has romantic feelings for Hamilton, but will that stop her from having her independence?  Most of all will the words she overhears be the end of all her dreams?
I completely love that this book is a romance and not suspense but it still has mystery to it!  The setting of 1800s Flordia plantation was described perfectly.  Lydia and really all the characters are developed well and completely real.  Her faith is challenged, she feels pain, heartbreak and a whole range of emotions and you are right along with her.  I loved the overall theme of God being in control of our lives and everything works in His time. 
I rate this a 5/5.  It is on my keeper shelf!

Thank you to the author for the complimentry copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot

Book Description:

Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont with her sweetheart, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads West to Wyoming. The endless prairie seems monotonous, but when her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day.

When circumstances--and perhaps a bit of matchmaking--put Abigail and Ethan together, there's certainly attraction. But Abigail is planning to marry another man and return to life in Vermont as soon as she is finished attending to her sister. And Ethan loves his life in the Army and the wilds of Wyoming. When summer ends, will Abigail go back East? Or will she fall in love with this rugged land herself?

Book 1 of the new Westward Winds series, "Summer of Promise" is a tale of following your heart to unexpected places. Readers will enjoy Amanda Cabot's passionate characters and vibrant setting in the beautiful high prairie.

 

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this one!  Abigail is to get married, but first she HAS to travel out to Wyoming to check on her sister.  She seems troubled and Abigail is determined to take see of her.  After a long and interesting trip, she arrives at the Army Fort.  When she confides in Lt. Ethan Bowles she begins to wonder if a life in Vermont is what she really wants.

The author did a wonderful job with both the characters and the story line.  I was expecting just a romance, but there was a roller coaster of emotions in the romance portion and then she added some mystery!  Abigail is a strong lady with a big heart.  Ethan's beliefs on love are challenged and he has a mystery to solve.  All in all a good book.

I rate this a 5/5.  It took a bit to get going but it was great!

 

Thank you to Revel for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.