Petticoat Ranch

Mary Connealy
Barbour Publishing (2007)
ISBN 1597896470
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (2/07)

It is 1867 on the Texas frontier, and there has been an accident.  A horse and rider have gone over a cliff at night while a storm is approaching, and flood waters are overtaking an unconscious man.  The widow, Sophie Edwards, and her four young daughters must quickly pull the man to safety and keep him hidden, for evil riders are in the vicinity and they will likely kill the injured man. Sophie’s husband, Cliff, was brutally killed by these ruthless men who know no bounds.  Sophie and her daughters, ranging in age from toddler to age 10, have learned to survive on the dangerous frontier with God’s help and protection.

Surprisingly, the injured man resembles Sophie’s dead husband, and the girls believe him to be their dead father.  Sophie discovers the stranger is actually Cliff’s identical twin brother, Clay, who Cliff never knew even existed.  He has come searching for his twin brother, not knowing of his brother’s death or that he has come upon family. Clay believes he has been taken in by angels when he encounters Sophie and his four nieces.  Clay decides he must do the honorable thing and marry Sophie and get her away from the dilapidated shack she is living in.  But evil is everywhere.

Clay proves himself to be all the good and wonderful things Cliff was not.  He loves the girls without reservations, he is brave, he believes in God, and he cherishes Sophie.  Clay’s only problem is that he just does not know how to handle the tears, giggles, incessant talking, and the femininity of females.  Clay prays to God for help in understanding his new family of young ladies.

Twenty evil outlaws try to sabotage the home of Sophie and Clay with killing as their ultimate goal.  It matters not that the target involves women and children.  The evil men trick Clay and his ranchers into leaving the ranch unprotected, believing they can overtake a woman and four girls without a struggle.  But God is with Sophie and some dedicated and loyal ranch hands, along with one of the evil outlaws.

“Petticoat Ranch” is a great story about a courageous woman who fears the Lord and asks for his protection.  It is about how God hears and answers our prayers and requests.  The message shared is that we should believe in God and his power, pray, and know that he hears our prayers.  Remember that God is in control.

I particularly enjoyed the character Adam, the black man who remained committed to Sophie and her girls even after Cliff ordered Adam to leave the ranch.  With God’s help, Sophie and Adam remained in touch through the years even though they were physically in different locations. Adam is Sophie’s guardian angel on earth, for he proves to be a lifesaver.

I highly recommend “Petticoat Ranch” for the more mature readers.  There are some brutal killings and hangings that the youngest of readers might find too disturbing.  Otherwise, this book is a must for Christian Romance fans!

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