Mary Reichert is one of the best sharpshooters in the country, and in the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza her skills are on display in every performance. But unless the man responsible for her brother's death is brought to justice, Mary's fame and accomplishments seem hollow. She feels helpless in the face of the murderer's money, power, and connections. The only bright spot in her days is the handsome journalist who keeps attending their shows.
Christopher Williams has been assigned to follow the Brookstone show on its 1901 tour of England and write a series of articles for his magazine. As he gets to know the cast he quickly finds himself irresistibly drawn to the show's sharpshooter. But getting close to someone would threaten to bring his past to light. How could he ever win Mary's heart if she knows the truth? Mary and Chris will both have to trust God if they are to heal from the wounds of the past and chart a new future together.
Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.
A pleasant little light read that I enjoyed going through. It’s not super deep and the villain is really transparent, but it’s a fun diversion, and I enjoyed getting to know Mary better. This series does need to be read in order, because a lot of story elements carry over from book one and aren’t resolved until the next book.
The story is well plotted and the scenes well described. We have plenty of detail about daily life in the travel show, which was probably the best part. I also loved the portrayal of womanly friendship between Lizzie, Mary, and Ella...that's a relationship that isn't much focused on in novels and I quite enjoy having an author feature strong friendships.
There's a lot that carries over from book one in terms of the romance as well. While Mary is ostensibly the MC because of the synopsis, all three ladies truly share the honors. There's Lizzie's wedding to plan and there is Ella's ongoing hope to keep Phillip from drinking too much--and Lizzie's similar worry over her uncle.
Content: characters that get drunk (not condoned); attempted kidnapping
Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
This is a delightful series. In the second of the Brookstone Brides Series, Sharpshooter Mary continues to grieve the loss of her brother. Being a star in the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza helps keep her mind focused on other things. I loved that the hero of this novel was not another sharpshooter. Chris is a writer for a magazine article sent to develop a feature story about the popular traveling show.
Secondary threads are in place for both Ella and Lizzy. While there wasn't a lot of history in the pages, there was just enough to put the events in the Progressive Era time period. The novel includes a theme of forgiveness.
I look forward to reading the conclusion to the series. Thanks to my daughter for getting me started on this series.
Another great book by Tracie Peterson! What stood out to me about this one is how the author showed alcoholism to be the sin it is, and that relying on God is the best way to overcome it. That’s the way it is with all of our sins, no matter how “big” or “little” they are. It’s only when we turn to God and ask for His help that we find we’re able to overcome those poor choices with Him walking alongside us.
The drama of the romances kept me alternating between smiling, chuckling, rolling my eyes, and cringing. I love a good romance like that, one that sends me through all the emotions! It’s also interesting that true colors came out in a character I thought I knew from book one. This person turned out completely differently than their first impression had suggested. But looking back on it, I can now see the hints I missed (because I didn’t know to be looking for them). Rereading this trilogy is going to be great fun, because I’ll know more of what to watch for as I read.
I was so glad the Wild West show was back! It was great to venture across the Pond with it and see how the show was received in a different country than the U.S. It made me wonder if this was a reflection of how Buffalo Bill Cody’s show was received in Europe the eight times it toured there. What made this show even more fun this second time around was that a magazine writer was along for the ride. It was wonderful to see an “outsider’s” view of the show as well as the sharpshooter’s perspective. I had been hoping in the latter chapters of book one that Mary the sharpshooter would be featured in book two. I thought she might be, since there was a rifle on the cover, but I hadn’t checked out the blurb because of potential for having the story spoiled ahead of time. Such relief swept through me when I discovered the sharpshooter was the leading lady of this installment of the series.
Since I’m so eager for the final book in the trilogy, I’m diving in tomorrow. Be on the watch for my review!
