Review: Tomorrow's Shining Dream by Naomi Rawlings

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

She needs to learn how to flirt. He needs to forget she exists. Then she asks him for help finding a husband… What could possibly go wrong?

Charlotte Westin has always been more comfortable in a saddle than a ballroom. That wouldn’t be a problem, except her father owns the largest ranch in Texas—and he insists she marry a wealthy city-slicker worthy of a cattle baron’s daughter. There might be someone out there who’d love her for who she is instead of her money, but she’s been fooled by a sweet talker before, and her family is still suffering because of it.

With an old friend-turned-enemy returning to town and cattle rustlers running roughshod over the county, Sheriff Daniel Harding knows the last thing he should be thinking about is a woman… especially the one woman he’ll never be able to marry. Then Charlotte Westin asks for his help, and Daniel can’t refuse. Until he finds out exactly what she wants…

When Charlotte comes to Daniel with a plan to find herself a husband, Daniel is forced to face his feelings for her—as well as some past mistakes of his own. But as the rustlers grow more dangerous, Charlotte’s father takes drastic steps to engage her to a man she doesn’t love. And Charlotte and Daniel soon find themselves caught between the burdens from their pasts and others’ expectations. Will they let their past choices ruin their dreams? Or will Charlotte and Daniel embrace God’s forgiveness and forge a happy future for themselves?

From jagged mountains and green river valleys, to cattle ranches and vivid sunsets, Tomorrow’s Shining Dream offers a meaningful story about simpler times, sincere faith, and unfailing love.

My Review

Charlotte and Daniel have a good friendship, but his hidden feelings for her and her embarrassment over her recent indiscretion make their interactions awkward. Charlotte is full of self-doubt after misjudging her last beau and being betrayed by him, resulting in her father's cattle being stolen. I appreciated that Daniel respected her even when she didn't respect herself, and encouraged her to share her pain with her family. Sometimes when we do something wrong we think pretending it never happened will make the guilt go away, but it just compounds over time. Charlotte thinks that doing what her father wants and marrying the man of his choosing will solve her problems, but finds herself more lost than ever. Daniel is in over his head with cattle being rustled from all the ranches in the area, and the pressure mounts when the Rangers finally show up to get the job done. I was surprised there was bad blood between Daniel and his friend from childhood, and they have difficulty working together and trusting each other to catch the thieves. Sam and Ellie from the previous book brought some much needed light into an angst-ridden story, but I would have liked more of a balance. The themes of forgiveness are strong as Daniel learns that there is more to the past than he knew, and Charlotte realizes that forgiving herself and allowing her family to forgive her brought peace and the answers they were looking for.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Don't miss the first book in the Texas Promise series . . .

Review: Tomorrow's First Light by Naomi Rawlings

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Marrying a stranger to keep the woman's siblings out of an orphanage is one thing, but when more children than expected pour out of the stagecoach, what’s a man to do?

Nervous about meeting her fiancé for the first time, Ellie Spritzer’s lifelong hope of finding love is about to end—or rather, begin. She never imagined her quest for love would take her to the other side of the country with all eight of her siblings in tow, but after her mother dies unexpectedly, what choice does she have? At least the man she’s been writing for the past year is still willing to marry her and take in her siblings… or so she thinks until she arrives in the dusty town of Twin Rivers, Texas.

Growing up an orphan, Sam Owens never had a place to call home or a family to love. So if his wife-to-be needs to bring three of her siblings with her, he has no complaints about having a ready-made family. But his mail-order-bride doesn’t arrive with three. She arrives with eight.

Sam can’t make himself turn away children in need. But as a beginning rancher, he doesn’t have the resources to care for so many people. When sinister forces threaten the things Sam and Ellie both hold dear, can they figure out how to keep their fledgling family together, or will they lose the very things they cherish most?

My Review

I'm excited for this new series set in the West from author Naomi Rawlings! It's loosely connected to her Eagle Harbor series, but follows Ellie and her siblings on their new venture to Texas. I admired Ellie for her determination to keep the family together, and Sam is patient and accepting of them all. I enjoyed their sweet relationship, even if it grew slowly because of all their chores and the children preventing them from spending quality time together. The dispute over Sam's ranch land brought tension and a real sense of anxiety to the plot, especially when it became apparent that corruption was at the root of the problems. Sam has a strong group of friends ready and willing to support him, once he figures he can't do it on his own... almost too late. Some scenes were told from the perspective of Daniel, the young sheriff, and I'm looking forward to the coming books telling the stories of Sam's friends.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Review: Love's Bright Tomorrow by Naomi Rawlings

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Aileen Brogan wants a place to call home. After leaving Ireland for America and losing her father and brother within a year of each other, she feels lost and alone. No matter how hard she tries, she just doesn’t seem to belong in the quaint town of Eagle Harbor. However, Sheriff Isaac Cummings is determined to help her fit in—into town and into his arms—if only she'll say yes to his courtship. But if he knew her secrets, he'd surely rescind his offer.

