In Denise Hunter's latest romance novel, A Cowboy's Touch, truth plays a big role in the life of Abigail Jones, a self-proclaimed "Truthseeker" and investigative magazine journalist. In John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life," and Abigail realizes this on her quest for truth. She is forced to take a three month leave of absence from the magazine due to health concerns, so she spends the summer in Moose Creek, Montana, with her aging and eccentric Aunt Lucy. Here she finds just what the doctor ordered and more when she takes a job with Wade Ryan, a gorgeous single-parent rancher.
Abigail becomes a nanny for Wade's daughter, Maddy, and lives on his property, Stillwater Ranch. As Abigail grows closer to Maddy, her interest in Wade deepens until she discovers he is the celebrity cowboy J.W. Ryan who vanished after his wifes death. She learns he did this to protect Maddy, but quickly becomes torn between publishing the story exposing the missing cowboy and letting her magazine collapse. Abby writes an article despite her increasing emotional sentiments toward Wade, but he discovers her writing and is angered by her betrayal. When Wade forces her to leave Stillwater Ranch, the separation weighs heavily on the two until one event changes this.
The characterization and character development are strong throughout the book and ring true, particularly with women characters. However, as with most romance novels the plot is sometimes predictable. Overall, A Cowboy's Touch is a sweet romance about a big city girl falling in love with a macho cowboy and contains a solid message about truth. I recommend this book for women interested in the romance genre. Michelle C. Archer, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
