Taming the Texas Rancher - A Review

Summary (from Amazon)
Race to the Altar 

Though he'd never planned to wed, Daniel Westland must marry and produce a grandchild before his brother does in order to inherit the family ranch. Leave it to him to pick a mail-order bride who insists on being courted! Yet every time Daniel wonders if Hannah Young is even suited to rugged living, the petite schoolteacher shows her gumption. 

What man sends away for a bride but doesn't really want to get married? Hannah came to Granite, Texas, hoping to find love and security, and she can't settle for less than a true partnership. If the brooding, handsome rancher can just learn to trust in Hannah, their future could be as filled with promise as this bountiful land..

My Thoughts:
I read a lot of the Love Inspired Historicals every month. Some of them I will actually post a review on my blog, Goodreads, or Amazon. Some I won't. Sometimes, I'll only post the review on Goodreads. I know my reading schedule is so full that I do not have time to review EVERY book I read, though my facebook page may show I've completed it. But every once in a while, I will decide to post a review of one these books.

Rhonda Gibson is one Love Inspired Historical author whose books always delight me. In this one, I loved how both Daniel and Levi are expecting their brides to arrive, yet only one does. And Hannah expects to be courted. The journey that Hannah and Daniel go on is fun and full of some interesting twists. I typically read Rhonda's books in a couple of hours and never really want the story to end.

I read this book for pure pleasure.

Rating - 4 stars

Recommended to fans of Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, Love Inspired Historical, mail order brides

Rhonda's newest book, His Chosen Bride is due out this May. You can pre-order it here.


Where to buy Taming the Texas Rancher
Amazon

Groom By Arrangement - A Review

Eliza Kelly didn't answer an ad to be a mail-order bride. Yet there is a groom on the way to meet her at the station. She mistakes blacksmith Jackson Hart for her prospective groom. When she suddenly finds herself guardian to a small boy and her reputation in tatters, Jackson offers a chance for her to save face by offering a marriage of convience. Will these two souls find true love?

It was delightful to return to Cottonwood Springs and to catch up with Seth and Rebecca from Marshal's Promise. I enjoyed reading Eliza and Jackson's story as well. The twists that occured weren't what I excpected especially when Eliza's sister suddenly shows up in town. This was a fun book to read one evening after work as it only took me a couple of hours to read it all.

This is due out in February 2013. I received my copy as part of Reader Service Book club.

Recommended to fans of Janet Tronstead, Janet Dean, Love Inspired Historicals, Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense.

Rating - 4 stars

Marshal's Promise Giveaway Winner

It was so much fun seeing all of the comments. Thank you Rhonda for being my first interview and for providing a copy of the book to the winner.

Using Random.org, the winner is Jes!


Congratulations. I've emailed you so you can send me your contact info and tell me if you would prefer the book as a paperback or as an e-book.

Happy reading.

Interview with Rhonda Gibson and a Giveaway

Rhonda Gibson is the author or co-author of several books including the Love Inspired Historical novel, Marshal's Promise, and the Romancing America Midwife's Legacy.

I "met" her when I'd read her book Marshal's Promise and I'd visited her website. I've also gotten to know her through Facebook and Twitter. I'm thrilled to be able to have her with me today for my first ever author interview!

So without further ado, here's Rhonda!




Dawn: Rhonda, thank you for joining us today. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
 

Hi Dawn. I guess the first thing you should know about me is that I’m a wife, next May I will be married 30 years. I have two children and three grandchildren. I love to read and I love making beaded jewelry. I have a dog named Sheba and right now I have 7 outdoor cats. 

No I’m not a “cat woman” but someone thinks I’m really nice and left a mama cat who had babies, babies are pretty wild, mama has moved on and I’m still feeding the babies. LOL, one of those outdoors cats is my old cat Sunny and two of them are brand new Siamese kittens that I received for my birthday last month. I guess that is enough about me for now but feel free to ask me anything.

 Dawn: Congratulations on the 30 years. That is an accomplishment in this day and time. :) Seven cats? I only have the one, my sweet Kiki, and I love having her around. So tell me, how did you become a writer?

I’ve always loved telling stories and when I got old enough to write, I started writing :)

Dawn: Ok I'll admit that I discovered your books through Reader Service, and Marshal's Promise was the first one I read of yours. Since then I've also read Midwife's Legacy. Both of those books are very different. How did the idea for Marshal's Promise come about?

The Marshal’s Promise was originally called, Jesse’s Girl. My husband loves that Bruce Springsteen song. So he and I brainstormed and came up with the beginning of The Marshal’s Promise.   

