"on lone star trail" by amanda cabot

Amanda Cabot's gently romantic Texas Crossroads series wraps up with On Lone Star Trail.

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A woman without a future. A man running from the past.
One enchanting place where broken dreams are mended.

If there's one thing Gillian Hodge never wants to see again, it's a man on a motorcycle. Her last encounter with one left her right hand crushed, ending her promising career as a concert pianist. Unsure about the next phase in her life, she heads to Rainbow's End Resort for some R&R when a sudden thunderstorm causes a motorcycle to crash right in front of her.

When TJ Benjamin's wife died, he lost more than his best friend; he lost his faith. He has spent the past year wandering the country on his motorcycle, trying not to think about the future. When he finds himself stranded with a busted bike and a reluctant rescuer, he has to wonder about God's sense of humor.

As these broken people collide, they find that a bright future is still ahead--it just might not be the one they imagined for themselves.

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On Lone Star Trail is a fitting conclusion to Cabot's series. The book functions well as a stand-alone title (as do the others in the series), so you could easily pick it up without having first read At Bluebonnet Lake or In Firefly Valley.

Both Gillian and TJ are facing the loss of their dreams when they arrive at Rainbow's End Resort. Throughout the novel, they finally come to terms with those losses and get to the point of moving on. I really enjoyed watching their journeys, both together and separately. And, as has been a hallmark of this series, the characters—both main and supporting—are so strong, likable, and intriguing.

One thing that I've enjoyed about this series (and it's especially apparent in this novel) is that Cabot doesn't find it necessary to throw in over the top villains or ridiculous situations to keep the hero and heroine apart. Sure, they face difficulties, but everything feels realistic. In the case of On Lone Star Trail, Gillian has to choose between two suitors, and both are good men and would be good husbands. Neither is a dolt or selfish or mean. So while the reader never really doubts which one Gillian will choose, the other choice would be understandable. (The Hallmark Channel could take notes from Cabot in this regard!)

Overall, On Lone Star Trail is an engaging, character-driven romance, perfect for those who want romance without suspense or drama. 4 stars.

Buy the novel.
Read my reviews of Cabot's At Bluebonnet Lake (3-1/2 stars) and In Firefly Valley (4-1/2 stars).

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Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, Christmas Roses, At Bluebonnet Lake, and In Firefly Valley. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers' Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. 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."

"in firefly valley" by amanda cabot

Return to Rainbow's End and the charming town of Dupree, Texas, in In Firefly Valley.

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She's lost her dream job—but has she found the man of her dreams?

Devastated by a downsizing, Marisa St. George has no choice but to return to the small Texas town where she grew up. Though it means a giant step backward, she accepts a position as business manager at the struggling Rainbow's End resort. The only silver lining: Blake Kendall, a new guest who might make her believe in love at first sight. But will Marisa's dreams of happily-ever-after be turned upside down when she discovers Blake's real identity?

This warm and witty story of dreams deferred and mistaken identity will have you believing in second chances.

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When I read At Bluebonnet Lake, the first book in Amanda Cabot's Texas Crossroads series, I enjoyed it, and I liked the characters, but I didn't really connect with the story. So when the chance came to review the second book, In Firefly Valley, I wasn't sure if I should take it or not. I am so glad I did.

In Firefly Valley has great characters, an intriguing plot, and two sweet romances. Both of these romances are basically love at first (or second) sight, a trope I normally do not appreciate at all. But in this setting, it works marvelously. Blake and Marisa both have secrets that stretch their relationship to the breaking point just as it begins, and their issues struck me as very realistic (perhaps not the circumstances themselves, but the way they dealt with them). Then there's the second romance, where Marisa's best friend Lauren gets a second chance at love with a most unexpected man. This romance has more of a fairy tale quality to it, but it's super sweet.

Cabot brings incredibly heavy issues to the table in this novel, including alcoholism, bitterness and anger, and verbal abuse. Yet the novel somehow has a light tone—while those issues inform the plot, Cabot doesn't dwell on them; instead, she focuses on forgiveness and restoration.

I loved virtually everything about In Firefly Valley, and I'm so glad I decided to give this novel a chance! 4-1/2 stars.

Note: While this is the second book in the Texas Crossroads series, it can easily be read without having first read book one. That said, readers who enjoyed book one will love continuing Greg, Kate, and Carmen's stories.

Read an excerpt.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Cabot's At Bluebonnet Lake (3-1/2 stars).

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Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, and Christmas Roses. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers' Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. 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."

"at bluebonnet lake" by amanda cabot

Introducing a cast of likeable characters, At Bluebonnet Lake is a great kick-off to Amanda Cabot's Texas Crossroads series.

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Her life is set to warp speed. His is slowing to a crawl. But love has its own timing.

Marketing maven Kate Sherwood's world is fast-paced, challenging, and always changing. The last thing she wants to do is grind to a halt at Rainbow's End, a dilapidated resort in the Texas Hill Country. Still, she cannot deny her ailing grandmother's request to visit the place where she and her deceased husband spent one glorious week fifty years ago. There, Kate meets Greg, who appears to be the resort's unassuming handyman. But there's more to Greg than meets the eye--billions more, in fact.

Kate isn't looking for romance, but she can't deny the sparks of attraction that fly every time she and Greg are together. Could there be a future there? Or will Kate's long-sought promotion take her back to the big city?

Amanda Cabot invites you to step into a place away from the pressures of the day. You might be surprised by what you find at Rainbow's End.

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The characters at Rainbow's End (and in the neighboring small town of Dupree) are the strength of this novel. Most of them are people I would like to get to know in real life. Grandma Sally, adorable older gentleman Roy, Samantha the boot maker, Lauren and her precocious daughter Fiona, and Carmen the cook are characters I look forward to reading more about. I actually enjoyed the friendships between characters more than I did the romance between Kate and Greg. In fact, some of the romantic scenes were a bit too sappy for me (surprising, considering my affection for the sap the Hallmark Channel puts out on a regular basis). But the great characters and engaging plot kept me flipping the pages.

I won't be continuing the Texas Crossroads series for the romance, but I will be continuing it for the characters. I'm excited to read what comes next! 3-1/2 stars.

Fun fact: The "Greg" on the cover looks so much like actor Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights, Hart of Dixie) that I found it distracting. The "Greg" in my head looked nothing like that!

Buy the book.

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Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, and Christmas Roses. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers' Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. 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."