A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson

How sensible is it to leave your home state of Texas to marry a man you have never met?  That's what Marty asks when she finds herself on a stagecoach headed to Colorado to be a "wife in name only" to banker Jake Wythe in 1892.  As a widow, Marty is ready to leave the memories of Texas behind. She vows to never again go through the hurt of losing someone she loves, so a "paper marriage" sounds perfect to her.  What she finds in Colorado is a life of luxury- servants to meet her every need, unlimited bank account and too much free time on her hands.  Knowing only the ways of ranching, going to society balls takes her way out of her comfort zone. Yet that is Jake's only request, to play the role of his wife to please his boss.  Jake's ultimate goal is to get back to his home state of Texas and run his own ranch, but first he must fall in line with everything his boss says to earn enough money to buy his own land. Life isn't easy at first for newlyweds especially ones that are just getting to know each other.  Along the way they must depend on each other, and Marty comes to realize that God never left her alone even after going through the death of her husband.  If you love Christian Historical Romances this one is your typical novel. Though slow in parts, Peterson brought the historical detail of the 1890's into her story.  The ending was sort of abrupt and left me wondering if there will be a sequel because the story didn't seem to end.  I have read other books by Tracie Peterson when she co-authored another series.  This one didn't keep my interest like I thought it would.  Peterson included a lot of the main characters' thoughts, but there wasn't enough communication between Marty and Jake.  Thanks Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group for sending me a free copy to read and review!

Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter "hit another one out of the ball park", with her latest novel Dancing with Fireflies. This is Book #2 in the Chapel Springs Romance Series.  Thomas Nelson was kind enough to send me a free copy to read in exchange for a honest review.  The series continues with the McKinley family of Chapel Springs, Indiana.  Free spirit Jade McKinley has returned home from Chicago broke, unemployed and pregnant. She is hiding secrets and fears that she is keeping to herself.  Mayor Daniel Dawson is her older brother's best friend. Jade has always been "squirt" to him.  A Harvard grad from a well-to-do family is just happy to be living back in Chapel Springs and honorary member of the McKinley family since his home life growing up was non-existent.  He has had more than brotherly feelings towards Jade since high school, and they quickly resurface when she returns home. Is he crazy for wanting to help her find an apartment and a job?  Should he really go to Lamaze classes with her?   Can either of them ever been honest with themselves and each other? 
Oh, how I loved this book!  I couldn't put it down until it was finished!  I felt like I was a member of the McKinley family.  I love Hunter's writing style and believable characters. I had read Book #1 in this series over 8 months ago, but Hunter quickly gets you back into the characters lives right from where the previous book ended.  Now I have to wait until December for Book #3! 

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

Doesn't every little girl dream of being a princess someday- to wear a tiara, have a closet full of ballroom gowns, live in a castle, and run a country?  Regina Beswick remembers her grandmother's fairy tale stories, but never imagined they were about a country named Hessenberg and she is the princess the country is looking for to end the 100 years entail.  She is content living in Florida with her father and step-mom and busy starting her own classic auto restoration business.  Then Tanner Burkhardt shows up on a mission for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg.  Although he has proof that she is the long-lost princess, Regina is unsure of her identity.  She questions herself...how could she have lived for 25 years and not known her true identity?  Add that to the fact that she has no idea how to run a country! Throw in a little political opposition from the governor who wants to rule the country himself and you have Rachel Hauck's latest novel in the Royal Wedding Series.  I have read the first novel in the series and some reference is made to King Nathanial and his fiancée Susanna, but you don't have to be familiar with the first book to enjoy the second.  There are references to history in the early 1900's, before World War I, in some of the letters that Regina finds from her grandmother, so it made the fairy tale story seem more real.  And with all the interest in America of the royal family of England with Princess Kate and Prince William,  Rachel Hauck portrays a modern day fairy tale that most American young women would enjoy!  Zondervan provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A Match Made in Texas- A Novella Collection by Witemeyer, Connealy, Jennings and Cox.

