A satisfying conclusion to the series: My review of "Taming the Wind" by Tracie Peterson

ABOUT THE BOOK

A young widow nursing the wounds of her past...

A cowboy with demons of his own...

Though grateful for the blessing of her daughter, Carissa Lowe has accepted that widowhood is her lot in life. Bound by fear and mistrust, she feels incapable of opening her heart again.

Tyler Atherton has never forgotten Carissa. When he discovers she's living with her sister on a nearby ranch, his life becomes intertwined with the lovely widow's. And Carissa's daughter, Gloria, seems determined to wrap herself around his little finger. But while Tyler longs to provide a home and future for Carissa, he is haunted by an obligation he feels unable to fulfill.

Challenged by mounting hardships, can Carissa and Tyler preserve their fledgling love in a land as unforgiving and vibrant as the people who call it home?

MY REVIEW

One thing that always impresses me about Tracie Peterson's books is the manner in which they capture the flavour of the time period they are written in, and Taming The Wind is one such book. I found it fascinating how the characters struggled to live in post-Civil War Texas, dealing with the harsh feelings between Union and Confederate supporters, or how Tyler has to deal with the loss of his family's land due to fighting for the losing side. It is clear that the author has done her research well. However, I did find that this book lacks the vitality and swifter pacing of the prior books in the series, as I really struggled to get into the first half of the book. Nevertheless, there were sections of the book, especially towards the end, that captured my interest, and the book brings the series to a satisfying conclusion. Although the ending may be predictable, who can argue with a happy ending, both for Carissa and Tyler but also all of the prior characters who starred in previous books as well?

Overall, this is a series I would recommend for readers who enjoy historical fiction and who have been following the journey of the characters featured in the Land of the Lone Star series. I give this book a rating of 3.5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over eighty novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana, and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie's Web site at www.traciepeterson.com and her blog at www.writespassage.blogspot.com.