romance

SHORT-STRAW BRIDE by Karen Witemeyer ~ Sharing My Review

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

About the book~

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride.

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a long-standing debt compels her to take the risk.

Years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer comes across a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can’t bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt prompt him to attempt to rescue her once again.

Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she vows to stand by his side. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her as merely a short-straw bride?

Sharing My Humble Opinion~

A young Meredith (Meri) Hayes trespasses on the infamous Archer land to retrieve her lunch box after a bully tosses it over the fence. Travis Archer promised his dying father that he’d protect his three brothers and the land they’d grown up on. After all, it was his fault that his father died. When he rescues Meri, he breaks that promise to take her home, but that’s the only time he ever left the Archer land. Travis’s kind, compassionate spirit sparks dreams in tiny Meri’s heart and she never forgets him, even when another man proposes. When Meri overhears a plot to possibly harm the Archers, she risks trespassing again to warn Travis and his brothers.

Although I felt the prologue made for a slow beginning, I’m so glad I didn’t put Short-Straw Bride aside. It was so worth it! 

I love how the author wove subtle themes into this book, like how Meri rushed headlong into difficult situations, without thinking or praying. How many times do I plow ahead, only praying for guidance after I’m in the midst of the situation? And Meri helped Travis realize that he had been depending on himself to protect his family, rather than trusting God. How many times have I done the same thing? 

I loved Short-Straw Bride! I read it through in two sittings, barely allowing myself to be distracted except to sleep. It had the perfect blend of romance laced with passion, humor and suspense to keep me turning pages long past my bedtime. Can’t wait to get my hands on another Witemeyer book!

Purchase Link

How often do we proceed with our own plans and only then ask for God’s blessings rather than seeking His will first? 


Disclaimer: I snagged this book when it was offered free on Amazon. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

SANCTUARY by Tanya Hanson ~ Sharing My Review

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

About the Book~

A beautiful plus-one at a wedding, a hunky cowboy..autumn leaves and rugged horse trails. The perfect setting to unite two healing souls… 
Ranch foreman and single dad Hooper Martin is ready to put his health and life back on track after battling cancer…including re-entering the dating scene. His little girl sure could use a mother. Falling hard for wedding guest Malia Cameron makes perfect sense to him: she’s a survivor, too. 
Mallie has put her heart on hold, knowing she will never recover from her struggle with a brain tumor. She can’t promise a future to anybody and vows never to fall in love. Letting Hooper Martin into her life would be a big mistake. But his good looks take her breath away, and his living faith starts to gentle her confusion about Who’s really in charge.
Sharing My Humble Opinion~
Mallie Cameron arrives at Hearts Crossing Ranch as her brother’s plus-one for a wedding, aiming for a weekend flirtation with a cute cowboy. That’s all she will allow herself since she has GBM, Glioblastoma Multiform. Even if the dreaded disease is in remission, without a cure, she won’t risk falling in love when she faces a death sentence.
Although Hooper (Hoop) Martin beat testicular cancer, he still worries about his daughter, Ella. Since his wife deserted them shortly after Ella’s birth, what would happen to Ella if the cancer decided to return with a vengeance? When Mallie shows up at Hearts Crossing, he falls hard for the city slicker in pink-toed boots, but while Hoop leans on his faith, Mallie finds it “hard to accept a God who allowed perfectly decent, innocent people” to suffer. 
I felt that the author tackled a tough topic with sensitivity, and characterized Mallie and Hoop with realistic emotions and reactions. They must work through plenty of separate issues, including their faith, to find their happily-ever-after. 
With Hanson’s vivid descriptions, prepare to be transported to a remote ranch set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. At 155 pages, Sanctuary is the perfect size to read in a few hours. You’ll be simultaneously entertained and encouraged, and alternate between laughing and tugging at the tissues. My only wish is that Sanctuary packed a few more pages, so I could savor the romance longer! But I’d pick it up and read it again, sure as shootin’!
Disclaimer: I won this book at the Petticoat and Pistols blog, as a free gift from the author for a comment left on the blog. I received no monetary compensation for this review, and the opinions expressed are mine.

Fugitive by Shirlee McCoy ~ Sharing My Review

/ Dora Hiers / 3 Comments
About the Book~

“HELP ME.”

When she opens her door to a wounded, handcuffed stranger, Laney Jefferson is terrified…until she recognizes her unexpected visitor. Thirteen years ago, Logan Randal was there for her when she desperately needed a friend. Now the wrongfully convicted lawman needs the widow’s help. On the run from the law and guided only by Laney’s unswerving faith in Logan’s innocence, their mutual attraction begins to break down the barriers around Laney’s heart. But the real culprit is much closer than they imagine…a cunning enemy determined to keep the past—and the truth—buried forever.

In my humble opinion~
Sheriff Logan Randal, framed and wrongfully convicted, is on his way to prison when someone ambushes and shoots the guards. Injured and rapidly freezing in a snowstorm, Logan makes his way to a cabin, the killer on his trail. Laney Jefferson, old friend and foster sister, now a widow, intends to wipe her hands of her past, including selling her family’s old house. When Logan arrives at her cabin needing medical attention, Laney refuses his pleas for her to leave. How could she leave him to die when he’d given up so much to protect her years ago? 

Three people jeopardize their careers and risk their lives to aid Logan, a fugitive from the law, while they track down a killer. I had a little difficulty buying into the plot, but that said, the author did a fabulous job getting me past that initial hesitation. Immediately, McCoy pulls you into the danger, and from the beginning, Logan was actually protecting people, first the injured guard and then Laney, by insisting that she leave. The author did a great job setting up a framework of close friends who believed and trusted in Logan’s innocence that they were willing to help. Every time someone came on board to help, he made sure they knew the risk. Also, since Logan and Laney had a past, initially Laney felt she owed him. 

Obviously, the plot issue wasn’t serious enough to make me stop reading. Just to pause and think about what I’d do if I were in the same situation. Had Logan done for me what he did for Laney (don’t we all wish fictional characters were real-life friends??), I probably would have made the same choice. 

McCoy plops you into the action, pulls your heartstrings to connect you with her characters, and tugs you into their world of danger. I enjoyed hanging out with Logan and Laney for a few hours, hoping they could find peace for their hurting hearts and cheering them on to their happily-ever-after. Fugitive is extremely fast-paced, a book you can probably read in one sitting, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to savor it over a couple nights. Overall, a very enjoyable read.


Fugitive will release on May 7 with Love Inspired Suspense. You can pre-order it here.

Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.

This review begs a question. 
Would you be willing to risk your freedom to protect an old friend who deserved your loyalty if you knew they were a fugitive?