Life gets busy around Christmas what with kids and parties and gifts to make, so what better to do than add a light read while I am working no my to do list? Redemption Ranch by Leann Harris was a lucky library find. Another ranch based book (of course the title… duh), this book is much more than a horse and pretty girl story. There really is a whole lot of redemption going on.

The Second Chance Ranch is an amazing place for children, for veterans, for broken souls who need some healing. Tyler Lynch is one of those souls. His faith rocked by the death of his partner during a bomb retrieval, his soul already hardened by his life as a foster child… there is so much to love about his character. I love that this book deals with the plight of the returned veteran. The difficulty of survivor’s guilt and sleepless nights due to nightmares.

Beth is part of the family business at the ranch. Terrific with animals and kids, very intuitive with those in need. She herself has been soured in love at a young age and is honestly always acting with the very best intentions. She is optimism and joy in an amazing package.

The child in this story is the brother of the soldier that Tyler could not save. He is also a broken soul and his path to joy and strengthened faith is the catalyst for a lot of the goings on in the story.

I really appreciated how the author delved into life after war. Add in the emotional turmoil of the families left behind and you get a bit of an insight into the less than glamourous life of our returned heroes. (and those who never return) I did find a bit of the drama slightly… more… than I generally enjoy but I am finding that this is a common theme in these Love Inspired books. A call for a moment or two of extreme stress. 

Redemption Ranch was an enjoyable read with characters you can’t help but connect with. If you enjoy some horses, ranches, faith journeys and healing this could be the book for you!

Another in the Love Inspired line, Healing the Soldier’s Heart is a faith filled Historical by Lily George. This time an orphan turned governess who lives in Bath is given the chance to help a returned and injured soldier. Lucy Williams is dedicated to the two young girls in her charge, one soon to leave the nest as she has her coming out party and attempts to find a suitor, the other young and impressionable and both without a mother. 

James is an injured veteran who has mostly lost the ability to speak due to trauma on the continent during war. His family is no longer as auspicious as they were so he attempts to support his mother and sister who also has a speech impediment. 

This lovely tale is set in the Regency era and has some more mature components. There is some discussion about becoming and the ramifications of accepting the position of mistress. Though nothing overtly occurs. Our main characters are torn by their pasts and in need of faith love and hope. 

I have always loved stories set in Bath and am especially fond of the Regency era. I think the author does a lovely job of keeping us in mind of the constraints placed on all sort of people in the time period while slowly and carefully creating a love you can’t help but cheer for. 

The side characters are equally charming and bring a lovely addition to the story. If anything, hot cocoa and a nice fire on a snowy day is the perfect time to pick up this Christian Historical Romance. Another lucky library find!