Category Archives: Double S Ranch Series

May 4, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: Peace in the Valley by Ruth Logan Herne

Title: Peace in the Valley by Ruth Logan Herne
Double S Ranch Series Book Three
Publisher: Multnomah
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Blogging for Vooks

Summary:

In spite of their differences, Trey Walker Stafford knows he owes his life to cowboy and legendary rancher Sam Stafford—the uncle who rescued him after his parents’ death. Trey had left the Double S Ranch to pursue music against Sam’s wishes, but returns to central Washington when he learns he’s the best match for a procedure that could save Sam’s life. Although Trey’s found country music fame and success, he’s also endured the tragic loss of his wife. He croons about love, but struggles with a yawning emptiness he can’t explain.

Overwhelmed by a growing list of challenges, but mistrustful of Stafford men, single mother Lucy Carlton reluctantly accepts Trey’s help to revive her crumbling farm when Sam instructs him to repay the overdue debt to her family.

As the two grow closer, Trey slowly begins to open his heart to this beautiful woman and strives to let go of the grief he’s held for years. Lucy has a complicated history of her own. Can Trey accept her as she is, learn to forgive the past, and find the elusive peace he’s sought for so long?

Review:

Peace in the Valley is an absolutely spellbinding novel of grace, forgiveness and trust. Although this latest release is the third installment in Ruth Logan Herne’s divine Double S Ranch series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Trey Walker Stafford can never repay his uncle and adoptive father Sam Stafford for providing him with a loving home following his parents’ deaths from a drug overdose when he was three years old. Despite his love and respect for Sam, he could not give up his dream of becoming a musician and he now makes his home in TN. In spite of their past differences, Trey is more than willing to put his life and career on hold after discovering he is the closest match for Sam’s much needed liver transplant. Although there are risks involved with the live donor procedure, Trey knows the operation is his father’s best chance at survival. He also cannot turn down Sam’s request to help him make amends for the damage he caused on their neighbor Lucy Carlton’s farm. Trey is quite charmed by Lucy and her four children, but will learning the secrets from Lucy’s long ago past destroy their chance at happiness?

Through all of life’s tragedies and successes, Trey’s faith has remained constant. After the very public loss of his wife years earlier, he ignored the negative publicity and gossip surrounding him and worked hard to keep his career on track. However, the circumstances of her death shook Trey’s confidence that people can truly leave their pasts behind and he remains very wary and cautious about whom he trusts.

Lucy is devoted to her children and she works hard to make ends meet while also finding time to give back to those in need. She has made a few missteps in her life but she learned from her mistakes and has no intention of repeating them. Although Lucy has made peace with her past, she is quite guarded and very careful about who she trusts. She speaks honestly and openly about checkered past and she is the always willing to give people a second chance.

Trey and Lucy both share a deep faith, but their pasts make it very difficult for them trust one another. Trey is initially open to a relationship with Lucy, but he is reluctant to make promises he might not be able to keep. Once he becomes aware of Lucy’s history, Trey tries to distance himself from his growing feelings for her. Lucy’s experiences with her deceased husband naturally make her wary about becoming involved with another musician. She is also worried the unsubstantiated rumors about Trey might be true. Lucy is fiercely protective of her independence and she is quick to think the worst of Trey when he ineptly expresses some concern about an offer she is considering. Will Trey and Lucy’s respective baggage prevent them from risking their hearts?

With no shortage of valuable life lessons, Peace in the Valley is an emotionally compelling Christian romance that old and new fans of the Double S Ranch series are going to love. Trey and Lucy are vibrantly developed with imperfections, strengths and weaknesses that are very easy to relate to. Lucy and Trey’s unexpected friendship provides a firm foundation for their slow-growing romance. Ruth Logan Herne beautifully incorporates relevant scripture into the storyline in a realistic manner that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to let go of past hurts and mistakes in order to find peace, lasting happiness and ultimately, love.

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Filed under Christian, Contemporary, Double S Ranch Series, Multnomah Books, Peace in the Valley, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Ruth Logan Herne

October 17, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Home on the Range by Ruth Logan Herne

Title: Home on the Range by Ruth Logan Herne
Double S Ranch Series Book Three
Publisher: Multnomah
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 322 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Blogging for Books

Summary:

Can the brother left behind and a woman without hope work together for the good of two precious children?

