The Rancher's Stolen Past by Tabitha Bouldin Review

 

The Rancher's Stolen Past by Tabitha Boulding is a great contemporary inspirational romance. This book is the third book in the series and I would definitely suggest reading the previous books so you can be familiar with the previous characters' relationships so there are no spoilers. I admit, when I started book two, I did not realize there was a book that came before it, and I still have not had a chance to read Callie and Brody's story. That said, each book is a stand alone story.

The connection between the books is the Jacobs siblings. Brody is the MMC in The Cowgirl's Last Rodeo, Tenley is the FMC in Forgiving the Cowboy (which I did read), and Molly is the FMC in this newest book. I love that we get to see these previous characters in the new book and get a peek into how their lives have been. 

So, let's focus on The Rancher's Stolen Past. Zane has moved back to the town where he grew up. He's there so he can help his grandfather, but he also hopes to seek forgiveness from those he wronged as a young man. He had been friends with Brody and his sister Molly, but had left several years earlier. Molly is a widowed single mom of a young son, Luke. She has been blaming Zane for her husband's death all these years and just can't bring herself to forgive him. 

As they find themselves working together at a summer riding program there is a lot of tension and Zane can't figure out what he needs to do to gain Molly's forgiveness and get her listen to the truth of what happened. I realize she has a lot to work through and not only will she have to forgive Zane, but she is also going to have to admit she was wrong, but she was quite bitter for most of the book. And there were times when it looked like they were growing closer, but the struggle for truth keeps them apart. I was really rooting for Zane though and wanted to see their relationship move beyond the past.

I have to say, my favorite character was little, six-year-old Luke. He was drawn to Zane right away, longing for a father figure in his life. He was such a cutie. This of course causes a conundrum for Molly as she really does not want Luke getting close to Zane. 

I also loved the animals in the story. The dogs and the horses, and seeing the relationships between the children and the horses in the riding program. 

And yes, faith played an important role in this story, which I always like to see. We see the importance of forgiveness and redemption. Here's a quote that caught my eye.

"'You once said that forgiveness is a daily choice. Some days are harder than others.' Brody spun his hat around in his hands, his overgrown hair sticking out over his ears. 'Day by day, little sister.'

Tenley rocked her hip against Molly's. 'That's my motto, especially when things get tough. Day by day, by the grace of God.'"

I highly recommend this book, and this series. 

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.