Customer Reviews

A Life Restored: Prescott Pioneers

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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.

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.

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.

Where I gave this 5 stars ... I think if I had my preference and if there was the choice I would have given it 4 and a half stars. However, that was, I think, most likely because I had more trouble with one of the characters in this book than I did with the others in previous books ... well, to be honest, I even had a bit of trouble feeling that connection with Caroline. Where I had an immediate connection with Hannah, Drew, Will, Julia & Adam ... I have to admit I had more trouble with Thomas. I am not sure why, I wanted to forgive him, and feel as I did ... I just had trouble feeling attached to him. But, I definitely enjoyed the book and didn't want to give it just 4 stars!

This book is about Thomas, who is the brother of Drew, the doctor in the first book that robbed the bank and was the reason that Hannah and Drew left for the Arizona Territory in the first place. It is also about Caroline, who is both Julia Colter's (Will who is Will's sister first book) best friend and Adam Larson's sister(2nd book).

Again this storyline continued with all the main characters of the other books and many of the subcharacters .... this is something I truly enjoy and liked alot about this series.

This book as well as the first book, kind of has 2 stories going at once for awhile that end of mixing together ...

The first one is of Caroline, who decides that she is going to head out to visit her older brother, Adam & her best friend, Julia remember, these are the two main characters from the previous book, she doesn't realize that they are about to be married, you have to realize that this is definitely NOT set in the times of technology. She decides part way through her trip to the Arizona Territory that she is not going to wait until her chaperones are ready to escort her to her final destination and goes ahead by herself on the last leg of this trip via stagecoach. Unfortunately, the stagecoach is held up and all but she is killed.

The second storyline is about Thomas, he has found himself the fortunate beneficiary of a judge that offered him either jail or serving 3 years service in the war or until the war ends whichever is first. He takes the service time vs jail of course. Through the death of a dispatch rider he becomes one and gets a lot of experience riding very fast in dangerous times. When the war ends he decides to go find Drew, not realizing that he has died and that Hannah has remarried. Once he does he is also surprised to find that the young woman he has rescued is the sister of the man, his previous sister-in-law, is now married to.

Many twists and turns throughout this book ... Betty and Ben's story becomes more prominent which I really like ...as we have followed them both since the first book ..then this man who is the head of the stagecoach robbery gets into the mix ... I won't give away where or who he is ... so many twists and turns in this book ... enjoyed it ... which is why I would give it more than the 4 stars ... just wish that I could have felt closer to both Thomas and Caroline ...don't know why I didn't just some characters you feel a bit more involved with than others. Again, I will state what I have in my previous two reviews ... I can't wait until the 4th book in this series is out ... it is not even mentioned yet on Amazon.com but it states in the back of book 3 that it will be published early 2012 ...hmmm wonder what THEY consider early ...LOL ... can you tell I am a bit anxious! LOL

I am so very thrilled that there is another book in this series to come. This one ends in a cliff hanger...and oh how I have loved these books. So much adventure, Romance, and Love of God, shown in these characters.

You will find out what happens in the lives of the people we have come to know and love. The primary characters in this one are Thomas Anderson, and Carolyn Lawson. Of course there paths are going to cross, and not all of it is fun! You love how they meet, even if the conditions are not the best, there is a bit of humor.

Then there is Ben and Betty, they will warm your heart. They show Love and Compassion all in need! Then you also meet Robert Garrett, and you feel the presence of Evil!

Karen Baney writes so wonderfully that I feel I am right in the room, in the street, or in the wild. The books read so fast, and I don't want them to end. Thank You Karen!!

I received this book from First Wild Card Tours and the author Karen Baney, and was not required to give a positive review.

I have so much enjoyed the 3 books in this series. Each one a different character but each flows together. With so much of the gospel being taught along the way. All the characters have learned to trust God, let go of anger and bitterness and rely on Him.

I have also enjoyed the historical back ground of these books.

I cannot wait for the fourth book in the series.

I read and review a lot of Christian fiction titles, and I especially love the historical western theme. Karen Baney writes the type of stories that I love the most. Caroline and Thomas first meet after a tragic stage coach robbery, and Caroline is the only survivor. Thomas has a very colorful past, and many don't believe that he will ever make anything of his life. When their lives cross, their immediate reaction is a love/hate relationship that will take them through some very interesting times. A story full of suspense, young love, danger, the wild Arizona frontier, cattle rustlers, genuine compassion for others, and a deep faith in God, are just a few of the elements that kept me up way past my bedtime. I can't wait for book #4, A Hope Revealed, and I highly recommend the entire Prescott Pioneers series.

