Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

William Barnett returns home to find that his beloved family ranch has been confiscated by the government because his family went to fight with the North.  Hannah Dandridge followed her father to Texas after the death of her stepmother.  He was escaping the memories, she was being the dutiful daughter.  Now Mr. Dandridge is gone and his whereabouts unknown.  Hannah is filled with worry as she contemplates life without her father.  Will her father return?  How will she support her siblings?  Will she be able to retain the ranch without the help of a husband?  


William and Hannah come to an uneasy truce where Hannah allows him to remain on the ranch in return for his labor as the await a legal decision on the ownership of the ranch.  The tension between Hannah and William escalates as William just can't seem to help himself from bossing Hannah around.  Having had more than her fair share of male demands, she stubbornly refuses to acquiesce to his demands.  Throw in a slippery character who insists her father wanted to see them wed, as well as some savage indians and Hannah definitely has her hands full!


Forgiveness for others and trust in God were themes in this book.  I liked that Hannah's strength and compassion made such a difference in the outcome of the story.  Expounding on that statement will give too much of the story away.  I do wish that Hannah would have communicated better with William.  He wasn't her husband, why couldn't she say "quit bossing me around"?  Well, I'm sure the author could have been more eloquent than I.  All in all it was a easy and enjoyable read.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".  

Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato

Loved it!  Captain Brogan Talvis has searched long for his son who was given to another family by his wife while he was away at sea.  Abigail Talvis is now dead and Bogan's three long years of searching for his son has produced the knowledge of his whereabouts.  He has finally found his son and plans to abduct him!  However, as Brogan gets to know the Huntleys who are now caring for his son, he realizes that he will need to befriend beautiful and compassionate Lorena in order to win his son's affection.  Brogan soon succumbs to Lorena's innocent and loving charms and must make a choice when Lorena is abducted by an overzealous suitor.  He must decide whether to chase down Lorena on her way to England or to make off with his son.  

I loved everything about this book!  Norato captured my attention from the start and made me long to know more about her characters.  Brogan is an orphan who has always longed for someone to call his own.  Lorena is a loyal and protective guardian who bakes to work through her troubled emotions.  What will happen when both their secrets are revealed?

This book is definitely a buy and I will read it again!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".  

Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart

Spirited daughter of a news paper mogul, Adriane Darcy is engaged to a man she does not love.  However, she is determined to honour God and her father in obedience and go through with the wedding.  However when Adriane meets Blake Garrett (an editor from a competing newspaper) at a society event they are both covering, the sparks fly.  It is love at first sight... sigh...  What's a girl to do when she is engaged to a snobby socialite, but she wants her father's enemy?


While I did enjoy this novel I thought that the story really didn't get rolling until about the half way point.  I also kept waiting for the sparks to continue to fly after Adriane and Blake's first meeting, but there was very little contact between them for quite sometime. I suppose it is possible to fall in love at first sight, but my cynical mind has a hard time accepting that.  


The second half of the book increased its intensity and I was definitely engaged in the story.  The subplot in the book also became more interesting as the story progressed.  While I did enjoy the book, I did not find myself ignoring household chores like I do when reading a novel I can not seem to put down. 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".