This evenly-paced novel allowed me to walk alongside Thea Michener on her journey of hope. Her dreams of a happy future died when her husband was murdered, and her son was stillborn. The only way she could see to escape the pain was to move to Cimarron Creek and continue her profession as a midwife.
Thea and her new friend Aimee Jarre make a great team as they travel together. Thea desires a new beginning, and Aimee is searching for her biological mom. It’s easy to connect with these two ladies as their friendship grows. Cabot developed her characters well. While Thea’s new friends find love and happiness, the last thing she needs or wants is to marry again or have another baby.
Jackson Guthrie, a Texas Ranger shows up at Thea’s house with an abandoned baby, expecting the town’s midwife to take care of the boy. Thea is still mourning her loss and finds it difficult to hold the baby, much less take care of him. She admires the handsome Ranger but can’t fathom the possibilities of another relationship.
Jackson suspects Thea is involved with a gang that robs stagecoaches and trains, but when he tracks her down, he surmises she’s innocent. He’s not looking for a relationship but is intrigued by Thea. He learns Thea is in danger and finds himself serving as her protector.
The twists are unexpected as Cabot successfully solves each mystery and sets the match-making stage. The action was steady and believable. I can normally figure out how the story will unfold, but A Tender Hope kept me guessing.
I give this novel four stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thea was a midwife that was trying to escape her past and move on. The trouble seemed to follow her to her new job weather she wanted it to or not. Stuck with her past, an abandoned baby, and a ranger at her heels, she is off to a bad start at a new beginning. Ranger Jackson is out to get the murderer for his brothers death and that leads him to Thea. Through many circumstances the two end up bonding together over the abandoned baby in ways they don't understand.
Even though this was the 3rd book in the series, I was able to pick up right at this book and not feel lost. It made me interested in going back to read the previous books and interested in what might come next.

This is the third and final book in the Cimarron Creek series and I suggest reading them in order because there is a carry over of the storyline into the next book. I very much enjoyed this series, hard to put down. There were surprising twists and turns in this series and I enjoyed the suspense.I have read all of this author's historical books and look forward to seeing what she puts out next.
Published March 5th 2019 by Fleming H. Revell Company.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

A TENDER HOPE is another enjoyable historical by Amanda Cabot. It has a believable and poignant premise with a strong character in Thea Michener. There is a twist on her backstory that was very believable and moved Thea to not want to fall in love again. Ranger Jackson Guthrie also has an issue in his past that leaves him unable to trust.

A TENDER HOPE has twists and turns that make you care for the characters even more around every corner. A witty and expertly written love story.

Thea Michener takes a job in Cimarron Creek as a midwife after the death of her husband and baby. So when a Texas Ranger shows up with a baby asking her to help take care of the baby, she doesn't know how much her heat can handle.



Ranger Jackson Guthrie has been watching Thea for long time, as he suspects that her husband was tangled up with the gang that killed his brother. But as he gets to know her he doesn't know how much to tell her, and what kind of danger she might be in, as the case becomes increasingly more complicated.



Will Thea and Jackson be able to get to the bottom of everything and perhaps find love?



The third book in the Cimarron Creek Trilogy it also stands well on it's own, there are some familiar faces if you've read the previous books but I think that you could figure out the storylines without reading the other books even though that would help. A bit slow to start, but nonetheless compelling. Thea is still grieving and has no intentions of marrying again or raising a child. I empathized with her, and really liked her as a character.



I really liked Warner's story as well, it totally brought to mind a Jane Austen quote, "If I liked you less, I might be able to talk about it more." It was great to finally have Warner meet his match. I also really liked Aimee, as well.



Jackson is surprisingly good with babies, as he gets to know Thea and new pieces of the case are revealed it changes his perspective. He wants justice for his brother, and is dedicated to his job.



A compelling read with great characters and plenty of mystery. A story of faith, hope, heartbreak and second chances.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

The last in a Christian historical fiction series that wraps things up in Cimarron creek 1881. Thea's husband was killed. She's a midwife and takes Aimee with her to Cimarron Creek. Jackson is a Texas Ranger looking for the gang who killed Thea's husband, and maybe he's looking for Thea too. An investigation he finds to be with ties near to his heart. Aimee is hoping to find her mother, and finds so much more. Nice romance and showings of faith. An interesting, satisfying and entertaining read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Heartwarming ending to this trilogy.

