Proving he’s a changed man could be his biggest challenge yet. Rancher Reece Rainbolt’s shocked to learn he’s inherited half of Claire Ballard’s family farm–and that he’s a father. Now Claire’s determined to break ties with the man who once left her behind. But Reece will buy her half only on one condition: she must stay in town to help with the harvest…and let him get to know his little girl.
There is not a book written by Tina Radcliffe, that I haven’t adored, however Ready To Trust, is her finest inspirational novel to date.
Reece, Claire, and Zoe pulled at my heartstrings. Their instant family and shared heritage truly brought home God’s love of family and belongings.
After finishing this remarkable book, many life lessons and spiritual hope, enriched my own life.
Truly a book which should be read by all.
Thank you Tina for your empowered message of love.
Oh how I loved this book! Reece just stole my heart! Here is a man that had a troubled past of feeling like he never measured up and yet he had a dream, a dream to make something of himself and with hard work he accomplished it! However, there were moments in his life that that tiny voice in his head that would continue to tell him he didn’t measure up and he had to fight that voice! One of those low moments was when he met his childhood crush, Claire Ballard, as an adult when they were “in the big city” at one point and he spoke some harsh words to her. Because of that, Claire doesn’t let him know that he’s a father. When he finds out, he only has himself to blame. Now, they are suddenly joint owners in her father’s farm and must learn to get along and Reece wants to know his daughter, Zoe. Zoe is about the cutest thing you could ever see. She stole the show! This story is about forgiveness, second chances and true love. I love this Rainbolt family! They are real people and they are genuine! I want to live next door to them!
“Family. Heritage. Ancestry. It means a lot. It’s what defines our identity and unites us. It’s what kept the Rainbolt kids together in hard times.”
Reece Rainbolt certainly has an appreciation for family, especially after both his mother’s death & his younger brother Levi’s. It’s what made him want to be a better man than he was when he first met Claire years ago. Running the Rainbolt Ranch has given his life new meaning & seeing whatever he put his hand on succeed has given him a pride in what the Lord has given him. Even with the successes, he’s humble and does what needs doing. When he finds out he’s a father to Claire’s daughter Zoe, he feels an instant bond to the bright five-year-old. He bereaves the years he’s missed and wants a second chance to be the kind of father he never had in his own life. If only Clarie would let him!
“There was a time she would have done anything to have Reece Rainbolt’s undivided attention. Those days were long gone.”
I’ve never been a huge fan of keeping a baby or child secret in a story. But Tina Radcliffe gave Claire good reason and handled this delicate subject with grace. I just wished Claire would have been more open to giving Reece a chance to be a father to Zoe sooner! The past has tainted her view of him & it takes time & trust to come to a point where she feels comfortable. I really did like seeing the character growth in her along with the ability to forgive and eventually forge a new bond with Reece. Zoe was such a cutie, you can’t help but fall in love with her yourself! She’s just like any other bright, precarious & curious five-year-old girl who stole the show for me. Reminds me of my own granddaughter, really! I love this second chance romance full of forgiveness, strong family bonds between the Rainbolt family, all sprinkled with faith to ground them. It was awesome to see the story unfold; I really admire Tina Radcliffe’s writing and how she can make a story seem real. Can I be adopted by the Rainbolts?
“Never underestimate the power of a God who knows the desires of your heart.”
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and wasn’t obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
An endearing reunion romance made even sweeter as the hero begins to bond with the daughter he hadn’t known existed. Tina Radcliffe is skilled in creating multidimensional characters and charming small-town settings that immediately draw you in. Whenever I pick up one of her novels, I know it’ll be an enjoyable read.
Tina Radcliffe does it again. Another inspiring story of love and forgiveness. Reece Rainbolt and Claire Ballard have a history that needs to be forgiven before they can move on but overcoming their past and joining their futures is a bit more of a fight than either of them anticipated.
I very much enjoyed the addition of Baby to the story as well. Sounds like some cows I knew growing up.
