The Mistress of Tall Acre, Laura Frantz

Rating-I don't know...

This book is about 400 pages.  It was just OK until about page 327 (I would have rated it a 3 maybe) when it started to pick up and get exciting (then it would have been a 4.5).  How do I feel about that?  I don't know...that maybe the book could have been about 250 pages and been just as good or better?  Hmm...I seem to either love or be pretty disappointed in Ms. Frantz's books.  My favorite book ever (tied for first at least) is Courting Morrow Little, so I will always read Ms. Frantz's work.  I have to be honest.  Sometimes I wonder if when I read a certain type of book I'm just not in the "mood" for it at that time.  Perhaps another time I would have loved this book?  I guess I just did not feel myself falling in love with these characters the same way I have in her other books or felt the same "heart tug" throughout the book.  But again...maybe it's just me!  I will definitely be reading some lighter fiction next as a palate cleanse before I get back into anything deep again. 

The Outlaw Takes a Bride, Susan Page Davis

Rating 3.75 out of 5

A cowboy who is accused of murder rides out to his brother's ranch to find him recently murdered.  Fear and familial resemblance causes him to take on his brother's identity.  This tangled web gets especially tricky when a mail order bride shows up with the understanding she will be married right off the train.  A friend who seems to be more help than trouble, a wife who thinks she's married to someone else and a gang out outlaws keeps this book moving with excitement and feeling.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book.  Having never read or heard of this author, I worried that it might not be the best.  But CBD had it on sale quite cheap and amazon had good reviews so I decided to give it a try.  I was glad I gave it a shot!

While I would not read this book a second time (most likely), I really did enjoy reading through it.  At first the dialogue was a bit painful, but as the book went on it got so much better.  I was never bored reading this and found myself sneaking away to read more.  Where's mom?  Reading in the bathroom again? 

Chasing the Sky, Tracie Peterson

Rating 3.75 :)

What is a young woman to do?  Hannah is responsible for her small brother and sister, her father is missing/probably dead and a man shows up at their ranch saying he is the rightful owner.  Throw in trouble with local Indians, an unwanted, not to mention pushy and ugly suitor and a unwavering faith in God and you have an exciting story in this first in the Land of the Lone Star series. 

This book did not get the best reviews on Amazon, but I had found it at the library book sale and decided to give it a try.  I'm glad I did!  While it was not the best book ever or anything, I found it very true to Ms. Peterson's style.  Slow and steady with a few swoon worthy scenes mixed it.  There was excitment and characters that I loved and hated.  I may even check out book two at the library. 

One other thing that I enjoy about her books is that I'm always motivated to do more at home.  The author highlights the women's' abilities to cook well for their men and to make their homes look welcoming.  These are not my strong suits and I enjoy some encouragement in that area.  This fact may be one of the reasons I love western and pioneer historical fiction.  What amazing women. 

At the Wood's Edge, Lori Benton

Rating 3.5 stars

A sudden decision changes the lives of many, leaving some to the ruin of guilt and the others to the chains of vengeance. 

I was really excited to get this book in the mail.  Burning Sky, Ms. Benton's first novel, is one of my favorite books ever.  The pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn was also good, but not as good as Burning Sky.  Unfortunately, At the Wood's Edge was my least favorite of the three.  It is not at all that the writing was poor or that that character's lacked depth.  It was that there was a little too much history in this historical fiction for my taste.  Also, my personal preference is that a book deals with a hero and heroine as opposted to many main characters.

The second book in this series is coming out this year and I do hope to read it at some point.  Burning Sky was so good and I really want to love one of Ms. Benton's books like that again.