A Treasure Concealed By: Tracie Peterson

Back of the book

Bestselling Author Tracie Peterson Launches Exciting New Series Set in 1890s Montana
Emily Carver wants a home where she can put down roots instead of following her gold-hungry father from one mining camp to another. She also longs for tenderness and love, both of which are missing in her life. Yet when she realizes she's losing her heart to the intriguing new man in camp, she fiercely fights her feelings, afraid that love will only result in disappointment and heartache.

Caeden Thibault, a young geologist, comes to Montana to catalog minerals indigenous to the state. He's a serious and guarded young man trying to escape the pain of his past. He has avoided all romantic entanglements, fearing he might become like his abusive father. But something about Emily Carver has caught his attention, something he never expected. . . .

Will these two broken souls allow God to bring healing and hope to their hurting hearts?

My Thoughts

Tracie Peterson's smooth writing style and descriptive details make A Treasure Concealed a must read.  While the introduction is a little slow and the plot takes a few chapters to really build, you will really gain an understanding for the area and some of the side characters that help propel the book, and, I feel, the series.  Emily is hardworking and determined, making the most out of a life she would have never chosen for herself, Caeden is kind to those around him, but has a harsh disdain for the life he lived.  Peterson is an author you don't want to pass up, and this is one of her finest books.

I was given this book free from Bethany House Publishing for my honest review.

On Lone Star Trail By: Amanda Cabot

Back of the Book

If there's one thing Gillian Hodge never wants to see again, it's a man on a motorcycle. Her last encounter with one left her right hand crushed, ending her promising career as a concert pianist. But as she heads to Rainbow's End Resort, a sudden thunderstorm causes a motorcycle to crash in front of her.

When TJ Benjamin's wife died, he lost more than his best friend; he lost his faith. He's spent the past year wandering the country on a motorcycle, trying not to think about his future. When he finds himself stranded with a busted bike and a reluctant rescuer, he has to wonder about God's sense of humor.

Can this woman without a future and this man running from his past find romance in the present? Or are they too tied to the way life used to be?

My thoughts

On Lone Star Trail has a smooth flow and while it has some ups and downs none of that feels dramatic enough to change the feel of the novel.  Gilliam and T.J. are both likable characters with difficult pasts that are written so they are easy to relate to, and draw you into their story.  Being the 3rd book in the Texas Cross Roads series there are also return characters that add dimension to the book.  This book was enjoyable, even though it lacked suspense and drama, it kept me entertained.  I would suggest reading the first books in the series to get a feel for the characters.

I was given this book free from Revell Publishing for my honest review.