LONESTAR SANCTUARY by Colleen Coble

Allie, a frightened mother on the run, has to leave her rodeo life to protect herself and her daughter, Betsy.  Allie hopes that getting away will help heal her daughter, who hasn’t spoken since the death of her grandparents.  This ranch is the last place Allie has to go where she hopes she and Betsy will be welcomed.  As she sets out for Bluebird Ranch, she considers the only living relative she has…Will he be able to help them?  Will he want to?

Rick, a ranch foreman at Bluebird Ranch, is suspicious of this woman who just shows up out of no where.  He doesn’t trust that her likeness to the ranch owner’s daughter is an innocent coincidence.  What if she is out to hurt Elijah, the ranch owner?  Rick will never let that happen.  As he spends time with Allie and Betsy, he begins to soften…a little.  Suspicions still remain as he carries out a promise long forgotten.

Although this story is a romance, it is mysterious until the end!  The storyline that Coble created keeps you guessing and rooting for the good guys.

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander

McKenna, a provider for her younger brother, is determined to make this work.  This move is their last chance at a fresh start…they can’t afford to move again.  When she and Robert, her brother, arrive in Copper Creek they receive an inheritance that is unexpected and challenging.  As McKenna tries to deal with Robert as he “sows his wild oats”, she also has to constantly consider her inheritance.  What will the future hold for them?  Will Robert ever come to appreciate all that she has given up for him?  Will this inheritance be a blessing or a burden?

U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon has been doing this job for years.  He is starting to tire of life on the trail and criminals.  When he meets McKenna, his heart is stirred and he struggles to leave the pain of his past in the past.  He is reminded of all he has lost, as God gently reminds him of all that could be.  Will he be able to trust and open his heart?  Is McKenna the woman to help him do that?

Alexander creates very realistic characters with realistic struggles.  You truly are able to feel empathy for McKenna and Caradon.  This book definitely fits the category of INSPIRATIONAL romance!  The characters spiritual and emotional struggles connect with the reader and pull them into this world of ranching and romance.  Well done Alexander!

Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey

This is a parallel story of a young 18th century pirate and a modern day treasure hunter.  Morrisey takes you through the story of a young boy, Ted Bascombe, who lives a pirate’s life and struggles to practice the words of the Bible rather than just read them.

Greg Rhode, a treasure hunter, searches through ship wrecks for a living.  When they find the ship of the young Ted Bascombe, many treasures are to be uncovered. Will Greg uncover a treasure on land that he wasn’t even looking for?  Will he let down the walls around his heart to let this treasure in?

While both characters crave adventure for a living, neither one cares to uncover the wrecks of their past.  Morrisey takes you through these two stories without being “preachy”.  He demonstrates a moral compass in each character and lets them find the spiritual aspect that is missing from their lives.  Morrisey creates romance and adventure in the lives of two unlikely parallel characters.

Rocky Mountain Oasis by Lynnette Bonner

Brooke, a mail-order bride, faces the changes in her life with courage and spunk.  She has had a hard and violent past and she strives to rely on her instincts about men to get her safely from day to day.  As she approaches the ferry stop, she is determined to be a good wife to this new husband.  The alternative of being sent back to her uncle is not only scary, but unacceptable.   She steps from the ferry to find a very handsome man who appears to be a “gentleman”.  Will he be like the men in her past?

Sky, a christian rancher, longs to keep this woman from his cousin’s clutches.  As he waits for the ferry, he is comforted by the knowledge that he is doing the right thing.  Even if this woman is brash, loud, or ugly, he is determined to be kind to her.  He wants to be an example of his christian faith.  He isn’t prepared for the stutter of his heart as she steps off the ferry.  Will two strangers ever be able to live a “true” marriage?

I really thought Bonner did a great job in writing this novel.  It was romance with just enough suspense to keep you captivated.  Her development of the characters leaves you wanting to see how their lives turn out beyond this novel.  A great read!

OFFWORLD by Robin Parrish

What would you do if you returned to Earth and the entire population had disappeared?  The four main characters in this book are in that situation.

Chris, the commander, returned to Earth hoping he wouldn’t have to be in charge of his crew anymore…wanting a little down time.  What they return to leaves him in charge and struggling to make the right decisions for the group.

Owen, the brain of the group, has a secret that he needs to keep hidden…it’s getting harder to keep it hidden in the face of their return to an unpopulated Earth.

Trisha, the second in command, just wants to get home to her fiance.  What she finds when she gets to his house leaves her in a state of shock!

Terry, the driver of the group, wants to live it up on Earth while there are no rules!  He struggles to reign in his wild side and do what is best for the group.  Will he be able to cope?

As they strive to uncover the mystery and bring back the human race, there are numerous surprises and disasters that arise.  If you like Science Fiction, you’ll enjoy this book.  It really keeps you guessing until the very end…which can get a little frustrating!

Through The Fire by Shawn Grady

Aidan is a fire fighter that is on a mission to solve a mystery.  What he doesn’t know is that his soul is what really needs to be fixed.  Aidan tries to find the person who murdered his father, meanwhile, an arsonists is reeking havoc over the city.  Aidan works with Julianne to try to discover if his father’s death and the work of the arsonist are related.  As Aidan searches for answers, a camaraderie develops between him and Julianne.  Will Aidan find the answers he’s looking for?  Will he recognize the answers that he isn’t looking for?

This book was okay.  Grady took a long time to develop the plot of the main character’s story.  I kept waiting for some kind of break into Aidan’s life, and just kept getting another “fire run”.  There was too much fire fighting jargon, and too little development of the life of Aidan O’Neill.

Karen Kingsbury’s newest book in the Above the Line Series is out!  Take Two is just the second book in the series, but it is definitely worth the read. Be careful though…it is a series and book three isn’t due for print for a while…so you’ll be hanging until next year! I’ll have a review of Take Two coming soon.

Starflower by June Scott

Sarah, a lawyer, is trying to put to rest her past.  As she struggles with trusting God with her heart, she is able to allow some healing to begin.  She is quick to doubt “true love” because of some mistakes made in her past.  Could God really forgive her?  Will she be able to forgive herself and trust the blessings that God has in store for her?

Daniel is a Native American and he strives to keep God in the forefront of his career, but that is extremely difficult at times.  He’s working to uncover the mystery behind the death of Sarah’s parents, when he finds that God might have other things in store for him.  As Daniel strives to be a good witness, and protect the key to their investigation, he learns what it really means to rely on God.    Will he be able to offer protection and honesty?

This story is exciting and you’ll be drawn into two different sides.  Sarah’s frame of mind is still fragile and tainted from her past.  Daniel is struggling to understand the way she thinks and hears everything he says.  I was pleased with Scott’s writing style and her creative ability to take you along in her story.  This book had me waiting for the answers until the very end!

Lewis is working hard on the “Seasons of Grace” series. Book Two, The Missing, is set to come to stores on September 8, 2009. I know that’s good news, but don’t get too excited because it will be a while before book three hits the stores. Book Three, The Telling, is set to hit store shelves in early April 2010. So, if you’re a Lewis fan, I hope you enjoy this second book in the series. If you’re a big “series” reader, you may want to wait and buy all three in April!