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Ada Brownell

Peach Blossom Rancher (The Lady Fugitive) Paperback – August 1, 2016

by Ada Brownell (Author), Melinda Martin (Author), Deb Haggerty (Editor),

20 ratings

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Paperback, August 1, 2016

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A handsome young man inherits a ranch in ruin and a brilliant doctor finds himself confined to an insane asylum because of one seizure. Yet their lives intersect. Will they achieve their dreams? John Lincoln Parks has two goals: Restore the Colorado peach and horse ranch to its former glory, and marry elegant Valerie MacDougal, a young widow and law school graduate. A stranger about to give birth in his barn, a murderer on the loose, a feisty female neighbor who thinks she’s in love with him, a sheriff, and a determined attorney interrupt his intentions. At the same time, Dr. Dillon Haskill desperately hopes for release from the asylum for the insane, and he wants to take with him Pete, a ten-year-old victim of Down’s Syndrome, and Jim Cook, a teacher, paralyzed in a logging accident. But asylum dignitaries believe these patients are either lunatics or demon possessed. An intriguing story wrapped around inspiration, suspense, humor, and characters you’ll love.

Print length

372 pages
Language

English
Publication date

August 1, 2016
Dimensions

6 x 0.84 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1944430202
ISBN-13

978-1944430207
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. (August 1, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 372 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1944430202
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1944430207
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.39 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.84 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,740,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,757 in Christian Westerns (Books)
- #44,172 in Westerns (Books)

Customer Reviews:
20 ratings

About the author

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Ada Brownell

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Ada Brownell is the author of ten books. She has written fhundreds of artaicles for Christian publications since and spent much15 years as a reporter for The Pueblo Chieftain in Colo.

She and her husband have five children, one in heaven, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

EDUCATION

• B.S. Degree in Mass Communications (with distinction), 1984, University of Southern Colorado, now Colorado State University at Pueblo

• University of Colorado Mini Medical School, certificate, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1996

• Certificate of Ministry, Berean College, Springfield, MO, 1992

• Dorothy C. Haskins, “Writing for Christian Publications,” 1962

• Fiction Writing, American School of Writing, 1966.

*

EMPLOYMENT

• Free lance writer

• Reporter/news writer/ journalist, mostly at The Pueblo Chieftain in Pueblo, Colo.;

● Also worked a short time as reporter for The Leadville Herald Democrat, Leadville, Colo. (1960s), and as a correspondent for The Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel (1960).

●Editor, The Pentecostal Advocate, Rocky Mountain District newspaper for the Assemblies of God, 1970

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• American Christian Fiction Writers

• Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers

• Communication Workers of America AFL- CIO

HONORS AND AWARDS

•

• Colorado Psychiatric Society, 1998 media awareness award for sensitivity and insight in reporting issues of mental illness.

• Nominated for the American Psychiatric Society’s writing award in 1995 and in 1996.

• Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers, second, devotion contest, 2009

• Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters, first-place, environment, 1994

• Nominated for the Public Health Reporter 1994 Awards, AMC Cancer Research Center

• Finalist, Religion News Writers Association, Louis Cassels Memorial Award, 1989

• Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association, first, news feature, 1984

• Layman’s National Bible Committee, finalist, Journalism Student Editorial Contest, 1982

• We Write of Colorado, first, 1973 humorous division

• Easter Seals, Project Linus, certificate of merit, for dedication, generosity and devotion to disabled Puebloans, 1997

• Colorado Press Women, juvenile writing and editing, second, 1966

Blog: http://inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.com Stick-to-Your-Soul Encouragement

Ada Brownell Amazon Author page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06

Customer reviews

5 star		66%
4 star		12%
3 star		12%
2 star		10%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Deana

Great Story with intrigue

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2016

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I have not read a book from this author before but I find her writing quite intriguing. The story is set in the late 1800s to the early years in 1900. The author does a good job of describing the time period and how it was difficult during that era. I have always loved books that are set in the 1800s and love learning about the way of life for people during that time.

John Parks has returned to make the ranch a profitable place again. He sure has his hands full trying to reestablish the peach orchard and making the ranch a thriving place again. What obstacles will he face ? I loved the character and thought he was a hard worker with great instinct. I loved how the author included a mystery that made John at the center of it. He seems to have his hands full with the sheriff breathing down his back. Can he prove his innocence? To add to his increasing challenges he has some female admirers. Will John be able to keep his focus on getting the ranch and orchard running again?

What really grabbed my attention in the book was the vivid description of the insane asylum. I could feel my skin crawl as I read the different people that were in there. I think it really bothered me about the treatment the people endured. It made me think about old movies where the patient gets shocked. There always seemed to be creepy staff that didn't want to be bothered with the patients. They got labeled as crazy and locked away in a little room. The author really did her research about the treatment during this time period of patients locked up in the asylum. I could feel tears come to my eyes as some were so desperate to leave there. They were mistreated and misdiagnosed with no one to defend them. Can you imagine being in a place like that knowing you don't belong there? Dr. Dillion Haskill is determined that he will get out of the place. Will he succeed in getting freed? What happens to the other patients in there?

This story is packed with intrigue, love interest , injustice and faith. I found myself thinking for awhile after I finished the book. How many of us have had to fight against accusations? Do we turn our back on people with mental illness? I really loved this book a lot and it gave me some real soul searching to examine in my life.

