A new beginning could be closer than he thinks. What he wants for Christmas… may not be what he needs. After receiving an unexpected job offer in Texas, widower Tucker Rainbolt decides he and his twins need a fresh start. But moving on means leaving his best friend, Jena Harper, and their vet clinic behind. For the first time, Tucker sees Jena as more than a buddy. What if leaving isn’t the … What if leaving isn’t the answer? Maybe what he’s been missing has been right beside him the whole time…
From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
Hearts of Oklahoma
Book 1: Finding the Road Home
Book 2: Ready to Trust
Book 3: His Holiday Prayer
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I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the others (probably because the setting wasn’t really the ranch but the veterinary clinic, which I didn’t find as interesting.) I guess it really didn’t “feel” like a cowboy book to me. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a good book, I just liked the first two better.
I’m looking forward to reading Kate’s story, The Cowgirl’s Sacrifice, which is the final book in the series. 🙂
I really enjoyed this clean romance and more. I bought this at a local shop and I voluntarily chose to review. I’ve given this love-inspired a 5* rating. There are a few bumps and twists along the way and animal lovers along with these two animal Doctors to stir things up a bit. Lots of feels in this and love how it ends. A great Christmas read.
This is a Love Inspired Romance story about two best friends who were Veterinarians and worked together as partners in their veterinarian practice and animal rescue center. Dr Jena Harper was an introvert and Dr Tucker Rainbolt was an extrovert. Tucker was a widower and father to two little girls. Jean was a single lady who was unlucky with romantic relationships. She chose to sit back and let Tucker be the main voice for the business. Imagine how shocked and concerned she is when Tucker announces that he has excepted a position to teach at a university in Texas. How can she keep the practice and rescue center operating and running smoothly without Tucker’s help?
Tucker still grieves for his late wife. There’s just too many reminders of what he lost when she died in that accident. He needs to make some life changes so he can get on with his life. He’s tired of always being in his older brothers shadows. He needs to get away from Rebel Oklahoma. He feels bad about leaving Jena with the responsibility of running both the practice and the rescue center, but this is what he really wants and needs to do.
I loved the dialogue between the characters of this book. Dr Rainbolt and Dr Harper always had friendly banter going on between each other. They were respectful of their employees and their needs. They had a genuine love for the animals they cared for. Jean was being forced to step up to the plate and take full responsibility for the entire operation. I loved the spark of romance that came up unexpectedly between the main two characters even though they tried to ignore it.
Fans who enjoy an easy and uplifting read will love this book. Readers who like to read about animals will want to read this fictional story. I enjoyed it and recommend it !
I purchased a digital copy of this book from Amazon. A favorable review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own.
His Holiday Prayer, by Tina Radcliffe has become my number one faith inspired fiction book…ever…
I have been an avid reader my entire life. Reading gives my brain a chance to take a vacation from every day stress. It gives me a chance to develop a new book boyfriend crush and it guarantees me a HEA which is a rare thing these days.
This genre of books, Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense, has a strong faith message along with well developed characters and plot lines. His Holiday Prayer is no different in that respect, but I’ve never had a story grab me like this one because of the subtle underlying God Lesson within this book.
Tina Radcliffe is a superbly talented author. Her characters come to life before your eyes. As a reader, you find yourself living with these characters as though they were right there with you.
His Holiday Prayer is the third story of the Hearts of Oklahoma series. It follows the lives of Tucker Rainbolt and Jena Harper who have been friends, colleagues and business partners for the past fifteen years. They’ve been a part of each others’ lives but not “together”. Their journey is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs and lots of wonderful townspeople and animals. It is definitely a fun story to read and I devoured it in a couple of days.
What floored me and took me a while to be able to write this review, is the subtle, underlying God Lesson within these pages. I think because of the year 2020, which has impacted our world globally, this message is more appropriate and timely than any I’ve ever seen. The characters of Tucker and Jena knew each other fifteen years. They lived their lives parallel to one another, each involved with other relationships but not with each other. God planted his seed when these two met, but the tree did not blossom until He was ready for it to blossom. We mere humans want more immediate results. God has taught us to trust in Him, and wait for His good timing. With that trust and patience, all things work out for the good. I can’t think of a more important lesson for 2020 than this one. How amazing the ways God uses his followers to share his Word.
I very much recommend this book and this series. It will be one I binge read again in the future, for years to come.
I received a copy of this book in advance from the author without expectation of a favorable review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Oh my goodness, I love these Rainbolt men! I’ve gotten to know each one in the “Hearts of Oklahoma” series. Their family has had their share of tragedy, but through the grace of God, it has made them stronger as they’ve pulled together.
