Under the Desert Sky

by Sara Luck

Sara Luck is known for her “well-developed characters, accurate historical settings, and hot naked men” (RT Book Reviews), and Under the Desert Sky does not disappoint! Fans will love this story of a widowed frontierswoman and the ranch hand who might be all that stands between her and ruin.

Phoebe Sloan isn’t afraid of hard work—she couldn’t have survived on the Arizona frontier if she were. But ever since her husband was killed in a ranch accident, she’s struggled to make ends meet and preserve her young son’s birthright. Her last gamble was to start raising ostriches—the plumes are prized by fashionable city ladies—and it could work, but someone’s determined to sabotage her efforts.

Enter Christian de Wet, a South African importer who finds himself drawn to the fragile but determined Phoebe. He begins helping her around the ranch as a kindness, but the two quickly find that the heat rising between them has nothing to do with the Arizona desert! When the saboteur finds a way to endanger not just the ranch, but Phoebe’s family, will she have to forsake her happiness to save her son?

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Historical Romance, Western Romance, Fiction

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 29, 2016

About the author

Sara Luck has lived the life that other novelists write about. A retired school teacher, Sara taught in Alaska, 200 miles above the Arctic Circle. She has traveled to every state in the United States and has watched Bowhead Whales breaching in the Chukchi Sea, cavorting Dahl Sheep in the Brooks Range, leaping cutthroat trout on Oregon's McKenzie River, roaming grizzly bear and mountain lions in the Absorka Range in Wyoming, and dolphins at play from her beach home at Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Married to NY Times Best Selling novelist, Robert Vaughan, Sara has for over 30 years been Robert's research assistant, editor, librarian, sounding board, and story consultant.

The genesis of Susanna's Choice came from one of those research projects. Sara discovered The Journals of Alfred Doten – 1849-1903, a remarkably detailed account of life in Virginia City and Gold Hill, Nevada, during the heyday of silver mining in such mines as the Comstock Lode, Consolidated Virginia, Belcher, and Ophir. When Robert didn't get as excited about the story prospects of this find as Sara did, he told her to write the book herself. She did just that, and Susanna's Choice is her debut effort, but she promises there will be many more to come.

Reviews

[Dorine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5 - UNDER THE DESERT SKY by Sara Luck portrays an unusual combination of a South African hero traveling to the Arizona Territory in the 1900s. Raising ostriches for their plumes isn't something I ever heard about from our history, so I find that part of this novel appealing within a western historical romance.

For more book reviews, plus travel, garden and food topics with photos, visit The Zest Quest, my pursuit of a zestful life.

Due to a bit of scandal caused by her mother divorcing her father, Phoebe Sloan accepts a position as a housekeeper in the Arizona Territory so she can start over in a place where her family’s history is unknown. That’s where she meets her husband and they start an ostrich farm after they’re married, prior to his death. Struggling with the farm as well as caring for their young son while grief-stricken, Phoebe hopes she can hang on to the farm when someone seems determined to instigate her failure.

Christian De Wet travels from South Africa to help deliver some ostriches to a friend of his employer. When he arrives, he’s recruited to assist the community with the financial plans to resolve their water issues. When Christian witnesses Phoebe’s troubles first hand, he offers his protection until her hired hands return from a festival. Will Phoebe survive more scandal when a handsome stranger moves into her home?

I love stories about women who are trying to make it on their own in the West. Phoebe is an interesting heroine who knows her worth even when her in-laws don’t recognize it. Christian was a street urchin as a child until a woman took him under her protection. His lack of family experience draws him to Phoebe’s obvious love for her son. I enjoyed their unusual relationship and how their backgrounds affected their reactions.

I especially enjoyed the ostrich farm aspects of this story. There were some great details about the birds, the difficulty in raising them and why it was such a lucrative business for the times. One pet ostrich added some heartwarming moments.

The beginning of this novel is very choppy, offering insights from several places, characters and timeframes. I had a difficult time connecting to the numerous characters because the story seemed disjointed with no fluidity to draw me in. I also felt that sections of dialogue were stilted and didn’t flow naturally. Some tighter editing would have lessened the page count and added more excitement to the story’s pace. Even with my nitpicking on the story’s structure, I still give huge praise to the author for creating one of the most unusual backgrounds for a historical western. I enjoyed many aspects of this story and look forward to more.

