Book Review: On Lone Star Trail by Amanda Cabot
by Sandra Ardoin
On Lone Star Trail, the third book in Amanda Cabot’s Texas Crossroads series, wraps up a trio of romances at Rainbow’s End in Dupree, Texas with a bit of a quadrangle.
An accident involving a motorcycle left Gillian Hodge, a concert pianist, injured and unable to resume her beloved career.
I feel rudderless,” she admitted. “I had my life carefully planned, and now there’s nothing. I have no idea what I’ll do next, because the only thing I know is music.
TJ Benjamin still mourns his wife’s passing, leaving him unable to resume his life and faith. The crashing of TJ’s motorcycle begins a new chapter for them both.
I like to get the bugs out of the way first, so let me say the one picky complaint I had about this novel is—with the exception of a subplot character—everyone is so doggone nice. I’m not saying the main characters don’t have problems. Both of them do, which adds tension to the plot and makes them less than perfect. However, the virtues of the surrounding characters, even the setting, and the way the MCs handled things made it all seem a little too perfect at times. I kept waiting for someone to do something that burst that “nice” bubble.
Even with my bug, I enjoyed the way Gillian and TJ’s romance developed—as friends and confidantes first, before the realization of something more dawned on them. Yet, it didn’t seem forced. I liked the way they helped one another come to terms with their emotional and spiritual issues. And I liked that their spiritual struggles were interwoven into their daily “life” struggles.
God had a strange sense of humor. TJ closed the door and looked around. He could practically hear heavenly laughter as God watched him settle into a cabin named Moses. There was definite irony in a man who used to be called the RV Reverend being stranded at a Christian resort within walking distance of two dozen RVs.
On Lone Star Trail makes for a good finale to a sweet series, like Oatmeal-Raisin Bars (recipe in the back of the book)—not too heavy, but satisfying.
What is the last series you read that left you sad because it was over?
Sandra Ardoin
As an author of heartwarming historical and contemporary romance, Sandra Ardoin engages readers with page-turning stories of love and faith. Rarely out of reach of a book, she's also an armchair sports enthusiast, country music listener, and seldom says no to eating out.