Barbara L. (Barbllm) reviewed on 2/7/2013 + 241 more book reviews

This book, Taming the Wind, is the third in a trilogy by Tracie Peterson called Land of the Lone Star. Reading the second book in the series, Touching the Sky, is highly recommended as the main characters in this book also appear in that book and this is merely a continuation of their story.

Peterson makes getting to know her characters easy; they are realistic and their relationships follow a natural progression. The setting of the book is post-Civil War Texas; the Rebels have been defeated soundly, and they are now paying dearly for their part in the war. Indians are still a threat to those settled West of the Mississippi River. The plot involves a cattle drive from Texas to Kansas through Indian territory; Tyler Atherton, the hero, needs the money from the sale to buy back his ranch. Carissa Lowe, the heroine, is a widowed mother living on a ranch with her sister far from their previously opulent home in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her little daughter, Gloria, loves Tyler but Carissa is hesitant to offer him anything more than friendship. Her distrust of Tyler stems from an abusive relationship she was in that is well chronicled in the second book in the series.

Readers will enjoy seeing Carissas character development from a spoiled rich girl to a strong woman capable of shooting a gun, riding a horse, and running a ranch. Laura, Carissas sister is pregnant, and her husband is accompanying Tyler on the cattle drive. The book delves into deep territory in places, such as when Tyler confronts the Indian warrior who killed his family (Is revenge always a good idea? Is it possible to forgive such a person?) or when he frets that without his ranch, he wont be able to provide for a family. The book is a nice blend of romance and action, without being overly preachy or saccharine.

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