IN THE QUIET SAFETY OF THE BLUEBIRD RANCH, OLD PROMISES RESURFACE AND UNEXPECTED LOVE BRINGS NEW HOPE.
#1
Though tragedy has wrecked her life, Allie Siders holds on to the hope that her five-year-old daughter, Betsy, will speak again. But with a stalker out for revenge, all Allie can think about now is their safety. She must sever all ties and abandon life as she knows it. She heads to the peaceful Bluebird Ranch, nestled deep in Texas hill country, and to the only person who can help them.
The ranch is a sanctuary for abused horses, and also for troubled youths: the perfect place for Betsy to grow and recover. Ranch owner Elijah DeAngelo eagerly welcomes the duo. But Rick Bailey--the foreman and DeAngelo's right hand man--hasn't decided to let his guard down . . . yet.
Promises made long ago soon force Rick and Allie to work together to escape danger. Will they discover love along the way?
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2007
Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Thoughts
Colleen had me hooked from the first page. The beginning is high-tense, action-packed. Secrets spill throughout the story, which made me unable to put the book down. Rick and Allie are raw, wonderful characters, and Betsy will steal your heart. After reading this book, I couldn't get my hands on the rest of this series fast enough!
CAN A SECRET BE KEPT FOREVER?
#2
Five years ago, Shannon Aster left the beautiful high-mountain country of west Texas as a single mother. She was desperate for a fresh start and a way to keep the secrets from her past buried. It almost worked.
Until a chance to make a better life for her daughter leads her right back home. To the very place of the past betrayals.
But it also leads Shannon to the horse-trainer of Jack MacGowan--her handsome high-school nemesis, now a widowed father. His daughter looks so startlingly like her own that Shannon can't help but question the circumstances surrounding her daughter's birth. Wary of each others intentions, Shannon and Jack reluctantly join forces to untangle a deep mystery that swirls around Shannon's parents, a lost Spanish treasure, and a legendary Black Stallion.
If Shannon can learn to entrust her secrets to the man falling in love with her, the truth might just set her free.
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2008
Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Thoughts
What a ride! Again, Colleen had me hooked from the first page. This book is a "Parent Trap" type story in reverse with lots of twists and turns along the way. I LOVED every book in this series, but this story was my favorite. Jack and Shannon are a match made in heaven, and teach a great lesson in the power of love.
FOR MOST, IT'S THE SAFEST PLACE ON EARTH. FOR GRACIE, IT'S THE LAST PLACE SHE WANTS TO BE . . . AND THE ONE PLACE SHE MUST RETURN.
#3
With nothing but five dollars and the wedding dress she's wearing, Gracie Lister flees with her daughter by train to West Texas, to the town she ran away from so long ago. There they find refuge in the home of Michael Wayne--devoted single father, seasoned soldier--who gives Gracie a job caring for his two children and the hiding place she needs from her former fiance.
Michael and Gracie aren't looking for love, but it finds them right away. And then trouble comes to call in the form of Gracie's ex-fiance who is now on the FBI's most-wanted list. Together, Michael and Gracie must find the strength they need to protect their newly forged family.
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2009
Genre: Romantic suspense
My Thoughts
Action-packed from the first page, Gracie runs into the reader's heart in a tattered wedding gown with a too-precious daughter and no where to go. Big-hearted--and loyal soldier--Micheal rescues them right away. Of course Gracie accepts. What girl can resist a man in uniform?
From adjusting to their new lives to facing constant sabotage around every corner, this book is full of both suspense and love.
EDEN'S HOPE IS REKINDLED WHEN CLAY DELIVERS ASTOUNDING NEWS:
THEIR DAUGHTER HAS BEEN FOUND.
#4
Five years ago Eden and Clay Larson's baby was stolen and never found. Eden blamed herself, Clay lost himself in work. Their young and rocky marriage ended. Or so Eden thought.
Now Eden's moved to a new town. She's found faith and is trying to rebuild her life. She's even dating again--a sweet guy who plans to marry her someday. But then Clay arrives out of the blue and delivers shocking news: they're still married. What's more, Clay has been searching for Brianna all this time. And he believes he's found her: their daughter is in Bluebird, Texas, at a youth ranch.
To uncover the truth, Eden and Clay sign on as counselors at Bluebird Ranch. Working together, they rediscover their love for each other. But danger is closing in--Eden, Clay, and their youth charges are in jeopardy. As they fight to save their family, Eden realizes that God has been fighting for them all along. And His plans are for a more abundant life than they've dare to hope.
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2011
Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Thoughts
This story was a great way to end the series. Eden is a city girl, who's out of place on the ranch in her dress slacks and pumps. Clay is an air force photojournalist, who, five years ago, was at the wrong place at the wrong time (or perhaps the right place at the right time). He's determined to salvage his marriage to Eden and restore their family. They've been told their daughter is one of the five girls they're mentoring at the ranch. But which one?
A great mystery that had me guessing to the end.
LONESTAR GIVEAWAY!!
I'm giving away a copy of Lonestar Sanctuary (the first novel in the Lonestar series) to help you get started!
To enter, leave me a comment with anything you'd like to say about horses or Texas (to keep with the theme). It can a memory, a past or current experience, a fact, anything.
A winner will be drawn on Wednesday, July 31st and announced on this blog and my Facebook page. Don't forget to tell your friends!
My first thought about Texas? Whenever we're in Texas, I'm struck by how very poorly the roads are marked. Reminds me of Boston, and back there, I was convinced they didn't mark the roads because they didn't want strangers to get comfortable. I don't think that's true of Texas, but the last time we were on our way home from the DFW airport, I decided the road construction workers were conspiring to confuse me. (Not that it's that hard!) I truly believe that, if not for the GPS on my hubby's phone, we might still be driving around looking for I-35.
ReplyDeleteAnd here's an odd fact that just occurred to me: Did you know that the entire city of Boston can fit on the grounds of the DFW airport? Why do I know that, but I can't find my way home? Great question...no answer.
Horses: Three strikes and you're out--My adopted Dad was thrown from a horse in high school and broke his back. In his twenties, he fell again and broke his arm. Two years ago? Dad was kicked in the face by a pony, which shattered his jaw. Owwwwie....
ReplyDeleteYou know my comment will be about horses. :) Me and Ol' Trooper are partners. I'm pretty sure he'll be the last horse I own, but then, I said that when Ol' Sarge died. I think horses get in your blood and are very, very difficult to remove.
ReplyDeleteGreat stories everyone. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI spent a few weeks in Texas when I was 7 or 8, visiting relatives from my mom's side of the family. We drove into Mexico for the day. My dad bought a pair of cowboy boots, and I got a new dress. I don't remember much about the trip except that it was very hot!