Summer Moon

I received an advanced reader's copy of Summer Moon by Jill Marie Landis from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had never read anything by Jill Marie Landis before this and had no expectations either way. Happily, I did enjoy her writing style and would gladly read other novels in the future.

I'm a fan of historical novels and the mail-order bride, so a romance that features the old west and that plot device is right up my alley; and I am glad that this novel didn't disappoint. From the start of the novel, the main characters, mail-order bride Kate Whittington and Texas Ranger Reed Benton, are kind of adorable. Their relationship started at a disadvantage when Kate was lured to Texas to be Reed's bride...but not by Reed (who doesn't want a bride). Add Reed's rediscovered child who had been kidnapped and raised by Comanche - thus was not used to (or wanted to be used to) the white person's way of life of life or culture - and it's a recipe for conflict. Jill Marie Landis kept the plot moving along though and never got bogged down in the drama so two thumbs up for that.

All in all, it was an enjoyable novel to read!

Beautiful story! Western romance – not typical of the type of books I read, but the newspaper add from Texas, “Rancher Seeking Wife’ captured my attention. Add to that the prologue with sweet Kate being rushed to an orphanage by her desperate mother and I did not want to put this book down. Finding out what happened to Kate kept me interested until the very end. For a young lady who was, basically, thrown out with the wash, her mother’s words of some day forgiving had the truth of love about them from a woman who truly loved her daughter and wanted a different life for her.

Then, add in Reed Benton seeking kidnapped son. Great story line! Handsome Reed, a Texas Ranger looking for his son for the last five years. Finally, believes he has found him and heads home to place he has hated since before he lost his son and wife. He has been shot twice during the raid in which he was able to retrieve his son, but his son is no longer the loving child he had. His father, whom he had come to dislike, possibly even hate, died just before he returns wounded. But, wait, his father has married him, by proxy, to lovely sweet Kate from Maine.

Such a mess. Kate does not know all of this was contrived by his father and the current housekeeper. Along this difficult path, the housekeeper leaves, a friend brings a beat up lady of the night to the ranch, the boy/son refuses to believe he is the long lost son, Daniel. Kate, for all she has lived through, still has an innocence and hope of life that begins to win Daniel over, yet, it mystifies Reed. The difficult part for her is that she is not really married to Reed. His plan is to dismiss the proxy wedding so she can leave. Again, such a mess.

The conflict is not just between Reed and Kate. Although he closed off his heart, strong, sweet Kate was not willing to have less than she deserved. She was give great advice early on and stuck with it. Reed needed the time to learn about what he really wanted in life and in marriage before he could truly address Kate.

Ms. Landis uses this opportunity to share with us the difficulties of both sides of the situation of the settlers moving to Texas and of the Comanche who were herded to reservations in Oklahoma – neither side really won. Both lost loved ones.

I enjoyed the story line of this book. I was intrigued by who wrote letters and how they both came into contact. Also with the twists in the story I wasn’t able to put the book down! I needed to finish it. Heat level is a little racey.

After months and months of exchanging letters, Kate finds herself in Texas to begin her new life which are filled of dreams of marriage, a home and a family of her own. Unknownst to her, the man she’s has been exchanging written notes claims he had never placed the ad for a wife. Without a notice, a whirlwind romance ensues after a proxy of marriage is set in stone and she suddenly becomes the caregiver of the Texas Ranger wounded child he rescue from Comanche.

Needless to say, from beginning to end, it became a bit more than difficult to put this down. It was a true western historical romance filled trouble leads who did everything in their power to fight the growing attraction between them. I don’t know how Jill Marie Landis did it, but I was honestly captivated by the overall flow of the story in which the romance was not rush nor force, the realistic characters including the secondary characters Daniel, Charm, and Jonah left a long lasting impression on me, and how she was able to tied everything together for a satisfying finish. Hands down worth the read and I would recommend “Summer Moon” to everyone looking for a great written romance series filled with perfect writing style, heartbreak, racy scenes, and real likable characters.

Original twist on the mail order romance novel. Landis draws you in from the first page; and keeps you turning them until the very last.

This was a very nice historical romance, another fine gem from a great writer who never disappoints with her storys!

This was such a good romance and not your typical “bodice ripper”. There was a great storyline that kept me engaged. Kate was a strong character and traveled as a mail order bride to a new life. However there are problems and obstacles to overcome. Reed is damaged and not a very nice person. Will it all work out in the end?
Many thanks to Belle Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am now an official fan of Jill Marie Landis! Summer Moon was brilliantly written. I am a sucker for an impeccably written setting, and was thrilled to find myself pulled into each scene with ease. I happily invested myself in the lives of the characters, and took them with me each time I walked away from the book. (Which wasn't often, as I literally couldn't put the thing down.) Marvelously written and a definite recommend.

This author's historical books always impress me. It's not a light and fluffy story but realistic which is what I enjoy reading!
A young woman hasn't had the best start in life,she's lived with the nuns since being dropped off there as a young child. It's the best her mother could do for her.
Katherine, has never has what we take for granted, a family to call her own.
Reading an ad for a mail order bride she jumps on the chance to become a bride and have a family to call her own.
My heart ached for Katherine when she arrived at the ranch and soon found things were no where near what she was expecting
Reed Sr. tricked her into believing Reed Jr. sent the mail order bride ad but Reed Jr is not looking for a wife at all.
I can just imagine the devastation and humiliation she feels but what will she do, she has no home to return to.
Being married by proxy she is legally married to the younger Reed just as his father wanted.
This is where the trouble comes in. What is she to do when he doesn't want to be married to her?
He's not looking for another woman after what he went through with his first wife, she was just a money grubber.
Her sweet disposition is getting to Reed, can she crack the tough exterior shell of this hardened man?
Will she leave the ranch because she's not wanted there?
Loved this book and was holding my breath as I really didn't know how it was going to go all the way til the end.
Published April 4th 2019 by Bell Bridge Books .
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Kate is the daughter of the town prostitute. At the age of nine, her mother leaves her on the doorstep of a Catholic orphanage where she is raised and then teaches for eleven years. At the age of 29, Kate loses her job and her position. In an unforgiving town with a long memory, what can she do to support herself? She answers an ad seeking a wife for a Texas rancher. Falling in love through letters, Kate marries Reed by proxy and then travels to the Lone Star ranch to meet her husband. But things are not as they seem. She arrives at the ranch to find the funeral for Reed, Sr. about to begin when Reed, Jr. (her husband) shows up wounded, delirious, bringing with him what appears to be an Indian boy. While tending Reed's wounds, Kate falls in love and grows to love Reed's son who had been returned from the Comanches. After being hurt by his first wife, Reed is not ready for love or a family. He and Kate learn that his dad forged Reed, Jr.'s signature on the marriage papers.

What unfolds is the story of kindness, family, overcoming regrets, and agape love. It is a lovely story I found hard to put down. Summer Moon by Jill Marie Landis is one that begs to be read and savored. It will make you look at others who are different or less fortunate in a new light.

This was a different take on the usual mail order bride plot. It is a good solid read with only a tiny bit of steam, all very understate. I enjoyed the book and read it in a couple of sittings. It kept my attention. The characters weren't run of the mill and had a few surprises in store. Good read.

Mail order brides and Wild West setting... what's not to love about Summer Moon from Jill Marie Landis. I found this book to be as gorgeous and mysterious as its cover. Hopefully, you will love it too.