If you like Historical Christian Romance, this collection of 4 novellas is for you. Set in Dry Gulch, TX in 1893, each story involves the work of an anonymous matchmaker.  How else you can explain how handy man Neill just shows up to help widow Clara fix up her homestead? Or Grace, a young schoolteacher that is losing her sight as well as her job, but still wants to be independent on her ranch.  Cowboy Clayton shows up on her doorstep in response to a classified ad that Grace never wrote.   Then there is Andrew who needs someone to stay on his ranch with his elderly aunt while he travels for work, and city girl Lucy is sent to him by an unknown source.  In the final story Hannah has known Mark since grade school, but he is too tongue tied around her to make the first move. Only a matchmaker can give them a little push in the right direction!  At first I wasn't sure if I would like the novellas, because they seemed too short.  Yet, I loved the novels I had read by Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy. I found I like the short stories because some nights after work and getting the kids to bed I only had a short time to read and I could read the whole novella in one sitting.  I love historical fiction and these authors didn't disappoint!

Plain Peace by Beth Wiseman

Beth Wiseman continues on with her Daughters of the Promise Series in her new novel Plain Peace.  Set in Paradise, PA, Wiseman tells the story of Anna Byler, granddaughter of Issac Byler, the most strict bishop their Amish community has ever known. Feared by some and disliked by many, Issac doesn't have many friends and therefore neither does Anna.  Suitors are afraid to even talk with her, so she has never been courted.  Only Jacob Hostetler, the newcomer from Ohio, has shown an interest. Against her grandfather's wishes, Anna secretly meets with Jacob and a relationship begins.  Other secrets surround the little Amish community too.  Jacob's family is still hurting by a loved one's death, Anna's grandmother has secrets she is keeping from Issac and even an English woman with Amish connections from town is interwoven into Wiseman's plot.  Using characters from her previous novels, Beth Wiseman sort of "ties up loose ends" with this one. The story moves along at a good pace and the English woman's story seems realistic. However, I'm not sure how believable some of the storyline involving the Amish really is.  It was a good story, just probably one I wouldn't read again.  I appreciate Thomas Nelson sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

Book 3 of The Brides of Last Chance Ranch Series tells the story of Miranda Hunt, a Pinkerton agent who has answered an ad for an heiress of Miss Eleanor Walker's ranch. Since Miss Walker has no children to inherit her ranch is looking for a strong woman who will put the ranch above else, and that means remaining single.  So Miranda becomes Annie Beckman, an undercover operative for the Pinkerton agency, who is trying to prove that a woman can do the same job as a man.  She is hoping to find the identity of The Phantom, who is responsible for numerous bank and train robberies.  Her boss seems to think there is a connection to the Last Chance Ranch.  And so does the Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggart.  He is undercover as a ranch hand for Miss Walker, yet neither Miranda or Jeremy is aware they are there for the same purpose.  Strange accidents become more frequent on the ranch and Jeremy and Miranda are thrown together.  Jeremy and Miranda will have to decide if love or their careers are more important.
Set in Arizona Territory in 1897, if you love historical fiction, this novel is for you!  I learned about the origins of the real Pinkerton agency as wells as the Wells Fargo detective agency.  It had just the right amount of suspense and action for me.  And the way the main characters conversed with each other was entertaining. You did not have to read the first 2 books in this series to understand the plot.  I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.  Thank-you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending me a free copy to review.

A Bride For Keeps by Melissa Jagears

Set on the Kansas prairie in the year 1876, Melissa Jagears tells the story of Boston bred Julia Lockwood, who has agreed to be a mail-order bride for homesteader Everett Cline. The trouble is Everett never asked for one, at least this time.  After 3 failed attempts to marry, Everett has resigned to the bachelor life.  However, his best friend's wife has corresponded enough with Julia that she manages to convince her to come out to Kansas, failing to tell Everett until Julia arrives.  Julia has never felt loved for who she truly is, only for how she can benefit others.   Although, neither trusts the other, the attraction is there and a friendship grows.   Everett learns to put God back in charge of his life, and helps Julia realize there is a God who loves her unconditionally.
This was a new author for me and one I will be sure to read again!  I love any stories about mail-order brides and this one didn't disappoint.  The dialogue and humor made me feel like I was living on the Kansas prairie with them.  I stayed up way too late one night just because I had to know how the story ended!  What a beautiful story...thanks Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy to enjoy!