Member Reviews
Tracie is one of my favorite authors, so I was very excited to get to read this new book in a new series. It's tough to imagine life in the "wild west" as Cheyenne welcomed the railroad and hoped to turn into a hub for travel and business. It's even more difficult to imagine what it would be like moving to the city with a new husband and child. This book shows us how trusting in God can bring us through even these scary new moments that face us. I really enjoyed the story and the way it unfolded. I can't wait for the rest of the series.
A Love Discovered, set in the late 1860s, launches the Heart of Cheyenne series. This book touches the heart and stirs the emotions with a sweet marriage of convenience love story fraught with struggles. The author’s fluent writing style and consummate storytelling skill creates the feeling of “being there” as you read. Strong, memorable characters jump off the pages and into your heart. The vividly, detailed sketched setting of the wild town of Cheyenne had me fearing the lawlessness and shivering in the cold! I greatly appreciate that the story is steeped in faith that adds depth to the historical romance. I love this story and can’t wait to return to Cheyenne! This book has my highest recommendation.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mystery, romance, tragedy and a misguided Pastor. This book keeps you reading. It's the first book is the 'Heart of Cheyenne' series. It was a good read and it kept me entertained for the duration of the book.
The characters were well written and they resolved any conflict well. I liked the characters reliance on God with Biblical references. The overall theme being that God is always with us blessing us with good things. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I receive complimentary books for various sources including, Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.
The story starts off right away with a scene that no one wishes to live through. It is tragic and heartbreaking. Immediately Peterson makes you feel sorrow for the main character. The unfolding scene gives you a good idea of what may take place in the following chapters and at first I felt as though I may not want to read the rest because it seemed obvious to me of what was to come, BUT the draw to unfold the story and feel through her writing what the characters were feeling was stronger. The life of the characters in the book was not an easy one and the love, evil, tension, heartbreak, anger, and forgiveness displayed throughout the story made you feel deeply as you read. I was close to shedding a fear tears as I finished the book and finished it with both a heavy and happy heart. I would definitely recommend the book and enjoyed reading it very much.
I really loved this book, it was answers to prayer that Marybeth and Edward find themselves married, if just in name! It was a sad journey to make it happen, but then they start a new life in the West, again a journey to get there, we sure take a lot for granted!
Can't imagine making my home in a tent in the middle of winter, but this young couple with their two year old do so! Cheyenne is such a lawless town as the railroad comes through, some people here are just plain evil.
We see the struggles here, and the faith of the community, that things will get better, and more affordable!
Now I can't wait for for the next book in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
A wonderfully written book about love that can grow. Great example of having to trust God and allow Him to heal all parts of our life, even when we are mad or don’t understand. Would love the book to continue for about 20 years to watch the characters develop more and watch their growth.
I really enjoyed this book. Both lead characters live in fear of one thing or another, but throughout the book, they learn to trust in God by faith and prayer. There were a lot of surprises within their lives and marriage of convenience. I love this author’s books! I received a free NetGalley book but my review is my own true opinion.
I really enjoyed this one! I have a feeling this will be my second favorite Tracie Peterson series, second only to her Heart of the Frontier series (top favorite series of all time). The story follows Marybeth, a young woman who loses both of her parents and ends up becoming a caregiver to her younger sister Carrie, and a young man and friend named Edward, who tries to help the sisters through a marriage of convenience. In hopes to escape a tough situation, the three end up in a Wild West type of place, with all of its dangers and outlaws. For a good bit of the story, they're in survival mode, not only because of the rough people but also the environment and the rough living. I really enjoyed the setting and reading about the rough conditions they experienced, and how they managed.
I couldn't help but just love and admire both Marybeth and Edward. Their characters were well developed, and the dynamics between them made every interaction interesting to read. Although they marry early on, this is definitely not an instalove story. They face some really tough issues in their marriage. I loved how strong Marybeths faith was, as well as how she turned to God as her anchor through so many unknowns. And Edwards journey out of the darkness of his past towards God is one of such redemption. Really enjoyed this one and how richly faith based it was, and am already looking forward to the second book in the series.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, Bethany House, and NetGalley for a complimentary advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I’m a sucker for wild west romances, and was thrilled to be given an ARC for this. The plot is a pretty common one found in western romances, the marriage of convenience, and also happens to be a favourite of mine.
Here we see the MMC and the FMC enter into a marriage of convenience, for her it means security for her and her orphaned baby sister, and for him it means the chance to accept a job in Cheyenne.
We are shown the untamed Cheyenne, where vigilantes hand out justice and everyone carries a gun. The MMC and FMC must learn to rely on each other and to put their fears aside to trust in God.
I shall keep an eye out for more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.
I was tickled to get to read this newest novel from Tracie Peterson as she begins a new series--this time in Cheyenne, Wyoming. the novel takes place when Cheyenne was just a railroad town a couple thousand.
Topics for this novel include death, fear, anger, forgiveness, mercy, and marriage of convenience. Marybeth and Edward decide that marriage is the best choice for them after the death of Marybeth's father leaves her sole caregiver for her two-yearold sister Carrie. Edward is still recovering from the death of his wife Janey (Marybeths best friend) in childbirth with their son--but he needs a wife before he goes accept a new job in the town of Cheyenne as a deputy. They decide that they will throw their furture's together in marriage of convenience--and that only. For Edward has also declared never again will he consumate a marriage to risk the loss of a wife in childbirth. Marybeth considers herself blessed that he rescued her from a situation and agrees.