Wow! These first two books of Tracie Peterson's Brookstone Brides series has been very good as far as this reader is concerned. I loved that it just picks up from When You are Near. I love to read Historical Romance from this time era. Cars were just making an appearance on the roads. Ladies still wore dresses and hats when they went out in public. A bit of history has been added to this book which adds to the story and makes it seem more real. Tracie drew me in once again almost from the first page. There's some intense moments as the book nears its ending. Made me stay up late again! Wherever You Go centers mostly around Mary Reichert, Star Sharp Shooter of The Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza. In book one Mary's brother was murdered and she wants answers and his murderers bought to justice. She seeks closure for her brothers senseless death. Mary wows the audience at the Wild West shows with her shooting talents. She's been known to shoot the buttons off a man's vest without hitting him. But besides her talents there's a bit of romance brewing when magazine writer Christopher Williams arrives at the show to write an article featuring Mary and the rest of the shows all female performers. Lizzy Brookstone, the shows main attraction still takes up a good part of the story. She is very much in love with Wesley DeShazer and the two plan to marry soon. Problem is Jason Adler has become very obsessed with Lizzy and he will stop at nothing to win her heart. He simply won't take no for an answer and goes to great lengths to break up Lizzy and Wes. This book would be great for readers of Historical Romance Fiction and for those who enjoy Christian fiction. I would advise that you read Book one, When You are Near before Wherever You Go. Book two picks right up where book one left off. So in order to get more out of the story you should read the books in order. I downloaded this book to my Hoopla App. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
Oh my word, I love Tracie Peterson books so much. This book had me from page 1 and now I really want to read book 3.
I am really falling in love with this whole Wild West plot line. I have never read a series set during this particular time before and I am loving it!!
The characters in this book are the same from book 1 and I am loving them more and more. Jason though annoyed me so much throughout this book. He, in my opinion, belongs in a mental facility, he was so crazy.
That ending though had me fangirling and sighing like crazy. I just love a good ending!!
I cannot wait to read book 3 in this amazing series. I cannot wait to see what is next for these amazing, lovable characters!!
*FTC: I received this book from the publishers through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinoin. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.*
Mary Reichert rejoins the all-female Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza in hopes of bringing the man who killed her brother to justice. Will Mary finally find what she needs to bring her brother's murderer to justice?
Christopher Williams is a journalist documenting their experiences in the wild west show, he is smitten by the enchanting sharpshooter who is his main feature in the article he is writing. But he has secrets of his own that could damage their budding relationship.
Mary is very forthright and doesn't hold back, or beat around the bush. She is very confident and knows her craft well. A natural showwoman she knows how to draw in, and dazzle the crowd. She was very close to her brother and struggles to find closure with the killer still at large. I admired her strength and faith during everything that she faced.
Christopher is inquisitive and loves to learn, he isn't intimidated by Mary's talent, and he doesn't shy away from trying to answer the tough questions. He is a natural people person, and is very good at his job.
The books also continues to follow Wesley and Lizzie from the previous book, as they navigate their engagement and grow in their relationship. I loved getting to know Wesley better, as well as get to know another side of him with arrival of his brother.
Overall, an excellent installment in the series. This series is best enjoyed in order, as many past relationships are pick up, and continued as well as the mysteries and main plot lines throughout. Great character development, and I loved how we continued to follow Wesley, Lizzie, and Ella. Great pacing, adventure and mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Adventure and romance and faith stories are what kept me in this book from morning till night
The characters each have these deep and emotional stories to tell and each one of them has to figure out they can't move forward on their own. They need God and the people He designed to help them.
So much healing and redemption was found among these pages.
I think I was most impressed with journalist Chris's character growth. He grew from this scared, hurt young man into this strong and godly man who no longer was ashamed of his past.
Chris and Mary's love story was... rocky. But beautiful. They were both broken people in need of their true Father's healing. I was so happy to see them find this healing together.
I was equally as pleased to read more of Wes and Lizzy's love story! I'd been rooting for them since day one in When You Are Near (the first in the Brookstone Brides series) and it was wonderful to see how much their relationship had grown since the first book ended.
I was also very intrigued by Wes's younger brother and Lizzy's friend, Phillip and Ella's story line. And I look forward to reading their story in What Comes My Way!
As always, I very much enjoyed the wild west show setting and learning facts about England, and trick riding and Montana!
Tracie Peterson's books are always full of fun and interesting facts and tidbits to pull out at random. Which is always fun. At least for me, you'd have to ask my family how they feel about me randomly spouting off things about random things at the most random-est moments about places and characters they do not know. ;)
I was so, so happy to read this beautiful book and I really hope you'll consider grabbing it for yourself!
