Born and raised on sprawling Texas land, Margaret O'Brien prides herself on her competence as a rancher. But her father believes she's made for more than just dawn-to-dusk work. He wants her to have the love of a good man, to raise children, to build a life. But Margaret gave up such dreams years ago. She's convinced no man would have her, that the ranch is her life now.
So when Margaret's father hires Daniel Cutler as a new foreman, she's frustrated and suspicious. Then an overheard conversation links him with a gang of bank robbers, and she's downright worried. Daniel swears he's not involved, but Margaret's not convinced. She knows the man still has secrets. But would a criminal be so kind and talk so convincingly of his faith? As a series of tragic "accidents" threatens all she holds dear, Margaret must decide what to trust: her own ears, her best judgment ... or what her heart keeps telling her.
My take: Safe in His Arms is book two in Coble's "Under Texas Stars" series. I read book one nearly a year ago, and I didn't remember much of anything going into this book—except that I didn't really care for Margaret in book one! Fortunately, the Margaret that I remember is not the Margaret of Safe in His Arms. (I'm thinking she underwent a major transformation in Blue Moon Promise, and I just forgot about it!) Anyone who did not read Blue Moon Promise would have no difficulty jumping right in with Safe in His Arms.
Two aspects are present in most of Coble's writing, whether historical or contemporary: romance and suspense. Safe in His Arms is no different, though in this book, one element works much better than the other. The romance in Safe in His Arms is fantastic! I adored Daniel & Margaret's love story, and I loved how Daniel saw something in Margaret that no other man had before. Had this book simply been a romance, it would unquestionably be a 5-star read. However, the book's weakness is the suspense thread. Fairly early on, I guessed the identity of one of the men who was out to get control of the ranch. But when the reveal of his accomplice came about, I was left scratching my head as his involvement and the reason for it seemed so unlikely. That this person couldn't seem to decide if he was good or bad just further confused me.
The romance and the story of Daniel and the bank robbers was plenty for one book, and the threat to the ranch just seemed like something extra tacked on. I will still eagerly read anything Coble writes; I just didn't enjoy this book as much as some of her others. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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Read my review of Blue Moon Promise, book one in the Under Texas Stars series.
Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com/.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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