Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Where Trust Lies is the second book in series "The Canadian West" by Janette Oke

I have not seen the tv series so reading the book was first of the Canadian family -The Thatchers.  A well to do family that has daughter Beth who taught a year in Coal Valley far away and is now coming home for a summer with the family.
Beth is given quite a surprise when her Mother and sisters let her know they are all going on a long cruise and want her to join them.
Father has a business trip of his own so won't be home long and not long after arriving she is thrust back into traveling but this time on a ship.
She does have one special thing to look forward to this summer, Jack whom she calls "Jarrick" has reminded her of his interest and wants to write letters and maybe call while she is away. She met this mountie while in Coal Valley and they became fast friends. They both are hoping she is called back to teach again in Coal Valley.
The steamship tour opens up a new world to the travelers and also to new people and some are not as honest as others.
Come read this exciting story that unfolds with family,friendship,faith and a love that slowly grows.

I received this book from Bethany Publishing to be read and reviewed, thank you so much, I enjoyed reading the story and meeting the characters.  An ending that was exciting and a surprise for me.


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The Outlaw Takes a Bride by Susan Page Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Susan Page Davis writes "The Outlaw Takes a Bride"

I am never dissappointed when I read a book by this author, great story that just wraps itself around you like a warm blanket and you don't want to leave it.
Goodreads now has a freebee on this one and you will want to check it out if you are a member there.

Sally Golding is a young widow that was so dissappointed in her first marriage and it leaves her cautious when entering into thoughts of marriage again..but..
women had little choices in making a living in the year 1885.

A pastor and his wife let her stay with them for room and board till she could get on her feet but the wife took advantage of Sally and did not make her feel welcome.  Soon after writing letters to a man in Beaumont Texas, He ask her to come and be his bride.  Her parents live in Texas also and it will be good to be closer to them and his letters makes Mark Paynter seem like a good christian man who has a small ranch and they could have a good life together.

Mark has a brother Johnny who heads to Texas also when he finds he might be considered a suspect in a murder at a ranch he works on.  Another guy that works there, tells him to leave and even offers to go along too, Johnny and a man he considers a friend soon arrive at Mark's place and find him dead.

Many little things change as the friend talks Johnny into staying and pretending to be his brother..this all begins to ravel when Sally arrives also expecting to become a bride to Mark.

You must read and learn how the beginnings of lies can mushroom out of proportion as you continue to lie and deceive as they did.

Sally and Johnny, as Mark, are soon in Beaumont living a lie that needs to be straightened out before they can find happiness.

Thanks Susan for writing a good story with memorable characters, I hope to see Johnny and Sally again.


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Journey's End by Dora Hiers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Journey's End  by Dora Hiers



This is a story that you don't want to miss.
Chelsea has lost her husband and only after several years is she able to begin healing and starting anew.
Journey's End is a place where healing can help the wounded and Chelsea so wants to help when she finds a young man hiding in the barn and then finds out he is son of man that killed her husband- it takes lot of courage and strength to offer her help.
Trey is a marshal who comes to help when he finds out that the killer has escaped from prison and is after the witness, He must protect them both.
Trey also needs to forgive himself for the part he had in the death of Chelsea's husband and it wears on his soul as the years pass.

Come and read this adventure that leads to love and faith as the story unfolds.


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The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sandra Dallas writes novel "The Diary of Mattie Spenser"

I was not sure I would like the story being in diary form, but...The story went well and I enjoyed reading Mattie's story.

The story begins with Hazel(relative of Mattie) is in her 90's and a neighbor who is good friend helps her sort trough things so she can move to a nursing home.
The neighbor likes hearing the old stories and when they find a diary she is so excited and Hazel lets her have the diary to read.  It is written quite unusually as they did in the old days -after writing regular way page is turned and written crossways to have more paper.  Little hard to decipher, yet she did and the story was amazing.
I liked Mattie a lot and felt sorry that she had been used the way she had.  She was not a beauty but a strong woman and this was feature that had Luke asking her to marry and travel to the plains with him to live.
She learns to love the man she married so quickly but it takes Luke many years before he truly appreciates the woman he married.
You will like the way Sandra tells this story and of the hardships- small pleasures and faith that they live out in the plains.


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