Lonestar Sanctuary

LONESTAR SANCTUARY was my second read by Colleen Coble, and it will definitely not be my last. Ms. Coble writes great romantic suspense, and what's even better - she writes great Christian romantic suspense, without beating you over the head with the Christian references. Allie Siders has dealt with too much death over the last few years. First, her husband was killed in the war in Afghanistan, and her in-laws are determined to gain custody of her daughter. Then her parents died in a tragic plane accident, and her sister was killed during a burglary. As if that wasn't enough, her five-year-old daughter, Betsy, has stopped talking. Allie has made a life barrel racing on the rodeo circuit. But trouble has a way of finding her, and when a man claiming to be behind her sister's death tries to attack her in her trailer, she decides that it would be in the best interest of both herself and her daughter to leave the rodeo and travel to the Bluebird Ranch. The ranch is owned by Elijah, a man who holds more importance to Allie than anyone knows, and who also runs a program that uses horses and ranch work to help troubled kids. But even more importantly, the ranch is run by foreman Rick Bailey - the man who was her husband's closest friend during the war, and who is harboring secrets of his own. When it becomes clear that someone is determined to make Allie suffer for a sin she doesn't even know she committed, both Rick and Allie will have to put their differences aside to keep Betsy safe. Let me just say, this book is a real page-turner. The suspense is perfectly plotted, and although I wasn't personally fond of people close to Allie dropping like flies, it worked with the story. And as I mentioned, the Christian/inspirational references were well done, without being over done. The ending was realistic, the dialogue throughout the story was perfectly believable, and I actually enjoyed getting to know these characters. LONESTAR SANCTUARY is a winner!

Tragedy is etched into Allie Siders' life, with the loss of husband in Afghanistan, her parents suddenly and finally the murder of her sister. So traumatised by the shocking losses, Allie's five year old daughter Betsy has not spoken a word in over a year and Allie is desperate to ease her suffering. Seeking out her husband's best friend, Allie finds herself at the Bluebird Ranch, a place where endangered horses and kids on the edge learn to trust again. Ranch owner, Elijah DeAngelo, is welcoming but the cold reception Allie receives from foreman Rick Bailey has her doubting they can stay. With threats from an unknown stalker and Betsy's grandparents seeking custody, Allie may have to take an unthinkable way out. Lonestar Sanctuary is just what the reading doctor ordered! When I long for an uncomplicated and engaging read, Colleen always hits the spot. With effortless prose, sweet characters and intriguing suspense, I enjoyed every page as Allie, Betsy and Rick battled their fears within and without. With the perfect combination of suspense and romance, underpinned with threads of faith, Colleen's latest novel is sure to please.

I thought this was one of Colleen Coble's best books. If you are a fan of her series you will love this one. It is a great book for the romantic and the suspense aspects. It gave you a little bit of both without being over the top. I highly recommend this book. I found it to be an easy read and one that I didn't want to put down.

From the Inside jacket of the book: Allie Siders is desperate to help her 5-year-old daughter, Betsy, speak again. But with a stalker out for revenge, all Allie can think about is the safety that awaits them at the peaceful Bluebird Ranch, nestled deep in Texas Hill country. Not only is the ranch a sanctuary for abused horses, but also for troubled youths. And Allie is determined to get Betsy, who hasn't spoken a word in nearly a year, all the help she needs-and find a safe haven for them both. Ranch owner Elijah DeAngelo, compassionate and kind, eagerly welcomes the duo. But Rick Bailey, the handsome foreman, hasn't decided to let down his guard...yet. As promises made long ago soon force Rick and Allie to work together to save all they hold dear, will they discover the remarkable power of love along the way? MY REVIEW... I loved this book! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved the characters because they were so real and the dialog really held my interest. I highly recommend this book. Colleen never disappoints in bringing a great story to her readers. Can't wait for the sequel, Lonestar Secrets.

In this book, author Colleen Coble takes her characters' deep into a mix of mystery and suspense as well as relational issues. The book opens with the stalker in Allie's residence taunting her. In a panic, Allie grabs Betsy and runs to the only place she can think to hide that also promises safety. The only problems: she has no money, nobody expects her, and she can't tell anybody what's really going on for fear the stalker will find her. The book is filled with romantic twists that kept me turning the pages as much as the suspense did. The tension is high as the stalker continues to strip Allie of everything important to her and strange events occur at the ranch. The setting is rich. I could picture the isolated Texas setting, and almost taste the grit in my mouth. The characters are richly drawn and detailed, with even the supporting cast causing me to root for them. This was a book I couldn't put down. Fortunately, I read it on a plane so I had uninterrupted hours to inhale it.