my thoughts: In true Tracie Peterson fashion, our heroine, Cassie overcomes great trials when she is injured and can't perform her job as a seamstress. In this heartbreaking story, she overcomes her struggles compiling stories of the men working on the Santa Fe Railroad. Compelling and once again, Ms. Peterson has researched her work with results to entertain, enrich and give the reader a front row seat into the shaping of our country.

Cassie's friend, Brandon Dubarko has also found troubles along the way in a vengeful man who re-enters his life. Strong faith give Cassie and Brandon the strenghth and courage to face their trials. Truly a wonderfully inspirational book.

This is the third book of the Love on the Santa Fe series and takes place around the time of World War I. I haven't read the other books in the series, but had no trouble reading as a standalone. The story is beautifully written an captured my attention from the start and kept my interest all the way through. The story was well-written in the way that it captured historical facts and intertwined them nicely with the fictional story of Cassie and Brandon. The plot was strong and the storyline flowed smoothly, and the characters were interesting and relatable. It's a sweet and clean and quite entertaining story and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Under the Starry Skies is a sweet Christian historical romance. It is set in the early 1900s in New Mexico, with protagonists Cassie and Brandon. Cassie is a seamstress, whose parents have both passed and whose sister moved away and wants nothing to do with her. Brandon is a family friend who promised Cassie's father that he would look after her if anything ever happened to him. When her wrist is broken in an accident, Brandon dedicates himself to making sure she is taken care of. Despite his plans to never marry, he discovers feelings for Cassie that are more than friendly. Their relationship slowly develops... Unfortunately someone from their past has returned, with plans to get revenge on Brandon by any means possible.
These characters feel true to life. I greatly enjoyed the slow romance between Cassie and Brandon, and the way that they opened up to each other about their pasts before cementing a relationship. Cassie's relationship with her sister also plays a big role in the relatability of her story. The railroad setting is interesting as well, not something I see a lot of. This novel is well written and seems historically accurate. An enjoyable clean romance.

Under the Starry Skies is the third book in Tracie Peterson’s Love on the Sante Fe from Bethany House.

I loved seeing how the community came around Cassie when she was injured in the beginning of the story. This friends-to-more story has lots of sweetness and a lovely happily ever after.

Then the danger the characters faced made me not want to down the story and had me hoping all would work out okay for the characters. I also loved how the romance blossomed between the two.

The three books in this series are three unrelated stories, so they can be read independently and in any order.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book.
I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Under the Starry Skies by Tracie Peterson is the third book in Love on the Santa Fe series. This is a wonderful story with clean romance, life challenges, faith and forgiveness. The plot is engaging with unexpected twists and turns and the characters just jumped off the pages and pulled at my heart strings. I loved reading this book and I highly recommend it!

4,5 Stars!

I received Under the Starry Skies for free. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are my own. Thanks to Ms. Tracie Peterson as well as Bethany House Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a spectacular story! From the scalawag renegade with a grudge to the estranged sisters trying to rediscover a healthy relationship to a man with a heartrending past and hesitant hopes for the future, this story whisked me away to 1910s New Mexico and entertained me well for many hours.

The theme of domestic abuse as well as one of neglect were well written in a way that showed the faults yet revealed how grace can come alongside and sweep the wrongs into the past in order to give people a completely fresh start. It was special to see how certain characters were attempting to break those negative cycles that can so easily carry down through generations.

The faith journey was so rich! It was strong and instilled hope in the characters and reader alike. It was wonderful to see the characters yearning to right the wrongs of their pasts. Sometimes it isn’t possible to do so, but it’s great when it is. The highlight on forgiveness was fantastic, because it wasn’t a pat thing. It was heart-deep and sincere—a true example of how living out God’s love through forgiveness can look.

Content: alcohol, bars, marital affairs mentioned

Good book by Tracie Peterson. I have enjoyed the Santa Fe series after not reading Ms Peterson's books for a few years. I will be looking forward to her next series.

In Under the Starry Skies, one will find what readers have come to expect from a Tracie Peterson book. An authentic historical setting, a sweet romance, and a gentle faith message.


Cassie is a sparkling heroine. Sweet and caring, her writing aspirations are endearing and her journey to publication will interest readers. Brandon is a solid hero. A little mysterious, readers will learn of his troubled past, and respect him all the more for it. Together, they make a charming couple.


