Sapphire Beauty

"A Beauty Refined" is the second book in the Sapphire Brides Series by Tracie Peterson. I really enjoyed the first book in this historical romance series and was not disappointed by this one as the story revolves around the Yoko Sapphires. Count Frederick Von Bergen is traveling to American to purchase some sapphires for the Dutchess along with his daughter, Pheobe. But there is much Pheobe is not aware of during this visit or who her father really is. Von Bergen has told his daughter that her mother died ten years before in a ship wreck. Imagine Pheobe's shock when she runs into her mother at the hotel she and her father are staying at in Helena, Montana and that she has a younger brother. During her stay at the hotel, Pheobe meets Ian Harper, the local lapidary, who soon becomes a close friend. But Ian can not abide by telling lies. And he soon discovers that is what Pheobe's life is based on. Can Ian and Pheobe find freedom from the lies that surround their lives? Can Pheobe understand where true freedom comes from? A fast read because you become so caught in the story one can not put the book down. The author does a great job with realistic characters and storyline. Looking forward to the third installment in this series. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Dreams, Hope, and Love

In the Land Rush Dreams Series by Vickie McDonough, the reader meets a grown-up Sarah Worley dreaming of owning her own land and a house in Sarah's Surrender. She is not interested in marriage as her good friend Luke McNeil discovers. Sarah views Luke only as her best friend. But Luke is determined to win Sarah over. So when she decides to participate in a land lottery held in El Reno Luke follows along. Sarah, Jack Jensen, her adopted brother, and Luke all enter into the lottery. Her dream begins to come true when she wins a plot of land in the lottery and is able to begin building her house. But along the way mishaps occur which make her question if she is following God's will for her life and questioning her dream. Especially when others begin telling her she is in love with Luke. It was nice to revist with Sarah now that ten years have passed since she ran away from the bordello her father owned with Jo. Although a nice read alone, I would recommend reading the first two books to get the flow and acquainted with the characters. I received a compementary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.