 Author: Tracie Peterson Genre: Historical Romance Series: The Heart of Cheyenne #1 Pages: 304 Release Date: March 5, 2024 Publisher: Bethany House The heart finds its way when one least expects it--even in the most unforgiving frontiers. Invited by a friend to trek west and help establish the newly formed town of Cheyenne, Edward Vogel is prepared to leave the haunting memories of his wife and son's deaths behind him. The only problem is the corrupt new railroad town wants family men who can establish law and order, and desperation leads Edward to his friend Marybeth with a proposition of marriage. After her father's death leaves her with no means of support, Marybeth Kruger is in danger of having her two-year-old half sister taken from her. So when Edward Vogel, the widower husband of her late best friend, offers her a marriage of convenience to escape both their troubles, she has no choice but to accept. Life in Cheyenne is fraught with danger, but will this arrangement be enough to save Edward and Marybeth from the pasts they tried to escape? Or will life with each other put them--and their hearts--in more danger than ever?
 Reviewer: Juanita Varela A Love Discovered is the first book in the series The Heart of Cheyenne. It is a historical book of what the town of Cheyenne was like. It focused more on the town or the problems than the romance in the book. There was romance, but it was sparse. I liked Edward’s character. His willingness to help Marybeth was noble, even if he was getting something out of it. I enjoyed the side characters, Melody, Fred, and Eve. I was on the lookout for a certain character to make a reappearance. That is what kept me pushing on in this book. I liked Fred and Edward’s job lives. It felt real in every aspect. The biblical message in this book was powerful. There are so many times I want to hide because of my fears, but Tracie Peterson writes it best: Trust God. This was my favorite part of the whole book. I received this book from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Nancy Brown I enjoyed the story of A Love Discovered. It was clean and kept to godly Christian standards. Marybeth was the main character, and she seemed real enough, and the stories about her past and present were very believable. Edward is the other main character, and he was an equally strong part of the story. Marybeth's sister, Carrie, was a cute addition to the plot every now and then. The descriptions of the Wild West were interesting, and I have to think that Tracie Peterson did some research on the subject. The part of the story about how they had to live in a tent for a while was almost scary. I felt uncomfortable, as if I were in the tent with them. It made me think of how homeless people have a difficult life. I was glad when they moved into a small but sturdy home, originally intended to be a workshop for Edward's boss. It reminded me of when I was living on my own and my move from a one-room studio apartment into a 3-room apartment—what a welcome change!! There is suspense and a lot of mental imagery about the plot and the characters, and fans of Tracie Peterson will enjoy her book. If you're new to Christian fiction, this would be a great book to start with! It might spoil you, though, because there aren't a lot of Christian fiction authors today whose books are as well defined and interesting as Ms. Peterson's. I give this book 5 stars, but the thing I would change is for Ms. Peterson to talk more about Jesus in her future books. She used to talk openly about Jesus and salvation through Jesus Christ alone in her books, but not so in this one. Overall, it's a good, clean Christian fiction story. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Bethany House Publishers, through Interviews & Reviews. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Laura J. Davis A Love Discovered by Tracie Peterson was a hard book to put down. This "marriage of convenience" story drew me right in and had me stomping mad that a woman would have to take such drastic measures to keep a baby she loves. Marybeth Kruger is in danger of losing her two-year-old stepsister, whom she has raised from birth, all because of an interfering pastor who thinks he knows what's best for the child. I'm so glad I was not born before women had rights because I would have bopped that arrogant, self-righteous preacher right in the nose! When he accosts her at the funeral of her father and comes to her home with a judge who threatens to take the child away from her (without even bothering to see how she is loved and cared for), Marybeth immediately says yes to Edward Vogel when he proposes a marriage of convenience. They get out of Dodge quickly and trade one nightmare for another. The very rough and wild town of Cheyenne. With very little money, they try to find a way to coexist without truly being husband and wife. But, as with all marriages of convenience stories, they both fall in love with each other. Unfortunately, Edward is letting fear rule his life, and it will take a huge leap of faith in God to help him truly love again. I loved seeing both characters grow in their faith in God as well as their love for each other, despite all the setbacks they had. If you like