Nick Stafford stayed in central Washington, working his family’s large ranch after his brothers left to pursue other passions—but his toughest job is being a single dad. As a child he watched his father fail at marriage and parenting, so Nick was determined to show him up. He’d be a better husband, father, and ranch manager than Sam Stafford ever was. Despite that commitment, three years after Nick’s wife left him, he has a daughter in trouble at school and both of his girls are facing issues that force him to rethink his stubborn plans.

For Dr. Elsa Andreas, life fell apart when tragedy caused her to abandon her family therapy practice and retreat to the backwoods of Gray’s Glen. Her school principal sister believes Elsa can guide the Stafford girls and that working with kids will draw Elsa out of her protective bubble.

Summer on the Double S teems with life and adventure. Amid the bounty of God and land, will Nick and Elsa find the courage to build futures based on faith rather than fear?

Review:

Home on the Range by Ruth Logan Herne is an incredibly heartfelt novel of healing and renewed faith.  This second installment in the Double S Ranch series features a pair of adorable little girls, a divorced single dad and a somewhat fragile yet surprisingly resilient psychologist.  Although this latest release can be read as a standalone, I HIGHLY recommend the first book in the series as well.

For months, middle brother Nick Stafford has stubbornly resisted all efforts to take his daughters, six year old Dakota and eight year old Cheyenne, to a counselor to help them deal with the abandonment of their mother.  However, with Cheyenne putting herself into dangerous situations and on the verge of failing school, he knows it is time to put aside his reservations and seek professional assistance.  While Dakota is refreshingly open with an upbeat personality, Cheyenne is rebellious, stubborn and lashing out at everyone around her.  Nick is a little leery of entrusting his girls to reclusive therapist Dr. Elsa Andreas but he is determined to do right by his daughters.  Gratified to see Cheyenne slowly but surely improving with each session, he is pleasantly surprised by the realization that he is also benefiting from talking to Elsa.  When Nick and Elsa realize there is more to their relationship than their mutual concern for the girls, will they take a chance on love?

Nick is the only one of his brothers to remain in Washington to work on their family ranch.  His relationship with his father, Sam, is contentious and emotionally distant.  He has never come to terms with his mother’s long ago abandonment but he always dreamed of having a family of his own.  His marriage to his now ex-wife Whitney ended when she walked out on him and their daughters and then left town with another man.  Although he only wants to keep his girls safe and make them happy, he has been stubbornly resisting Cheyenne’s efforts to become more involved with the ranch that his ex-wife hated.  However events in the past several months have escalated to the point that Nick finally realizes that something needs to change before he completely alienates Cheyenne.  Taking his daughters to therapy is just the first step in fixing the problems wrought by Whitney’s desertion but just as Nick is making positive changes in their lives, their progress is threatened by his ex-wife’s sudden return.

Leaving behind a lucrative practice in the aftermath of tragedy, Elsa has been living a solitary life in seclusion.  Despite her initial reluctance to counsel the girls, she is surprised by how easily Nick’s daughters slip past her defenses. As she becomes more engaged in helping the girls cope with their problems, Elsa finally begins to heal from the wounds from the traumatic events that sent her into a downward spiral.  The changes are gradual but significant as she begins to fully participate in life and she is stunned by her sudden interest in Nick.  Fully committed to providing Cheyenne and Dakota with the counseling they need, Elsa is also open to exploring her unexpected relationship with Nick.  What, if any, impact will Whitney’s return have on their fledgling romance?

The situation with Whitney is realistically portrayed and it is absolutely heartbreaking watching her careless and sometimes, indifferent, treatment of her daughters. While Dakota keeps her distance from her mother, Cheyenne is thrilled to see her again.  However, reality does not exactly match up to Cheyenne’s dreams of their reunion and she is soon dealing with fresh disappointment as Whitney fails to follow through with promises.  Nick is fairly certain he knows the real reason his ex-wife has come back into their lives, but despite his reservations, he is willing to give to her chance to fix her relationship with their daughters.  He remains firm with her despite her bitterness over perceived slights and although he gives her some leeway as she repeats past mistakes, Nick continues to try protect them from further heartache from their mother.

The relationship between Nick and Elsa begins  as friendship and gradually turns to love as they spend time together.  Although their initial interactions are related to the girls, they soon discover they share common interests outside of their mutual concern for Dakota and Cheyenne.  As their lives become more closely intertwined, their feelings for each other quickly evolve into something much deeper.  However, Elsa’s hesitation in revealing the truth about her past leads to trouble and Nick cannot help but feel betrayed once he discovers she has been less than honest with him.