Isaac is determined to serve the people of Eagle Harbor in a way that will do his family proud, but he’s haunted by past mistakes. When a band of criminals threatens his beloved town’s safety, he doesn’t want to fail the people he loves like he did four years earlier. But if he doesn't turn out to be the hero the town needs, what chance does he have of winning Aileen's resistant heart?

When old wounds reopen, can Isaac and Aileen figure out how to move past their brokenness and find the promise of a bright tomorrow?

My Review

I've fallen in love with Eagle Harbor and the Cummings family over the course of this series! Each book can be read on its own or out of order, but I recommend reading them all and in order if you can for max enjoyment ;) Isaac has been haunted and hurting and ornery since the beginning of the series, so I was especially looking forward to seeing him get a happy ending. He comes into his own as the new sheriff of Eagle Harbor and experiences a level of danger that matches his brother Elijah's rescue missions during the storms. I loved seeing him and Elijah come to terms with the risks each other takes in order to protect the members of the community. There is plenty of suspense and intrigue as he hunts down the dangerous smugglers.

Aileen is another wounded character that we meet earlier in the series, and I was just as happy to see her find love- even though she didn't want to! Isaac's patience and caring pays off as she learns to trust him and slowly allows herself to begin to hope. She has a tragic background and Isaac and his loving family support her and encourage her to find true healing through the Lord. The spiritual thread was inspiring and Isaac also benefits from relying on God to help him through his fears and sorrows. The romance is sweet and while not without some bumps in the road, they have a lovely relationship that develops a strong foundation.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Come visit the rugged yet beautiful coast of Lake Superior and the remote historical town of Eagle Harbor that readers can’t get enough of.

Eagle Harbor Series--Where Love Finds Its Anchor 

Book 1: Love's Unfading Light (Mac and Tressa)
Book 2: Love's Every Whisper (Elijah and Victoria)
Book 3: Love's Sure Dawn (Gilbert and Rebekah)
Book 4: Love's Eternal Breath (Seth and Lindy)
Book 5: Love's Winter Hope (Thomas and Jessalyn)
Book 6: Love's Bright Tomorrow (Isaac and Aileen)
Prequel Novella: Love's Violet Sunrise (Hiram and Mabel)
Short Story: Love's Beginning (Elijah and Victoria)

Review: Love's Winter Hope by Naomi Rawlings

My rating:4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Journey back to a time when neighbors knew each other's names, and a handshake meant a person's honor. The bestselling Eagle Harbor Series continues with Book 5, Love’s Winter Hope.

When Jessalyn Dowrick’s husband left her and their three daughters to head west five years earlier, she had no choice but to pick up the pieces of her broken life and continue without him, eventually supporting herself as Eagle Harbor’s seamstress, and secretly hoping her husband would return. But days soon slipped into months, and months into years, all without word of Thomas or a cent of the money he’d promised to send.

While working day and night to build a new life that his wife would be proud of, Thomas wrote Jessalyn every week, asking her to come to South Dakota. But she never arrived. In fact, she never answered a single one of his letters. When he returns to Eagle Harbor in search of answers, he finds a woman who thought him dead . . . and soon regrets he didn’t come after her earlier.

As winter closes in and storms trap Thomas in town until the harbor opens in the spring, will he be able to convince his wife he’s worth a second chance? 

My Review

I've fallen in love with the Eagle Harbor series! I appreciate the strong characters that endure a harsh landscape and trying circumstances, turning to their faith and each other. Jessalyn is a good friend to the other women in the community and has built a successful business on her own while raising young children. She has a difficult time accepting Thomas when he returns, even though it was someone else's actions that prevented them from communicating. It takes a lot for Thomas to regain her acceptance and trust, and she worries constantly over the future. I admired that Thomas led his family with gentleness and relied on the Lord for guidance when he struggled with patience. There is an element of suspense with a series of robberies and shady men lurking around, and part of the story is told from Isaac's perspective as the sheriff, also providing a lead-in for his story in the next book. I'm really looking forward to reading more!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Don't miss the other books in the Eagle Harbor series! 

Read my review here!

