Irene B. Brand - Jean Brashear - Patricia Bray
Brand, Irene B. - GROOM TO COME HOME TO, A
(Steeple Hill - Inspirational - 8/99) (4)
The one thing sixteen-year-old Beth Warner is determined to do
is escape the life she has known as a coal miner's daughter in a Kentucky holler. She persuades her parents to allow her to live with her grandmother and ride the bus to high school, and
it's on the bus that she meets Clark Randolph, the son of an ex-coal miner turned preacher. The teenagers become close, but when Clark asks her to marry him, Beth refuses and explains that she doesn't want the life that would be hers if she were to wed and remain in Kentucky.
After high school, Beth accepts a scholarship from Shiver Mining, which pays all her expenses for a five-year college program, as long as she agrees to return to Kentucky for two years as a nurse. She almost refuses because of that condition, but finally agrees to honor the agreement with the mining company. There are many surprises awaiting Beth when she returns to her hometown, but it takes a near tragedy before she realizes where Clark and the Lord fit into her life.
With characters that are so well portrayed they could be your next-door neighbors, this moving, heartwarming book draws you in immediately. The plot is relatively simple, but the hero and heroine's pain, desperation, and faith in God are clearly defined, providing emotional depth that keeps you involved in the story. A GROOM TO COME HOME TO has a stronger religious theme than other Inspirationals I have read, but the author uses Clark's father to deliver the "message," and it works quite well. Although I was distracted by a few scenes that seemed to be used as fillers and weren't necessary to the plot, Irene B. Brand has written a memorable romance that is emotionally and spiritually fulfilling. ~Pat Cavender for Bookbug on the Web
Brand, Irene B. - SUNSET SKY, THE (Mountainview Publishing; Inspirational - 7/99) (4)
Trish Ralston came to live with her widowed aunt when she was orphaned at the age of ten. A victim of total domination during an arranged marriage, her aunt became an unorthodox believer and man-hater after her husband's death. To guarantee Trish would
have the freedom she herself had been denied, this freethinking woman left a considerable estate to her niece in a will that excluded her nephews. Trish managed the Williamsburg home and gave her brother Stephen free reign to manage the plantation, Radford Hall. After inheriting, this twenty-four-year-old
spinster was besieged by suitors seeking to control her money and properties, and she also had to contend with her older brother James (owner of the family plantation, Peacefield), who was trying to force her into an unwanted marriage.
When a stranger introduced himself as a cousin from England, Trish believed she had finally found in him a gentleman to love. Colin Ralston came to the Massachusetts colony to learn more about producing tobacco, and he went on an expedition with Stephen to explore land to the west for Governor Spotswood. During their absence, Trish remained at Radford Hall to oversee the plantation, where she met Trevor Wright, a newly arrived Englishman who lived with his sister and uncle and worked at the plantation. When Colin returned to announce that Stephen was stranded at a military settlement with a broken leg, Trish, a practicing healer, feared for her brother's health and recovery. She convinced Trevor and his sister Charity to accompany her on the journey to bring Stephen home. Get ready for excitement as Trish's many adventures begin.
THE SUNSET SKY is a charming, inspirational romance many readers will enjoy just to learn about the early colonials and life in Williamsburg during the reign of Governor Spotswood. You will visit the Saponie Indians and learn about the tribe's religious beliefs, along with Trish's comparison of the Creation and Saviour of her convictions. You experience the heroine's inner thoughts as she comes to terms with what she is seeking in a mate, then watch as a friendship blossoms into love. Irene B. Brand has written a meaningful romance filled with strong characters, which will leave readers with a warm feeling as the story ends. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
Brashear, Jean - BODYGUARD'S BRIDE, THE (SSE 1206) (4+)
Ex-cop Jillian Marshall is out for revenge. She successfully manages to breach the extremely tight security of one evil arms dealer, Klaus Hafner, who is responsible for both the death of her stepsister Belinda and the precarious mental health of her stepmother. Jillian's plan to get close to Hafner as his bodyguard does not include how she will deal with his chief of security, the intensely handsome Drake Cullinane. The sparks really fly between Jillian and Drake, but she doesn't understand how she can be attracted to the protector of her enemy. Meanwhile, Klaus is determined to have Jillian for himself—and he usually gets what he wants, whatever the price.
THE BODYGUARD'S BRIDE is the author's first book and she really hit the mark with this one. The hero and heroine are a good match for each other, both physically and romantically. Drake oozes with testosterone as he quickly develops a protective attitude toward Jillian. The villain was also intriguing, and I had the feeling that there was more to the character of Klaus Hafner than we were allowed to see. There were moments in the story when he seemed very briefly, and I mean very briefly, almost human. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I like strong characters who respect each other's strengths and support each other when a weakness peeks through. I will definitely be looking forward to reading what Ms. Brashear has to share with us in the future. ~Jolene E. (ehretjke@vvm.com)
Bray, Patricia - UNLIKELY ALLIANCE, AN (Zebra - 1998) (4+)
Impoverished Regency seamstress Magda poses as a gypsy fortune-teller to earn money. When she bungles a reading, predicting an unbeaten racehorse will lose his next race, she thinks her mistake has lost her a chance at making money from the Ton. But it gets much worse. Soon Lord Kerrigan is trying to find out how she knew the horse would be drugged, plus the criminals responsible for fixing the race are trying to silence her, and someone wants to make certain she can't give any more psychic predictions. Along the way, she and Lord Kerrigan fall in love, but since she's not a member of the nobility, she must leave him. . .just as soon as people stop trying to kill them both.
The secondary characters were all wonderful, and the author's wry view of the nobility made for a very enjoyable read. The mystery elements were tightly plotted and well woven into the romance, neither overwhelming it, nor appearing to be tacked on afterthoughts. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. ~Jennifer D. (Yeep@aol.com)
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