As always Traci Peterson meets expectations

Captivating storyline, can't wait to read the next in the series.

Susanna Jenkins recently widowed has decided to follow her father, mother, and brother to San Marcial New Mexico Territory. Her father has managed to fritter away the money left to him through bad choices and now the family is destitute. His wealthy brother refuses to give him any more help, and has sent the family to manage his hotel at the Santa Fe Railroad stop in San Marcial.

The characters in this story were quite the variety. Susanna is strong and hardworking, but her weakness is covering for her family and brother rather than making them do their parts. Gladys Ragsdale, her mother lives in fantasy land, and still believes she belongs in and should be treated as upper class. Susanna's brother, Gary, is spoiled and pampered and has never worked a day in his life. Her father, Herbert, has no intentions of managing the hotel and plans to spend his time finding his next "get rich quick" scheme.

Enjoyable story and wonderful debut to Peterson's newest series.

"Along the Rio Grande" is a Christian romance set in 1899 in New Mexico. Susanna's father is addicted to gambling and high risk investments, but he has poor judgment and lost his fortune. Her mother gets her way by throwing temper tantrums. Her brother resents their father and wants to earn his own way rather than work at the hotel they're supposed to run. Susanna has money of her own, but she sweetly does the hard labor at the hotel and makes new friends. She struggles to stand up to her mother's whining and so enables her parents to resist learning that they're not entitled to money and respect. Owen helps her brother find a job he's good at and helps her look beyond her parent's expectations that she support them.

Owen and Susanna respected and built each other up. They're kind, hard-working people. Together, they grew beyond the emotional legacies passed down to them by their families. Historical details about the job, place, and people were woven into the story, bringing it alive in my imagination. Susanna prayed that God would cause her parents to see the truth about themselves and their situation (and He did through a series of events that forced them to take a hard look at their behavior). There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical with an enjoyable romance.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Tracie Peterson writes beautiful Christian fiction, and this one sure didn't disappoint! In fact it was a page-turner! I needed answers.

Susanna's family have been brought to their knees, so to speak, they were born with the proverbial silver spoons in their mouths, but the mighty have fallen, but we are there to see how they deal with working for a living!

You will love the character of Susanna, and the people who are put in her path! This booming town of San Marcial, NM, a railroad town, but full of people who live their faith and welcomes this family! Will they be able to accept?

We are enriched with the descriptive part of this country, and the giving people who embrace these newcomers, along with some sweet romance!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.