*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are purely my own.*
Wherever You Go by Tracie Peterson Pub DateJun 04 2019 Bethany House |Bethany House Publishers Christian
Bethany House and Netgalley sent me a copy of Wherever You Go to review:
Mary Reichert is one of the best sharpshooters in the country, and her skills are on display at the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza. Mary's fame and accomplishments seem hollow if the man responsible for her brother's death isn't caught. The murderer's money, power, and connections make her feel helpless. Her only bright spot is the handsome journalist who keeps showing up.
The Brookstone show is touring England in 1901, so Christopher Williams is going to follow it and write articles about it. As he gets to know the cast, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to the sharpshooter. But getting close to someone would expose his past. Mary knows the truth, so how can he win her heart? In order to heal from the wounds of the past and chart a new future together, Mary and Chris have to trust God.
I wanted to like this book; I wanted to be swept away. I wasn't. Maybe I was just overwhelmed by the dearth of nonfiction I've been reading. Either way, this book lacked the fun of the first book in the series. The big plot reveal was hardly "big"; to me it was rather lame in the way it was written. It was also rather overused. I kind of went, "That was IT?!" and spent the rest of the book secretly hoping for something a little more scandalous. Lol I also took more interest in Phillip and Ella, the couple at the center of the next book, than Mary and Chris. It ended on a cliffhanger, which her last series (set in San Francisco) did as well, though this cliffhanger is a bit more interesting. Mary and Chris just were so blase about everything; they lacked anything special to actually make me care about their feelings or their romance. The end of the book was the only part I really enjoyed reading.
Mary Reichert is one of the best sharpshooters in the country, and in the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza her skills are on display in every performance. But unless the man responsible for her brother's death is brought to justice, Mary's fame and accomplishments seem hollow.
She feels helpless in the face of the murderer's money, power, and connections. The only bright spot in her days is the handsome journalist who keeps attending their shows.
A Must Read.
I think that it’s safe to say, I am in love with this series. I didn’t finish it that long ago, and already craving for the next book in the series. I loved the first one, WHEN YOU ARE NEAR but I loved WHEREVER YOU GO even more and I am not sure if it’s just me, but felt like there were a lot more going on. I loved that it has a bit mystery added to it, one that kept reader wondering what was going to happen next. There wasn’t a moment in the book where it didn’t keep my attention. Just when I thought about putting it down, there was a major twist that I didn’t see coming, which made it harder to put the book down, when I had to. Especially everything that happened with Jason. I knew that he liked Lizzy, but I had no idea how far he would go to get her. What he had wasn’t love, it was obsession, and when he started come up with all those plans, I knew that he needed help. I actually worried for her, worried that he would hurt her, to get what he wanted. That was one of the twists that even I didn’t see coming. I love twists like that, because it makes you wonder as a reader, what will happen afterwards.
I loved Mary since she was mentioned in the first book, and I wanted to find more about her. I loved reading about the tricks that she did. I could picture it all, and I was amazed by her talent. I also felt bad for her, about her brother. I hope that she can find a way, to put her brother’s murders behind bars. It was clear from beginning, the attraction that was between Mary and Chris. I could tell just by the way that the two of them seemed to connect from the start. I do wish that Chris didn’t try to push her away, but I understand why he did. I cannot even imagine, having to live with that guilt all those years. I think having Wes as a friend helped me, who helped him accept god and understand why Chris was hesitant at first about it, considering everything that he went through. I could tell that Mary cared for Chris deeply, the way that she tried to help him, to have him open up at her. I did feel that sometimes she pushed a bit too much. I was rooting for two of them, I wanted for them to end up together. They deserved happiness, and I could tell how happy they were when they were together.
Now that I read these books, I know why a lot of people like TRACIE PETERSON and I cannot wait to read her other books. I am eager to read Ella’s story, who one of my favorites in WHAT COMES MY WAY , but not sure if I can wait until October to see what happens. I am kind of curious of what going happen to Jason, if they will find them. I love the covers in this books, they are so stunning. That’s what captured my attention in first place, the cover and the title is what made me want pick up the book and check out and I am so glad that I did. These books also wants me to read more western books. Do you enjoy historical fiction, with mix of western and some suspense? Check these books out, you won’t regret it. You will fall in love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Tracie Peterson releases her latest installment of the Brookstone Brides series that includes plenty of thrills and suspense but falls a bit short in holding attention.
