Lonestar Sanctuary

LONESTAR SANCTUARY was my second read by Colleen Coble, and it will definitely not be my last. Ms. Coble writes great romantic suspense, and what's even better - she writes great Christian romantic suspense, without beating you over the head with the Christian references.

Allie Siders has dealt with too much death over the last few years. First, her husband was killed in the war in Afghanistan, and her in-laws are determined to gain custody of her daughter. Then her parents died in a tragic plane accident, and her sister was killed during a burglary. As if that wasn't enough, her five-year-old daughter, Betsy, has stopped talking.

Allie has made a life barrel racing on the rodeo circuit. But trouble has a way of finding her, and when a show more man claiming to be behind her sister's death tries to attack her in her trailer, she decides that it would be in the best interest of both herself and her daughter to leave the rodeo and travel to the Bluebird Ranch.

The ranch is owned by Elijah, a man who holds more importance to Allie than anyone knows, and who also runs a program that uses horses and ranch work to help troubled kids. But even more importantly, the ranch is run by foreman Rick Bailey - the man who was her husband's closest friend during the war, and who is harboring secrets of his own.

When it becomes clear that someone is determined to make Allie suffer for a sin she doesn't even know she committed, both Rick and Allie will have to put their differences aside to keep Betsy safe.

Let me just say, this book is a real page-turner. The suspense is perfectly plotted, and although I wasn't personally fond of people close to Allie dropping like flies, it worked with the story. And as I mentioned, the Christian/inspirational references were well done, without being over done.

The ending was realistic, the dialogue throughout the story was perfectly believable, and I actually enjoyed getting to know these characters. LONESTAR SANCTUARY is a winner! show less

I've been excited about Lonestar Sanctuary for weeks and when I finally started reading, I was a goner! The author brings together some of my favorite elements for a great story; suspense, mystery, romance, the tough-but-tortured-soul-cowboy with a troubled past, a bonafide Rodeo Queen, and so much more!

Having recently lost her parents and her husband in separate incidents, Allie's had more than her fair share of grief. Now she's on the run from a deadly stalker...with her five-year-old traumatized daughter...seeking guidance and safety on the Bluebird Ranch. Rick Bailey, the ranch foreman, isn't sure what to think of Allie. Not one to easily trust strangers (even the pretty ones) he thinks she's out to take advantage of Elijah's good show more nature. It took me a little while to warm up to Rick, but as his story came out I grew to understand why he was a bit of a jerk in the beginning.

Overall the story is a fast read (maybe a little rushed at times), easy to follow, and perhaps a bit predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. I would've loved the book to be a little longer with more attention spent on character development and interpersonal relationships, especially the relationships between the young teens and the adults. I just didn't feel as much emotion from the characters as I normally do from a Colleen Coble book, which is why my rating is four stars. It's still a very good book.

If you are a romantic suspense fan or enjoy western romance, definitely check out Lonestar Sanctuary! I'll be moving on to Lonestar Secrets very soon! show less

Allie is in grave danger, someone is out to kill her and she has no idea why. The story opens with an intruder in her caravan and a scary scenario of Allie trapped in the shower while her daughter Betsy sleeps unprotected. Allie’s parents were killed in a plane crash which her daughter witnessed and caused her to go mute; shortly after Allie’s sister is murdered. All alone after the death of her husband in Iraq Allie now has to contend with his parents seeking custody of Betsy. The ranch is not chosen on a whim, she knows of both Elijah and Rick although they have no idea she is coming there until she turns up on the doorstep. Allie’s late husband told her to go to Rick if she was ever in trouble, and boy is she in trouble now. show more Her relationship with Elijah is, well, complicated. Although advertised as a Christian romance, this is more a thriller with more than a little danger and suspense – in fact it is a little creepy at times when evens occur and the reader has no idea where the murderous stalker is hiding. The faith of the two main characters is not forced down your throat it is just there in their lives. The main characters seem like genuine people and I cared for what was happening to them. show less

There must have been a spate of free Christian Lit or something at BN. Another CL read. Good but not great. Rushed plot. Rushed character development. Worth a few hours of my time, but not enough to catch my attention for a new author.

So bad it was awful! and totally predictable and cliche. Don't know why anyone gave it a higher rating. Annoying perfect heroine is surrounded by death, hightails with daughter to her unknown grandfather where by some totally weird coincidence her dead husband's best friend is also there. Ridiculous plot, she has to marry him, he has to trust her, she has to forgive his drinking and the fact that he was drunk when her husband died (!) and then after even more death, where really there is no one left, the totally obvious killer reveals himself. Am going to delete it and never think about it again!

I loved this book! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved the characters because they were so real and the dialog really held my interest. I highly recommend this book. Colleen never disappoints in bringing a great story to her readers.

Lonestar Sanctuary is an easy read -- a clean romance with just enough twists and turns and suspense to keep you reading. Allie and her daughter, Betsy, flee to a ranch (and her late husband's friend) when an attempt is made on her life. As they try to figure out who is after her, they must also deal with her in-laws' desire to gain custody of Betsy, try to get Betsy talking again, and deal with a marriage of convenience.