Monday, April 20, 2020

About the Book

Book: Ranger to the Rescue

Author: Renae Brumbaugh Green

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: April 14, 2020

Amelia Cooper has sworn off lawmen for good.

Now any man who wants to claim the hand of the intrepid reporter had better have a safe job. Like attorney Evan Covington. Amelia is thrilled when the handsome lawyer comes courting. But when the town enlists him as a Texas Ranger, Amelia isn’t sure she can handle losing another man to the perils of keeping the peace.

Evan never expected his temporary appointment to sink his relationship with Amelia. Or to instantly plunge them headlong into danger. But when Amelia and his sister are both kidnapped, the newly minted lawman must rescue them—if he’s to have any chance at love.

Click here for your copy!

MY REVIEW

It’s time to saddle up your horses and dust off your boots as the author takes us to Houston, Texas in 1881. I have to say I enjoyed the setting because well it’s my home town. There is nothing better than reading an historical book set in the town you grew up in. This is the second book in the series and it has been a joy to read. The story is an adventure in trusting God and letting go of fear.

I can understand why Amelia is not fond of thinking of a lawman as someone she would court. After her loss she doesn’t think her heart could handle worrying about the man she loves working a dangerous job. It did make me think of the first responders, police officers, health care workers and fireman who are out there everyday putting their lives on the line. Amelia has such a sweet spirit around her, but she still can’t trust God enough to let her heart fall for another Ranger. I did like her job as a news reporter and how she liked to snoop around getting leads .

Evan is someone I would like to know. He is a good and honest man. His job as a lawyer takes him to visit people who he has to prove their innocence. There is a little side story in the book where Amelia and Evan work together to solve a mystery. This is where the two start to have deeper feelings for each other. I loved how they disagreed at times but always seemed to find their way back to each other.

The big plot in the book involves outlaws, Evan’s sister, brother-in-law and Evan as danger surrounds them. Amelia is beside herself thinking Evan would consider being a Ranger even for a short period of time. I loved this part of the story because it felt like I had traveled back in time where outlaws were ruthless and had no feelings for others. The danger intensifies when two people close to Evan are in a situation that could cost them their lives. The emotions run deep in this story and I loved how the author explored how important it is to trust God in all situations. I am loving this series and can’t wait for the next book to come out.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

About the Author

Renae Brumbaugh Green is a city-girl-turned-country-diva. She’s married to a handsome country boy named Rick, and she’s mom to four nearly-perfect, nearly-grown children, two rowdy dogs, and some ducks. They live in rural Texas where Renae wears overalls, western boots, and bubblegum pink nail polish. She’s a bestselling author of over 30 books, an award-winning humor columnist, and an online English teacher. In her free time, she can be found leaping tall buildings and rescuing kittens from trees. Or, she’d like to do those things, if she had free time.

More from Renae

Every once in a while, when writing a character, I become vaguely aware that in many respects, I am that character. In those moments, I also become aware that God is the author, and he’s teaching me something through this particular character’s journey. After all, it’s a lot easier to learn through someone else’s mistakes than to recognize our own mistakes – especially if that someone else is a fictional character.

Amelia’s journey is one of fear and anxiety, which is something I’ve dealt with a lot. Like Amelia, I appear composed and confident on the surface. Like Amelia, I’m often a mess on the inside, scared to death of what will come, scared to death of how it will all turn out.

While writing this story, while dealing with Amelia’s anxiety, I (all-knowing author that I am) wrote that fear is the opposite of hope. Fear is the belief that something bad will happen, while hope is the belief that something good will happen. The Bible tells us that ours is a God of hope (Romans 15:13). When we truly trust Him, we can let go of fear, knowing He has good things in store for us.

At one point in the book, Amelia has this revelation:

“And suddenly, it was as if a haze lifted and she saw herself clearly for the first time. She’d let herself be ruled by fear, and in so doing had confined herself and clipped her own wings.”

Those words, disguised on the page as Amelia’s thoughts, were actually my thoughts. I hope you enjoy Amelia’s journey. And as you read, I hope you’ll remember these words from Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

God bless, and happy reading!

—Renae Brumbaugh Green