I have very much enjoyed the Cimarron Creek Trilogy. I would recommend reading this series in order as the storyline continues in each book. I loved the main characters of Thea and Jackson in this story. The author did an amazing job of building the family tree throughout the series. There were definitely some surprises along the way. I highly recommend this series!

After having read the previous book in the series A BORROWED DREAM, I was highly anticipating how my time at Cimarron Creek was going to come to an end. Needless to say, I was not disappointed, as A TENDER HOPE was incredibly heartwarming even when at times it introduced tragically heartwrenching situations. Yet it was through this heartbreak that its inspiring message of hope, faith, and love shone brightly.

Readers are transported back to Texas in 1881 as Thea arrives in the town to begin working as the midwife in an attempt to heal following the sudden death of her husband and stillbirth of her child. At the same time, Jackson, a Texas Ranger, arrives on the hunt for a group of bandits who are responsible for the death of his younger brother and injury to his partner. When he comes across an abandoned newborn next to a cactus, Jackson must work to figure out this mystery as well. Given their respective duties, Jackson and Thea find themselves thrust together to not only to care for and protect the baby but ultimately how Thea may hold the key to catching the Gang of Four.

Being privy to the inner thoughts of Thea and Jackson allows such a fascinating exploration into the range of emotions each character feels as they each make these physical and personal journeys. They are so intriguing and well developed that they truly come alive on the page. The steady pacing and smooth transitions showcased their captivating presence, taking readers in and out of their individual introspections and into another dramatic situation or into the path of an additional character. In Cabot's deft hands, none of that becomes overwhelming or confusing. Her beautiful yet casual writing style is completely engaging. She is able to effortlessly weave the plot and subplots together so that everything becomes integral to the story and builds these interwoven relationships into a rich and multilayered story that kept me turning the pages!

"Family was important for children, but love was even more critical to their happiness."

Family dynamics and structure were such a crucial message that is so beautifully examined within this story. Families are created in so many different ways and I have truly appreciated the author's exploration of this throughout the series. Children are completely embraced and welcomed into the loving arms of strangers who have been called upon to seek a higher purpose. Characters live beyond themselves and strive to make a difference in the community around them, and it is through them, that the ideals of acceptance, forgiveness, tenderness, and grace are embodied.

I said it before and I'll say it again: Don't let the romance genre fool you! Amanda Cabot has crafted an absolutely amazing love story that is filled with elements of suspense, mystery, and history with a gentle sprinkling of Christian messages to guide us along the way.

Thank you to the author and Lone Star Literary Life for providing me a free book in exchange for my honest and thoughtful opinion. This review and more special features can be found at That's What She's Reading Blog at thatswhatshesreading.com.

A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot is a great read. I enjoy Ms. Cabot's writing, her development of characters and story lines. This is the final book of the series which includes characters from the previous books, especially Catherine and Austin from A Borrowed Dream. This book offers danger, grief, romance and a baby. Thea, a widowed midwife takes a new position in Cimarron Creek after the death of her husband and baby. She is hiding and never means to marry again. Along comes a Texas Ranger; Jackson Guthrie with an abandon baby. He is trying to solve a crime involving her deceased husband and the situation becomes more than expected. Great series.

I received this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

A Tender Hope, the third in the Cimarron Creek trilogy, offers a sweet romance, but the overall story touches on the serious topic of family, especially children.

Some characters overlap, and all three books are a complete delight. In A Tender Hope, Thea and Jackson offer another dynamic romance that builds and blossoms with every page. As the town's new midwife, Thea is a strong, independent widow, but her late husband left her with doubts of his love for her and left her doubting her own ability to trust and love again. Jackson, a Texas Ranger, is on the trail of the Gang of Four, which is actually a gang of three now that Thea's husband is dead. When Jackson finds an abandoned baby just outside of Cimarron Creek, the mystery of who and why takes off and doesn't let go until the harrowing climax. Did Thea know about her husband's thieving ways? Will the gang come after her thinking she knows where her husband hid the gold? Why was a young mother tortured and killed and her baby abandoned? Can Jackson resist Thea's charms? You'll find the answers and whole lot more in this third enjoyable book.

