A Texan's Promise

I've been in Lexington, KY for the last two days, going to college orientation with my daughter.  We had a great time together, and it was fun to see the university through her eyes. She figured out her schedule,  got to see her dorm room, and we listened to speakers talk about college life and dining options. I watched her make a new friend.  Through it all, I realized that while I'm going to miss her, she was going to be just fine.

I do have to admit that I played hooky yesterday. While she was in an advising meeting, I skipped the parent meeting and worked on The Missing. I'm almost done with the book, and I'm at that point where the words come fast…I just need to sit down and put them on paper. Now, I'm happy to say that the end of the novel is in site, and that I didn't miss too much at the parent meeting, either. : ) 

For those of you who are curious, The Missing is the first book in The Secret of Crittenden County Series, and it's slated for release in March, 2012. And yes, it's an Amish romance.

When I wasn't writing or wandering around the university, I was checking email. I'm so delighted to share with y'all one of the first reviews I've received for A Texan's Promise!  A Texan's Promise is an inspirational western romance, and is scheduled to go on sale in October. It's available for preorder, though, and Barnes and Noble.com already has two reviews posted.  I know some of you only read Amish novels, and that's just fine with me. I'm delighted you like my Amish books for Avon Inspire.

But if you are interested in another kind of book by me, you might consider A Texan's Promise by Shelley Gray. I'm very proud of it, and the next book in the series, A Texan's Honor, is even better!

So here is one of the first reviews for A Texan's Promise:

 (The Review's site) : http://love2readnovels.blogspot.com/2011/07/texans-promise-by-shelley-gray.html

The Review:

Vanessa Grant has always loved Clayton Proffitt, foreman of her family's ranch, the Circle Z. When Clayton finds Vanessa crying in the barn one night he discovers that her stepfather, Price Venture, made unwelcome advances toward her and left marks on her back with his belt. Remembering the vow he made to her real father to watch over Vanessa, he packs a few things and takes her away that night. As they head West together their feelings for each other grow deeper and deeper. Price and her brother Miles are also heading west in search of them. The journey is long and difficult. Will their love and faith survive all the things they must face along the way?

A Texan's Promise is going down as one of my top favorites! A gritty and realistic tone gave this tale a real authenticity. From the first page until the hair-raising conclusion I was absolutely glued to the pages. I loved everything about this story including the cover. The characters were very well drawn and fully fleshed out. The dialog was totally awesome. The romantic tension between Clayton and Vanessa sizzled. The electricity between them was so strong it lit the room I was reading in. I loved it! One thing I thoroughly enjoyed was that there was lots of interaction between Vanessa and Clayton. Clayton was a swoon-worthy hero! I loved the way he was with Vanessa. Vanessa was a great heroine with lots of spunk but a tender heart. The author tackled the subjects of abuse, trust, forgiveness, war, honor, friendship, love and faith. I especially liked watching the growth of the characters. It really felt natural and not forced at all. God is always with us was the theme running through the story. A good reminder when we face difficult things. I highly recommend A Texan's Promise. It's truly inspiring. This is book one in The Heart of a Hero Series and you can bet I'll be watching for the next installment. Fantastic job Shelley!!! A thank you goes to Abingdon Press for this complimentary copy for my review.

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Abingdon Press (October 2011)

ISBN-10: 1426714599

ISBN-13: 978-1426714597