MY REVIEW:
“When You Are Near” is book 1 in the “Brookstone Brides” series. It was such a fun story to read! I really liked the Christian elements of faith and death weaved into the story. It was fun to read Lizzy’s life as a trick rider in her parents Wild West traveling show in the early 1900s. Her parents and Uncle owned and ran the all female show but after her fathers death, Lizzy decides to return to her family’s ranch. But before she can return she must finish up the tour, stay away from unwanted suitors, and help her friend escape a dangerous situation.
Drama, romance, murder and trick riding all wrapped up into a fun, easy to read story! I really enjoyed this Christian historical romance and I can’t wait to read books 2 and 3 which are about Mary and Ella, who are Lizzy’s friends from this book.
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
About the Book
Book: When You Are Near
Author: Tracie Peterson
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: March 5, 2018
After her father’s death, Lizzy Brookstone, a trick rider in the all-female Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, wants nothing more than to quit her role as the star of the show and live a quiet life on her family’s ranch. But returning home would bring Wesley DeShazer, the ranch’s foreman and the man who broke her heart, back into her life. In addition, the Brookstones’ new manager fears that Lizzy’s departure could doom the already cash-strapped show.
Hope grows in Lizzy during a stopover at Fleming Farm. Ella Fleming not only has a natural talent for trick riding and could easily replace Lizzy, but she’s eager to join the show to flee a forced betrothal. However, while there, one of the show’s wranglers is killed in a manner Lizzy finds suspicious. And during her escape from the farm, Ella stumbles across a secret that could affect all of their lives, as well as the future of the Brookstone Extravaganza.
Click here to purchase your copy from amazon!
About the Author
Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.
Guest Post from Tracie
Introducing…When You Are Near!
I’m excited about the new Brookstone Brides series and had so much fun researching for the various characters and locations. This is a story about a fictional Wild West show with all female performers. Prior to the rodeos we see today, the Wild West shows traveled throughout America and Europe to entertain people and give city dwellers a taste of what the American frontier was like. At least their version.
Buffalo Bill Cody was famous for his shows, which brought Native Americans and their culture into the world of people who might otherwise never have even seen an “Indian.” Pawnee Bill was another entertainer who sought to keep these shows alive.
For the fictional show in my novels, I wanted to focus on three female characters who became a part of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza for varying reasons. Lizzy Brookstone is the heroine in book one, When You Are Near, and as the daughter of one of the show’s owners, she has enjoyed a starring role as a trick rider.
For research I went to Pueblo, Colorado to the ranch of Karen Vold, a famous trick rider and rodeo star. Linda Scholtz, a famed trick rider, was teaching a clinic there along with Karen at the Red Top Ranch Trickriding School.
These are two remarkable Christian trick riders who have long worked to keep the sport alive. I spent three days getting to know them and what they do and learned so much. And just to prove that we weren’t all work and no play, I thought I’d share my attempt at trick riding. What I won’t do for research!
The series will have three books, as usual, and each book will focus on a different lady and her skills. Mary is a trick shooter like Annie Oakley, and Ella is a Roman rider who stands on the backs of two horses for her part in the act. It was so interesting learning about each of these types of performers, and I hope you’ll get a chance to read all three and enjoy the stories of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza.
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Tracie is giving away a grand prize of When You Are Near, Tracie’s A $25 Barnes and Noble Gift card, and the three books in The Heart of Alaska series and three other winners will receive a copy of When You Are Near!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!
Click the link here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/dcdd/when-you-are-near-celebration-tour-giveaway