Two wounded souls. One loving, relentless God.
Welcome to Burning Dress Ranch.
Miss Sally, the mysterious and secretive owner of Burning Dress, established the operation with a very particular mission—to make sure her charges leave with a real skill, and to share the love of Christ with their hurting, wounded souls.
Cecelia Huggins, broken by a bitter, shameful divorce, has come to Burning … bitter, shameful divorce, has come to Burning Dress to take control of her own destiny. She wants to work and learn. She doesn’t want friends, and she certainly doesn’t ever want to fall in love again.
Jax Taylor is foreman of the Burning Dress and he’s the perfect man for the job. Most of the ranch hands are women who are healing from some pretty tough blows. Just like them, he’s pushing past his own hurts and would prefer to drink poison rather than fall in love again.
Miss Sally has had some tough cases before but Cecelia and Jax maybe the toughest. How do you convince two stubborn hearts that the only way to find rest for their souls is to give in to love?
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As always, Heather Blanton has penned an excellent story, and it is a wonderful start to a brand new series. This is a heart warming story of brokenness, emotion, humor and second chances. Miss Sally, the ranch owner, started the Burning Dress Ranch to give broken and hurting people a chance to learn skills and to teach them about the love of God. This is Cecelia Huggins, who is reeling from a bitter divorce, and Jax Taylor, the foreman at the ranch’s, story. Miss Sally finds her work cut out for her as she tries to convince the stubborn couple they are perfect for each other and that perhaps love will solve a lot of problems in their lives. You will need to read the story to find out if Cecilia and Jax ever find a HEA. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It is a very enjoyable story and a real page turner.
I really enjoy Heather Blanton’s “A Distant Heart (Burning Dress Ranch Book 1)”. The first book in this new series. A place for hurting women and men to learn to live again. To be able to overcome from their past hurts and to begin to heal. Real life situations and characters. A great read. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
I received this book from Heather Blanton and all opinions are my own.
Christian Historical Romance
Stupendous! An amazing story sharing God’s love for you and His willingness to do anything to prove it to you!
I love the whole concept of this series! I can’t wait to read more!
This story is a strong Christian fiction tale of finding faith and living it. It’s Historical Western romance at it’s best with Miss Sally and her gang of female wranglers on the ranch. Each gal who comes her way, finds herself. That’s the basis of this book. It’s like a retreat that you work hard, study, make friends, learn about Jesus and spread the word. These gals from various ethnics and past lives, work the ranch, heal and find their true selves. I loved this book and it will remain with me for a very long time.
The beginning, “Dear readers” part before this book even begins, had me so fascinated, I couldn’t wait to dive in to this book! I enjoyed every page of this book and found it hard to put down. Cecilia and Jax are the main characters and their story is heartbreaking yet healing and beautiful. There are a lot of supporting characters, yet I never had trouble distinguishing them apart and I have some favorites that I really hope to read more about in future books. I loved the messages this book conveyed and the way this fast-paced Western drew me in. I highly recommend!
I received an ecopy, all thoughts are my own.
Loved this book!! I love all of Heather’s books, but this one is a little different!!! Cecilia has suffered more than any woman should from a man she was married to. A cold, unfeeling, horrid man. Jax had set out to prove himself as foreman and a man. He’s relying on God to see him through. Cecilia doesn’t know Him yet, but comes to know that He loves her, just as she and Jax find each other, and Jax can accept her, love her, and cherish her just as she is. A tale of love, redemption, acceptance, grace, and mercy in a way that we all can relate. I had a similar experience to Cecilia’s, so I could definitely relate!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
Author Heather Blanton has given readers another winner with A Distant Heart. It is a captivating Western romance set on the Burning Dress Ranch in Montana. And this was a very unusual ranch as it was run by women, the owner, Miss Sally, and a variety of abused women in need of healing and hope for the future. Brokenhearted Cecelia, a young wife discarded by her husband like a worn rug, arrives at the ranch with very little notion as to what the ranch was nor why she was even there. Would her heart ever heal? Were the ugly words from her husband indelibly inscribed in her heart and mind? Would she ever experience the audacious, fearless joy she saw in some of the other gals? The author does a good job describing the feelings of women who are abused and the struggle to live above the hurt and pain. And at the Burning Dress Ranch, the way out of the pain was to turn to the God who loves to redeem the past and give second chances. And of course, there is romance in the story too. Would that one dance with Jax be one too many for Cecelia…could she chance opening her heart again? Romance, action, strong and lovable characters, and a plot that moves quickly and readers who enjoy historical Westerns won’t want to miss A Distant Heart.
I read a complimentary copy of the book, and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
See Amazon review from Nana H
A wonderful book about finding yourself and getting second chances. This book is definitely worth your time.
I did receive an advanced copy of the book and the review is mine voluntarily.
Ms. Blanton does it again — another well-researched historical novel. Her craft continues to improve: memorable characters who are realistic, imperfect, and just right for the story she creates.
She writes from the heart, conveying God’s truth in her stories. No one is too far gone for God. What’s even more amazing is the fact she she weaves into her stories.Yes, her stories are gritty but so is life. That doesn’t mean her stories are filled with characters have a backstory and a choice to embrace God’s call or reject it.
In A Distant Hear, Cecilia arrives at The Burning Dress Ranch to heal from a broken marriage. Her husband verbally abused her due to her inability to bear children and then he divorced her. There are others at the ranch who have different circumstances but all are there for healing, restoration, and a new chance at life. The ranch is run mostly by the women, although a few men are present. Is this a stretch of the imagination? Apparently not, according to the author’s note.
Why is it called the Burning Dress Ranch? You’ll have to read the book to find out the significance of that name.
Kudos to Ms. Blanton on another well-written book. I look forward to the next one in this series!