This is Tucker’s story and I’ve been eagerly waiting to learn more about him. He’s not only a widower but a single dad of two twin girls who are the delight of his life. He’s also co-owner of Rebel Vet & Rescue with long-time best friend Jena Harper. When an opportunity of a lifetime comes up to move to Texas, he eagerly takes it. Leaving Jena behind doesn’t sound all that appealing when his feelings for her begin to change.
Jena has always been in the background as a natural introvert and silent partner in the Vet clinic. But when she learns Tucker is leaving for his dream job, she steps up to try to save the business they started from the ground up. Stepping out of her comfort zone isn’t easy, especially when she finds she’s also falling for her best friend and business partner.
One of my favorite tropes is a good friends-to-more love story. I think Tina Radcliffe did an exceptional job of showing how a friendship can make for a solid relationship, and how faith in God can shape those relationships. As each layer of Tucker & Jena were revealed, my heart went out for all the things they endured in their past. I also celebrated what they learned through them & how it shaped the people they are today. Faith played a central role in their lives; I enjoyed seeing how their reliance on the Lord guided them in life. I also enjoyed watching them fall in love in spite of their reluctance to!
This is a heartwarming Christmas story centered around strong family bonds, a deep abiding friendship, and a love that lasts through the bumps of life. I also enjoyed revisiting the Rainbolt family members, they were just as much a part of this story. If you make a Christmas reading TBR list, I highly recommend putting “His Holiday Prayer” on it, as well as the rest of the “Hearts of Oklahoma” series. I think you’ll fall in love with the Rainbolt family like I did!
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
His choice may break her heart…
You ever find one of those authors who, no matter what series it is, manages to make you feel right at home and friends with the characters whether you are starting with book 1 or book 3? Tina Radcliffe is one of those authors for me. I can just jump right into any of her stories and feel completely comfortable. While I have read all of the Hearts Of Oklahoma books in order, it is a little while between books, and since I read so much I don’t always remember everything right off the bat. But that’s just not a problem with His Holiday Prayer or any of the others.
Spring may have just started to sprung where I live but I still enjoyed all of the Christmasy-iness of His Holiday Prayer. It’s another sweet romance from the talented Tina Radcliffe and no matter what time of year it happens to be it’s still a good time for one of her books.
If you love pets this is the book for you! As a pet lover myself, the four-legged characters in this book really won my heart, especially little Miss Ernie and Chester. Of course, in my opinion, you can’t go wrong reading any of the Hearts Of Oklahoma books. Don’t miss a one!
(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Sometimes it takes a decision to shake you from your comfortableness, to set your priorities straight, and cause you to examine your feelings. Tucker Rainbolt and Jena Harper are best friends who run a veterinary clinic in the town of Rebel, Oklahoma. When Tucker decides to move away they each realize that things they took for granted will never be the same.
Tucker’s restlessness caused him to want to make a change and decide to move away from his close knit family who sometimes is too much in his business. His hasty decision of taking a job in Texas without consulting Jena or his family began to come to light as Tucker realized how deeply this would affect all of his relationships. I admired him because it takes a wise and humble man to admit when he is wrong, to accept help, and to change. He also showed great strength and helping Jena accept God’s love and forgiveness when she needed him most.
Watching Jena ’s transformation from being a shy and extreme introvert was so encouraging to see as she tackled her fears. Her passion and determination to find a solution and not give up had me rooting for her as she took on the daunting task of raising money for the animal rescue shelter. Being vulnerable and sharing things as Jena did previously were not easy for her. I was so happy to see that she trusted God and Tucker’s thoughtful advice to see her through. “Every time I feel overwhelmed by life, the Lord pins back my ears and says the same thing and I don’t mean in an audible voice. I mean in my gut. “Either you trust me or you don’t, Tucker. Either you are with me or you walk away.”’
This beautiful love story of Jena and Tucker is a stand alone book, but you really don’t want to miss out on the others about the loving Rainbolt family and the town of Rebel. I recommend this book if you like any of these elements: a faith-filled message, romance, fun characters, or a small town setting.
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book. I was not expected to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Once again Tina draws you into Rebel Ranch and the handsome Oklahoma cowboys– whom I like despite the fact that they are from Oklahoma. This cowboy almost got smart enough to leave for the great state of Texas but alas she stole that beacon of hope from me. 😉
Her story of self healing and forgiveness along with hope and faith was both inspiring and captivating, I simply couldn’t put it down! I loved that Jena and Tucker got their happy ending but also that Jena could reunite with her daughter fairly easily and without a lot of anger and hard feelings from either side. Excellent read!
Tucker Rainbolt and Jena Harper are best friends but they start seeing each other differently. I enjoyed reading this Christmas sweet romance book. I’ve loved all of the A Hearts Of Oklahoma series! They’re so uplifting and great reads.
Can’t say enough good things about this series! I absolutely loved it. It’s got humor and sweetness and friendship growing to more…
I highly recommend this book and all books in this series.