I think this was one of my favorite books by Tina, and not just because of the hunky cowboy on the cover! 😉 I really enjoyed Reece and Claire’s story and seeing how God brought about the changes in their lives.
I accidentally read this first. I recommend reading the first one Finding the Road Home, first as Mitch and Daisy are mentioned in this book. Since this is book two, I went and ordered book one. Tucker’s book is sitting in my TBR pile, but I’ll wait and read book one first before I dive into book three. Since they work as stand alone books, I don’t think it hurts to read them out of order, but prefer to read series in order. Oh well. I’m hoping book one will expound on Levi’s situation too. We’ll see…
But, yes, I recommend this if you love a good sweet inspirational cowboy romance!
The attorney sat and adjusted his suit coat before he opened a think file on his desk. “I’ve asked you here today because Davis Ballard has made provisions for both of you in his will.”
“My father’s will? Both of us?” Claire’s voice trembled and Reece blinked, his mind scrambling to be certain he heard the attorney’s voice correctly.
Ballard Farms was a fruit farm, locally known for their peaches and pecans. Now, the farm would be divided between the two of them.
Claire Ballard and Reece Rainbolt had grown up in the town of Rebel, Oklahoma and had a rocky romantic relationship that didn’t end so well. Reece walked out on Claire before things got too involved. He thought he’d let her down if he stayed, no kids, no long term commitment. Too bad he didn’t know what he had left Claire to deal with.
Claire and Reece both have to work through betrayal, loss, grief, and anger. Watching both of them change and put aside their differences to build a new and beautiful, stronger relationship made this couple one that I will look forward to seeing in more stories of the Hearts of Oklahoma series. As I learn more about the Rainbolt family, the more stories I hope there will be about them and the townspeople of this quaint town and surrounding area. While this can be a stand alone read, I believe you will enjoy reading Finding the Road home to have a richer experience with Reece’s family and friends.
Thank you to the author for a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.
I really enjoyed Reece, Claire, and Zoe. This is a about forgiveness, hope, and romance! I could not stop wanting to read it! It’s heartwarming and just made me feel good!!
She won’t stay… He won’t leave…
The Rainbolts are back! Don’t you just love that last name? I know I fell in love with it, and the family, in Tina Radcliffe’s first Hearts Of Oklahoma book.
If there’s one thing that Ready To Trust is about, it’s second chances. There are second chances at love, at making the right decision this time around, at finding what really matters, at the need for family ties, at the importance of heritage, at finding peace, and at finally choosing to trust. Sometimes those second chances need to be taken and sometimes they need to be given.
As much as I enjoyed the romance in Ready To Trust, though Reece’s attitude kinda made me mad sometimes, it was Claire’s journey to reconnect with her home and her heritage that intrigued me the most.
Tina Radcliffe has once again packed a lot about faith and family in a small Love Inspired package. It’s a fun read with plenty of small town charm and it’s sure to brighten any reader’s day.
(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Reece Rainbolt has worked hard to redeem his bad boy ways but when he runs into Claire Ballard, she only remembers the man who broke her heart. And the secret she’s kept from him for six years
.
The Rainbolt family and the town of Rebel, Oklahoma invite readers in and make them feel so welcome, they will not want to leave. And, even when they’re pushing at each other, every scene with Reece and Claire spending time together is one I devoured.
Add to that the handsome cowboy whose heart is wrapped up in his little girl from the moment he meets her, and you just can’t get much better. Reece proves over and over that his heart has changed and he’s becoming the man God created him to be.
Just go ahead and pre-order Radcliffe’s December release now because you’re going to want it after reading Ready to Trust.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you in advance to the author, Tina Radcliffe, along with Prism Book Tours for providing a complimentary copy to review. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own.
Wow! Has anyone checked out the peaches on that cover?
A quick (and rather cute) story here …
This isn’t my first visit to Rebel, Oklahoma. And, it looks like it won’t be my last.
I had originally won book #1 – “Finding the Road Home”, as part of another author’s contest (again, no obligation to leave a review was ever required). So, I was REALLY looking forward to reading it when I could. I love to explore new-to-me authors, and Radcliffe is one such one – though she is no longer a “new-to-me” author.