I received a complimentary copy of of this book from the author and Bookfun.org. The review is my own opinion .

One person found this helpful

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R. Miller

2.6 stars: Peach Blossom Rancher by Ada Brownwell

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2017

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Young rancher John thinks he's in love with beautiful widow Valerie, but when she returns to Boston to help fellow lawyer Archie get a sane doctor released from an asylum, John doesn't really miss her; instead, he finds himself drawn to childhood pest Edwina, as they deal with a tricky stallion, a murder charge, and a Peeping Tom.

(Though reviews are inherently subjective, I prefer to provide some organization to my opinions through the use of a personal rubric. The following notes may contain spoilers.)

Plot and Setting: 2.5 -- Plot mixes cliché/overly convenient with unique/interesting. Basically all of the Colorado plot was predictable, cliché, and/or irritating. What kind of idiot sheriff investigates like that? And how did no one suspect the murderer when it was so glaringly obvious? Some of the Boston plot is weird, too, but the asylum story was interesting, and honestly the only thing that kept me reading. Plot is not quite focused. Setting is fine, but timeline is vague at best, and has significant errors. It talks about Stuart "spending the summer" with John -- but he's there from March to June. Also, while the body is found on a Monday at least a week after John goes back to church, everyone is later convinced that it was found that first Sunday. And so on. Plus, this is book 2 of a series. I hadn't read the first book, and it made heaps of references to the events of that book, leaving me at times confused.

Characters: 2 -- Maybe some realism in the characters, but mostly unrealistic, hard to understand, and even cringe-worthy. Minor characters and villains are almost exclusively stereotyped or simplified. Relationships between characters are rather sketchy. Very poor character development on the whole. Not one character that I felt any connection to, and many characters confused or appalled me with their idiocy. A normal 12-year-old should be able to eat a sucker without needing his hands cleaned afterward. Why is no one else shocked when Paul decides to marry Bellea, who was at school with his daughter? Not even a comment about their age difference? Plus John and Valerie's willful ignorance of their own feelings. Etc.

Mechanics and Writing: 2.5 -- Scattered typos, punctuation issues, and word errors, including a few major mistakes. Generally solid use of POV. Probably most from John, some from Edwina, and also Dillon, Valerie, or Archie with the asylum story. The writing style lacks polish overall, and occasionally detracts from the story. Inconsistent use of vernacular for a few characters. Awkward sentences with plenty of minor errors. Some redundancy, occasional unprovoked descent into textbook talk, and irrational, condescending, contradictory, and/or anachronistic moments. Use of the term “Down's Syndrome” and reference to a legal drinking age were some big anachronisms, which 5 seconds of research should have corrected.

Redeeming Value: 4 -- Partially focused uplifting themes or lessons. References to returning to church attendance/ keeping the Sabbath even when there's lots of work to do. Also John spends time in prayer, and then follows God's prompting to sell the stallion, though it counters his personal plans. Sex, alcohol, violence, etc, are not glorified, but some shaky ground, eg: John's bizarre attitude toward women. It's like he truly believes that spending any time at all with a beautiful woman inescapably leads to kissing. It's weird. Violence and abuse are among the truly horrible conditions at the asylum.

Personal Enjoyment: 2 -- I’m not a fan. Some good bits, but reading it felt rather like a chore. Not one I plan to re-read.

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bets29Top Contributor: Historical Fiction Books

Great enjoyable Book.

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2016

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Such an enjoyable book. It does switch from the city to the ranch - but they still go together. And if anyone gets confused they must not be reading the same book as I just finished reading.
Clean Christian Book - yes it does end up in a Romance -actually 2 - and there is off and on feelings between several different characters. You kind of think this he & she will get together - then you wonder well is it this female - or what about she & another male. It isn't really confusing and why there is very interesting things occurring in the city - & things going on at 2 ranches.
--No I will not share exactly what - because I never like to read all about a book before reading - But I am sure that you want to, you can find plenty of reviews that will tell you --- - This book does have 57 chapters plus the Epilogue which is long enough to be the 58th chapter.
I completed this book in one day because I just couldn't put it down, except to fix something to eat or get water to drink. Of course, today was cold & this book was a very good excuse to just sit back, relax, and read this book (anything else can just wait!!!!) ha ha

One person found this helpful

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Melinda Matthews

Fun romantic mystery-suspense...

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2017

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Another entertaining Christian historical western from this author that I enjoyed very much. Interesting background on early asylums and the injustices suffered there mixed in a fun, romantic mystery-suspense. Having been born in Georgia peach country, I liked hearing about Colorado's peach country. It brought back fond memories of my very own bountiful backyard peach tree, pruned and tended many years ago. I look forward to the next episode in this series.

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Top reviews from other countries

Stephanie Parker McKean

Peachy Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2016

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Ada Brownell’s “Peach Blossom Rancher” is a well-crafted story made all the more interesting and alive by the inclusion of a mini-narrative revolving around the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of mental patients in the early 20th century.
With strong female characters, interwoven Christian faith, and tense drama and action, “Peach Blossom Rancher” is an intriguing read. Throw in believable love stories packed with surprise and romance, and the story grows as sweet as its title.

Cathy Morgan

got bored and didn't finish

Reviewed in Australia on December 11, 2016

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Got bored with this and didn't finish it (gave up less than a third of the way through). He spent too much time looking at too many women - still clean, but not my type of book. Not wonderfully well written either.

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