marriage of convenience stories, you will probably enjoy A Love Discovered. I received a copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Conny Withay “She was married to a man, but wasn’t a wife. She cared for a child, but wasn’t a mother,” Marybeth realizes in Tracie Peterson’s novel, A Love Discovered. The first book in The Heart of Cheyenne series, this three-hundred-and-four-page paperback targets those interested in a historical romance about a young couple trying to find their way in their marriage while living in the wild west. With no profanity, topics involving illness, physical abuse, murder, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. The ending has a teaser of the next book in the series, the author’s biography, and advertisements. Set in 1867, twenty-year-old Marybeth is at a loss when her father dies, and she promises to raise her two-year-old half-sister, especially when the local pastor wants her to give up the child. Yet her dear friend, Edward, who has lost his wife and son, devises a unique solution to marry only for convenience, benefiting both of them. When they move to rural Cheyenne, Wyoming, the two must rely on God and each other to get over their fears. Living on the American frontier during the building of the railroad had its many challenges, and this book covers the lawlessness and fear as well as friendship and trust in others. I love that the author includes Bible verses, prayers, and that eternal salvation does not involve works. The growing love between the struggling protagonists is well written. Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not like this story of learning to trust God while dealing with fear and anger. Others may not care for the repetition sometimes found in the story. The story is predictable. Since this is a series, it may be helpful to include a map of Cheyenne and a list of characters. If you like a historical romance about the expansion of Cheyenne while two people learn to shed their fear and anger and join in a wholesome marriage, this is a great start. Thanks to Bethany House and Interviews & Reviews for this complimentary book. I am under no obligation to give a positive review. Reviewer: Lori Parrish A fantastic book that was over way too soon! I say that because I couldn't put the book down. I read straight through the night and laughed out loud. Peterson's stories do that to me. I love reading about marriages of convenience and seeing how they turn out. This one was wonderful. All for the love of a sister/family. Love is a very strong weapon, and if you throw God into it, well, it could be a strong marriage. It's why I loved this story. I have no fault with this one except for one teeny tiny thing. I won't say what it is because I don't want to give it away. All wonderful new characters. A couple I didn't really like. They were troublemakers. Yuck, I don't like those kinds of people. A gentle reminder that I need to talk to God always, even when trouble arises. Life's not easy, and for this reason, I loved Marybeth. She's special in my book. I wanted to scream at Edward sometimes. He made me mad at him a lot! All in all, 5 stars for a well-written story that flowed smoothly. I highly recommend it! My thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House for a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.  Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise This was a sweet marriage of convenience story set in the old west town of Cheyenne. It was not without heartache and danger. Edward is encouraged by a Civil War friend to relocate to Cheyenne to help with law enforcement in the somewhat lawless boom town along the railroad. Marybeth is in a predicament when her father dies and the care of her two-year-old sister is questioned by so-called well-meaning people. Edward and Marybeth agree to marry to help each other, but plan to keep their relationship as friends only. Much hardship is shown of life in a town that is both growing and partly abandoned when the construction of the railroad moves west. The characters struggle with trusting God to order their steps, but godly wisdom is dispensed within this story. A bright spot was the portrayal of two-year-old Carrie and her sweet, trusting nature. This was a good start to a new series by a favorite author. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone. Reviewer: Carolyn Bryant
A Love Discovered, set in the late 1860s, launches the Heart of Cheyenne series. This book touches the heart and stirs the emotions with a sweet marriage of convenience love story fraught with struggles. The author’s fluent writing style and consummate storytelling skill create the feeling of “being there” as you read. Strong, memorable characters jump off the pages and into your heart. The vividly detailed, sketched setting of the wild town of Cheyenne had me fearing the lawlessness and shivering in the cold! I greatly appreciate that the story is steeped in faith, which adds depth to the historical romance. I love this story and can’t wait to return to Cheyenne! This book has my highest recommendation. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Leave a Reply. |
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