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Book Review of Colorado Courtship: Winter of Dreams / The Rancher's Sweetheart (Love Inspired Historical, No 168)

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These 2 stories are part of Harlequins Love Inspired Historical novels. That means that God is a character in each novel. This isnt heresy; its another way of saying that the belief in God is important to the characters.

Winter of Dreams by Cheryl St. John - 4.5 stars

Violet was under a cloud of scandal and left Ohio. She responded to a newspaper ad and found a position with Ben Charles and (sister) Tessa Hammond in Colorado. The year is 1899.

Soon, Violet suffers a shock the family she will cook for owns a funeral parlor. When she remarks to Ben Charles Hammond that he hadnt mentioned that fact, he admits she wouldnt have come if he had. It is obvious that Violet is intimidated by the fact that the business and home are attached.

It is interesting to watch Violets prejudice and fear. Although Ben Charles is in his mid-thirties, he has never married because of the community and citizens prejudice against the profession of undertaking. This is a unique tale that I found quite charming and thought-provoking.

The Rancher's Sweetheart by Debra Ullrich 3.5 stars

Sunny Weston can do it all: Shoot, ride broncos and work a farm/ranch. However, since she is short and tiny, the cowboys on her uncles ranch don't believe her.

As a new orphan, Sunny needs to earn enough money to keep her fathers ranch going. Although her uncle and aunt want to lend her the money, Sunny insists on earning it as a ranch hand on their ranch. She takes quite a ribbing from the other cowboys but the foreman (Jed Cooper) senses strength of character that the other hands dont see.

After considerable frustration with the lack of respect afforded her, Sunny convinces the ranch hands to hold a calf roping and riding contest with interesting results.

This is my first reading of a story by Debra Ullrich her writing is very engaging.