Dawn: Well I certainly enjoyed it! In fact my copy is somewhat battered! Now tell me about Midwife’s Legacy. Was it easier or harder to write a story/novella with others as part of this book ? What went into the deciding factors of writing a generational story? Were you and the others given the topic – ie a family journal handed down among the generations – or did you collaborate to come up with that end?

This collection was very fun to write. My co-authors are wonderful ladies who are very easy to work with. I was invited into this collection by my agent. When I came into it, the basic idea of the journal and the fact it was a generational story were already decided. I was given the freedom to come up with my own story and I really wanted my heroine to travel the Oregon Trail. My co-authors agreed and away we went.

 

Dawn: I loved playing the computer game of Oregon Trail as a child, though I think my entire wagon train typically died before reaching Oregon. Watching the trail come alive through the eyes of your heroine was very fun. 

I have found several times when I've finished a book or even a movie, that I don't want to say goodbye to the characters. That could very well be one of the reasons I love Harry Potter fan fiction so much, I don't have to say goodbye to the characters. Is it ever hard for you to say goodbye to your characters?

 

Funny you should ask this, Dawn. I just finished, today, Hannah’s story. She’s Rebecca’s friend from The Marshal’s Promise. Saying goodbye to her and Daniel is hard. I came into my office a few minutes ago prepared to go back to Granite, Texas, the setting of her story. I’m hoping that they will be in my next story but that is up to the editor at this point.

Dawn: I'm looking forward to reading it! Since I know you are one of my followers here on my blog, you know I read pretty much everything, though I'd have say my personal favorite genre is that of historical fiction. Do you prefer to write in a historical setting or a contemporary one?  

I prefer historical. My books are steeped with history but I like to think they have that old, western feeling. 

Dawn: Both of the ones I've read have that feeling! 

I've read some books that have been really good, the author's drawn me in from the first. And I've read others that I've struggled to finish, or just didn't finish because I wasn't drawn into the story. What do you think makes a good book? 

Good characters and a touch of humor. I love books that when I am finished reading them, I feel like I know them and don’t want to say goodbye. I hope my readers have that feeling after every book.

Dawn: I know I felt that way after reading Marshal's Promise. It's probably why my copy is rather battered. I know of several authors whose books make me feel like I've made a great friend. There's even been times that I've been known to cry at the happy ending. :)

 I"m always wanting to know what authors have coming out soon? What do you have coming out soon that we can look forward to?

Groom By Arrangement is coming out in February 2013. It is Eliza Kelly’s story from The Marshal’s Promise.

Dawn: Sweet! I'll add it to my drop-everything-and-read-when-it comes-out list!

With all of this writing, what do you do for fun and to relax?

 

I read and I bead. Those two things are both relaxing and fun for me. My husband and I also enjoy geocaching. 

Dawn: One of my best friends enjoys going geocaching as well. 

I'm curious, who or what inspires you?

 

I don’t know that there is one person who encourages me to write more than any other. I have lots of friends and family who cheer me on. I’m thankful for each and every one of them. Even you have inspired me to keep writing because you have enjoyed my books. 

Dawn: Awww, thank you for the sweet words. I have enjoyed your books. Do you have a favorite book, tv show, song, movie, etc.?

 

How Fletcher Hatches An Egg is my favorite children’s book from when I was a child. Right now my favorite tv show is The Big Bang Theory, Favorite movie – Children’s Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, Adult While You Were Sleeping, My favorite colors are pink and blue, my favorite ice cream is chocolate and my favorite candies are M&M’s and Gummi Bears.  Did you notice I have a sweet tooth?

 Dawn: I love the Big Bang Theory! And yes you do seem to have quite the sweet tooth!

Since this is the time of year when the holidays are upon us, what is your favorite Christmas (or any holiday) memory? 

My husband proposed to me under my parents Christmas tree.   

Dawn: That's romantic! Engaged at Christmas and married in May! I'm sure there's a story to that proposal too.

I ask a similar question to this one at my skin care classes, only I ask about what makeup item the guests can't live without, so here's the more traditional question. If you were stranded on a desert island, and you could only have 3 things with you (items that will help you leave the island not included) what would you have with you?

My Bible, my toothbrush, and James (my husband)

Dawn: I like those choices!

Our time's almost up, so I have just one more question for you today, what advice do you have for others who want to write?

Don’t listen to Nay Sayers. They are the people who make fun of you because you write, the ones who tell you “you will never get published” and the ones who call your writing “a hobby.” Be true to yourself.

Dawn: Thank you so much for stopping by Rhonda! I've enjoyed getting to know you a bit more.

If you want to find out more about Rhonda's books, check out my reviews of Marshal's Promise and Midwife's Legacy.

Giveaway!

