Captured By Love

Renae Brumbaugh has written a great story which held my interest from the first page to the last! There is depth to the characters and intrigue to the plot. This book also honors Renae's grandfather, Everett Smith, who was actually a Texas Ranger, which is quite an endearing addition to the story.

The main characters are Elizabeth Covington and Rett Smith. Elizabeth and her brother, Evan, recently lost their father, who was a lawyer in Boston. Evan decides to take Elizabeth on a cross-country train trip in order to ease their shared grief. Elizabeth is not a typical woman of the 1870's. She is extremely tall and she dreams of becoming a lawyer like her father and brother. After arriving in Houston, Elizabeth and Evan go to a restaurant for breakfast and trouble begins!

Based on a "Wanted-Dead or Alive" poster and a tip from the hansom driver who brought the brother and sister to the restaurant, Texas Ranger, Rett Smith, believes he is about to capture the notorious criminal, James Weston Hardy. Rett enters the restaurant and arrests Evan Covington, who bears an unfortunate and uncanny resemblance to James Hardy. In a matter of minutes, Elizabeth's world crashes down around her! How could this arrogant Ranger have mistaken her dear, soft-spoken brother for a cold-blooded killer? What can she do to prove Evan's innocence?

Rett believes that Elizabeth is lying about her relationship with Evan. He thinks she is trying to protect the man believed to be Hardy, yet she surely doesn't fit the image of a criminal's mistress. She is intelligent and cultured. She captures Rett's interest as he follows her around Houston. Her actions begin to make Rett question the arrest of Evan. Could he have taken an innocent man into custody? Will an innocent man die because of Rett's mistake?

When reports of another sighting of Hardy reach Houston, Rett knows he must follow the lead in order to clear Evan. Elizabeth follows Rett on the trail of the real killer, sparks fly, and the two discover that they are attracted to one another. Will Elizabeth ever be able to forgive Rett for what he has done to Evan? Will Evan hang for crimes he did not commit? Will love blossom between a man and woman who should be natural enemies?

"Lone Star Ranger" is full of suspense, romance, and adventure. I loved this book and look forward to reading future books by Renae Brumbaugh! She is a talented writer who tells a story which will capture the reader's heart!

I received a copy of this book from the author, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Beware the Determined Woman!!

Accustomed to being stared at because of her height, Elizabeth Covington is surprised to sense people in this little Texas town they are visiting seem to be staring at her lawyer brother, instead. She is even more flabbergasted when a Texas Ranger and a sheriff arrest her brother, claiming he is an infamous bandit wanted for many cruel murders.

While drawn to Ranger Rett Smith, Elizabeth is also off-put by the fact he refuses to listen to her pleas of her brother's innocence. With the moral support of another courageous young lady, Elizabeth follows every trail that might prove the mistaken identity. Finally, she decides to follow the hardest and least likely to succeed trail of all--that of Ranger Smith as he embarks on the trail of rumors of the murderer in a distant area.

This is a sweet romance with lessons of learning to wait on God, giving people a second chance at our trust, listening to God and not being afraid to question the obvious. Elizabeth is shown to be a spunky, take-charge character, but one who has faith lessons to learn like many of us."She believed in God. She trusted Him even.BUT SHE TRUSTED HERSELF MORE.She wasn't keen on waiting and with God, one almost always had to wait." What a soul-selfie of most of us!!

This enjoyable paperback,The Lone Star Ranger by Renae Brumbaugh, was given to me by bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. ( )