I have enjoyed Tracie Peterson’s books for years and always find them to be wonderfully written with very good characters. I was disappointed with this latest book as I was unable to find a real connection with the characters. Perhaps it was just an odd time for me to read this book but in spite of all the good writing and the included suspense, I just couldn’t find a real liking for it. The story picks up where the last one left off with the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza finishing their current season and preparing to head for Europe. Mary Reichert is the top sharp shooter for the show and is enjoying traveling with them once again. She is still carrying the burden of anger over the un-prosecuted murder of her brother and this affects her outlook on life. The recent arrival of Christopher Williams, a magazine reporter, gives Mary someone with whom to share her pain and frustrations while also developing a friendship that will help them both. Chris is also carrying a burden of shame over his family history and is hoping to leave that behind forever. He cannot imagine that anyone will want him around or to employ him if they found out what his family had done. As they work through their issues and tour the English towns/countryside, both will find that the past need not dictate the future and that love can be found in the most familiar places. Lizzie Brookstone is also featured quite a bit in this story as there is still the ongoing tension among her, Wes and Jason Adler. Jason is determined to make his life be acceptable in his father’s eyes and has decided that making Lizzie his wife will make that happen. No matter how many times and ways both Lizzie and Wes refute Jason’s claims that Lizzie will be happier with him, his determination knows no bounds, even stooping to kidnapping Lizzie from the show. But as God is looking out for her, Lizzie is not taken and Jason’s attempts are completely foiled. And this stunt leads to a wedding that they both have long looked forward to having. As one can see, there is plenty of good plots/storylines and characters to love. But you cannot like every book you read even with all that included so I will move on to the next one, hoping it will be better than this. I will still recommend this book as others might find it a very good read and enjoy it far more than I.
I received this E-book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
This book was so much fun to read! I couldn’t force myself to stop reading, and finished it in a day. Peterson has something about her books that keep me turning the pages when I should be doing other things. Wherever You Go took me on an adventure following the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza as they toured not only the United States, but also England. Being the second book in the series, I first met the characters in When You Are Near. Although I recommend you read the first book because it was also fun to read, I don’t believe you need to in order to enjoy this book. Each story focus’ on one of the famous performers in the all women western show. This book tells us a little more about Mary, the amazing and incomparable sharpshooter, who even bests the men in competition.
Mary hasn’t had the easiest life. Recently losing her brother August only heightens how alone she really feels. Luckily everyone at the show is like family, so they won’t let her feel lonely for long. Bent on finding justice for August, Mary enlists the help of anyone she can think of that might have more influence than her brothers killer. Unfortunately that list doesn’t seem easy to fill, and she doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt while looking for the truth. When Mary meets Chris she can’t help but feel drawn to him, there’s just something about him. Being used to proposals after every show, the feelings she is now experiencing are totally new. Chris has a past he’s not proud of, and goes to great lengths to keep it from those around him. Can Mary get through his walls, and if she does, will his secrets scare her away for good?
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance with some Suspense mixed in. I loved getting to see the world through a traveling show, and the way they all loved each other like family. This book had me nervous biting my nails on several occasions, and I had no clue what could possibly happen next. I can’t wait to join them again when the next book comes out! I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
Wherever You Go by Tracie Peterson is the second novel in the Brookstone Brides series. I recommend reading When You are Near before embarking on Wherever You Go. Each novel in the series builds upon the previous. I found Wherever You Go to be well-written with established characters. I like that the author is featuring female performers who are smart, strong and brave. Mary Reichert is a talented woman who is forthright. She works at honing her sharpshooting skills and developing new routines. Mary is a woman of strong faith who is having a hard time with her brother’s death. August was killed by two powerful men and Mary cannot accept that they are running around free. These men, though, have no intention of serving time for their crimes. Christopher “Chris” Williams joins the show to write articles for My America magazine. He is drawn to Mary and wants to help her get justice for August. I like how Chris grew as an individual over the course of the novel plus I enjoyed his faith journey. Their romance goes down a bumpy road, but the trip will be worth the results. Lizzy and Wesley’s story continues in this book. Jason Adler fancies himself in love with Lizzy and will do what it takes to come between the couple. I found this storyline to be compelling and I could not wait to see how it would play out. There were some tense moments. Wesley is a God fearing man and I liked his insights into God and the scriptures. I especially enjoyed his thoughts on the Holy Ghost. Wesley’s brother, Philip gets a job with the show. Wesley needs to keep on eye on Philip because he is trouble with a capital T. I found that Tracie Peterson captured the time period and brought it alive with her depictions. Forgiveness, redemption and faith are three themes in Wherever You Go. One of my favorite phrases from the book is “Guns can’t do anything by themselves. They require the action of someone else.” I am looking forward to reading Ella’s story in What Comes My Way. Wherever You Go is a compelling historical novel with Wild West show wonders, sleek stallions, dangerous desperadoes, European elegance, a sly suitor, and long lasting love.
