This is part of a large group of books with Christian themes that are very popular. This is a warning: This book was published in 2013 but most of the stories in this book were published prior to that date. I'll list the published date after listing each short story. Only two of these stories are new to this publication.
Generally, I enjoy books with Christian themes but some of these are just too much. For example, there is a religious reference in nearly every paragraph in the first short story by Kathleen Y'Barbo (she has two stories in this volume). To me, that is overkill. After reading this -- one might wonder how the settlers got anything done with the constant asking God for guidance. Another author I gave up on was Kelly Eileen Hake -- for the same reason.
NOTE: The last four stories are related. They are all about the Wilson sons. The first story is about Reuben; the next one is about Colt, then Caleb, and finally, Benjamin, the young child left behind in a bordello, as the older sons went off and began their years of crime and jail time.
SERENA'S STRENGTH (DiAnn Mills) (Publ. 2001) -- 2 stars
Serena looks like a young teen but is actually nearing 18 years. She is attracted to a Texas Ranger named Chet Wilkinson. Her father, also a Ranger and partner to Chet, knows the dangers of a Texas Ranger's life and refuses to allow Serena to be interested in Chet. This story was so bad, I couldn't finish it; I didn't care what happened to either of the main characters.
THE RELUCTANT FUGITIVE (Darlene Mindrup) (Publ. 2001) -- VG+
April Hansen is caught up in a bank robbery with her twin brother. When her brother and the gang leave her behind; April is captured by Ranger Yellow Wolf Jackson. The Ranger returns April to the sheriff in the town (where she lives) for the trial. Things don't look good for the young seamstress.
SAVING GRACE (Kathleen Y'Barbo) (Publ. 2001) -- 2 stars
Texas Ranger Captain Jedadiah Harte (better known as "Heartless Harte") has decided to leave his captain rank in the Rangers and serve God. He is on his way to Galveston and plans to stop off and see his old friend, Ranger Ben Delaney. Instead, he is shot near the Delaney homestead. When he wakes up, he finds that Ben was struck by lightning and his wife is in a bad way; pregnant with a third child. Where does his allegiance lie?
AN INCONVENIENT GAMBLE (Michelle Ule) (Published in 2013 - the same year as this book) -- G+
Jenny Duncan has been decimated by yellow fever; her parents and husband are dead. Civil War veteran Charles Moss used to be a gambler but a bet that turned tragic changed his life. He is one of the neighborhood school teachers and is boarding with Jenny's family. Before long, Charles advises Jenny on business matters.
ANGEL IN DISGUISE (Darlene Franklin) (Published in 2013 - the same year as this book) -- 2 stars
This story is so hokey I won't even recount it for readers. This is the second awful story by this author and I won't be reading anymore. (The last one was in OLD WEST CHRISTMAS BRIDES (2018). It is another book in this series).
REUBEN'S ATONEMENT (Lynette Sowell)(Published in 2006) -- G+
Reuben Wilson led his brothers to crime and spent time in prison. Now, with his debt paid to society, he returns home and tries to make amends. Charlotte Jeffers is a spinster, still living at home. When Reuben is accused of theft in their local community, Charlotte has to think deeply about her future.
THE PEACEMAKER (DiAnn Mills)(Published in 2006) -- VG
This short story is a continuation of the previous one; Colt Wilson (brother to Reuben), has been released from Huntsville State Prison. He heads to the Austin area, to find his old partner. Instead, he finds Anne Langley and her daughters. After the disastrous first story (in this volume by this author), this episode about the second Wilson brother was a delight.
OUTLAW SHERIFF (Kathleen Y'Barbo) (Published in 2006) -- 2 stars
Because I was invested in the story of these four Wilson sons, I read this story. Caleb Wilson wanders into a town and is mistaken for the new sheriff. He also finds that he has a mail-order bride waiting for him. This is so out of the realm of chance that it is laughable.
A GAMBLE ON LOVE (Tamela Hancock Murray) (Published in 2006) -- G
The final story is about Benjamin Wilson, the six-year-old left at a bordello when the other three brothers left. He's turned into a gambler, with a wrinkle. Pearl Hubert is his confidant; she serves drinks and uses code words to tell Benjamin about the other gamblers' cards. When Pearl is called home for her dying mother, Benjamin follows. A man, with no experience as a rancher, and who played cards all of his life suddenly becomes a rancher, if you can believe it.
