Tomorrow's Shining Dream

I would recommend this to anyone wanting an excellent book to read. It's light enough it doesn't require intense thinking while reading but serious and fast moving enough it will keep your interest. It was easy identify with Charlotte thinking she didn't have enough to offer and that she should change herself instead of being her own person. Daniel was the same, he didn't think he had enough to offer but was willing to help anyway. In the end, he learned who he was, was enough. He didn't need a large bank account to be worth of love. There were enough turns and twists in the book to keep you turning the pages.

This is one of the best Christian historical fiction novels I’ve read this year! The faith walked out in the lives of the characters was inspiring, as was a demonstration of one of my favorite verses. The majestic Texas setting is described beautifully, and the time period one that I enjoy the most. I liked the characters, especially Charlotte, a woman who knows what she wants out of life, and Daniel, the local sheriff. There is even a mystery, making the novel even better! Charlotte, nicknamed Charlie, isn’t quite the lady that her daddy, owner of the biggest ranch in the area, hoped she would be. She is an excellent horsewoman who spends most of her time either with her Arabian horses she plans to breed or working around the ranch. At this year’s summer party and 4th of July ball, her father wants her to impress someone new, this time Andrew, whose father has a smaller ranch and a large interest in the Southern Pacific Railroad. Charlie isn’t comfortable trying to be prim and proper in social settings, but as she promised her father, she will make an effort with Andrew. Daniel is the sheriff and is facing a huge challenge. Someone has been rustling cattle. No matter what he and his deputies do, they have only been able to find a couple of the bad guys who refused to give up their boss. It has been weeks since he sent for the Texas Rangers, but hasn’t heard a word back. The local ranchers are upset about losing so many cattle. Daniel and Charlie have known each other since they were children. His sister Anna Mae is Charlie’s best friend, which Charlie’s father doesn’t understand at all. Their father doesn’t have the social standing or wealth he does. Charlie doesn’t care about wealth and tried to find a husband on her own so she wouldn’t have to have to settle for someone of her father’s choosing. Her father and Andrew’s want them to form a union to ensure the future of both families. Anna Mae volunteers Daniel to help Charlie feel comfortable around men without spilling, falling, or stepping on their feet when dancing. Daniel knows Charlie’s father would never approve of him, yet he has to confront his growing feelings for her. Unknown to him, she has to do the same for the feelings she has for Daniel. In the meantime, one of Daniel’s former friends arrives with the men he is in charge of with the Rangers. Not only is Daniel struggling to try to find the rustlers, he is also dealing with Cain, who wants to take over the investigation. This novel captured my attention from the beginning, and it was hard to put down! Family secrets and danger led to difficult choices. I enjoyed seeing the characters again from Tomorrow’s First Light, the first in series. This can be read as a standalone, but both novels are excellent! The faith struggles of both Daniel and Charlie are depicted beautifully, as is the demonstration of one of my favorite verses at a time when I really needed it. I highly recommend this novel to women of all ages who enjoy well-written Christian historical fiction set in Texas in the late 1800’s, with delightful characters, mystery, and God’s grace shining through. From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, a review was not required.

The upside to a series is that a favorite place or group of characters continue to exist, even after an individual story has been told. The downside is that once I’ve read more than a couple of books, it’s hard to let the series go. Thankfully for me, Naomi Rawlings bridged Michigan and Texas with one family, then introduced us to another cast of characters to root for. This second novel in the Texas Promise Series really delivered for me, with great characters and an almost bittersweet love story that made me wonder if these two could overcome their preconceived ideas about what was right in front of them. Charlotte nearly broke my heart; between her shame over past mistakes, the damage they allowed, and her mistaken belief that she was not beautiful or worthy of being loved as she was, I could both relate to her and wanted to hug her as a friend. Daniel was a noble hero, willing to sacrifice his own desires for the woman he loved, but so pig-headed and stubborn sometimes I wanted to slap him. I appreciated that he could be both good and still flawed enough to be representative of a real person. But throughout their love story was also a greater truth about forgiveness--of self, and of others, who may or may not deserve that forgiveness. None of us are perfect this side of eternity, but sometimes it is far easier to see the flaws in another than in our own mirrors. Other times, it requires less effort to beat ourselves up over past wrongs than to seek the forgiveness that will set us free. There is so much to love about this book: the tough but tender hero, the heroine who doesn’t realize her own worth, the romance between them, mystery, humor, and the strong thread of faith and trusting God that runs through the whole. This book is my new favorite of all of Rawlings’ books so far, but I look forward to seeing what else she has in store for these characters, especially Cain and Wes--I will be eagerly watching for their stories! I received a review copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.