A Life Restored (Book 3 of the Prescott Pioneers Series)

Karen Baney

September 3-2011

Christian Historical Romance

5 Stars

Being fortunate to have read the first two books in this series I was elated when the third book was available for me to read. I always find it great when I can keep up with a series and not miss a book in between and I would like to thank the author Karen Baney for letting me know that it was available.

In a Life Restored we find the characters from the other books and get a glimpse of their lives now but we are also introduced to some new characters. Caroline Larson, Adam's younger sister and Thomas Anderson who we remember from the first book are the main characters of this book. Eighteen year old Caroline is finding life in Texas not to be what she wants. Being lonely and missing her brother Adam and his wife Julia her best friend a piece of her heart went with them to Arizona. There is only one thing to do, Move out wet with them if she can talk her father into letting her go. With the agreement of a chaperone she is allowed to move to Prescott but trouble finds her along the way and Caroline is left stranded in the desert. When Thomas Anderson comes along , he helps her the rest of the way. As sparks fly along the way to Prescott there is also an attraction simmering just below the surface. Will their sparring drive them apart or will the simmering become a flame. Will Caroline find life as she expected in Prescott and will Thomas be a part of it.

Once again the author has come up with a great novel in this series .They just keep getting better and better as she writes them. There is only one problem I find is that the books come out are too far apart but that makes for a good story line as she takes her time in the writing and does not just churn them out within months of each other. I find this book to be written in such a way that even if you have missed the other two you will still understand this book and it can be read as a standalone The art work on the covers is awesome. It's like they are all hand painted instead of a photograph. I will wait patiently for the 4th book to come out. Keep up the good work Karen. I love reading your books.

Ever get so hooked on a series that you just can't wait to read the next installment? That's just how I feel about Karen Baney's Prescott Pioneer series. Each book has unfolded like an adventure, that easily pulls you into the historical setting, but more than that the author easily allows you to become invested in the characters lives, and starting a new book in the series is like visiting with old friends.

"A Life Restored," is the story of Caroline Larson and Thomas Anderson. Eighteen year old Caroline isn't happy with her life in Texas. She misses her best friend Julia Larson and her older brother Adam who left a year ago to move to the Colter ranch in Prescott, Arizona Territory. She believes the only way she is going to have the life she wants is to move to Prescott, and secures a chaperone so that she can convince her father to allow her to go.When her chaperone doesn't get her to Prescott as quickly as Caroline would like she decides to make the final leg of the journey alone, but when the stagecoach is robbed and all the other passengers are murdered she is stuck in the dessert until Thomas Anderson, an express rider happens along and says he will take her to Prescott. Even though the two rub each other the wrong way, there is also a definite attraction. Will Caroline find the life she is hoping for in Prescott, and will Thomas be a part of it?

There was plenty going on in this story. The main story is centered around Thomas and Caroline. Thomas struggles with letting go of the burdens from his past, the author easily allows us to see the inner struggles that he had.Paul was a wonderful influence on Thomas. Caroline was someone who usually acted before she actually thought things thru. The secondary stories were just as interesting. I loved how things worked out for Betty and Ben, and it was nice to reconnect with Will, Hannah, Julia and Adam. The story line with Robert Garrett added a bit of mystery and suspense to the story, and really left me wondering what he will do in the next book! I did wonder about Rev. Pritchett and his daughter Millie and hope we might see them again in the next book.

If your a fan of historical fiction with romance, mystery, suspense and also has a nice christian message then your certainly going to enjoy this book. While its the third book in the Prescott Pioneers series I felt like the author gives us enough background information so that it can easily be read as a stand alone work,but believe me you will want to read the entire series! On a scale of one to five I would easily give this book a six because its just that good!

I anxiously awaited the 3rd book in this series. After I read each book it became my favorite, until the next. Honestly they all tie for 1st place. Loved the story, with all the trials and tribulations..it was everything I wanted, expected and some things I wasn't prepared for (much like the others). It's about life, the struggles, and joys..regardless of if its today or in the 1800. The only bad part..it's over until the 4th book comes out..that was the only dissapointment I felt..I want MORE!!! (just as I did with the first two). Keep them coming..I'm completely hooked!!!