Amanda Cabot's writing is as sweet as the budding romances in A Tender Hope, but not everything is as candy coated as the confectioneries coming out of the town's sweet shop. As Jackson dives deeper into the mystery and draws closer to capturing the gang, the tension and danger escalate and intensify.
Some tender moments are sprinkled throughout as three men in the story struggle to figure out how to woo the women they love. The men's bumbling efforts add some comedic relief to the seriousness of the overall chilling action.

Children and parents are the focus in this last book, and the author adeptly incorporates several levels of family that show the importance of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. In A Tender Hope, embracing a mother, a daughter, a brother, a sister, or even a child who is not your own is the sweetest joy and offers the promise of new hope, new love, and new life.

I have enjoyed all of Amanda Cabot's books and A Tender Hope is also a good one. It can stand alone, but reading the two previous books does help with keeping characters straight in your mind. A Tender Hope is well written, with a good plot line and likable characters.

After tragically losing her husband and new baby, Thea is desperate for a change. A new town, with new people seems just what she is looking for. She moves to Cimarron Creek with her friend Aimee, who is searching for her long lost mother. The two women are immediately accepted by the friendly ladies of Cimarron Creek and settle into their new lives.

Ranger Jackson is tirelessly searching for the gang of four people who have been on a killing and robbing spree. The task is very personal as the gang killed his brother and wounded his partner. He follows Thea to Cimarron Creek thinking that she might be a midwife by day, and part of the gang by night.

Thea and Jackson are surrounded by danger, mystery and romance.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes light romance and Historical Fiction.

A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot transports readers to August 1881. Thea Michener is leaving Ladreville to become the new midwife in Cimarron Creek, Texas. Thea needs a change after the murder of her husband and giving birth to a stillborn boy. Her marriage was complicated near the end and she will be happy to shed her widow’s weeds. Aimee Jarre is going with Thea in the hopes of locating her birth mother. They arrive in Cimarron Creek to find Ranger Jackson Guthrie on the front porch of their new home with an infant in his arms. Ranger Guthrie was following Thea to Cimarron Creek when he came upon the baby alone near cacti. He has been on the trail of The Gang of Four (as they have been dubbed) since they injured his partner and killed his younger brother. Guthrie believed Thea was the female member of the gang until he sees her in person. As it turns out, Thea may hold the key to tracking down these ruthless bandits who manage to disappear after each robbery. Neither party may be looking for love, but God has other plans.

A Tender Hope is the final book in a Cimarron Creek Trilogy. A Tender Hope can be read alone, but, after reading it, you will want to go back and read the other two books in the series. The couples from the first two books are included in A Tender Hope. I thought A Tender Hope was well-written with gentle pacing. Amanda Cabot has a casual writing style that engages the reader and draws them into her tale. The Christian elements are nicely integrated into the story. I like that it was light but meaningful. Thea’s story was intriguing. New details are added as the story progresses, and I like how it all tied together. Guthrie and Thea’s romance plays out softly and sweetly. Aimee is seeking answers on her birth parents and she gets so much more (I do not want to give away any spoilers). Nate Kenton and Warner Gray provide humor to the story. Both men are seeking wives and women are scarce in their area. I liked that the author gave many of the females in the story occupations and strong voices. I was very happy that A Tender Hope was not a typical historical romance. There is mystery, suspense and action along with family, friendship, love, and faith. A Tender Hope has a satisfying conclusion that will leave readers smiling.

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to really read a book and I sure have missed it! Amanda Cabot has brought me back. Although it took me a while (due to my health, NOT my interest level), I was happy to have another Cimarron Creek book in my possession. It’s such a light-hearted series and just what I needed. This is supposed to be the final chapter in the CC Trilogy and I am really sorry to hear that. It feels like family and I hope to see more in the future!

Amanda Cabot rounded out this series with sweet midwife, Thea, and the kind-hearted Texas Ranger, Jackson. Besides that, we get to see all the characters we’ve grown to love in the small town. Like I said, the story is light and an easy read. I highly recommend getting the other books in the series so you can follow along with all the people and their continuing stories. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone, but you wouldn’t get as much out of it. So, get going and grab your copies! Thanks so much for this copy! As always, this is my honest review. Here’s to many more!

