A Moment in Time, by Tracie Peterson

Publisher’s Summary:

Alice Chesterfield is a woman pursued. Having survived an attack that left her scarred and her father dead, she is never free from the fear and memories of the man who is responsible.

Texas seems to be an answer to Alice’s prayers, and when she has the opportunity to relocate to a ranch near Dallas, Robert Barnett captures her attention. Unlike any man Alice has ever known, Robert doesn’t worry about the obstacles that stand in their way–and he hardly seems to notice the scar she bears.

But there are storm clouds gathering; devastating information about her family comes to light, threatening Alice’s peaceful sanctuary. Disillusioned, Alice must learn to place her trust in God as she seeks a measure of peace for her future… and for her heart.

My Take:

The second book in the Lone Star Brides series takes us back to the Wythe household in Denver, Colorado. The 1893 financial crash has left Jake and Marty Wythe in near poverty, and Jake doesn’t know how long his bank job will continue. Alice Chesterfield is their last remaining member of staff, but they’re unable to pay her. Alice, however, is content just to have somewhere to live. Moving to Texas could solve a lot of problems, but Marty is still reluctant to move. It’s a continuation of an argument from the first book and, to be honest, one I had hoped had been resolved between books. Marty only returns to her former home – taking Alice with her – when she finally has no choice.

Marty’s family features heavily in A Moment in Time and it’s good to catch up with them again. Peterson took Marty and Jake from two of her previous series: Striking a Match and Land of the Lone Star. While it is possible to enjoy this series without having read them first, there are enough mentions of characters and events from those books to make reading them worthwhile.

One disappointing note was a section that included some noticeable preaching from one character to another. It felt a bit like there was some “preaching to the choir” going on, because the recipient of it wasn’t hearing anything new. Nor did it come across as a reassuring reminder. I felt that Peterson was aiming the passage at her audience, but I expect many of us are also members of that choir. It was a jarring note in an otherwise smooth narrative.

Middle books in a series are often transitional, and A Moment in Time is not an exception. Alice’s story definitely progresses, but there is no closure to it. Initial promotional materials for book three, A Matter of Heart, hints that the story will continue and be resolved. It’s due out in October.

Thank you to Bethany House for my complimentary review copy of A Moment in Time, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Have you read A Moment in Time? Do you plan to read it? Let me know your thoughts.

Read an excerpt from A Moment in Time

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: 03 June 2014

Page Count: 320

Read more on:   Tracie Peterson’s Website   Bethany House’s Website

Purchase on:   Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Christianbook.com