Wherever You Go By Tracie Peterson This is the second book to the Brookstone Bride series and is best read in order. Wherever You Go, picks up right were things were left off in When You are Near. A new character, Christopher Williams, is introduced and brings a new dynamic to the Brookstone Wild West Show. Chris is a reporter who intends to travel with the show to create a series of articles featuring the women of the show. As Chris spends time with all the women of the show he is drawn to Mary. Chris’s past is holding him back from getting too close but can Mary cox him out of his fears. Meanwhile, Lizzy and Wes continue their relationship however Jason Adler feels he is the better man for Lizzy. Jason becomes a thorn in Lizzy and Wes’s relationship as the troop travels to his family’s estate in Europe. Traveling to Europe will end up making the show or breaking the show…and its cast. The women and men of the Wild West Show realize that the only way through life is through trusting God. I always enjoy book series as it makes me feel like the story gets to keep going. That is probably because that is exactly what happens! I was happy to continue the story of the Brookstone Wild West Show. I enjoyed the characters but I especially appreciated how Tracie wove Gods Word and the means to salvation so well into the text. It can be challenging to know how to talk to friends and family in a respectful way about faith. No arguing but sharing Gods Word and continuing to show love and patience is exactly how Wes and Lizzy share their faith. This is a fun read and I would recommend this to anyone who likes the wild west and historical romances. If you are looking for a great book to prompt faith based conversations I recommend checking out, God Space by Doug Pollock. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews check out my blog at, https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com
Acclaimed author Tracie Peterson has released yet another new title for her readers to enjoy. “Wherever You Go” is the second in her newest series, Brookstone Brides, and features a character we already know from the first one, Mary Reichert, as well as a newcomer Chris Williams.
The focal point of the entire series, the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, clearly makes for a unique setting. Sharpshooter Mary Reichert was one of my favourite characters from the first book, and I was glad to see the second book in the series is centered on her. Mary’s story, however, is far from being concluded by the end of “Wherever You Go”, and seeing how it is intertwined with Ella Fleming, the star of the next book, I hope for more answers to be given.
I appreciated watching Mary’s and Chris’s faith grow from doubt and darkness, to trust in God even when they aren’t given the specific answers they seek. I also enjoyed revisiting other characters, and learning more about their growing stories and relationships. In some cases, other character’s stories were tied up in a way that was satisfying, and in others, more questions arose which I hope will be answered in the next installment.
One storyline that started in the first book and carried on into this story took a very dark and unsettling turn. For this reason I would refrain from recommending it as readily as I might have otherwise. I do not even fully understand the reason that this aspect was included. In my opinion, the story would have been fine without it.
However, for the most part, the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza is an enjoyable and unique show in which we can partake through this series. I look forward to learning more of Ella’s story, and hopefully wrapping up the final questions for the other characters when “What Comes My Way” is released in the Fall!
“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”
1901 Christian Historical. The background for this series is a highly talented all girl wild west show. Mary is a sharpshooter, one of the best. The murder of her brother, revealed in a previous book, is still unresolved. Chris is a journalist who gets permission to do a series of articles on the show as he follows them around. He has secrets he doesn't want anyone else to know, and feels Mary could never love him because of them.
This is a continuation of the story for these characters, each fully developed and with a life of their own. Lizzy is a Brookstone, her family the owners of the troupe, and is one of the star performers. She is closer to Wes now, but Jason, son of their financial partner, steps in to run things and makes it hard for Lizzy. From a privileged background, Jason expects to get everything he wants - including Lizzy.
