A Dream to Call My Own

Brides of Gallatin County #3

by Tracie Peterson

Lacy Gallatin, the youngest of the Gallatin sisters, is a woman with a mission: to find her father's killer. Haunted by the belief that she's failed him, Lacy is also battling a desire to have something more than just revenge, something she can't quite figure out. Enter Dave Shepard, deputy sheriff for the area. Dave has been fervently trying to find the man who killed George Gallatin, but he always feels inadequate when it comes to the beautiful Lacy. When they are together, the tension crackles between them--both when they argue and when they kiss. Lacy finds him frustratingly irresistible...but is it truly love?

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

365 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

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.

pen name: Janelle Jamison

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dream to Call My Own, is the third book in a series. I was sent only this book to review. In my opinion this book is not a stand alone. It was really a continuation of what happened in the earlier two books. This made it confusing and hard to understand at times. I still liked the book, but was also disappointed that I had not read the previous two books. I think I would enjoy the whole series.
Aside from that fact, it was still a good book with good morals. Lacey Gallatin is the third daughter in the Gallatin family. Her father was killed two years previous and she is determined to find his killer. her two sisters are married and deliver their first children in this book. Lacey is in love with Dave, the local law enforcement, but is unsure if she really is. during this book she wrestles with that fact and tries to decide if she will marry him.
The truth comes out in this book about who killed her father and justice is served. i suggest you read the first two before you read this one. I know when I have a bit of time I am going to go back and read the first two!

[Shecki B]

Best line from the book was given to a B-list character.

“Never be the cause of anyone’s pain, and if you have the ability to ease their suffering, then do so quickly.”

[Rita Jo Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

very great book.

[Leah B. Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loveeeeed this book. Read it when I was around 14 and I have no idea why, but I was absolutely obsessed. I would re-read it all the time lol. Apart form the book previous, A Love to Last Forever, this was the only "romantic" book I read up until I was in my mid-20s. I remember going to each Hastings in our area looking for the book when it released. Such an early-mid 2000s memory!

But...about the actual book.

Lacy was always my favorite sister since the first book. I loved her feisty attitude and stubbornness not to be like every other "lady" she knew. I personally grew up not being allowed to wear pants, so when Lacy wore he father's pants and did the men's work because she had no patience to sit around waiting for a man to come help her...I was shook. I seen so much of my own characteristics in Lacy and loved her for it. I think its important to find a character you identify with as you're growing up...and I did. ❤

I hated/loved Dave...found him frustrating but endearing. Wanted him and Laci to get together since his first introduction in the series. I enjoyed how he loved her for the way she was, but also found her infuriating how stubborn and unlike the other women she was. The snowstorm and night they stay in his parents place is etched in my little 14 year old heart for life.

I really didn't care about what Beth and Gwen were up to in this book...all I wanted to know was what Lacy and Dave were doing, what was going on at Raf's and if "his girls" were ok, and if anyone was going to catch the killer.

I grew up in the "ole west" and will always be a sucker for a good western movie/book. This book checked off some of my favorite interests:

-western
-turn of the century
-crime/murder mystery
-women doing what they want
-insufferable overprotective boy

I feel like I might return to these again soon as an "adult" to see if I'm still as obsessed.

📖❤🤠

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably my favorite of the Brides of Gallatin trilogy. This book picks up pretty much where the last one left off, following the story of the youngest sister Lacy. Lacy has been my favorite character from the beginning, so it was fun to finally have a book mainly devoted to her story. Although, like the other two books this one was told by many different points-of-view. It’s nice in a way to hear what is going on with everyone, yet it also distracted from Lacy and Dave’s story. In this installment we finally learn a little more about our lovely villain, Rafe. We begin to see how he became so bad, and I felt a lot more compassion for him. This book moved along at a quicker pace and seemed like a lot more was going on. I love the setting of late 1800 Montana, I’ve traveled there a few times and it’s a beautiful part of the country. Everything came together nicely and it was a good conclusion to the trilogy.

[Ronda Tutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story of the youngest sister of the Gallatin's, Lacy and Dave (the Law man) finally end up together. I have enjoyed all these books of "The Brides of Gallatin County" series. These books are great christian romance reads that takes place in the late 1800's in Montana.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice way to end off the series. I enjoyed this book and series. I ended the way it should. The bad guys get it and the good guys win... I also am glad that Cubby chooses and wants to live an honorable life (He is only 16 but a son of a prostitute who didn't want him and left his with his a father and a saloon/brothel owner..so you'd think that would set him up to also be a saloon/brothel owner !! I think a whole spin off could be written about his love story and his being coming a Christian...and it is a book I would read... just a hint wink wink!
Also, for fun kicks and giggles I wanted to know if there was a real Gallatin River and ( not to mention the last name of the characters Lacey, Gwen and Beth Gallatin, and their stage stop Gallatin Crossing etc etc) in Montana. It is. but it is named after Albert Gallatin who was apart of the Lewis and Clark expedition, but I am good with the creative license... It worked for me.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in the series, and an excellent one! Lacy has always been the tomboy of the Gallatin girls. It has never bothered her to pull on a pair of pants and climb on the roof if something needed fixing. But it bothers Dave, a LOT. The two fuss and fight, usually until he quiets her by kissing her. She thinks he is wasting time and not even trying to find the man that actually shot her father. Since there were many men drunk and shooting guns, most people believe it was just a fatal accident, but she never believed it. Chaos comes to their area in the form of a made up gold rush, and Dave, being a deputy, stays busy. Lacy knows she really likes Dave, but when he asks her to marry him, even though she says yes, she worries about not really loving him. But when he is taken, and she hears of the plans to kill him, she knows she doesn't want to live without him. Wonderful, excellent story to end the series!