I'm going to give away a copy of Marshal's Promise by Rhonda to one lucky commenter. No, I'm not giving away my battered copy. I will give away a copy of either the Kindle version or the mass market paperback, winner's choice. Either one will be shipped via Amazon (so you'll get sooner than the prizes I still need to mail out from the last few months. Sorry girls. They're going out TODAY!). To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment here. Gain a second entry, leave another comment telling me you follow my blog. You can gain additional entries for leaving comments on ANY of my book reviews. You can find the entire group here.  Comments on the reviews may be made daily for additional entries. At least one of your comments on this post must have your email address so that I can reach you. Use this form myname(dot)hotmail(dot)com

Ends on Friday night November 23. I'll pick a winner on Saturday morning.

As I will not be around most of the day today, I will respond to comments when I finally do get home. I'm pretty sure that if Rhonda's schedule allows her to, she'll respond as well. 

edited to add picture of the book cover.

Midwife's Legacy - A Review

Four women. Four generations. One journal ties them all together as they face the trials and tribulations of being a midwife, and they may just find unexpected loves in the midst of all of their work. Adele Marley is a busy widow, mother, midwife, and Wisconsin farmer to really notice the banker. Polly Schultz is trying to survive the dangers of the Oregon Trail and finds herself falling for the young preacher. Christiana is determined that women can have both families and careers and tries to convince one man of that fact. Modern woman, Kendra Silverstone, has had her confidence shaken and stumbles upon her ancestors' journal. Will it hold the answers she seeks?

I usually avoid the 4-1 collections, because I like my books to have more story to them. The good thing about novellas is that they are short and I can usually read them in one setting. That said, I did enjoy each story in this book. Some more than others.I think my favorite one was the one about Christiana. Each of the four women, Adele, Polly, Christiana, and Kendra, had to come to understand that they were doing exactly what God had called them to do. Their realizations came at different points. Yet they came. My biggest complaint with the book is that the stories weren't long enough for me to really sink into and enjoy. About the time that I'd grown attached to the characters, the story was over and we moved on.

I received this book for free from one of the authors for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 4 stars

Coming up in November

Happy November! I love all of the fall decorations and all of the baking and things associated with fall and Thanksgiving. Of course my favorite season is Spring, but Fall's a close second.

I've got a lot planned for this month. I'm planning on getting really busy on my Christmas gifts. I've already gotten part of my Mom's present. And most of my best friend's. Of course there are still several more I need to get or to make. Including figuring out what soup mixtures to make to give my friends.

I'll be hosting my first ever author interview around the middle of the month. I'm excited about it. Rhonda Gibson will be joining me and we're going to have a nice chat. I hope everyone will stop by and chat with Rhonda.

My monthly giveaway is planned with four of the Love Inspired Historicals.

Now for what I'm planning on reading (sorry no pictures tonight. Didn't want to take the time to find them). It's a slow month for me with one of the publishers so I can catch up on some of my other reviews.

All of these are for reviewing.

Two Christmas novellas -

Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot

Other fiction books on my list -

Lovelier Than Daylight by Rosslyn Elliot

Deposit Slip by Todd Johnson (finally getting to this)

Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling

And to read for fun.

Light in the Window - Julie Lessman

Widow of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman

Band of Sisters by Cathy Gohlke

For some reason, there are more books on my Kindle to read this month than paper copies.


Let me tell you about some of the Christmas gifts I'm working on. My best friend just had her second baby, so I'm working on Abi's baby blanket. I've got one that I hope to finish for my cousin's daughter she adopted last year. There's a scrapbook I'm working on. So between scrapbooking, crocheting, and the very special project for my mom, I'm going to be spending evenings being very crafty!

Marshal's Promise - A Review

Mail-order bride Rebecca Ramsey arrives in Cottonwood Springs, New Mexico only to find that her groom, Jesse Cole, has been killed. US Marshal, Seth Billings, made a promise to Jesse to look after Rebecca. Rebecca has no money and no reason to return to her home in Maryland, so the offer of a job as housekeeper and cook for the marshal is just what she needs. As Rebecca begins to fall for the gentle marshal she senses that he is holding a secret from her. Will Seth open his heart up enough to share the secret his holding? And what will Rebecca do when she learns the truth behind Jesse's death?

I loved reading this book. I got home late Friday evening and was already over halfway with the book and before I knew it, it was 1 am and not only was the book finished, but I had to be up early to get ready to head to my Mary Kay Career Conference. The characters are very relaxing. I loved how both Seth and Rebecca depended on their faith. When Seth's secret is shared, Rebecca doesn't react the way that Seth thought. But she still needed time to process her thoughts.

I look forward to reading more set in the little town of Cottonwood Springs. At least I hope that there are more.

Rating - 5 stars

This book is due out in May, 2012. I received my copy through Reader Service.