The rest of the book shares their journey into the wild and untamed Cheyenne where vigilantes take care of justice, everyone carries a gun, the streets are wild, and the houses and families are few. Edward and Marybeth learn how to rely on each other through the good times and bad. To put aside their fears in order to trust in God. And to recognize that sometimes bad things happen to God's people and that doesn't mean God isn't good or still God. and that our anger towards God can prevent us from seeing teh love and beauty in front of us.
There isn't any big mystery or drama in this. More of just how do Marybeth and Edward get past their fears.
I liked Melody their neighbor very much and am hoping she gets the next book in the series.
4 stars.
*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
A fantastic book that was over way too soon! I say that because I couldn't put the book down. I read straight through the night laugh out loud. Peterson's stories do that to me.
I love reading about marriages of convenience and seeing how they turn out. This one was wonderful. All for the love of a sister/family. Love is a very strong weapon and throw God into well.....it could be a strong marriage. It's why I loved this story.
I have no fault with this one except one teeny tiny thing. I won't say what it is because I don't want to give it away.
All wonderful new characters but a couple I didn't really like. They were trouble makers. Yuck I don't like those kind of people.
A gentle reminder that I need to talk to God always even when trouble arises. Life's not easy and for this reason I loved Marybeth. She's special in my book.
I wanted to scream at Edward sometimes. He made me mad at him a lot!
All I all 5 stars for a well written story that flowed smoothly. I highly recommend!
My thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Tracie Peterson never disappoints. I love her characters, the way she weaves a story. It's always a fun read.
I have truly enjoyed most of the books by Tracie Peterson that I have read. She takes relatable situations and weaves them into the plots of her novels. Her historical novels are pretty accurate according to the mores of the society in which they take place.
In A Love Discovered, Tracie takes several tragic circumstances and melds them into the whole cloth of the story. Marybeth and Carrie are half-sisters who have been orphaned. Marybeth is determined to raise Carrie as her own, but her pastor thinks that she'd be better off giving Carrie up for adoption. He is adamant that there is a better family for Carrie and goes so far as to get the local judge involved in the situation. Edward is the widowed husband of Marybeth's best friend and offers her the protection of his name and his home for Marybeth and Carrie. He was about to move to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for a job opportunity in law enforcement working with his former commanding officer in the War Between the States. Edward offers Marybeth a marriage of convenience and to take her with him to Cheyenne the very next day. His brother-n-law will see to selling Marybeth's house and forwarding the money to her after it is sold.
Once they get to Cheyenne, they find a lawless town and no real acceptable place to live. They end up spending the winter in a tent. Edward stays firm in his stance that theirs be a marriage in name only while Marybeth finds herself falling in love, but the truth of the matter is that he is falling in love with her as well. He just can't find it within himself to love her completely because his first wife died in childbirth and he's afraid the same thing will happen to Marybeth.
For the most part this is a great book, Tracie knows her craft and plies it well. My only criticism is that the ending seemed too abrupt. It's not a satisfying ending and leaves the reader wishing for more. It felt as if the author needed a tidy way to end the story and just quit writing. For that reason, I'll give this book four stars.
Bethany House Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
A LOVE DISCOVERED by TRACIE PETERSON is the frst novel in The Heart of Cheyenne series. It is a most enjoyable read and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
The story starts in 1867 in Independence, Indiana, with a marriage of convenience between two very good friends, Marybeth Kruger, who is afraid that, as an unmarried woman with no income, she will lose Carrie, her precious little sister, and:lawman Edward Vogel, who has been invited by his mentor and best friend to move to Cheyenne to join him in trying to keep the peace in that wild railroad town. In order to take up this appointment, Edward needs a wife. All goes reasonably well, in spite of the danger of living in this lawless place, until they start having feelings for each other……
It is a story about friendship, unselfish love, and overcoming fear and anger by putting one’s faith in God. The characters are unforgettable and their emotions are beautifully potrayed. The Christian message is strong and the title is very apt.
I found A Love Discovered both exciting and inspirational, and cannot recommend the book highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
I love all books by Tracie Peterson. She is a great author of western stories. The story is full of history and romance. If you aren't familiar with her stories, start with this one.
After Marybeth loses her parents, she enters into a marriage of convenience with the widower of her deceased best friend. She does this in order to keep custody of her little sister, and Edward does it because his new job needs family men. They head west and their relationship changes.
I liked the historical aspects of this story; I found it fascinating to imagine what life was like back then. The town they settle in is quite dangerous, and living isn't easy. Marybeth and Edward face many trials and their relationship becomes stronger, but Edward wants to keep it platonic. His fear is that Marybeth would become pregnant and pass away in childbirth like his first wife did, but Marybeth encourages him to move past his fears and give their relationship a chance. Marybeth had a backbone and wasn't afraid to speak her mind, which I loved. I also liked the mentions of faith and releasing your fears to God, it felt very organic.
The only thing I felt was lacking is the romance between our main characters. I know this is a Christian romance, but their relationship felt a bit sterile. Maybe it was due to way people had to behave back then, with no hints of impropriety, but I wish there had been more pining, excitement, and intensity in their romance.