My Thoughts:

I greatly enjoyed this book.  I’m definitely a fan of Tracie Peterson so I knew going into it that I would love it and have to say she did not disappoint.  When You Are Near is a great title.  There is some romance, some action, a tiny bit of murder, and some good writing.  

Lizzy is the star trick rider in her father and uncle’s traveling show.  Unfortunately, her father died earlier this season of a heart attack.  He made her mother and her promise to finish out this year but neither of them has the heart to come back again.  Lizzy realizes that she’s not getting younger and her body is no longer willing to put up with all the abuse at the ripe old age of twenty -eight.  

As they travel along the last few stops towards home an Englishman joins them.  It seems unbeknownst to the ladies his father holds stock in their show and now wants to help them turn a profit which they haven’t really been doing.  But that’s not all the son seems to want.  He’s smitten with Lizzy and makes no pretense to hide it.  In fact, he comes out and tells her he hopes to marry her.

Lizzy has decided she’s never going to marry.  And even if she would it wouldn’t be to Englishman Jason.  She gave her heart away to Wes their ranch foreman oh so long ago.  When he took a wife that wasn’t her she was devastated.  But his silence since her death is almost worse.  She can’t risk the loss of losing someone else she loves though so she says she’ll never marry.

I have to say shy quiet Ella has to be one of my favorite characters and I can’t wait to learn more of her story in one of the books to come.  She’s being forced to marry a man much older who is definitely not to her liking.  He’s ruthless and cruel and immoral and that’s just the beginnings of the list.  Ella decides she must run away to avoid this marriage that her father is forcing her into.  Lizzy to the rescue!

Lizzy devises a scheme to help get Ella out of her house and into their travelling train.  While hiding Ella out they learn that Ella can sew and mend as well as wishes to learn to trick ride.  Ella decides to join the troop.  She’ll be twenty-one soon and then can stop hiding out from her mother and undesirable suitor.

This book is amazing!  I loved it.  A quick read without any major plot twists.  Great solid Christian theme with just enough romance.  I half expected Ella and Lizzy to both fall for the brothers but now I’m not so sure as I don’t approve of Philips drinking and attitude so we’ll have to see how he progresses in the next two books.

Oh and Mary makes a cameo with her sharpshooting skills.  Her brother was killed by Ella’s father and fiance and she desperately wants to know why and have her revenge.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations. 

About the Book

Book: When You Are Near

Author: Tracie Peterson

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 5, 2018

After her father’s death, Lizzy Brookstone, a trick rider in the all-female Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, wants nothing more than to quit her role as the star of the show and live a quiet life on her family’s ranch. But returning home would bring Wesley DeShazer, the ranch’s foreman and the man who broke her heart, back into her life. In addition, the Brookstones’ new manager fears that Lizzy’s departure could doom the already cash-strapped show.

Hope grows in Lizzy during a stopover at Fleming Farm. Ella Fleming not only has a natural talent for trick riding and could easily replace Lizzy, but she’s eager to join the show to flee a forced betrothal. However, while there, one of the show’s wranglers is killed in a manner Lizzy finds suspicious. And during her escape from the farm, Ella stumbles across a secret that could affect all of their lives, as well as the future of the Brookstone Extravaganza.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Guest Post from Tracie

Introducing…When You Are Near!

I’m excited about the new Brookstone Brides series and had so much fun researching for the various characters and locations. This is a story about a fictional Wild West show with all female performers. Prior to the rodeos we see today, the Wild West shows traveled throughout America and Europe to entertain people and give city dwellers a taste of what the American frontier was like. At least their version.

Buffalo Bill Cody was famous for his shows, which brought Native Americans and their culture into the world of people who might otherwise never have even seen an “Indian.” Pawnee Bill was another entertainer who sought to keep these shows alive.

For the fictional show in my novels, I wanted to focus on three female characters who became a part of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza for varying reasons. Lizzy Brookstone is the heroine in book one, When You Are Near, and as the daughter of one of the show’s owners, she has enjoyed a starring role as a trick rider.

For research I went to Pueblo, Colorado to the ranch of Karen Vold, a famous trick rider and rodeo star. Linda Scholtz, a famed trick rider, was teaching a clinic there along with Karen at the Red Top Ranch Trickriding School.

These are two remarkable Christian trick riders who have long worked to keep the sport alive. I spent three days getting to know them and what they do and learned so much. And just to prove that we weren’t all work and no play, I thought I’d share my attempt at trick riding. What I won’t do for research!

The series will have three books, as usual, and each book will focus on a different lady and her skills. Mary is a trick shooter like Annie Oakley, and Ella is a Roman rider who stands on the backs of two horses for her part in the act. It was so interesting learning about each of these types of performers, and I hope you’ll get a chance to read all three and enjoy the stories of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, March 26

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Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 29

Back Porch Reads, March 29

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Emily Yager, March 31

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Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 31

Life of Literature, April 1

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For the Love of Literature, April 1

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 2

Through the Fire Blogs, April 2

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, April 2

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Remembrancy, April 3

Inspiration Clothesline, April 3

Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 4

Pause for Tales, April 4

Older & Smarter?, April 5

Stories By Gina, April 5

Book by Book, April 5

Bigreadersite, April 6

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, April 6

Connect in Fiction, April 6

Godly Book Reviews, April 7

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Texas Book-aholic, April 7

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Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tracie is giving away a grand prize of When You Are Near, Tracie’s A $25 Barnes and Noble Gift card, and the three books in The Heart of Alaska series and three other winners will receive a copy of When You Are Near!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter or click HERE. https://promosimple.com/ps/dcdd/when-you-are-near-celebration-tour-giveaway