“Sabrina’s Man” by Gilbert Morris

Some of the first romance novels I read were by Gilbert Morris. I especially liked the Cheney Duvall stories he wrote with his daughter. I hadn’t read a novel by him in a while, and it was interesting to read his writing style once again. His are not novels filled with romance and moonlight; but with real people who deal with things in real ways. This was especially evident in this novel.

Oddly, it felt as if I had read it before; though I can’t tell if it is because the plot is like some other book I’ve read, or if it is being re-release. Also, the romance seemed rather awkward and erratic. By the end I was entirely certain why the characters loved each other…I was just told they did. The storyline has some strong evangelistic leanings with various characters encouraging the main ones to turn to Christ. This portion also was a little awkward and erratic.

However, the portrayal of the characters: their naivety, their stubbornness, their resilience, and their faith, were well defined. I believe a character is well-developed when, looking at their past, you can see not only consistent characteristics, but believable ones given their backgrounds. This is one area that Morris excelled in when writing this novel.

I also wondered a bit at the name of the hero, Waco Smith. It seems an odd combination of original and mundane, but perhaps this was intentional.

To be honest, I was surprised to find that he was writing a new series, when he hasn’t yet finished the one I’ve been collecting: The Lion of Judah series. These trace the ancestry of Christ by following the giving and receiving of a medallion with a lion on one side, and a lamb on the other. As this was an intriguing series, I am rather disappointed that he seems to have stopped writing them.

Thank you to Net Galley (https://www.netgalley.com/) and Barbour Publishing Inc. for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

 

Classic Romance Story Lines Part I

One of the classic story lines for romance novels–specifically western ones–is the “Law man meets a good woman and considers hanging up his guns” scenario.  There are a few really well-written renditions of this story line, but often the plot goes pretty much the same: a toughened law man (or in some cases gun man), meets up with a woman (which was never in his plans), usually has to save her and gets hurt in the process…they realize they can’t live without each other so he either hangs up his guns or becomes the sheriff of a peaceful little town.  While this story line often comes up and can become a little predictable; I have a few in this category I really like.

They are:

“Anna Finch and the Hired Gun” by Kathleen Y’Barbo: When Anna goes for a morning ride and starts shooting at a log, she accidentally hits a law man on the trail of Doc Holliday; but what if she is on Doc Holliday’s trail too, for very different reasons? And what will happen when she finds out that the man she shot is her new body guard? 

“A Plain and Simple Heart” by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith: The Sheriff just wants another couple weeks of peace and quiet before leaving the business of law-keeping and pursuing his real dream; but his prayers go unanswered when the women in his town decide to take the law against prohibition into their own hands.  And why would a peace-loving Amish woman join their ranks?

“Love on the Line” by Deeanne Gist: One of the only female telephone operators and avid bird-watcher and self-proclaimed guardian of all things fowl, Georgie Gail is insulted when the man sent to repair telephones seems to want to take over her job..and her heart.  What she doesn’t know is that he is a famous law man,,,and that she has see him before.  When the much loved Comer Gang comes under surveillance, questions arise…who is the good guy and who is the bad guy?  Amid trials and temptations, Gail must learn who she can trust…with her life and with her heart. 

These are just a few of the best and most recent I have read, but there are many out there.

What is your favourite novel in this theme?

“The Husband Tree” by Mary Connealy from Montana Marriages Trilogy

Belle Tanner has never changed her last name–a convenience seeing as how she’s been married more times than she cares to remember.  And they were all the same: lazy, good-for-nothing, stupid men.  The only good things they had given her were a couple blondes, a redhead, and a brunette–thankfully all girls.  Belle and her girls took her husbands’ deaths in stride; after all, she and her girls have been running the ranch just fine without help from any man for years. But now they need help–the cattle have become too prolific and if they don’t do something about it, they’ll be eaten out of house and home. So that means a cattle drive–with one woman, two teens, a tween, and a baby.  Who in their right mind would help them?  

Silas Harden has had his fill of women–a tricky lot.  But he’s never met a fringe-wearing, grim-faced woman like Belle Tanner.  She shakes hands like a man; so when she asks him to help her move cattle with her  and her “hands” and conveniently forgets to mention husband #3 has breathed his last, Silas agrees to help out.

The arduous task before him almost makes him turn back–after all, who would choose to take on 1000 heads of cattle, a bunch of stoic women, and neck-breaking, strength-sapping terrain?  Will Belle Tanner learn to mind him, before she gets herself killed? Will she be able to trust a man with her heart and her livelihood?  Is Silas man enough for the job?  

One of my favourites by Mary Connealy; hope you’ll take the time to read and enjoy it too!