A Life Restored (Prescott Pioneers #3) [Kindle Edition]

Karen Baney (Author)

Book Description

Prescott Pioneers Series #3 - sequel to A Heart Renewed

Christian Historical Romance set in the Arizona Territory in 1865.

 

Making mistakes is a part of life...

Social butterfly, Caroline Larson, longs for adventure. Since her best friend left Texas, she grows dissatisfied with her life. A little lie to her parents sends her on the journey of her life. Stranded in the Arizona desert, far from her final destination, she must rely on a stranger who gets under her skin.

Thomas Anderson has always struggled with making good decisions. A twist of fate, or Providence, leads him to Arizona to take a job as an express rider. Dealing with the ghosts of his past threatens to overshadow his future--until he meets a woman needing his help. Sparks fly as she grates on his nerves.

As they both struggle to move beyond their past mistakes, will they find their lives restored?

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Book 3 in the Prescott Pioneers Series continues the themes of faith and life change which began in the previous book. Not only does the story follow Caroline Larson and Thomas Anderson, but the author also delivers a surprise for two beloved characters from the previous books.

About the Author

KAREN BANEY, in addition to writing Christian historical fiction novels, works as a Software Engineer. Spending over twenty years as an avid fan of the genre, Karen loves writing about territorial Arizona. Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. She is active in various Bible studies throughout the year. Karen and her husband make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs. She also holds a Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University.

Product Details

• File Size: 543 KB
• Print Length: 332 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 098354865X
• Publisher: Author Services International, LLC; 2 edition (August 27, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005JLLWAW
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,246 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Get lost in adventures in the wild west! A Must Read Series! September 27, 2011

By Pirate2240

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ever since Karen Baney wrote her first novel in the Prescott Pioneer series, I've been hooked. I mean these characters that she writes about feel like they are part of my distant relatives from the mid 1800's living in and around Prescott, Arizona when the west was just beginning to get settled.

There are stagecoach robberies, wanted men trying to find a way to enact revenge on those they feel deserve their wrath, people attempting to make a new start out west, cattle rustling, Indian attacks and those just trying to find love on the frontier. Through each consecutive novel that Karen has added to this series, we find out what our previous characters have been up to since the last book as she incorporates the lives of them along with new characters we can only hope to come to love and those we hope the swift hand of justice will rain down upon their heads.

In this novel, A Life Restored, the third book in the series, we find ourselves partnered with Caroline Larson, whose brother Adam and her best friend Julia left the family ranch to head to a new life in Prescott. Now struggling with trying to find love like that of her parents, Caroline finds that kissing the men who are interested in her may be the best way to see if she loves them. She believes if she feels a spark when they kiss, that may mean love is present. However when the two men find out about Caroline's plan, they are left broken-hearted and alone.

Caroline believes that being back with her brother Adam and Julia may help her get back on track and trusting her faith in God once again instead of trying to take control of her own life. The only problem is now on a stage coach trip to Prescott on her final leg of the trip, her coach is robbed, the men shot and she is left behind, tied up in the middle of no where far from any water or food.

The plot thickens when a stranger by the name of Robert Garrett, the mastermind behind the stagecoach robbery, finds out that Caroline is aboard the stage and in leaving her behind, he hopes to begin a blackmail scheme against the Larsons and Will Coulter that will fulfill his need for revenge and justice. Only problem is when he sends a man back to retrieve Caroline, she isn't there.

A renegade mail express rider,Thomas Anderson, that Caroline had an encounter with after almost being ran over by him in the street of Wickenburg will provide to be both a rescuer and a thorn in her side. Will she ever make it to Prescott? Will Robert Garrett find Thomas and Caroline before they make it into Prescott? Will Caroline ever find true love or find her faith in God again?

I received this ebook version of A Life Restored by Karen Baney compliments of the author herself. Not only did I become just as hooked as I did in the first two books in this series, I found even more characters to add to my new family in Prescott! You'll be rooting for your old favorites as well as meeting new ones along the way. If you love great western romance stories with a faith in God, then you'll love Karen Baney's Prescott Pioneers series! You can pick up any of them and fit right in or like me, start at the beginning and watch your family grow! This rates a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to see what other surprises Karen has in store for us in the future.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Prescott Pioneers Series just keeps getting better!! September 7, 2011

By Courtney

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Karen Baney's writing continues to just get better and better with each book and I am thoroughly impressed and in love with her latest release "A Life Restored". I thought the last book was by far my favorite of hers, but I have to say that she outdid herself with A Life Restored because it has now become my new favorite!! What an amazing story!!

A Life Restored leaves off from where A Heart Renewed did except not only are we hearing about the previous characters and their new lives but we get to learn about some new and exciting characters. We meet Caroline Larson who is Adams's younger sister that he left behind when he suddenly whisked Julia off to Prescott to get away from her abusive brother. Caroline is having a hard time in Texas and decides that having a fresh start with her brother in Arizona is just what she needs. On her journey there she meets Thomas Anderson. Remember who Thomas is? He is Drew's brother from book 1 that caused all sorts of problems but recently moved to Prescott and found Drew's widow Hannah and her son. Now Thomas is trying to be a decent and respectable man.

Sparks are flying when Thomas and Caroline meet and not only in a romantic sense. They instantly push each other's buttons and get on each other's nerves but there also an instant attraction! This is my favorite type of romance - the love/hate kind!

One of my favorite things about Karen's writing is that she writes very realistic and genuine characters in her stories. They are not perfect and without faults, which makes them so easy to relate to them. My favorite character has to be Thomas! He is daily struggling with trying to make the right choices and trying to move forward past the sins in his life. However, we all know how hard it is to break addictions and sin and it painfully hard on Thomas. He does well for a while and then he slips back down. I loved the influence he had in his life though from Paul and Betty who never give up on him and never just let him fail! They are a perfect example of how us Christians should act - non judgmental and loving!

A Life Restored is really about restoring lives just like the title indicates! Thomas's life needs to be restored drastically and so does Caroline's. They learn that just because you turn from sin doesn't mean you'll never be tempted again nor does it mean that you'll life will suddenly be perfect.

Karen also is great at writing Edgy Christian Fiction where she discusses topics that some Christian authors won't and I love the realistic way about her books! Content: Mature audience - deals with topics that are not suitable for young people! Nothing graphic, but I just wouldn't want my young teen to be reading about some of the issues Thomas and Caroline struggle with.

As always Karen Baney captures the story with amazing historical descriptions along with heated romance, an edgy tone, and an added mystery and suspense! A Life Restored ends on suspense and I will be biting my nails waiting for book 4 to be released! I highly recommend reading this series, you won't be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the author. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good January 2, 2012

By Cathy

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Book 3 in the Prescott Pioneer's series is just as good as #1 and #2. Again the characters were well written as was the story-line. Like so many of us Thomas keeps trying to live a better life in order to get past his bad mistakes in the past. It took him awhile before he finally learned, the only true way to change is to let Christ change you. Caroline, too had to learn to trust in God and not herself. Makes you realize that in Christ all things are possible. I think one of my favorite parts of the book though was reading about Betty and Ben. I love their story. This book is very good and I recommend reading this whole series. I don't think you'll be disappointed, if you do.

More About the Author

Karen Baney, in addition to writing Christian historical fiction and contemporary romance novels, works as a Software Engineer. Spending over twenty years as an avid fan of both genres, Karen loves writing stories set in Arizona.

Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs. She also holds a Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University.