Steadfast Heart by Tracie Peterson a Book Review

Thanks to Bethany House, I was able to have the opportunity to review Steadfast Heart by Tracie Peterson.  They did provide me with a complimentary copy, but all thoughts and opinions below are my own.

I've read several Tracie Peterson books before, I've always enjoyed her writing style and that the stories take me back in time, to a simpler way of life.
When I read the books synopsis I was extremely intrigued it looked like a great fun read.  As I began reading, I found it very interesting that it was much different than I thought as well as quite a bit more so compared to the back of the book description!

The premise is the elegant and high society Lenore Fulcher,  who happens to be a strong minded girl.  In 1888 in Seattle, women with too many opinions are not exactly favorable or welcomed.  However, Lenore is quite strong minded and clever, she believes marriage should be about love, not an arrangement as her father has been considering for her.  She is set out and quite determined to get her way.

Kolbein Booth arrives in Seattle with one thought on his mind, find his sister who ran away.  Looking for someone who didn't plan to be found, in a large city is proving to be harder than he thought. Though he came to search, the last thing he thought he would find was the woman of his dreams.  As well as several new friends and a hotheaded redhead who would turn out to be his best chance at finding what he is looking for.

When I started the book, I really thought the story would be all about Lenore and Kolbein, but it really wasn't.  They were a part of it, but in my opinion a fun character Abrianna stole the show. Abrianna is Lenore's closest friend, they may live in two opposite sides of the society spectrum.  But they couldn't be more suited to be the perfect friends.

Abrianna lives with her aunts who own and run Madison Bridal School.  A school for women who are looking to become wedded, they come and learn new talents and skills.  The problem with living in a bridal school, Abrianna has absolutely no desire to learn the talents or become a bride for that matter.  She is fun caring and just about free spirited as they come.  God fearing and set out on a goal to help anyone in need, she is a forced to be reckoned with.
Truthfully, she was my favorite character of all, and I loved that most of the book was about her.  Abrianna's personality will make you just sit back and smile as you read.  If I hadn't read the synopsis I would have assumed based on the story the book was about her and her adventures.

Steadfast Heart is filled with of course hero's and heroines as well as a bad guy in disguise.  As well as some early American history.  It's fun, witty and quite a fast read.  If you enjoy Tracie Peterson books this is another that will not disappoint.
I look forward to the next book in the Brides of Seattle series, because I suspect it will be more of the fun character Abrianna that I grew to love in this one!

Want more information?  

Or interested in purchasing a copy.  

You can visit Amazon HERE.

A Moment in Time by Tracie Peterson

A Moment in Time by Tracie Peterson is book two in the Lone Star Brides Series, you can check out my review of the first book A Sensible Arrangement HERE.

The good news about this series is each book could be it's own stand alone.  However, if you want to get to know the characters a bit better I suggest starting with the first book.

Being a country girl at heart, I do love myself a fun western every now and then.  A Moment in Time picks up right where A Sensible Arrangement left off.  Although Marty has a bit of a role in this book, especially earlier on in the story.  Mainly this book is about Alice, this is her love story.
Alice was the orphan, who was cut and left for dead when robbers came to attack her and her father. Taking his life, and then leaving her with nothing.  While she recovered in the hospital others took care of her fathers affairs, even selling their home, which really did leave her with nothing.

With no where to go, Marty and Jake took her in, and when hard times hit them financially during Denver's financial crisis in the 1890's.  Marty kept Alice living with them because the two were more friends than homeowner and servant.
Times are tough and when Jake takes off for Texas to find work and a new way of life for them.  Marty and Alice stay behind, living and helping out at a small Denver orphanage.

Alice is still being haunted and stalked by the man who sliced her face long ago.  She can't seem to get rid of him, even though she doesn't have the Gold bonds he thinks her father left her.  With worry and suspicion around every corner it is a welcome relief when Jake sends money for the two women to travel by train to Texas to live with him and Marty's sister Hannah.

Alice had decided she would always be single, seeing as she couldn't see how any man could see past the ugly scar that ran down the side of her face.  But Robert Barnett, Marty's nephew doesn't see a scar at all, instead he's falling in love with the woman she really is.  Alice always having been a city girl, discovers she loves the life of a Texan and a rancher, this is where she feels she is truly meant to be.  She also finds herself quickly falling in love with a handsome rancher named Robert.  The only problem is everyone is telling her Robert is engaged to a beautiful girl that lives a few ranches away.

However, life isn't all it appears, and nothing ever comes easy for Alice.  After a few discoveries Alice's world is thrown into something she can't even of ever fathomed.  Secrets come out, and discoveries about her family and some dark secrets they harbor come to light.  It isn't long before Alice is left to make serious decisions, at the same time hoping that she can keep hidden and avoid the clutches of the man who attacked and scarred her face for life.

If you enjoy a great clean western, with lovable characters and a fast paced storyline.  Then you will love the Lone Star Brides Series.  Tracie Peterson takes you back in time, to a harder life but also a more peaceful time in the old west.  If you're like me, you'll fall in love with the characters and the heart that was put into A Moment in Time.


Disclosure: I was provided a complementary copy of this book for my review by Bethany House.  I was not asked to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions above are my own.

A Sensible Arrangement by Tracie Peterson - A Book Review

This is actually my second Tracie Peterson novel in just a few months.  I really like this author, she does a great western.  A Sensible Arrangement is just that a great western with an adventurous romance.  I loved this story, and it was another one of those books that captured my attention and I pretty much read it cover to cover.

Marty is living in Texas and has had much pain in her life and she is ready to leave it all behind.  So when she sees an advertisement in the local paper for a man looking for a "Lone Star Bride" who is willing to move to Denver.  Marty decides to throw caution to the wind, and answers the ad and agrees to be his mail order bride.  With one stipulation, that it is an agreeable arrangement with no strings of love attached.

Jake has also had much heartache in his life.  He's been burned by women in his past, and has no desire to fall in love again.  However, with a job as a banker in a high society standing.  He soon realizes he needs to find a woman to wed, who would be willing to stand by his side, with nothing more than a marriage of convenience between the two.  When he receives Marty's reply, he feels it is the perfect arrangement.

Marty's arrival into town becomes quite unexpected as she becomes a heroine in an attempted stage coach robbery.  Jake takes an immediate extra liking to his new bride, proud of the much stronger woman that she is, than he could have ever hoped for.  Even if a gun slinging woman isn't exactly what will help Marty's social standing in the community.

Marty does everything she can to accept this new life.  As a woman who previously worked a ranch, she finds it difficult to be idle and allow servants and others to do everything for her.  But she is bound and determined to make this arrangement work, and be the wife Jake needs.  Even if that means attending social events and boring tea parties with the elite women in the community.  Whatever it takes to keep her here, and from having to go back to the heartaches of Texas.

Jake, is finding it more and more difficult to ignore his feelings for his new wife.  This marriage of convenience isn't very convenient for a man who is falling in love with his wife.  The only problem is, he's been burned before, he's not sure if he is ready to let even his wife into his heart.

Marty's past of secrets begin to catch up to her, and when her own feelings start getting thrown into the mix she isn't sure what to do.  When the economy starts collapsing, and the banking business looks to be a sinking ship Marty and Jake realize they may just need each other more than they ever knew.

If you enjoy a lighthearted American western, filled with adventure and romance.  You'll love A Sensible Arrangement.   I look forward to more books in Tracie Petersons Lone Star Brides series!  Written for adults, this is a clean christian based novel, appropriate for any age.


Disclaimer: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishing for my review.  I was not asked to write a positive review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.