Blue Moon Promise, Under Texas Stars Series #1

I loved this book!!!

Well written book and like by readers in our library. CBD is an easy site to browse and find what one wants.

A delicious blend of historical and suspense, I was reader-giddy all the way to the end. Page one finds Lucy in dire straits, definitely a great hook to catch my interest but Coble doesn't leave it there. She ratchets up the tension by throwing more disasters at poor Lucy in rapid fire succession. What's a girl to do but get out of town?

Which brings us to Gothic meets Wild West. Wow. This book took my breath away. That sinister Gothic vibe shadows Lucy all the way to Texas. Of course, she doesn't believe it at first and then tries to figure suspicious happenings out all by herself (Lucy has some control issues.) A true Gothic Romance heroine. And that obviously exasperates our stunning cowboy hero, Luke. Their marriage is off to a rocky start yet Luke can't help but be captivated by his unexpected wife. Their romance is sweetly tentative with just enough toe-curling to set my heart a stuttering. All in all a blissful read -- and bonus -- it's the first in the Under Texas Stars series which means there's more enjoyable reading to look forward to.

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Colleen Coble is a fantastic writer. Her stories have a way of pulling you in. They don't let you go until the very end. This book is no different. While the mystery and romance are not as prominent as some of her stories, the book is still fantastic. Lucy is beautiful, strong-willed, independent, and likes to have everything under control. She is a "control freak" to a fault. When she's left caring for her two younger siblings, she'll do whatever it takes to keep them together. Even if if means marrying a man, sight unseen. Nate does not want a wife. He wants to ranch, grow his cattle business, and be left alone. That is, until Lucy comes to Stars Above Ranch. Everything changes.

The story progresses in a way that allows the author time to develop the characters we've met, while still keeping the mystery and intrigue alive.We see their struggle to let go of control and let love in. We see Lucy's strong desire to be loved. We see Nate's denial of his loneliness. We also see them both try to deny, then control the sparks that fly between them. There are still parts of the mystery that come into play. It's never far from either character's mind that trouble is coming. Little things happen that make your skin crawl! It's what Colleen Coble does best.

Overall, the story was a satisfying read. The message of the story is summed up in the "Dear Reader" note by Colleen at the beginning of the book. Who has control of your life? Let go, and let God. I absolutely loved it, and look forward to reading the next book in the Under Texas Stars series, Safe in His Arms.

So this was my first book by Colleen Coble, and I was quite impressed! The characters were very well portrayed and I was soon drawn into their story of faith, love and family.

I read this book in less then a day. Now that is either a sign of an amazing book, or the reader, is simply a readaholic. In my case, it might be a bit of both... :)

Highly recommended to all you historical fiction lovers who are in the mood for a journey under the blue of a Texas moon.Little bit of romance, dash of pride, and a good portion of God's love. Not a bad combo... :)