This is one of the books that has been on my "to be read" pile for quite a while. I certainly wasn't putting it off because I don't like Suzie's books, because I do, very much.  And I enjoyed Finding Stefanie, too.

Suzie Warren puts together a tight novel, tying in internal and external conflicts, setting, and spiritual theme. Stefanie Noble, younger sister of two brothers (heroes of previous books) put her life on hold to care for her father and the family ranch.  Now that her older brother is back, she's beginning to dream about the plans she'd once had for her life.

Adventure acting star, Lincoln Cash has his own secrets and concerns. When he'd met Stefanie briefly the year before, he'd thought they had a connection. When he moves in as her neighbor with big plans to remodel and put their ranch town onto the map as the next Hollywood hot spot, he's surprised to find her resistant.  (He's not really an idiot.)

Add in some homeless kids, a psycho stalker, Multiple Sclerosis, and child abuse, and Finding Stefanie becomes an engaging, emotional read.

I enjoyed The Rancher's Reunion, a Love Inspired that deals with some serious issues such as the dangers of missionary nursing and Huntington's Disease. Yet the characters are never down, are actually humorous and teasing of each other to the point of drawing my laughter on several occasions.

Anne E. Harris was raised as Will Sullivan's little sister on the Sullivan ranch in Oklahoma.  After college she realized she couldn't stick around when she was so obviously in love with Will and he so obviously NOT in love with her.  She became a missionary nurse in Kenya.

While she's gone, Will goes through some changes and decides to partner with an older couple who run KidCare an international children's ministry consulting firm. Will is turning the Sullivan Ranch into a dude ranch rather than a working cattle ranch to keep ahead of the bills.  But he remains haunted by the possibility he could have Huntington's Disease — the illness that took his father's life. Also, he remains adamant that he will never marry.

Secondary characters, Ed and Margaret Reilly of DayCare were exceptionally well drawn. As was vet Ryan Jones, understated and yet loveable in his heartbreak.

As silly as it sounds, I particularly liked how slow Will was to realize he was in love with Annie.

The big lesson in The Rancher's Reunion?  Trust God for the future.

November is category romance month for the ACFW book club, so I've been reading more Love Inspireds than I have in ages.  Fireman Dad is an interesting one, built around the premise that Marissa Hawthorne refuses to fall in love with a fireman — because her dad is the local Fire Chief and not the homebody sort and because her late husband was a fireman who was also married to his work.  So Marissa has sworn off firemen — even to the point where she doesn't want her son to play with a toy firetruck.

Enter Jacob Greene, flat-tire changer, devoted uncle, generous brother, Christian … but a fireman.

The story moves along at a decent clip with a birthday party and new friends, an arsenist, a heart attack, a fundraiser, and true love prevailing as Marissa learns to risk to live fully.

You know I love Cheryl and enjoy her Wings of Refuge series.  (See earlier post.)  But I've got to say that I do believe she is getting better and better at writing a tight story.  Steadfast Soldier is my favorite so far.

Chance Garrison has found his faith and is working toward becoming a youth pastor.  Chloe Callet, new to Refuge, wants to start a unconventional occupational therapy business — by using her black Labadore Retriever.  Unfortunately, Chloe has issues with pastors because her late father was one and he put his church ahead of his wife and daughter.

Good conflict.  Not a lot of repetition in the characters' thoughts.  Nice character development as the h/h get to know one another. Chance's ornery father was a great way to show Chance's steadfast nature.

Cutest phrase — "the cupid posse" — referring to all the previous heroines of Wings of Refuge stories.

I liked the cover on this one, too.   Good job, Cheryl.