Tracy is so good at bringing several characters fully to life, weaving around their lives, and struggles with life, all intermixed with bible based lessons of Christianity. These people are all very talented risk takers, so there's never a dull moment. Danger and mystery with lessons of love and faith.
". . . as his stepmother used to say, . . . get glad in the same clothes he got mad in.”
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I wasn't a huge fan of Tracie Peterson, but her current and previous two series have been a delight to read. I love how realistic her characters appear. I love how she uses issues of faith as a natural conversation from one character to another. Peterson doesn't spew verses on the page to threaten the reader. She makes the faith look tempting, even though it can be challenging. Her plots are interesting and unique. With Wherever You Go, Peterson continued the series with the Wild West show. This time the show travels to London for about a third of the book. I have seen many movies about these type of characters, but to read about their struggles on and off the stage make it more sympathetic. There is still a danger hanging over from the first book, which still isn't resolved by the end of this novel. Probably in the third book coming out later this year. I really enjoy stories that feature reoccurring characters. Make them more rounded, and I love seeing what they have been up to. It's not fun to see a character, enjoy them, and they disappear from the world. Thank you, Peterson, for allowing familiar characters to populate the sidelines of the story. Overall, Wherever You Go is a enticing tale of the members of a Wild West Show while hinting at moments of danger. Fans of Kristy Cambron's The Illusionist Apprentice and Dumbo might enjoy this series.
I received a complimentary copy of Wherever You Go by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
This book is a definite continuation of When You Are Near (book 1 in the Brookstone Brides series). While most members of the all-female wild west show who were introduced in book one return, the main focus of this book is on the show’s sharpshooter. There’s also the addition of Chris Williams, a reporter who follows the troupe across the ocean to England intending to write a series of articles about the show.
There were plenty of questions left unanswered at the end of the first book, and in Wherever You Go, Mary continues to search for the truth behind the death of her brother, Lizzie and Wesley continue to grow closer, and there is plenty of excitement in and out of the performances. However, Jason and his obsession became rather bothersome to me by the end. I mean, take a hint, dude!
That said, I’m now curious if we’re going to see more of him in book three. And I will be reading that because: 1. Phillip DeShazer dropped a huge truth bomb on Ella, and we need the facts. 2. Ella deserves resolution from her family and 3. How will the show fare without its star trick rider?
You see, there are too many questions I want answers to yet to give up at this point!
Disclosure statement: I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Wherever You Go has a lot of the same fun elements as When You Are Near. The Wild West show with all of its fun rodeo tricks is an intriguing environment to spend time in. More time is given to Mary's trick shooting which is very entertaining even though sometimes unbelievable that you could attempt such dangerous stunts. Mary and Chris are both great characters who experience excellent growth throughout the tale. One of the best parts about the book is what and how they learn about their faith. The knowledge they gain is spot on and is good for the reader as well. It was fun to travel to England and spend that time with the show. Overall, I wish that one storyline had been the main focus over the others. The book is set up as Mary and Chris's story, but the majority of the book seems focused on Wes and Lizzy and Jason's meddling. The most dramatic parts of the book are caused by Jason against them. Mary and Chris seem like a side story in comparison to what is going on with Lizzy and Wes. Then you add in Ella, Oliver, Phillip, and August's death and you have a bunch of other side stories that demand attention but don't have much of a resolution. It's good that there is another book in order to get some answers to these questions. But for this book, I wish that the main drama could have centered around Mary and Chris because shaping it this way made the focus feel unbalanced. Despite this, it was still an entertaining tale with a unique setting.
Grabbed it off a display at the library, being unfamiliar with the author or any of her works. Cute concept. Seemingly heavy on the Christian fiction if you've been reading a lot of Lisa Wingate by comparison (as I have). An enjoyable read, though I wasn't as compelled to stick with it as most books. Shouldn't have taken five days to read it, but I spent a few days putting off reading, actually, debating whether to finish it or not, because I just wasn't that into it. Didn't know it was part of a series (or that the author had written so many books!) until I went looking for it to add to my Goodreads list. Didn't feel like I had missed out by not reading the first one first. Not sure if I will go back and read the first one. Maybe the younger me (who read all of Gilbert Morris's historical Christian fiction series back in my teenage years) would have liked it better. Kind of disappointed in some of the editing errors made along the way. Seems like someone with that many novels under her belt wouldn't have made such mistakes in grammar and punctuation. I found myself rewriting quite a few sentences in my head along the way. Also, this book is the second one I've read recently where "broach" is used when discussing a "brooch". How something like that slipped by is just embarrassing. Quite a glaring error, in my opinion.
