Betrayal, Where the Heart Lives Series #2
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20
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Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher is the second in her Where the Heart Lives series about three orphans who were separated and try to find each other as adults. Each book focuses on one of the siblings: the first book in the series, Belonging, featured older sister Felicia.
In Betrayal older brother Hugh Brennan has just been released from prison where he had served as a result of his fatherâÂÂs betrayal. He has heard that Felicia is in Idaho and sets out to find her, but then his horse is injured and he has to stop for a while. He comes across the ranch of Julia Grace who, though wary, offers him food, a place to stay, and a few days work while his horse heals. Hugh, of course keeps his background as private as possible.
Julia has secrets of her own. She was plunged into a marriage of convenience to escape a lifetime of shame, but her husband abused and belittled her. He has passed away, and her one security is the ranch he left her, which she steadfastly refuses to sell to her husbandâÂÂs brother.
Can these two wounded souls ever come to trust each other with their futures as well as the secrets of their pasts?
I enjoyed the story and the journey Robin led Hugh and Julia through and the things they learned along the way about trust and true security.
May 8, 2013
Get your lasso!
A western romance of redemption and forgiveness.
Hugh has just been released from prison, and on the way to try and find his long lost sister, his horse goes lame in Wyoming so he offers to work for a lovely widow who needs help on her ranch.
Strange things are happening at Julia's ranch, pasture gates being openned and mysteriously rising taxes.
Will Julia be able to trust Hugh despite his checkered past, in order to save her ranch?
I absolutely loved this story, there was great interactions between the characters and I really liked how they grew and learned that the past isn't who you are. Ms. Hatcher kept me riveted to the pages by revealing things a tidbit at a time, keeping me hungry and intrigues by the mystery of it.
There were some great twists, and turns. I felt like the characters really grew in so many ways, but especially in their faith.
Overall, for me this book had it all, a romance with mystery, great faith, cowboys, and the lovely state of Wyoming! This was a book that I sincerely, thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend. While it is the second in a series, it is very easy to read as a stand alone. A wonderful book from Ms. Hatcher!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
May 6, 2013
Betrayal ~ A Heart Wrenching Story!
Julia Grace was pushed into a marriage that was suppose to remove her from the disreputable occupation at which her mother worked . Her mother wanted a respectable life for her daughter and so much more. Julia's husband showed her no respect and often abused her even during her pregnancy. She prayed for God's protection. Then one day husband became ill and died unexpectedly. This left her to run a cattle ranch by herself.
Her brother-in-law keeps trying to convince her to sell him the ranch and for her to take the money and move on. He even hired her ranch hands to work on his ranch leaving her without any help working her ranch. But Julia is determined to keep the ranch. It is the only real home she has ever had and it was rightfully hers.
About a year after her husband's death, a stranger stops shows up at ranch wanting water for his injured horse and possibly a place to rest the horse until it has healed. Hugh Brennan offered the beautiful young widow to work on the ranch in exchange for meals and a place to bunk in the barn. He was a hard worker and saw what needed to be done and got busy getting it done. If thought if he stayed busy hopefully it would keep his mind off Julia. He knew she was keeping her distance from him.
The author kept my attention with this story of two broken souls that have more than God in common. She also writes of secrets, betrayal, and a need for love and trust in oneself but most of all God.
This was a quick read mainly because I did not want to put the book down. I just love when a book can grab me the way this book did. My heart ached for all the trials and tribulations these two people had to endure to get to God's greater plan for their lives.
I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Zondervan for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my own opinion.
January 24, 2013
A sweet western romance ... in Wyoming
In the first book of the 'Where the Heart Lies' series we are introduced to a set of three siblings who, upon the death of their mother and knowing their father is a rarely present drunkard, have been sent out on an orphan train to find new homes. Unfortunately, all three were placed in different families and towns along the route. The first book is about the middle child, the eldest daughter. This second book is about Hugh Brennan -- who unfortunately didn't get far enough away from the influence of their father. As the eldest, and only boy, Hugh was kept by the first available family needing a worker, and later was retrieved by their father. With his father drinking up most of his money and rarely a steady home to stay in, Hugh ends up in prison for a short term for something his father actually did. This story starts once he is released. Determined to better himself, he has become a drifter in search of reuniting with his lost sisters.
Along the way he happens upon a widow named Julia Grace. Julia's late husband was so abusive she does not ever want to marry again. However, with her late husband's brother doing all he can to take her late-husband's ranch from her, she may have to. Having been a bit of a 'street rat' thanks to his father's influence, Hugh is surprised when he finds ranch life appealing, and the widow too.
This book is a sweet romance, featuring two main characters with pasts they would both rather forget. I feel it will appeal to both men and women who enjoy American historicals from the late 19th century - though slightly more to women.
January 23, 2013
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