Author Sara Luck succeeds in creating an unusual novel with several unexpected nuances that will please historical western fans looking for something different.

Love westerns? Check out my review of Rimfire Bride by Sara Luck.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies and The Zest Quest. Print copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning of the book there is a preface it explains the reasoning for the basis of the story. It is a very interesting story about the farming of ostriches in Arizona. Developing a storyline out of some family history from the author was a brilliant idea.

The first couple chapters felt a little choppy to me as they didn’t seem to really flow smoothly. However, once I got past them and got further into the story, the more engrossed I became.

I really enjoyed both of the main characters, Christian and Phoebe. They both have wonderful history and I love how complex and different their backgrounds were, yet complementary as well. The best part is even from the first time they met, they both knew something was there that needed to be developed. Phoebe has heart, tenacity and has gone through a lot of painful moments in her life. Christian has dealt with a lot of pain and abandonment in his life and together they have something deep, special, and even healing.

Even though this story is set in the 1900, we still get that beautiful heat and passion that these two experience together. The author has found the delicate balance between love and respect with these characters. She offers beautifully developed characters you want to get to know and a strong story that blends yesterday with today.

This is a lovely historical romance that is not only a delight to read but a memorable story as well.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars: A nice romance, but it felt too rushed and the hero was a little too good to be true.

Phoebe Sloan stares at the cloudless sky, worrying again about the lack of rain and the ongoing drought. If rain doesn't come soon, her ostrich ranch in the Arizona desert will be ruined. Then there is here troublesome and meddling brother in law, who is determined to see her fail, even if that means sabotaging her farm. Just when things are the bleakest, Christian de Whet, a South African importer arrives in town with ostriches and a plan to build a dam. He quickly befriends Phoebe and the two form a friendship that blossoms into something more. Will Phoebe with Christian's help save her farm?
What I Liked:
*I am a fan of historical books that feature women fighting to save their land and their family, and this book features a strong woman, determined to run a successful ostrich farm in the Arizona desert. If you like books with courageous heroines this is one to try.
*I loved the Arizona setting. I lived in Phoenix for ten years, so I am familiar with the area and some of the history. I enjoyed learning about how the ostriches came to this part of the country and how they flourished. You can still see large ostrich farms today in parts of Arizona. I found the whole story line surrounding the ostriches and the farms interesting.
*The villain is actually one of the highlights of the story. He is meddling, mean and determined to ruin Phoebe. I thought he was a well written character, and of course, I liked seeing him get what was coming to him.
*July, a South African black man, was my favorite character. I loved how kind and intelligent he was. It was troubling to see him have to face prejudice here in America when he was a Prince in his country, but he took it all in stride. I wish he had a bigger part in the story.
*The ending is nice and neat, no loose strings, or nagging questions. This is a stand alone.
And The Not So Much:
*The romance was too rushed and it felt contrived to me. It had that insta love vibe. I didn't like how quick they were to say I love you and how fast it went down.
*Even though I liked Christian's character, I struggled with him too because he came across to me as being too good to be true. He didn't think and act like a man, he felt like a male character who was written by a woman.
*I also felt like the resolution with Phoebe's father in law and brother in law was a little unrealistic. I found it hard to believe the father in law's sudden change of heart. Yes it was a nice happy ending, but it felt forced.
*There is a big focus early on surrounding the drought and the water troubles. Christian agrees to help the farmers build a dam, but then that story line doesn't develop or go anywhere. I was left wondering what happened with the dam.
Under the Desert Sky was a nice romance, but a little vanilla for me. It has a strong heroine and a likeable male lead, but the romance moves too fast, and I felt like Christian's character was a bit phony. I did like learning more about the ostrich farms in Arizona at the turn of the century. This was a quick, pleasant read for those who like simple, predictable romances. I would have preferred more fire and realism, but it will satisfy those who like nice and easy.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical romance and jumped at the chance to read this frontier novel. Phoebe Sloan is a widowed homesteader with a four-year-old son. She is desperately trying to save their land and her son’s birthright. In the 1900’s Ostrich, feathers were the height of fashion in America and England. Phoebe is trying to raise them but someone is sabotaging her efforts. She knows who the culprit is and refuses to comply with his wishes. I liked Phoebe she is tough and while she feels guilt about somethings, she is a good mother and doing the best she can.