Impending war and the events of historical Santa Fe create an intriguing backdrop for this story. Combined with the unfolding of events in the characters personal lives as they deal with circumstances from their pasts weave a tapestry that inspirational historical fiction fans will appreciate.


If you love sweet romance with accurate depictions of true historical events, then Under the Starry Skies might be the book for you.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Great conclusion to the Santa Fe love series!

Cassie Barton lives alone in the bustling town of San Marcial, New Mexico after her father was killed in a train derailment accident suspected to the be work of Pancho Villa and his gang. Her sister left years ago after their mother died and has since become married and lives in Denver. Now over 30, Cassie feels that she may never marry and has settled into work as a seamstress until she is knocked down by a group of young railway works and breaks her hand. Her longtime friend, Brandon DuBarko, arranges for his workers to pay her wages while she is out of commission, but she hopes that maybe he has more in mind than just helping her out.

Brandon DuBarko is one of the most respected railway foremen in the Santa Fe’s employment, but he has a past that he has been trying to forget for years. When his friend Cassie is hurt, he plans to help her get back on her feet and begins to enjoy time with her as he did with her dad for years. What he never counted on were the feelings that he would develop for her. Can she love him if she discovers his past?

For the final story of Love on the Santa Fe, readers meet the likely couple of Cassie and Brandon. I say likely, because they have known each other for several years through Cassie’s father, but never really had a quality connection until he was gone. The romance never really felt forced, just more like it was expected to happen, which it eventually did. There are a couple of common characters between books with the Pastor and his wife, but I really wish that the main characters between the books would have made random appearances to pull the series together a little more. All that said, this also makes it very easy to have three standalone novels with no connection other than the Santa Fe railway through New Mexico. Fans of Peterson will continue to enjoy her writing.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This is the third book in the series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. The story was a little slow for me. Probably half of the book or more took place in one location with a scene or two elsewhere scattered throughout. I was hoping for a little more information about the building of the railroad and the dangers the workers faced. Perhaps that came in earlier books in the series.

There are strong themes of revenge, forgiveness, guilt and redemption. There's a strong Christian message. I especially enjoyed the illustration of tempering steel and how that relates to the Christian life.

Cassie and Brandon were very believable, real people but they weren't as memorable as the Duchess or even Cassie's sister.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The third and final book in Tracie Peterson's Love on the Santa Fe brings this series to a wonderful conclusion. Cassie Barton is working as a seamstress to make ends meet after her father died during a Santa Fe train accident and her sister is off in Denver married and estranged from Cassie. Brandon DuBarko is still working as a supervisor for the railroad, looking after Cassie as her father requested, and still struggling with actions from his past.

With a hint of mystery, a touch of romance, a whisper of America's pending involvement in World War I, and a wonderful cast of characters, this third and final book in the series wraps up threads from the previous two books. The growing relationship between Cassie and Brandon, the wonderful support of Pastor John and Myrtle, and the support of Brandon's group of Mexican railroad trainees to Cassie each added to this well written story. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in this series as I rode the Santa Fe many times growing up traveling from California to Ontario Canada to see my grandparents. The books brought back many great memories from my youth.

Under the Starry Skies was an attention catching and keeping novel. Through the novel, you experience life's struggles with Cassie and Brandon. Cassie is struck with tragedy and Brandon helps Cassie through her time of need and continues to help even after she becomes self-reliant again. Bandon needs to learn how to let go of the past and forgive himself to move on to a happy future.
Cassie and Brandon are both reliant on God and look to Him to help forgive others, protect them, and help them heal. Peterson gives realistic views on what life would have been like while developing and protecting the railroad coming into the Great World War. She also shows the dependency we need to have in God to help us forgive, heal, and protect.
*I received this through the Bethany Publishing House and I was not required to publish a positive review.*

If you like to read clean, Christian Historical Romance, you will love Under the Starry Skies. It can be read as a stand-alone.