A fast, fun read with lots of funny moments 🙂
Those Rainbolts have some of the best heroes, Tucker included. But oh boy, talk about someone who is clueless about women! There were moments in this story where I just wanted to shake Tucker. I love how Jena had to grow up and step out of her comfort zone to make her dreams come true. And sweet mysterious Dee was a nice surprise. There are just so many gifts in this story the best way to find them is to read it yourself. You’ll love His Holiday Prayer.
What a truly wonderful Christmas themed story, where best friends begin to realize that their feelings for each other have grown into love. But this story is about so much more than that.
Tucker has just been existing for the last few years. He does his best to be a good dad to his twin girls and to trust in God, even through the painful times, but he decides that a change would be good for him.
Jena has had some huge disappointments in life and feels like she will never be able to overcome the events of her past. These things make her feel less than worthy.
I love the way Jena and Tucker begin to recognize that they care for each other. Yet how can anything work out for them when Tucker is about to move out of the state?
His Holiday Prayer is an excellent addition to the Hearts of Oklahoma series and can also be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Absolutely love the Rainbolt family. It seems each book in this series is even better than the one before. This book has great writing, wonderful characters plus the Christmas theme. Nothing much better than this. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
What fun it was to travel back to Rebel, Oklahoma and spend more time with the Rainbolt family! This time we got Tucker Rainbolt and Jena Harper’s story, although I wasn’t sure if Tucker was ever going to figure out what (or who) was missing in his life. One of my favorite tropes is best friends to more, and Tucker and Jena definitely qualified for the best friends roles. They had gone to college together and then started their veterinarian clinic together.
Tina Radcliffe is a master at creating swoony, amazing heroes and lovely heroines. They are always so endearing and easy to relate to. The witty banter between the characters was such fun. A stellar cast of secondary characters added to my enjoyment of the story. Who can resist a couple of four-year-old twins named Hazel and Ginger? Of course, there were also appearances by characters in the previous books in the series. Mitch and Reece had to meddle a bit in their brother Tucker’s life.
This has been such a fun series. I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us next. Her sense of humor is always a highlight of her stories.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
A touching story of friends who fall in love
My rating is 4.5 stars
When I reviewed Ready to Trust, I ended it with the statement “…and can’t wait to see how Tucker overcomes his grief! I wonder if his story will be next…” Well, I was right. This is his story and I enjoyed it immensely.
Tucker finally had enough grief and daily reminders of his deceased wife and was ready for a fresh start. When the opportunity came for him to move to Texas to teach he pretty much made up his mind to accept immediately. Which crushed his best friend and veterinary clinic partner, Jena. I liked that Tuck was so oblivious about how devastating his move would be to his family and Jena. He didn’t realize that Jena already had significant abandonment issues and this made things so much worse for her!
Jena was great! This shy, introverted vet preferred animals over people and never gave much of a thought to her appearance. While she was perfectly capable of leading things at the office, she preferred to take a back seat to Tucker and let him handle things such as being the face of the clinic. Once she found out he was leaving, she knew something had to change. She showed great courage and seemed to have transformed, yet her insecurities never went away.
Jena had a dark secret that had been the cause of her fiancé leaving her. It was the reason her parents turned their backs on her. It ate at her, caused her to believe she wasn’t good enough for anyone and justified her introversion. I loved how Tucker reacted when he learned about it, hearing her pain but not judging her or hating her. The wisdom he shared as he pointed out that no sin is too big for Jesus to forgive – and if she thought He wouldn’t forgive her then she was mistaken!
Some of the things that especially made me smile, not counting the sweet romance between these best friends who discovered they were falling in love, were:
Jena showing her cats squirrel videos
The single guys in town reacting to Jena’s new style
How Jena rescued the kitten and Tucker got his picture in the paper!
Nolia and her eavesdropping!
If you enjoy romance, humor, animals, and changed lives, you need to read His Holiday Prayer.
Read my review of His Holiday Prayer by Tina Radcliffe at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Tina Radcliffe writes families that you can’t help loving and they always live in the best towns! I love the small town of Rebel, Oklahoma. I’d move there in a heartbeat, if I could. I love the small town feel and the sense of community that Ms. Radcliffe has created. I also love the Rainbolt siblings and I’m gonna be sad when this series ends.
While I liked both of the main characters, I struggled a bit connecting with Tucker and Jena and their story. I didn’t really feel that they progressed from best friends to a couple. I’m a sucker for romance and I felt like that was missing in their relationship. I did love their friendship and how they were unconditionally there for each other.
I felt that the secondary characters, especially Nolie, stole the show. I loved her sassiness and her wisdom and the pops of humor she added to the story.
