Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot

*In an effort to spread the word about my favorite type of book - inspirational romance - I'm doing Christian Fiction Fridays here on my blog where I share my recommendations for books in this genre.

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot

What It's About:
Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont with her sweetheart, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads west to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. The endless prairie seems monotonous, but when her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day.

When circumstances--and perhaps a bit of matchmaking--put Abigail and Ethan together, there's certainly attraction. But Abigail is planning to marry another man and return to life in Vermont as soon as she is finished attending to her sister. And Ethan loves his life in the Army and the wilds of Wyoming. When summer ends, will Abigail go back East? Or will she fall in love with this rugged land herself?

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed the western setting (Wyoming) in this book. A lot of historical romances are set in places like Texas or the Midwest, which isn't a bad thing, but I appreciated the different location. It was also fun to learn about life at Fort Laramie in the 1880s - I had no idea it was so cultured. My favorite part of the book - hands down - was the hero, Ethan Bowles. I loved his character and how his past influenced his decisions.

My only complaint is the absence of a real kiss between Abigail and Ethan (ie. not just on the cheek)! That aside, I enjoyed the genuine friendship that developed between them, which eventually grew into love. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Find this book here on Amazon or here at Barnes & Noble.