Texas Belles: One More Chance/Courtin' Patience/Susannah's Secret/The Sheriff and the Outlaw (Heartsong Novella Collection)

When I first read this book, I had never heard of this author, so I didn't know what to expect. I love to read historical Christian romances and have probably read hundreds of them, but I can honestly say that this one is my all-time favorite. I have reread it about 10 times and it still has me laughing out loud each time I read it. The characters are unique and hilarious as they interact with each other, revealing their own human faults and imperfections, but at the same time using them to change their lives for the better.

If you have never read a book in this series, than you are in for a real treat. There are four historical christian romances in this one book. Each one is just shy of 100 pages. In addition, all four stories are connected in location and character. So the charters you meet in the first story come back in all of the others. Now for a recap of each story: 1. A girl is judged by the entire town and charged guilty of commiting a sin of which she is innocent. A new astor comes to town and falls in love with her. But she is afraid her past will prevent them having a future. Do they have to move to a new town? Will she ever be cleared of her crime? 2. The sheriff is looking for a bride, little does he know one lady has already named him asa her future husband, but as luck would have it, she is the lsat woman on the earth he would ever want to marry. But all of sudden he can't seem to get her out of his mind. Does the sheriff marry this girl? Does she give up on him and marry someone else? 3. Susannah has a secret, well afew, to be perfectly honest. Her dad sent her to a twon to complete a muission, she never intended to complete. Now her time is almost up and the man that she loves just asked her to marry him in a marriage of convience. Does Susannah mary him eventhough he doesn't return her love? Does her dad ruin her happiness by taking her away from her love? 4. An outlaw has been caught by the town sheriff. She should go to jail but the judge sentences her a three month period of reform where she will learn to be a Christian, and a lady. However, during this time she falls in love, guess with who. . . the sherrif who arrested her. Will they fight thwie love forever? Or will this end happily ever after?

All four novels in this anthology are connected, and each one has its own merit! Rachel Branigan cannot convince the town that she was attacked and she and her child are labeled because of it. This doesn't deter Rev. Caleb Stone who believes her and loves her and her baby girl. Lawman Lee Cutler keeps wondering why Patience Primrose keeps batting her eyelashes at him - until he discovers she's been reading Emma Hadley's book on how to catch a man! Circumstances, however, bring out the true Patience and everyone is surprised at this happy ending! Susannah Butler is the schoolteacher and the way is not easy for her and Bobby Joe Aaron as family secrets come to the surface and their love has to grow almost in spite of circumstances. Billy Ray Aaron, Bobby Joe's brother, catches a pickpocket who turns out to be a 19-year-old blonde attraction to him! He almost forfeits his job as Sheriff to save her, and all characters come into play in this final story of the four. Altogether, these complete novels are well written and the men and women are very real and three-dimensional - you see them as they really are and they react in wonderfully human ways. I recommend this book highly and I know you won't be sorry to enjoy this inspirational romance anthology. It's even difficult for me to enjoy regular library books now that I've discovered Barbour anthologies like this! I hope you enjoy TEXAS BELLES as much as I have!