Into the Fire

I'm not the "Love Inspired" kind of reader, but I was intrigued by Shannon Taylor Vannatter's little romance novel Winning Over the Cowboy. I became aware of it when Shannon did an interview with Brenda S. Anderson on her blog, and I won a copy! Yay! 

No one is more surprised than Landry Malone when her best friend Eden chose to leave half of her heritage dude ranch to Landry and half to her brother Chase Donovan. Just after attending Eden's wedding and getting left at the altar of her own nuptials, Landry learns her best friend has died in a tragic accident.

Landry dreamed of one day owning a dude ranch but never suspected it would be the place she loved after spending time there with her best friend's family. The stipulations in Eden's will make it very clear how the arrangement between Landry and Eden's brother Chase is supposed to work, but Chase is not happy that an outsider is taking on half of his inheritance even though he's been absent from the place doing his own thing for several years.

Well, you can imagine the knocking heads, the turmoil and testing, the sparks flying as these two duke it out to manage some kind of partnership as guests begin to make reservations, arrive, calves are born, fish are caught, leaky pipes are fixed, and Chase can't seem to find something this Landry girl can't do. With complications added from Landry's ex-fiancé and Chase beginning to see how much she too loved his sister and family, she starts to win him over, but their misunderstandings and miscommunications make it near impossible for them to establish a secure partnership. 

I just wanted to shake them both, but, hey, that's formula romance for ya.

The authors of these Love Inspired novels have a special talent for telling a tale within the genre formula in short novels with realistic and meaningful characters. Shannon Taylor Vannatter is no exception. A cute little romance with lots of conflict and consternation that manages to paint scenic pictures and turn out just right.

Father, please continue to bless Shannon's life, encourage her in all she does, give her fresh insights and ideas, and keep her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.