A Love Transformed by Tracie Peterson

"When Clara Vesper's husband, Adolph, dies suddenly, Clara is stunned--but not grief-stricken. Her marriage to Adolph had been arranged, their primary interaction revolving around the sapphire jewelry Clara designed and Adolph produced and sold. Widowed and penniless, with two small children, Clara decides to return to her aunt and uncle's ranch in Montana, the only place she has ever been happy.

Curtis Billingham, injured in a sapphire mine collapse, is recuperating at the ranch of his friends, Paul and Madeline Sersland. But when the Serslands' niece returns from New York City, Curtis curses both his broken body and his broken past. Clara, the love of his life, has come back to him, but he is no longer worthy of her love.

Clara's brother-in-law Otto Vesper, Adolph's business partner, fears that the loss of Clara's design skills will doom the company's prospects. Following her to Montana, Otto is prepared to do whatever it takes to get Clara to return with him to New York. 

As Clara fights for love and freedom, a dangerous secret in her late husband's life comes to light, threatening everyone she loves."
From the last page:  "Only a few short months ago, she'd lived with servants and all that money could buy,  yet a cloud of gloom had hovered perpetually over her.  She'd hoped that the love of her youth would save her, but it too had become tarnished and disappointing.  Finally, through patient endurance, she and Curtis had found a love transformed into something deeper, a love centered on foregiveness.  An eternal love that Clara intended to cling to forever".

I have loved Tracie Peterson's books and writing for years.  This book met all my expectations and more!  It was intriguing, suspenseful and the characters deep.  I loved each twist and turn and couldn't wait to get to the end to see what would happen.  I found it delightful that it not only took in Montana, but also the  treachery of some during World War I.  

I was provided this book by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing, for my honest review.  I received no compensation.  Thank you to Bethany House for such a great blogger program.  If  this books sounds intriguing, you won't be disappointed.  
Noreen

Sins of the Past Review

You all know how I love to read and last weekend I got a new book to review from Bethany House. A bonus was that there were three novella's from a couple of my all time favorite authors. It was a win-win situation! They were all fast reads and just such great plots.  Let me share their descriptions of the stories and my honest opinion.

Dani Pettrey is an author I only discovered in the last year or two, but I love her stories because most of them are set in Alaska.  Her characters are rich and believable as well as charming.  You know I fell in love with Alaska years ago, but only got to visit there three years ago.  Dani takes you into the surroundings and keeps you captivated by the unfolding suspenseful storyline.  

Shadowed by Dani Pettrey
Dani Pettrey returns to Yancey, Alaska, introducing readers to the parents of her beloved McKenna clan. 

Adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young fisherman nets the body of a open water swimming competitor and possible Russian defector. Turning to a college friend of the woman, the two begin to try and solve her death.

I have been a long time fan of Dee Henderson and have read all of her series. She always kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved her stories.  However, her last book wasn't quite up to par, so it was wonderful to see her writing closer to what she started out with.  I always felt like her characters were family or friends and the plots were mysterious.  This story is the same; kept me going until the very end with twists and turns. Well done, Dee.

Also featuring Missing by Dee Henderson — Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing. Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two realize her disappearance is no accident, and a race against the clock begins.

I was not familiar with Lynette Eason stories before, but I enjoyed this story equally.  I could identify with the characters and loved the romance that weaved through the storyline.  I will definitely be looking for more of her books.

And Blackout by Lynette Eason — the story of a woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong. The loot has never been found–but her memory of that night has always been unreliable. Can she remember enough to find her way to safety when the true culprit comes after her?

I would highly recommend this book!  I received it without any compensation, from Bethany House, for my honest review.

I would give this book a 5 star rating.
Noreen