[Ayla Stierwalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was by far the best of the two!!! WOW the author really captures everything. Nothing was left unsaid!! I couldn't put it down so much action was happening. I was really satisfied with the whole book. One of my favorite parts of the book was how they turned to God for help with many different situations that came to play in the books. I would recommend all people read this even if you don't truly believe, maybe it could shed a little light in your life. The series had so many actions and feeling and learning lessons. This book holds so much to it the romance it is just wonderful makes me giggle at how much trouble these girls cause their husbands.

Highly recommend this book!!!!

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The closing book in Peterson's The Brides of Gallatin County definitely was the best of the three series. It brought closure to the stories that had been woven through the previous two books, and was filled with mystery, romance, and "bad guys." As the three sisters and their spouses worked together to try and stop the horrors going on in Gallatin, they all learned to depend upon one another, work together, and appreciate each person's special gifts. Peterson brought each of the main characters vivdly to life as they each filled their particular role in town. Overall this was an interesting and enjoyable series.

[Chrissy Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often I come across a book that makes me laugh, cry, and feel connected to the characters. The whole series was beautifully written with flawed but lovely characters who’ll stop at nothing to take care of each other. Gwen, Beth, and Lacey are sisters who run a stage stop in Montana, after their father dies. The 3 books focus on each of their own love stories, family, and life in the 1800’s.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this series. Assume it is over because it is #3 in the series and there were three sisters..
Nice mix of early settler business settings with love stories and great relationships with lovers/spouses and siblings and even children with some murder and wilderness thrown in. Nice and inspirational and religious and no bad language!!!

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like this was the strongest of this series, maybe because we could see behind Lacy’s actions to what was driving them as well as having spent two books with the other characters and having a greater understanding of them as well. It made it feel like everything came together smoothly and kept up the interest and tension generated in the previous books, with some dips here and there.

[P.S. Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be the best of the three of The Brides of Gallatin County but I was a little disappointed. This storyline didn't seem to be as developed as the other two maybe because they all led up to this book so we just had to read how things finally played out. Still exciting and my favorite character as she was the sister that I related to the most throughout the books.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing!! My only regret is not reading the other 2 books prior to it. It’s awesome even as a stand-alone, but there were some aspects of the story I didn’t understand or fully appreciate because I didn’t have the foundation of the first two books. Going back to read the first 2 now and I’ll prob re read this one after. I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite series

[Tricia Gurr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent series!

Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and living through them as though we were right there alongside. The Gallantin girls were strong, hardworking and great role models of perseverance and determination!

[Bonnie Dieffenbacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the last book in this series about the Gallatin sisters. The mystery is finally solved on who shot their father and the sisters all found love. I really enjoyed this book and the whole series.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book! More excitement and drama than in previous books in the series.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ending to the trilogy.

[Robyn Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but sometimes Lacy frustrated me. I did really like how the everything else developed with these characters over the 3 books and concluded! Very satisfying!

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent ending to a fabulous Historical Christian fiction series!

[Stevie Blankenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite book of the series!

[Mom Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great ending to a wonderful series with an amazing lesson on forgiveness.

[Lyna Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading all 3 books featuring one of the Gallatin women. Women who showed their human weaknesses while depending on God for strength.

[Laney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top ten books all time I don’t care what anyone says

[Ashley Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book of the series!

[Kemily Presley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series!! Got a lil cheesy in the last couple pages but still good! Go read it! Now! Run!

[Cathy Ouellette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

[Shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lacy, the third of the Gallatin sisters has finally decided that she is tired of everyone else always having their dreams come true, while hers remain elusive. Still seeking revenge and justice for her father's murder (said to be accidental), Lacy is unable to really focus on anything else that might make her happy, including a relationship with Dave Shepard, the town Deputy. Lacy does not believe Dave is working hard enough to solve her father's murder. Dave, however, is working harder that Lacy could ever imagine. When unscrupulous men move in to the area, and a gold rush strikes, it seems that Lacy will never find her father's killer. However, as Dave continues to investigate, he learns more than he should about some of the towns more well-known (albeit shady) residents. When Dave's life is threatened, Lacy realizes that regardless of the revenge she is seeking, Dave is one person she cannot fathom living without. Now, she must save Dave, find her own peace in knowing her father is gone, and hopefully come out in one piece herself.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a great ending to this series! The last of the gallatin girls is supposed to be getting married, well there is no disappointment there. Dave Shepard, the deputy, has always seemed to get under Lacy's skin. He is always trying to tell her what to do or not to do in relation to being a lady, but she never thought he did so because he cared for her or even loved her. When they were snowed in out at his parents ranch they found the attraction undeniable. When the storm had ended, Lacy had agreed to marry Dave, but she still didn't know if she loved him.
When more roudies move into Gallatin crossing because of a fake gold rush, Dave's life is in danger as he tries to keep the peace and still work on other cases...Lace's fathers murder. The gallatin sisters, beth and Gwen both have a child of their own and they want to keep them safe. This pushes them to move and establish a new town North where the new railroad is going in. The good wins over and the bad are brought to justice.