I had high hopes for this story; both the synopsis and the cover immediately grabbed my attention when I first saw it. Unfortunately, it just didn't hit the mark for me. The main characters, Jackson and Thea, both had the potential to be very realistic and relatable characters, but I feel like they were straight out of a Hallmark movie. I was expecting a sweet, small-town historical romance, but about 40% through, this basically turned into a murder mystery, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But to be honest, as gripping as you think that kind of storyline would be, I just really wasn't interested enough in the story or the characters to keep reading. Add in the cheesy\unrealistic romance (Everyone else thinking the main couple is in love before they themselves even think of each other in a romantic light? Please.), and you lost me.

I think Cabot is a very promising author, and I definitely will still be checking out some of her other works, but this one just wasn't for me.

Die Erzählung beginnt im August 1881 in Texas. Die 27-jährige Hebamme Thea Michener verlässt ihren geliebten Wohnort Ladreville, da sie dringend eine Veränderung braucht und hofft, ihr Geheimnis hinter sich lassen zu können. Sie macht sich mit großer Vorfreude auf den Weg und wird auch ihre Trauerkleidung hinter sich lassen, die sie seit dem Tod ihres Mannes und ihres totgeborenen Sohnes getragen hat. Ihre französichstämmige Freundin Aimee Jarre begleitet sie, auf der Suche nach ihrer leiblichen Mutter.

Der 30-jährige Texas Ranger Jackson Guthrie verpasst Thea so knapp. Er glaubt dass sie zu einer vierköpfigen Räuberbande gehört. Er hat sie im Verdacht mit dem Mord an seinem jüngeren Bruder zu tun zu haben. Er folgt ihr weiter. Sein Plan ist, sie mit einem Nachtritt zu überholen. So hofft er, sie unverdächtig beobachten zu können, um sie ihrer Schuld mit weiteren Beweisen überführen zu können. Doch auf seinem Ritt hört er plötzlich ein Baby schreien. Er nimmt den verlassenen Jungen mit und will später untersuchen, von wem er einfach ausgesetzt wurde. So hat er auch den perfekten unschuldigen Grund gefunden, um Kontakt zu Thea zu suchen.

Man folgt Theas und Jacksons Geschichte von der ersten Begegnung an gespannt. Wie ihre Liebe langsam und stetig wächst ist nachvollziehbar und herzerwärmend dargestellt. Beide sind sehr sympathische und überzeugende Protagonisten. Der Weg von den ersten zarten Gefühlen bis zum Heiratsantrag ist nicht einfach für Thea und Jackson. Es tauchen auch viele interessante Nebenfiguren auf, von denen einige weitere schöne Romanzen erleben. Dieser dritte Teil schließt gut an den vorherigen Band an und erzählt Graces Geschichte fesselnd weiter. Die Entwicklungen um Jacksons Suche nach der Räuberbande sorgen für Dramatik und Nervenkitzel.

Das Buch findet ein überzeugendes romantisches Ende, mit guten Hoffnungen für die Zukunft. Sehr gut umgesetzt sind die zentralen Themen um die Kraft des Gebetes und der Bedeutung von Ehrlichkeit.

Thea's marriage with Daniel might not have been ideal - had she not had cause to believe him unfaithful to her? - but she never wanted or expected him to be murdered, and her child stillborn. Taking a position at Cimarron Creek as midwife forms a new start for her, but she never expected to be brought face to face with Daniel's past - and by a Ranger who makes her feel as even Daniel never did. Ranger Jackson is on the trail of a gang of criminals, one of whom he has reason to believe is a woman. Thea's dead husband Daniel was in the gang, and he followed her to Cimarron Creek thinking that she herself was too - only to find that she could not be. But when a woman who closely resembles Thea is found murdered, it is clear that however innocent she might be, she is in danger...

With suspense, romance, a good message, a convincing storyline and interesting characters, this was an enjoyable and worthwhile read. I have read the second and third books of the trilogy now, and was pleased to see the conclusion of Grace's story from the second book, but the books could easily be read and enjoyed independently instead. All in all, it's clean and well written, a good conclusion to the trilogy but also good to read by itself. Recommended to readers of historical romance with a bit of suspense thrown in.

My biggest quibble: the author had an annoying habit (I don't remember noticing it in previous books?) of breaking off almost every interesting scene in the middle, sometimes to be revisited after a jump to a different character, sometimes with the purport only gathered indirectly. You are given all of the relevant information, but it still got irritating at times.

