Beyond the Desert Sands by Tracie Peterson
Series: Love on the Santa Fe #2
Published by Bethany House on July 5, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Historical, Fiction / Christian / Romance / Historical, Fiction / Romance / Historical / American
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Rating: 
Can she reconcile who she's become with who she's meant to be?
Accustomed to an opulent life with her aunt, the last thing twenty-five-year-old Isabella Garcia wants is to celebrate Christmas in her parents' small silver-mining desert town, leaving her handsome beau, Diego Morales, behind in California. Adding insult to injury, she must bear the company of Aaron Bailey, the disapproving Santa Fe Railroad businessman her father has sent to escort her home, who clearly finds her spoiled.
But she is surprised to see how much the town of Silver Veil has grown and how fragile her father's health has become. Then a surprise visitor shows up with news that entirely upends the comfortable life she's been leading.
Faced with all these changes, Isabella struggles to sort through her future and who she wants to be. But trouble is brewing, and there are those who hope she stays just as she is, even if it costs her everything.
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Can she reconcile who she's become with who she's meant to be?
Accustomed to an opulent life with her aunt, the last thing twenty-five-year-old Isabella Garcia wants is to celebrate Christmas in her parents' small silver-mining desert town, leaving her handsome beau, Diego Morales, behind in California. Adding insult to injury, she must bear the company of Aaron Bailey, the disapproving Santa Fe Railroad businessman her father has sent to escort her home, who clearly finds her spoiled.
But she is surprised to see how much the town of Silver Veil has grown and how fragile her father's health has become. Then a surprise visitor shows up with news that entirely upends the comfortable life she's been leading.
Faced with all these changes, Isabella struggles to sort through her future and who she wants to be. But trouble is brewing, and there are those who hope she stays just as she is, even if it costs her everything.
My Review:
Whew, when I first picked up this book I did NOT like Isabella. Good thing that’s the way it was supposed to be right? Haha. Her character certainly had a lot of growing up to do through the pages, and it wasn’t an easy ride for her. Insert Aaron Bailey who is her apparent nemesis (and not afraid to tell her the honest truth even it it’s hard to swallow), and you have just the right recipe for some rather interesting circumstances.
I like that Isabella’s character genuinely seemed to grow and mature as a process, and it wasn’t an overnight thing. There were certainly circumstances that helped to speed things along for her, but there were still things she struggled with and it made her journey seem more authentic. And the banter between her and Aaron Bailey was just plain fun. And I really don’t like Diego but won’t spoil anything about him either. But I still don’t like him.
My only complaint with this one was that (without spoiling what the ending is), the forgiveness was too overboard. Forgiveness can be given without getting rid of or watering down consequences. And repentance can happen even if one still has consequences they must face. An ending doesn’t have to be fluffy to be happy.
Overall I really enjoyed this story though and I’m already looking forward to the next one. I always appreciate knowing how much the author loves and respects history, and so I love getting to learn a bit about history while also enjoying a good story. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
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