"Wherever You Go" is a Christian romance set in 1901 in America and England. There were two main romances in this book, with the focus more on Lizzy, Wes, and Jason rather than Mary and Chris. The conflict in the story was created by Jason wanting Lizzy to marry him and going to great lengths to separate Lizzy and Wes. Jason felt that Lizzy would naturally fall for him once she saw his family's wealth when the show traveled to England, so he felt justified in creating discord between her and Wes.
Mary knew who killed her brother, but the law wouldn't touch them. Chris sent a friend to investigate, but the point of the story was for Mary to trust that God cared and would ultimately bring justice. Chris had to learn that God (and Mary) didn't hold him responsible for the sins of his father and brothers.
The characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Historical details were woven into the story and brought the Wild West show alive in my imagination. The relationship tensions and the physical danger from the tricks added suspense. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I enjoyed learning more about Mary and sharpshooting. I’ve been to some shooting competitions and it’s amazing what can be done. Trick shooting at the caliber of Annie Oakley would be incredible to see. I can imagine some of Mary’s volunteers fainting or women swooning at the sight of some of her shots. Peterson is great at creating vile humans. Like the first book in the series, there’s a sheep in wolves’ clothing who is utterly despicable. The only consolation was knowing that the truth usually comes out and people are revealed for who they are. Even though this book’s focus was more on Mary, Lizzy was still a main character. I like it when characters are carried through more than one book in a significant way. The storyline picked up where the last one left off and I expect the next book will do the same. So it’s best to read this book after book 1 in the series. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Brookstone Brides: Book 1: When You Are Near Book 2: Wherever You Go Book 3: What Comes My Way (due October 2019)
Great read! Love anything by Tracie Peterson and this was no different.
Loved the travelling to England and hope to read the third book soon so I can keep following the characters and see what becomes of them.
Jason. . . wow. . . he took more turns than I thought. I always thought him unstable but the ending did shock me a bit. Where has he gone off to? I'm sure we haven't seen the last of him.
Mary is a great character to follow in this book and I loved meeting her. Too bad August is dead and she is haunted still by how and why he died. Will she ever find out?
And then we meet journalist Chris. He's a welcome new character with a unique story all his own.
And don't forget about Lizzy as she and Wes are still pivotal characters in this book. Ella too is right in the mix having fun with her trick riding and still watching over her shoulder for Spiby to show up.
I picked this one up from my local library and read it as quickly as I could. I'd been on a long waiting list and there are more waiting for it once I take it back. Just goes to show how wonderful this author and her series is!
Mary Reichert has recently lost her beloved brother August and believes he was murdered. She is a sharpshooter in a travelling wild west show, where she meets photojournalist Chris Williams. Chris has dark secrets. But he and Mary grow closer and start to share love. Meanwhile, Wes and Lizzy are engaged, but Jason Adler is jealous and plotting to steal Lizzy away -- first figuratively, then literally. And Ella is fond of his brother Phillip, but Phillip is getting in trouble from drinking too much. This is the second book of a trilogy. I'm not Lost because it's easy to gather what happened so far. It seems that all three ladies have plot lines that span the whole trilogy, but each is the focus of one book. I love how close the Brookstone family is. I love Mary's love for her late brother, though it annoyed me that she was lamenting how alone she was while sitting with her family just because she was single. Be grateful you have grandparents and siblings. They matter. The book also seemed to imply speaking in tongues is wrong, but it's Biblical, so that's weird.