Rating: 4.5 stars.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

I've read the first two books in this series and I had to know what happened next for the sleepy little town of Cimarron Creek.

This is the last book in this series and the author does an amazing job of wrapping up all of the personal storylines and making sure there is plenty of happily ever afters for the citizens of Cimarron Creek.  This book focuses on Thea and Jackson, but there are also storylines for Warner, Patience, Nate, and Aimee.  I enjoyed how each story interconnected with others and I found myself rooting for each character and whom they might end up with as their soulmate.  Along with the romance, there is action and suspense when it comes to the Gang of Four and their search for Thea because they think she knows things that her deceased husband might have told her.  There were times I wondered what could possibly happen next to these characters and would everything turn out ok in the end?

There are plenty of cameos from characters in the first books like Lydia and Travis and even Andy and Catherine.  I was excited to see Grace reunite with her daughter, but not without some trials and tribulations to get to that point.  

We give this 5 paws up and highly recommend this trilogy - but start with A Stolen Heart and then A Borrowed Dream before reading this one mainly for continuity.  You could read out of order but it will make more sense to read in order.

Danger! Suspense! Romance! Amanda Cabot has written an attention grabbing story in early Texas. Your heart will go out to midwife Thea Michener who is moving away for a new beginning after the death of her husband and baby. Handsome Texas Ranger Jackson Gutherie finds a baby along the trail. The Ranger believes Thea has information on the gang her husband was involved with. Life gets complicated when the ranger is attracted to Thea! Thea's friend Aimee is newly arrived from France and searching for her birth mother. There is lots of action in this historical fiction book. I recommend A Tender Hope to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary ebook through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

A Tender Hope, the final book in Amanda Cabot’s Cimarron Creek Trilogy, is probably my favorite of the three and that’s saying something because A Stolen Heart and A Borrowed Dream are fantastic novels in their own right.

It’s the fact that events came to a satisfactory conclusion here. It’s because everyone’s stories, especially the couples’ have hopeful endings/beginnings. And it’s definitely because it had me smiling when I closed the book after finishing it.

Being immersed in the Cimarron Creek series is like traveling in time to an era that is both gentler and harsher than the present. Ms. Cabot’s imagined world of apothecaries and mansions, of buggies and prams, of Rangers and outlaws, of midwives and stagecoaches, is a place I enjoy visiting. Being a foreign-born transplant to Texas, I appreciate this recreation of a past I know nothing about except for what I read in books.

From the first scene, A Tender Hope literally and figuratively takes the reader on a journey. Thea and Jackson travel separately to Cimarron Creek carrying their physical and emotional baggage: Thea with her heartbreak from losing her husband and son; Jackson with his hunt for the outlaw who killed his brother. An abandoned child, along with their respective jobs, brings them together in a way that aided their growing attraction to each other and hastened their discovery of what they really want in life. Amidst the danger posed by a vicious gang, they realized that what they want is to build a family in Cimarron Creek, their found home.

I love every aspect of Thea and Jackson’s romance: the constant desire to be in each other’s company, the honest conversations, their mutual respect, their belief in the other’s capabilities, and their support of each other’s careers. What had me swooning is their observance of proper courtship, something that is missing in contemporary romance and even in many historical romance these days. I enjoyed reading it here.

Another courtship I enjoyed is that of Aimee and Nate's. These two brought some lightness and comic relief to balance the more serious themes of the novel. Also ably supporting are Warner and Patience, Travis and Lydia, Grace, and other members of the small town.Their various subplots and the menace of the villains help enrich A Tender Hope’s overall storyline.

I’m really going to miss the wonderful people in this fictional community but I trust in Ms. Cabot and I’m sure her next series will be as fantastic as Cimarron Creek had been.

Three people come to town searching for something. Thea, a widowed midwife, moves to Cimarron Creek Trilogy for a new start. Her friend Aimee is looking for the clues to the mother who gave her up. Jackson is looking for the Gang of Four and believes that Thea might be the key to finding the gang. When Jackson finds an abandoned baby, there is a second mystery to solve. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher though Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is the first book that I read in this series. Even though I probably miss out not reading the prior books, I was able to enjoy reading this book as a standalone. There is mystery, romances, a child needing a family, and suspense. I really like this book.