Synopsis

Tressa Danell is finished with men—from the wastrel who left her a widow, to the smelly trapper who keeps proposing, to the banker who wants to repossess her bakery. Every hour is spent working to pay off her late husband’s debt and keep a roof over her son’s head, though it’s doubtful she can do both for very long. But one thing’s certain—she’ll never be beholden to a man again.

Tired of living in a small town that blames him for actions his father committed ten years ago, Mac Oakton is scheduled to leave Eagle Harbor. So why does the pretty widow at the bakery keep tugging at his heart? He can’t get involved in her predicament when he’ll only be around for two more weeks.

But when Tressa’s burdens overwhelm her, they both face a decision. Can Mac set his own plans aside to help? And can Tressa accept his support if that means giving up her independence . . . and being obligated to a man again?

Read my review here!

Synopsis

Victoria Donnelly is, as always, a failure. With five years of failed courtships behind her and the calendar inching closer to another birthday, Victoria's determined to redeem herself and snag a proposal from a wealthy childhood acquaintance, Gilbert Sinclair. But returning to Eagle Harbor stirs up long forgotten memories. And worse, old affection for her betrothed's enemy.

Elijah Cummings has loved Victoria for fifteen years. But fishermen's sons don't marry shipping barons' daughters. He knows it. She knows it. The entire town knows it. Resolved to keep his distance from Victoria, Elijah focuses on establishing a much needed life-saving station, risking his own life by rescuing sailors stuck aboard shipwrecks.

He knows how to save drowning sailors, but how is he to save a woman from the biggest mistake of her life—without destroying both their hearts in the process?

Read my review here!

Synopsis

No matter how hard she tries to help, Rebekah Cummings always ends up causing more problems than she solves. This time, though, things will be different. She'll find a way to pay her family's debts, even if doing so requires leaving Eagle Harbor. Maybe then they'll start treating her as a capable woman who makes her own choices.

Gilbert Sinclair is going to marry an heiress. With his latest business venture sunk at the bottom of Lake Superior, he needs money to replace the steamship he lost, so he heads to Chicago where his father's business connections should land him a suitable wife. Like most things in his meticulously planned life, everything goes as expected—until he discovers Rebekah Cummings working as the new cook on his ship.

Rebekah well remembers the pain she endured the last time she tried trusting Gilbert, and Gilbert can't afford to pursue the love of a working class woman. But they can't stop the forgotten feelings swirling between them—or ignore the sacrifices they'd both have to make for a future together. 

Read my review here!

Synopsis

Lindy Marsden once dreamed of having a husband, a house, some children, and maybe even a sewing machine. But since she grew ill five years ago, those dreams have become too much to hope for. Now she just wants to provide for herself and help the abandoned children she found living in the woods until their father returns… and avoid doctors for the rest of her life. Their medicine never leads to any good, and she has the scars to prove it.

Seth Harrington loves being a doctor, but treating patients in the small town of Eagle Harbor is nothing like working at a prestigious Boston hospital, especially with the other doctor in town trying to steal Seth's patients. When he's called to treat a reluctant woman, Seth finds Lindy Marsden's fiery dislike for him rather insulting. He has the ability to help her, but she wants nothing to do with him. Until she shows up on his doorstep one night...

When the plight of a young abandoned boy brings Seth and Lindy irrevocably together, Seth finds himself in the most difficult situation of his career. His expertise can help him heal the sick, but will his love be enough to soothe Lindy's wounded soul? 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Love's Winter Hope by Naomi Rawlings

I'm looking forward to reading Love's Winter Hope by Naomi Rawlings later this month! The Eagle Harbor series is a historical series I've thoroughly enjoyed, the author writes with emotion and her characters are always strong and persevere in harsh circumstances. They can each be read on their own, although characters from previous books often play important roles. Love's Winter Hope releases April 24th, so this is one we don't have to wait long for ;)

Synopsis

Journey back to a time when neighbors knew each other's names, and a handshake meant a person's honor. The bestselling Eagle Harbor Series continues with Book 5, Love’s Winter Hope.

When Jessalyn Dowrick’s husband left her and their three daughters to head west five years earlier, she had no choice but to pick up the pieces of her broken life and continue without him, eventually supporting herself as Eagle Harbor’s seamstress, and secretly hoping her husband would return. But days soon slipped into months, and months into years, all without word of Thomas or a cent of the money he’d promised to send.

While working day and night to build a new life that his wife would be proud of, Thomas wrote Jessalyn every week, asking her to come to South Dakota. But she never arrived. In fact, she never answered a single one of his letters. When he returns to Eagle Harbor in search of answers, he finds a woman who thought him dead . . . and soon regrets he didn’t come after her earlier.