Home on the Range is an incredible journey of healing and faith that will resonate with readers who have struggled to put their complete trust in God.  The characters are multi-faceted and beautifully rendered with relatable imperfections, strengths and desires.  The storyline is endearing and believable with each of the characters undergoing tremendous growth as they overcome adversity. This newest addition to Ruth Logan Herne’s delightful Double S Ranch series is an emotionally compelling story that old and new fans are going to love.

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Filed under Christian, Contemporary, Double S Ranch Series, Home on the Range, Multnomah Books, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Ruth Logan Herne

March 10, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne

Title: Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne
Double S Ranch Series Book One
Publisher: Multnomah Books
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Blogging for Books

Summary:

The Prodigal Is Coming Home

It’s been a long time since Colt Stafford shrugged off his cowboy legacy for shiny Manhattan loafers and a promising career on Wall Street. But when stock market manipulations leave him financially strapped, the oldest son of legendary rancher Sam Stafford decides to return to the sprawling Double S ranch in Gray’s Glen, Washington. He’s broke, but not broken, and it’s time to check in with his ailing father, and get his legs back under him by climbing into the saddle again.

He doesn’t expect to come home to a stranger pointing a loaded gun at his chest— a tough yet beautiful woman that Sam hired as the house manager. Colt senses there’s more to Angelina Morales than meets the eye and he’s determined to find out what she’s hiding…and why.

Colt’s return brings new challenges. Younger brother Nick has been Sam’s right-hand man at the ranch for years and isn’t thrilled at having Colt insert himself into Double S affairs. And the ranch’s contentious relationship with the citizens of Gray’s Glen asks all the Stafford men to examine their hearts about what it truly means to be a neighbor. And as Wall Street recovers, will Colt succumb to the call of the financial district’s wealth and power—or finally the courage to stay in the saddle for good?

Review:

Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne is an uplifting story about reconciliation, forgiveness and faith.  This first installment in the delightful Double S Ranch series also has an understated yet endearing romance that is guaranteed to melt readers’ hearts.

Colt Stafford never imagined he would return to his family’s ranch but after losing his lucrative job on Wall Street, he has few options open to him. Estranged from his father Sam and with his relationship with brother Nick strained by his long absence, he is uncertain what reception awaits him. His unexpected arrival a day early takes housekeeper Angelina Morales by surprise and their introduction is unorthodox yet understandable given the circumstances. Colt is rather smitten by Angelina, but he also quickly realizes there is much more to her than meets the eye and he is very curious about the secrets she is keeping. While Colt easily steps back into the day to day operations on the Double S, will he be able to repair his fractured relationships with his family?

The death of Colt’s mom when he was four years old set the stage for the complicated family dynamics. His heartbroken father quickly remarried and when the marriage ended in divorce, Sam became even more distant from Colt, Nick and eventually, their adopted brother Trey. When Colt and Trey wanted more for their lives than ranching, Sam issued ultimatums to both of them that resulted in longstanding estrangements between him and his sons. Now in ill health, Sam is ready to make amends, but is it too late to mend their broken relationships?

Colt never quite recovered from the loss of his kind-hearted and gentle mother. He could not wait to get away from the ranch and his small hometown but with his career in tatters and his assets frozen, he has little choice but to return to the Double S. Planning only a temporary stay on the ranch, he maintains an emotional distance from his father and rebuffs his attempts to make up for past mistakes. His relationship with his brother is equally uneasy but this does not stop Colt from trying to help Nick move past his heartache over his broken marriage. At the same time, Colt’s feelings for Angelina begin to deepen but with both of them looking to the past, will they sacrifice their chance at happiness?

An incredibly poignant and realistic depiction of working through the pain of past mistakes, Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne is a healing journey of redemption and renewed faith.  The novel is well-written with a storyline that is a meaningful and thought-provoking. The romance between Colt and Angelina is slow growing and very sweet. The cast of characters is beautifully developed with true life flaws and imperfections that make them sympathetic and easy to like. This first installment in the Double S Ranch series is a heartfelt and engrossing story with a gentle undercurrent of spirituality that is sure to resonate with readers of Christian fiction.

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Filed under Back in the Saddle, Christian, Contemporary, Double S Ranch Series, Multnomah Books, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Ruth Logan Herne