Perhaps I've just read too many of these in too short a period of time, but I really didn't enjoy this book much.
Generally, I enjoy books with Christian themes but some of these are just too much. For example, there is a religious reference in nearly every paragraph in the first short story by Kathleen Y'Barbo (she has two stories in this volume). To me, that is overkill. After reading this -- one might wonder how the settlers got anything done with the constant asking God for guidance. Another author I gave up on was Kelly Eileen Hake -- for the same reason.
NOTE: The last four stories are related. They are all about the Wilson sons. The first story is about Reuben; the next one is about Colt, then Caleb, and finally, Benjamin, the young child left behind in a bordello, as the older sons went off and began their years of crime and jail time.
SERENA'S STRENGTH (DiAnn Mills) (Publ. 2001) -- 2 stars
Serena looks like a young teen but is actually nearing 18 years. She is attracted to a Texas Ranger named Chet Wilkinson. Her father, also a Ranger and partner to Chet, knows the dangers of a Texas Ranger's life and refuses to allow Serena to be interested in Chet. This story was so bad, I couldn't finish it; I didn't care what happened to either of the main characters.
THE RELUCTANT FUGITIVE (Darlene Mindrup) (Publ. 2001) -- VG+
April Hansen is caught up in a bank robbery with her twin brother. When her brother and the gang leave her behind; April is captured by Ranger Yellow Wolf Jackson. The Ranger returns April to the sheriff in the town (where she lives) for the trial. Things don't look good for the young seamstress.
SAVING GRACE (Kathleen Y'Barbo) (Publ. 2001) -- 2 stars
Texas Ranger Captain Jedadiah Harte (better known as "Heartless Harte") has decided to leave his captain rank in the Rangers and serve God. He is on his way to Galveston and plans to stop off and see his old friend, Ranger Ben Delaney. Instead, he is shot near the Delaney homestead. When he wakes up, he finds that Ben was struck by lightning and his wife is in a bad way; pregnant with a third child. Where does his allegiance lie?
AN INCONVENIENT GAMBLE (Michelle Ule) (Published in 2013 - the same year as this book) -- G+
Jenny Duncan has been decimated by yellow fever; her parents and husband are dead. Civil War veteran Charles Moss used to be a gambler but a bet that turned tragic changed his life. He is one of the neighborhood school teachers and is boarding with Jenny's family. Before long, Charles advises Jenny on business matters.
ANGEL IN DISGUISE (Darlene Franklin) (Published in 2013 - the same year as this book) -- 2 stars
This story is so hokey I won't even recount it for readers. This is the second awful story by this author and I won't be reading anymore. (The last one was in OLD WEST CHRISTMAS BRIDES (2018). It is another book in this series).
REUBEN'S ATONEMENT (Lynette Sowell)(Published in 2006) -- G+
Reuben Wilson led his brothers to crime and spent time in prison. Now, with his debt paid to society, he returns home and tries to make amends. Charlotte Jeffers is a spinster, still living at home. When Reuben is accused of theft in their local community, Charlotte has to think deeply about her future.
THE PEACEMAKER (DiAnn Mills)(Published in 2006) -- VG
This short story is a continuation of the previous one; Colt Wilson (brother to Reuben), has been released from Huntsville State Prison. He heads to the Austin area, to find his old partner. Instead, he finds Anne Langley and her daughters. After the disastrous first story (in this volume by this author), this episode about the second Wilson brother was a delight.
OUTLAW SHERIFF (Kathleen Y'Barbo) (Published in 2006) -- 2 stars
Because I was invested in the story of these four Wilson sons, I read this story. Caleb Wilson wanders into a town and is mistaken for the new sheriff. He also finds that he has a mail-order bride waiting for him. This is so out of the realm of chance that it is laughable.
A GAMBLE ON LOVE (Tamela Hancock Murray) (Published in 2006) -- G
The final story is about Benjamin Wilson, the six-year-old left at a bordello when the other three brothers left. He's turned into a gambler, with a wrinkle. Pearl Hubert is his confidant; she serves drinks and uses code words to tell Benjamin about the other gamblers' cards. When Pearl is called home for her dying mother, Benjamin follows. A man, with no experience as a rancher, and who played cards all of his life suddenly becomes a rancher, if you can believe it.
Perhaps I've just read too many of these in too short a period of time, but I really didn't enjoy this book much.