As winter closes in and storms trap Thomas in town until the harbor opens in the spring, will he be able to convince his wife he’s worth a second chance?

Review: Love's Eternal Breath by Naomi Rawlings

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Lindy Marsden once dreamed of having a husband, a house, some children, and maybe even a sewing machine. But since she grew ill five years ago, those dreams have become too much to hope for. Now she just wants to provide for herself and help the abandoned children she found living in the woods until their father returns… and avoid doctors for the rest of her life. Their medicine never leads to any good, and she has the scars to prove it.

Seth Harrington loves being a doctor, but treating patients in the small town of Eagle Harbor is nothing like working at a prestigious Boston hospital, especially with the other doctor in town trying to steal Seth's patients. When he's called to treat a reluctant woman, Seth finds Lindy Marsden's fiery dislike for him rather insulting. He has the ability to help her, but she wants nothing to do with him. Until she shows up on his doorstep one night...

When the plight of a young abandoned boy brings Seth and Lindy irrevocably together, Seth finds himself in the most difficult situation of his career. His expertise can help him heal the sick, but will his love be enough to soothe Lindy's wounded soul?

My Review

Love's Eternal Breath is a wonderful marriage of convenience story full of heart and themes of compassion, mortality, and faith. Lindy had been a minor character in the previous books, so I loved learning her full story, even though it's heartbreaking. She seems to have lost all hope in her dreams, yet is using whatever energy she has to earn money to help feed an impoverished family hiding deep in the woods. Seth shares her characteristic of being selfless in the service of others with his passion for doctoring. I loved his earnestness even though he has had some experiences in his past that jaded him. When the reasons for Lindy's phobia of doctors comes to light, Seth does all in his power to earn her trust and eventually her love. There are some difficult obstacles, including internal ones, but the strength of Lindy and Seth shines as they turn to God and each other for support. I loved the setting and could really get a feeling for the era and the harsh conditions, as well as the beauty of the wilderness. Highly recommend this book and the entire Eagle Harbor series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Don't miss the other books in the Eagle Harbor series! 

Read my review here!

Synopsis

Tressa Danell is finished with men—from the wastrel who left her a widow, to the smelly trapper who keeps proposing, to the banker who wants to repossess her bakery. Every hour is spent working to pay off her late husband’s debt and keep a roof over her son’s head, though it’s doubtful she can do both for very long. But one thing’s certain—she’ll never be beholden to a man again.

Tired of living in a small town that blames him for actions his father committed ten years ago, Mac Oakton is scheduled to leave Eagle Harbor. So why does the pretty widow at the bakery keep tugging at his heart? He can’t get involved in her predicament when he’ll only be around for two more weeks.

But when Tressa’s burdens overwhelm her, they both face a decision. Can Mac set his own plans aside to help? And can Tressa accept his support if that means giving up her independence . . . and being obligated to a man again?

Read my review here!

Synopsis

Victoria Donnelly is, as always, a failure. With five years of failed courtships behind her and the calendar inching closer to another birthday, Victoria's determined to redeem herself and snag a proposal from a wealthy childhood acquaintance, Gilbert Sinclair. But returning to Eagle Harbor stirs up long forgotten memories. And worse, old affection for her betrothed's enemy.

Elijah Cummings has loved Victoria for fifteen years. But fishermen's sons don't marry shipping barons' daughters. He knows it. She knows it. The entire town knows it. Resolved to keep his distance from Victoria, Elijah focuses on establishing a much needed life-saving station, risking his own life by rescuing sailors stuck aboard shipwrecks.

He knows how to save drowning sailors, but how is he to save a woman from the biggest mistake of her life—without destroying both their hearts in the process?

Read my review here!

Synopsis

No matter how hard she tries to help, Rebekah Cummings always ends up causing more problems than she solves. This time, though, things will be different. She'll find a way to pay her family's debts, even if doing so requires leaving Eagle Harbor. Maybe then they'll start treating her as a capable woman who makes her own choices.

Gilbert Sinclair is going to marry an heiress. With his latest business venture sunk at the bottom of Lake Superior, he needs money to replace the steamship he lost, so he heads to Chicago where his father's business connections should land him a suitable wife. Like most things in his meticulously planned life, everything goes as expected—until he discovers Rebekah Cummings working as the new cook on his ship.

Rebekah well remembers the pain she endured the last time she tried trusting Gilbert, and Gilbert can't afford to pursue the love of a working class woman. But they can't stop the forgotten feelings swirling between them—or ignore the sacrifices they'd both have to make for a future together.