Christian de Wet, a South African importer is delivering ostriches to a neighboring farm and enjoying a visit to the Americas. During a meeting between farmers, he meets Phoebe and is intrigued. When her hands are off celebrating Mexico's Independence someone breaks into her hatchery. Christian unwilling to leave a vulnerable woman and child alone soon finds himself protecting Phoebe, her son and the farm.

The chemistry between Christian and Phoebe was sweet and I loved the banter. This was a slow-building romance that vied for attention with the suspense angle. I would have liked Christian to communicate more, I knew how he felt but Phoebe struggled and was unsure. Luck weaved in some hilarious moments between the characters, Phoebe’s son and others. I quickly found myself caught up in the raising of ostriches and these hardworking folks. Secondary characters added to the tale, even an unwelcome competitor for Christian’s affections. I adored a certain four-year old and his ostrich.

The suspenseful thread regarding the farm gave us a villain to loathe, weaved in some danger and balanced out the swoon-worthy moments. Luck touched on racism and I enjoyed how she weaved in those messages. We even experienced some brief glimpses of the political climate in the US, changes to the waterways and more. These extras enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Linda B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read, no memorable moments, not a keeper for me.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many aspects of UNDER THE DESERT SKY are not commonly found in a historical romance. While the Arizona Territory setting might be the locale of a story taking place in 1900, having a career of raising ostriches is definitely unusual, especially when the owner is a woman. The hero is from South Africa, and his way of thinking is also not the norm for many folks living in the southwest at the turn of the twentieth century. Sara Luck vividly interweaves factual details with imaginative circumstances to create a heartwarming romance filled with genuine emotions.

When Phoebe Sloan had traveled to the Arizona Territory seeking employment, she ended up getting married and having a son. But when her husband is accidently killed on their ranch, she is the only one who thinks continuing to raise ostriches will eventually be profitable. With all her money tied up in the risky venture plus having the relatives of her husband make constant threats, Phoebe fears what will happen to her child if she cannot successfully sell the birds’ gorgeous feathers which are in high demand in the states and overseas.

After making sure several ostriches are safely transported from Cape Town to a buyer in Arizona, a South African named Christian de Wet ends up accepting a job offer and will stay in the area for a while. When he sees first-hand what a trying time Phoebe is having on her farm, he offers his assistance in getting things back on track. Though she desperately wants to prove her goal can be reached, if a profit is not made soon, then she may lose everything she cares about. Yet with the help of Christian, she just might have the life she has always wanted.

The predicaments women must face have greatly changed over the years, and Phoebe certainly lived through quite a few that were once all too frequent in her time period. I really liked how she stood up to anyone who tried to take away her choice of freewill, and she definitely did not give in without speaking her mind. She is a very devoted mother, and it was good to see how her son was always in her thoughts. When she meets Christian, she was fascinated but never dreamed they would ever be in a relationship because of so many differences. But sometimes unexpected connections turn into caring and perhaps even love. I enjoyed seeing how Christian and Phoebe would recall values they admire when thinking of another person and not be influenced by the opinions of someone else. Also, their past experiences draw them closer because of all that they have lost over the years, as they cannot help but feel compassion toward each other.

Sara Luck has truly done lots of research for UNDER THE DESERT SKY, where fiction comes across as particularly realistic. Many various factors dealing with the raising of ostriches are accurately depicted, and I found the information to be very interesting. There are also numerous remarks made about actual individuals who are known for making an impact during the timeframe of the story, thus adding convincing realism. From wars to discrimination and the places where decisive events took place, this story left me feeling as though I had traveled back in time and watched history in the making. UNDER THE DESERT SKY entertains with originality.

Copy received from publisher for Always Reviewing blog

[☆Angel☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copyright Night Owl Reviews

2.5 Stars

In the preface for “Under the Desert Sky”, the author, Sarah Luck, tells us the story of how she came up with the idea for this book. I am a little sad to say that, for me, that is one of the more interesting parts of the story. While reading the book, it felt sort of hum-drum. It was alright, the storyline was fine, but I never found a real connection to it. However, this is also not the type of book I normally read. I decided to take a chance and see if I would like it.

To see my full review, please click the link below:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...

[Tricha Leary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started out slow but one Christian and Phoebe met the sparks flew!!!!