As usual with Tina Radcliffe’s stories, I loved the writing style and the feel of this story, especially since it takes place around Thanksgiving and Christmas! My favorite part of this story was the Rainbolt Thanksgiving day celebration.
I’m really looking forward to reading Kate’s story next and I’m really really hoping I already know who the hero will be….
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I could barely put this book down! I thought this was a wonderful small-town, friends-to-more story! His Holiday Prayer had so many things I liked! Let’s start with Jena. She’s a pick-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps kind of woman and I love reading about that type of character! I liked that she took Nolie’s advice to heart about her self-worth and acknowledged that she had room for improvement – and improved.
And speaking of Nolie, she’s just one of several great secondary characters in this book! The casserole-toting ladies, Dee, Pilar, and of course, other members of the Rainbolt family were all wonderful additions to this story.
I liked the chemistry between Jena and Tucker. The speed at which their relationship developed was realistic which I also liked.
Dee’s situation added a layer of depth to the story and I liked the resolution for this character.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Tucker was in no hurry. He’d waited a very long time for this kiss. “
His Holiday Prayer by Tina Radcliffe is the third book in her Hearts of Oklahoma series set in Rebel, Oklahoma. His Holiday Prayer features Veterinarians Jenna Harper and Tucker Rainbolt who run Rebel’s Veterinary Clinic and animal shelter. Tucker is affectionately called Dr. Blue Eyes among the women in Rebel, and Jenna continues to attract more attention from the male residents of Rebel each day. The best part is they are both unaware of the attention they receive which makes them so very loveable.
His Holiday Prayer is fun loving and made me laugh out loud. Tina’s stories always draw me in and His Holiday Prayer was no expectation. I wanted to visit Rebel, Oklahoma and stay at Rebel Ranch with all of the Rainbolts. Tina Radcliffe has written a terrific holiday story that includes adorable animals, best friends taking a second look at each other, healing moments, and is filled with Tina’s brand of wonderful humor. You will improve your holiday season by reading His Holiday Prayer. I highly recommend it. (I was given a copy to review, but not required to write a positive review.)
HIS HOLIDAY PRAYER by Tina Radcliffe is the third book in the Hearts of Oklahoma series. It’s the wonderfully written story of Tucker Rainbolt and Jena Harper. While Jena owns Rebel Vet and Rescue in Rebel, Oklahoma, she is in partnership with Tucker. The partnership works great. She is an excellent vet and loves the recue side of the business, but she is more comfortable with the animals then people. Tucker is definitely a people person and can charm most just with his looks. When he’s not at the clinic, he takes care of the equine clinic.
Tucker is struggling to figure out the best path for the future for his twins and himself. Widowed and always feeling like he’s on the outside looking in and others are more in control of his life than himself, he accepts an unexpected job offer for a teaching position in Texas while on a business trip. Now all he has to do is tell Jena he’s leaving, plus prepare to uproot his family from all they’ve ever known.
To make matters worse for Jena, not only is she losing her best friend and business partner, but the landlord is selling their building right out from under them unless she can come up with a great financial plan in order to be able to buy it herself. She figures out that she’s been a wallflower for way too long – mostly due to her past, allowing Tucker to take the lead, and it’s time for her to step up and figure things out on her own – both in her professional and personal life. Change is in order!
Realizing that a big hole would be left to fill once Tucker leaves, Jena starts looking for more help. The first one was Dee – hired when she alerted them to a stray cat stuck in a tree outside the clinic and needing a job. She works out great being a big help and willing to learn. Now to find someone to take over the equine veterinary part of the business and find a way to save recue part of her business by buying the building.
A big change for Jena is taking the reins on having a fund raiser – planning it and then orchestrating it so as to make it happen effectively and smoothly. Jingle Paws is created into a multi-day event and naturally Jena’s latest recue, Ernie (who she took home to foster and named after her Aunt Ernestine) becomes the poster dog for the event beside the handsome Tucker.
Once the changes start to take place, Tucker starts to see Jena in a whole new light and second guessing his instant decision on moving to Texas. Even if he wanted to, could he stop that ball from rolling when it’s already picked up such momentum? At the same time, Jena, who has always loved Tucker’s girls who are her godchildren, not only can’t imagine life without the girls close by, but she also realizes she has strong feelings for their Dad too. With her past, she feels unworthy and surely the feelings are all one sided.
Will Jingle Paws be a success? Will it be enough to finance the buiding? Will Jena and Tucker talk to the other about their feelings before it’s too late? Will they find out that what they each want has been right in front of them all along? Will the past come to the present and be the best Christmas gift of all?
Tina Radcliffe has done it again! In HIS HOLIDAY PRAYER she has us falling in love with Rebel, Oklahoma and the Rainbolt family all over again. It’s a Christmas story to bring faith, love and fact that miracles do happen to light during any season of the year. Most definitely FIVE STARS in my books!