I like the characters and the chemestry these two have over the course of the story, the romance is a friend to lovers, a slow-burn romance, and even more sweet and heartfelt because they have obstacles to overcome. I loved Cassie, as an orphan, she was sweet and caring and like to encourage others, and I loved her relationship with the people in town. Brandon is a hero, caring, and a protector. the story brings the need for reconciliation from the actions of the past in order to move toward a better and happy life. knowing that God can forgive actions that people might think are unforgivable. Overall, is a Delightful and entertaining read, Highly Recommended!

Thank you Netgalley and Bethany Publisher for the eARC, and the opportunity to give my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed Under the Starry Skies by Tracie Peterson. This book defines what it means to be forgiven and redeemed in Christ.

Cassie Barton is all alone in the world. With both her parents gone, she makes her living at sewing. She does have a sister, but for reasons she does not understand, her sister wants nothing to do with her and wouldn't even come to their father's funeral. When Cassie is injured, a long-time friend of her father's, Brandon DuBarko, steps in to care for her. And he ensures that the men who accidentally injured her make reparations to her.

Brandon has some difficulties to overcome with war looming and Mexican revolutionaries threatening the railroad. The more time he spends with Cassie, the deeper his feelings grow. But he has a secret that could threaten everything developing between them.

I have not read any other books in this series. Thankfully, they can be read as a standalone. The author has well-developed characters with interesting stories in which she has woven a unique theme of redemption and forgiveness, especially for those who believe they don't deserve it.

The love story between Cassie and Brandon is sweet and all the more moving as they each have obstacles to overcome.

If you like historical romance, you will love Under the Starry Skies. I highly recommend it!

I received a review copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Set in 1916 New Mexico we are there for the building of the Santa Fe Railroad, and we see that some people really don't want it, or have other plans, and the track is sabotaged!

This is Cassie and Brandon's story, a story of past family dynamics and losses, there is grieving, and relief, and with a strong thread of forgiveness. Hurts that are magnified, and seen from different angles, or sins that we think we have committed, and we see through the Author that God plays a big roll in our lives!

This is a Christian romance, and there is drama, and hurts, along with such warm loving embracing of those in need.

This was a great story to get lost in, and I didn't want to leave! Yes, we are gifted with an epilogue!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Very enjoyable story written about the building of the Santa Fe Railway during the early 1900's in New Mexico. Loved all the history surrounding the railroad and the dam. Would have loved to have heard more stories from the men that Cassie had included in her book. As always a strong message of faith and encouragement. Recommended.

The Santa Fe railway serves as the backdrop for this story, reminiscent of an old western movie with strong characters, conflict and evil bad guys. Cassie and Brandon must make peace with their past in order to move forward, possibly together, toward a happier life and future.

Tracie Peterson’s tales have true-to-life characters, making their way through struggles and heartache by seeking the Lord and the Word of God. With scripture inserted within the storyline, the spiritual arc is uplifting and encouraging amongst the trials these characters face.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

Another gripping novel that held me captive from the beginning. It has inspired me to remember God is good and His mercies are everlasting. He truly wants to bless each of us and this looks different for us all.

Sometimes it's the big mistakes that makes us appreciate the little things in life.
Also truth will prevail to set us free.
These are my own quotes that I took away from this story.
Tracie Peterson is an awesome author with whom I have enjoyed her stories from the beginning with her very first book. She never fails to continue to amaze me with each story.
As always I learn and take away from each book that I read. I took away from this story a railroad lesson. One I won't soon forget.
It takes special people to keep a railroad going.
My very favorite thing about this story I love was I could imagine those big powerful steam engines! My how proud they seemed to be!
Yes our pasts can hurt but it takes a very strong person to rectify it and make it right so that we can have peace like our Father in Heaven wants us to do.
I loved this book from the very beginning and just now finished it. I didn't want it to end! I've made so many new friends!
Cassie in my opinion was a very special lady. I admired her much. She was a woman before her time.
Wonderful writing as always Ms. Peterson!
I give this book 5 stars for a job well done and for keeping my attention the whole way through!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed my time reading Under the Starry Skies. I liked the trip back in time and learning about the railroad. I enjoyed getting to know Cassie Barton and loved her relationship with the people in the town. I felt for her as an orphan and the rest of the family issues. Under the Starry Skies is a really good book. I felt like it was like meeting new friends and I hated to say goodbye. There is a little love and a little suspense and a fleshing out of ones faith in the midst of the storm. Pick up a copy. I think you will like it.