Whispers in the Wind

Wild West Wind #2

by Lauraine Snelling

After fleeing North Dakota and the now defunct Wild West Show, Cassie Lockwood and her companions have finally found the hidden valley in South Dakota where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. But to her dismay, she discovers a ranch already built on her land.

Cassie's arrival surprises Mavis Engstrom and forces her to reveal secrets she's kept hidden for years. Her son Ransom is suspicious of Cassie and questions the validity of her claim to the valley. But Lucas Engstrom decides from the start that he is in love with her and wants to marry her.

Will Cassie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her father's dream of raising horses, or will she be forced to return to the itinerant life of her past?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Historical Romance, Westerns

350 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began this book with a lot of excitement because it has been a while since I last read a book by Lauraine Snelling. I typically enjoy her writing and was looking forward to delving into a new book. This book begins well with great characters and great character development. The story line keeps you interesting and the love interest from Lucas kept me guessing at what may happen next. But, that's where the warm fuzzy feelings ended for me. The character's financial situation was never solved, her relationship with Lucas was still in the development stages at the end of the book, and she was still questioning God in the end. Her relationship with Ransom goes from hostile to non-existent and at some point I got the impression that he had started caring for her. I am sure that Snelling probably has a third book ready to go to complete this series and I hope that book ties up all of the loose ends that were left by this one.

Thank you Bethany House for the free copy to review. I have expressed my own thoughts and feelings in this review and have not been paid for this review.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary from Amazon:
Book Two in Lauraine Snelling's Exciting Wild West Wind Series

After fleeing North Dakota and the now defunct Wild West Show, Cassie Lockwood and her companions have finally found the hidden valley in South Dakota where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. But to her dismay, she discovers a ranch already built on her land.

Cassie's arrival surprises Mavis Engstrom and forces her to reveal secrets she's kept hidden for years. Her son Ransom is suspicious of Cassie and questions the validity of her claim to the valley. But Lucas Engstrom decides from the start that he is in love with her and wants to marry her.

Will Cassie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her father's dream of raising horses, or will she be forced to return to the itinerant life of her past?

My thoughts:
I've read several Lauraine Snelling books over the years and have enjoyed them. I really wanted to like this book. I couldn't connect with the characters or the story. While I didn't read the first book in this series, I had been given enough background to understand what was going on. I didn't feel that this book moved Cassie's character forward. I felt it was rather stagnant. There were several times that I'd be reading it and be very very easily distracted by something else (another book, my cat, the television, etc). I won't go so far as to say I will never read another Lauraine Snelling book again, I just won't read this particular series again.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book, only give an honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 2 stars

[Cindy]

Great! Looking forward to the next one in the series!

[Lisa Campoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series is fantastic. Truly takes you back in time. It really shows the love of family, not only the one we’re given but the one we choose as well.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in the series did not disappoint me. Cassie finds the valley but someone has built a ranch on her land. She meets the Engstroms and Mavis is happy to have Cassie stay. But Ransom is suspicious of her intentions about the ranch and Lucas is smitten by Cassie. This is a whole new world for Cassie. There is a cabin on the property that Cassie and Runs Like a Deer sleep in while Chief and Micah sleep in the Wild West wagon. They begin to help out around the ranch and Mavis takes Cassie under her wing and is teaching her all about family, ranchers helping out one another, and the basics of cooking and running a home. Cassie has never lived in a home. Since she was born, she has always been with the Wild West Show, so everything is new to her. She wants so bad to have her own money to support her little family and not take charity from the Engstroms, but Mavis keeps telling her what's hers is now half Cassie's and family takes care of family. One wild night dashes Cassie's hope of winning money in a shooting contest. Now how will her family survive the winter? This book had me on the edge of my seat and again, I didn't want to put it down because it was so interesting. Great author.

[Gretchen Vandeneynden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than the first one in the series. I now see it as a story of a young woman who was always under her Father's supervision and when he died was under the administrator of the traveling "Wild West Show". When the show closed she was on her own for the first time ever. She was mesmerized by the stories her Father had told of the beautiful landscape where he had property. She decided to go see it. He had left her a deed to it. She travels with Cheif as a guide and her assistant. They have hard times on their journey and add to the group another Indian woman. Another aspect of this story is the discrimination the Indians suffered. I will read the next and final book in the series to discover what happens to all the characters.

[Grace Quilty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book an interesting read but I felt that at times it was quite predictable the storyline especially when I saw they had a wagon I was like I know exactly what is going to occur. I would have liked to see the relationship between her and Ransom develop a bit more as it's quite clear to me that this is the romantic plotline that is going to be pursued due to Cassie showing no interest in Lucas.
I enjoyed it but I probably won't complete the series to be honest.

[Klarence · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read. I do agree with everyone else though, that it is fairly slow until the last handful of chapters. To be fair, I did like the “slice of life” genre it kinda falls under. Very calming and predictable. I really do like the Cassie’s, Ransom’s, and Lucas’s character development. Fairly dynamic. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

[Allison Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book although the story did drag slightly at some points. I love how Cassie is learning to trust God and all these walls, like being shot, seem to be going up in front of her causing her to question her trust in God. Cassie is learning that God's ways are not our ways.

[Tina Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story

I am glad that I bought the second book in this series, it was a good, ready read and I would recommend it to anyone that loves Christian romances. I will be buying the third book!

[Linda Flaig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons in relying on God for answers

Really enjoy the writings of giving our worries to God. Very interesting and holds the readers interest. I can relate to the living conditions and how the pioneers could make life work.

[Adrieanna Guffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed continuing Cassie and her “families” story! If you are looking for a story light on romance and heavy on intrigue then this book is for you! I look forward to reading the final book in the series!

[Lori A. Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

The heart reaching writer

I do love Laura one Snelling's books. This book holds up her tradition of well written Christian fiction. Her books help us remember we have a God who cares today just like in the books. Uplifting and wholesome

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning what happened to Cassie after the Wild West show ended so sadly. The support of her friends and the Engstrom family got her through several tough times. It did end without everything resolved, so I will be reading book three to learn the rest of the story.

[Sheila Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a wonderful continuation of this three book saga. I enjoyed every moment of it and am preparing to start the final book. Sweet story.

[Carolyn Lockwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love, love this author!!
Always gives you something worthwhile to think about.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd book in the series. Setting in South Dakota. Still enjoying this story about Cassie and wondering how it will end.

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Does not read like a Snelling book. Did she indeed write it?

[Salinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Really sweet.

[Faye Wynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

This book is worth reading. It is good and will keep you reading. The People are all different, come see how they work together.

[Blaire Foote · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was better than the first one!! It left me on edge, being ready for the third and last book of the series which I still have not yet been able to read!! This is a great book!

[Stephen E Rater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good clean novel

This author's stories are never disappointing. She gives me some history and good plots. I will recommend this series and any of her Red River series of books.

[Wintermote · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely interesting second part of the story. I must absolutely read the final volume to know his Cassie’s story ends.

[Judith Spero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Hard to stop at the end of the chapter.

[Pat Raab · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing new (to me) series about life in the West.

[Danni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun

[Linea Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie and friends are done with the Wild West Show. She discovers she shares land with the Engstrom family. Learning to live off the land and near these people are a challenge.

[Bertina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the series - I Loved it - Historical, Western and Romance