Book Review and eBook Giveaway: Renegade Hearts by Anne Patrick

This is a story that woes your heart.

Renegade Hearts

by Anne Patrick

Format: DRM Free ePub
Vendor: Desert Breeze
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 9781612520810
ISBN-13: 9781612520810
[Linked to Christianbook.com; also available at Amazon, B&N]
Genre: Inspirational Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Description
Single mother, Jenny Holloway, has her hands full running a 1200-acre ranch, and keeping her daredevil son out of the emergency room. So when her foreman suggests she hire on his son Gil Montgomery, who just got home from the war, Jenny jumps at the opportunity of having another skilled cowboy around. Gil was used to taking orders, even from women. What he wasn't prepared for was the feelings this little firecracker of a woman triggered in him. Jenny is a lot like the bronco she's rescued and is now trying to break. The unexpected death of her husband has left her jaded and afraid to risk her heart getting broken again. Somehow, he has to gain her trust and prove that he isn't going anywhere.

Review: This is a plus, plus read for me: horses, a little suspense and warm family romance.

Jenny is a strong woman fighting to continue the success of the cattle ranch she and her husband, Rick, struggled to build. Jenny has learned that she has to be tough so she isn’t taken advantage of in the competitive and tough world of cattle breeding. Her husband has been dead for several years and in addition to the ranch, Jenny has her hands full with their 10 year old son, Zach.

Gil is the 32 year old son of the ranch foreman. He has returned home to recover from injuries received in Iraq. Gil is glad to have the hard ranch work to distract him from his war memories. Even more distracting is the feisty boss lady. Even though she is experienced and capable it is clear that she is trying to handle everything by herself. When he sees her face down a rogue horse he is ready to step in and protect her. She may not think she wants or needs another man around, but Gil is determined to show her he is the right man to help her with the ranch and with raising a young boy.

It is wonderful that Gil realizes the importance of developing a relationship with Zach as well as going slowly with Jenny. Jen has to be coaxed to see that she can take the risk of loving again.

The characters are real and draw you into their world. Even young Zach is a well developed character and you can feel the exuberant boy in him. The author portrays good detail for the cattle ranching and breeding business that provides fullness for the setting and plot. There are trained horses, horses to be trained and foals to marvel over. The plot includes a bit of thievery and suspense, in addition to the romance. Both plot elements kept me interested in how things would be handled. 

There are gentle themes of forgiveness and obedience together with underlying threads of lives grounded in faith, miracles and blessings. The writing flows beautifully.  Although there were one or two minor items that seemed repeated that didn’t bother my full enjoyment.  This is a truly lovely, sweet read that will leave you with a nice “ahhh” felling when it is done.

Anne writes suspense, sweet romance and inspirational romance.  I met Anne through The Sweetest Authors group where there are wonderful authors writing sweet stories. This is the third story I have read by Anne and I feel confident to say that I will always be glad to pick up her works for an encouraging, refreshing, sometimes suspenseful, and always warm read.

Thank you to Anne for the ARC to enjoy and review. Anne is generously offering an eBook copy to one lucky commenter.

OPEN WORLDWIDE.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR an eBook Copy of Renegade Hearts:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there. This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3.  For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* Open Worldwide.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on November 25, 2011.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 26. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

MBS Blogoversary SPOTLIGHT #16 Author Anne Patrick

SPOTLIGHT: AUTHOR ANNE PATRICK

I met Anne through The Sweetest Romance Group where the authors believe in the charm of sweet romance. Anne writes Romantic Suspense and she writes Inspirational as Kinzie Monroe. I enjoyed reviewing two (so far) of Anne's books:  Every Skull Tells a Story and No Greater Love.



A Christmas Collection: Sweet

I asked each author to answer two questions for their spotlight.
The first I asked and the second they provided.

Question #1:  Why do you write/what do you hope your readers get from your books?

 

A:  As a suspense junkie myself, I hope to entertain my readers with suspenseful tales mixed with romance and inspiration.

A Mystery/Suspense Collection: Sweet

Question #2: You've just landed yourself a starring role in a fiction novel.  Would you prefer it be a suspense, romance, paranormal, Sci-Fi or fantasy?  

A: Suspense of course. :-)

Dark Alliance     Ties That Bind    Lethal Dreams
 

Sabotage      Fire and Ash     A Familiar Evil


Reservations for Two 

Please visit Anne at her links below.

Out of Darkness

For extra credit you can comment at one of her blog links or email her to say "Hi" and "Thank you" for the support and giveaway.
Website
Blog
Facebook

Giveaway donated by Anne:
Print copy of Lethal Dreams.

OPEN US ONLY.
If you have trouble viewing or submitting this form, you can fill it out online:
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Review of Every Skull Tells A Story

Title: Every Skull Tells a Story
Author: Anne Patrick
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Publish America
Rating: 4.5 of 5
Page count 198
Heat Rating: Sweet
ISBN-10: 1424190037
Buy Here
Reviewed by: MarthaE

Blurb: When the skeletal remains of three young women are discovered on the vacation estate of a U.S. Senator, the local sheriff enlists the help of Special Agent Galen Schroeder and a local forensic sketch artist, to help him solve the murders. A profiler for seventeen years, Galen knows his skills are useless until they discover the identity of the victims. That's where the beautiful and talented Mackayla Kensingtom comes in.
Mackayla knows all too well the heartache of not knowing the fate of a loved one. The brutal murder of her own daughter is the driving force behind her determination to bring closure to families missing loved ones.
Using her artistry skills, Mackayla works frantically to put faces to the skulls so that their identities can be revealed and the killer can be caught. When the killer realizes how good she is, it appears she may be the next to die.
Review: If you are looking for solid suspense with sweet romance this book nails it!

Mackayla is a beautiful woman with a tragic loss in her past. She is driven to help uncover the identities of skeletons, either from natural disasters like the Tsunami in Sri Lanka or from crime sites. While helping the victims in Sri Lanka she has found a little girl whom she is trying to adopt. Although the national government does not allow single parent adoption, Mackayla is trusting God to make a way.

Mackayla has flown back home to help determine the identities of three women discovered on a Senator’s property not too far from her own home. Here she meets the mature and dedicated FBI profiler, Galen. He too lost his wife and child a number of years before and has lived for his job since. Now he meets the lovely and smart Mackayla and his heart begins to stir!

These two characters make a great match. Their mutual respect creates a great foundation for a developing relationship. They are both solid and strong on their own and have to learn to recognize that they can complement each other and find new love if they are willing to risk it!

As Mackayla uses her skills to shape the faces of the dead girls her own life is threatened as it is clear the murderer wants to keep his secrets hidden. The story flows non-stop. When you aren’t racing along in action with Mackayla or Galen, separately or together, you are following their developing courtship. The author does a great job of weaving Mackayla’s strong Christian faith and church family support into the story. It fits very naturally with Mackayla’s character. The author has an excellent grasp of the details of the forensic artist and presents the process in an easily understood manner. The plot is believable and has good twists to keep you reading to find out how they are going to get the proof necessary to pin down the murder. The only weak spot for me was the setting for the final run-in with the murderer as that did not seem so likely and the show down was not a completely clear picture for me. But that was a minor point that did not ruin the enjoyment of the chase and romance.

This is a good book to grab for a suspenseful read, grounded in firm Christian values and faith - a refreshing change. Well done! I will look forward to more good mystery suspense from Ms. Patrick!

Author's blog: Suspense by Anne