Another enjoyable Christian novel although the setting is not one of my favorites. This series features an all-female traveling Wild West Show. The women are trick riders, sharpshooters, etc. This book finds the group traveling to England for a series of shows. The main character featured is Mary, an expert sharpshooter. She is still grieving over the murder of her brother but the show gives her an outlet for her grief. A new character in this book is Chris, a young journalist who has been assigned to travel with the show to write articles for a magazine. As Mary & Chris are drawn to each other, they find some secrets in Chris' past a huge obstacle. The other characters are still there -- Lizzie, Wes, Ella, Phillip and Uncle Oliver -- and they bring other story-lines to the book.
Again, an interesting and enjoyable book without sex or profanity. The main Christian thread is one of forgiveness and repentance.
This is the second book in Tracie's "Brookstone Brides" series and it was interesting to hear about an imaginary all-female wild west show. The shooting ability of Mary Reichert was quite amazing, though there's a part of me that wonders how accurate it really could be, but yet there is Annie Oakley, so I'm guessing that the skill is definitely attainable.
One thing that came through strong in the book was a belief and trust in God. Wes and Lizzy, the main characters from the first book, were committed to God and also not afraid to encourage the rest of their friends to pursue God as well. I liked that aspect of the book. I can always use the reminder to be more committed to God and to trust Him more and more.
Overall the book was a very light read. It was interesting in a fun, I don't have to think too deep sort of way.
I received the book from Bethany House via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Its rare when a #2 in a series is better than the first but this one is better than the first. It has far more religion mixed in the romance, but the conversations feel more natural then they were in the first book. The first book just felt like it was filling a quota, these were much more realistic of what religious people would say. They say good literature makes you question things, maybe yourself, your society, your preconceived notions, if that is the case then this book is good literature. The character development and relationship building definitely got me thinking. It was an easy enough read to keep me thinking amongst all the distractions from my kids. My only complaint about the book was the villain was a little over the top and it came off too comical. I felt like he belong in a silent film not a book written last year. It was definitely vaudeville, which I guess is fitting since its a book about a fictional wild west vaudeville show.
This book was so much fun to read! The Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza as they toured not only the United States, but also England.
This book tells us a little more about Mary, the amazing and incomparable sharpshooter, who even bests the men in competition.
Mary hasn’t had the easiest life. Recently losing her brother August only heightens how alone she really feels. Luckily everyone at the show is like family, so they won’t let her feel lonely for long. Bent on finding justice for August, Mary enlists the help of anyone she can think of that might have more influence than her brothers killer. Unfortunately that list doesn’t seem easy to fill, and she doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt while looking for the truth. When Mary meets Chris she can’t help but feel drawn to him, there’s just something about him.
This action packed, fast-moving tale reaches out and grabs your attention from the beginning. It is done with a clean story-line,
I think that the setting of these books is wonderful. I really enjoy the wild west show that has an all female cast. I also liked how even though the focus on this book was on Mary and what was going to happen for her, the reader was able to still get so much insight on the other characters we met in the first book.
I enjoyed how Peterson included the actual show season in this book. She also gave the reader a glimpse of what the show entailed and the danger that was present by doing the death defying acts.
One thing that stuck with me was how Peterson was able to make me loathe a character. That showed me that I was truly invested in this story and in the lives of these characters. I really want to see them succeed. I can't wait to see what happens in book three.
Tracie Peterson has once again delivered a thought-provoking novel. Set in the times of wild west shows and will a broad cast of characters, Wherever You Go will take you to a new and different adventure. Mary is the unrivaled sharp-shooter of the gang and has an immediate attraction to Chris, a reporter bent on doing a series of articles on the famous women. Bringing in characters from the first novel and continuing the storyline with the drama between Wes, Lizzy, and Jason allows the reader to have a deeper experience and increases the character arc. Although this is primarily Mary and Chris's story, I wouldn't necessarily call the other characters secondary characters. They're too strong for that label. I love that Tracie Peterson has such in-depth conversations among her characters, mainly her conversations about God and how He is the most important piece in our lives. She speaks of conviction, redemption, and salvation with equal power and in such a way that it never feels forced. What was interesting in this novel was the fact the performances did not take center stage, the characters did. While the stage was well-described the different settings, from America to London, were brilliantly displayed, they did not detract from what was going on within the characters' minds. Instead, you're given a deep perspective from several points-of-view, always knowing exactly how each character is feeling. Another smashing success from Tracie Peterson, even though Jason's character gave me the heebie-jeebies. I suppose that was the point. I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.