I ended up winning a contest of Tina Radcliffe’s – it was a 2-in-1book of reissued stories. Since it was on or around my birthday, I thanked the author as it was definitely a special win.
As a bonus, she sent an autographed copy of that book. I gave the other copy to my mother, who ended up reading hers before I could read mine.
While it is rare for my mom and me to read the same books or even genres, my mother had nothing but praise for that book! She loved it. She isn’t much of a reviewer, but she was telling me I HAD to read it. And, I knew I would have to – that’s why I wanted it.
I decided – as I am doing a review for this book, “Ready to Trust” – it was time to read book #1.
And, I can see why my mom raved about it. She doesn’t do that often, so it is VERY high praise and definitely one that left an impression on her. By chapter 2, I was solidly hooked. I was reading so fast it was hard to take notes to be honest.
Since this is book #2 in the series, it “can” function as a standalone, but trust me when I say – MUCH BETTER READ TOGETHER. And, when you’re done, you’re going to want #3. My mother already wants this book (“Ready to Trust”), and we’ve even pre-ordered book #3 – “His Holiday Prayer” which is Tucker’s story.
Book #1 featured Mitch Rainbolt, this is Reece’s story. I found it funny that in the first book, Mitch had teased Reece about finding love, and this is Reece’s story.
Mitch and Daisy return, along with a few other characters. In fact, Daisy has a strong presence in this book as not only Reece’s sister-in-law, but a friend to Claire. Readers will be happy to see Daisy’s “success”.
Since I already loved Reece from book #1, this just continued his story. Claire was a different subject. There were times I truly understood where she was coming from when it came to Zoe, but I also felt that she needed to see how different Reece was. People can change, and also given what was going on at the time, Reece wasn’t in a good place.
While not pertaining to Reece, there is an “alcohol addiction” mentioned in this book. For those who might be triggered by that, this serves as a slight “warning”.
This was a darling or rather “peachy” story. Reece definitely shined in this story, and along with cute Zoe – there was a stubborn cow that seemed to make me laugh every so often. The characters were so realistic that this was like revisiting old friends.
Radcliffe didn’t hold back in this novel and really built off the momentum from the first story. She has a gift for creating realistic characters and such small towns that readers may want to flock to them. The other citizens are just as wonderful. While this was a quick read, the story wasn’t set to a rapid pace, nor did it slug along either.
Like the first novel, I really couldn’t put this down. I read half (½) the first night. And, it was an even quicker read than the first one. I absolutely loved this story, and Reece’s daughter was absolutely precious. I love how he didn’t shy away from being a father, and how he wanted to protect her heritage and legacy. On the other hand, I would’ve liked to have seen Claire have a bit more faith in him. And, it took over halfway into the novel for the big reveal.
I had one question, even at the end. It didn’t detract from the story, but I was really curious – I was wondering why Claire’s father left half (½) the farm to Reece.
As this is Love Inspired, the book will have Christian/faith themes like the first one – bible quotes, faith in God, references to faith. The tone is light and not a central theme of the story. One lesson is that when we want to see the bad – that is all we will find.
Fans of the author and the previous novel are sure to enjoy this book. It was as sweet and precious as the first novel. Overall this is an adorable, heart-tugging, beautiful, peachy treat of a book!
I’m definitely looking forward to the next story.
Ready to Trust by Tina Radcliffe is about a father getting a chance for a relationship with his daughter and possibly a second chance with her mom.
Can Reece get Claire to stay in Rebel again? And maybe to trust him again?
Claire Bellard
Claire Bellard is a great character. In the fact that she has flaws like any other person and one of her significant flaws happens to be that Reece Rainbolt broke her heart six years ago and isn’t quite over it. Claire is a fantastic mom, but I may disagree on letting Zoe believe in the tooth fairy. She is a strong force, and it’s good to have daughters see that in their mom, especially during hard times in their lives. The two things that I dislike about her is of course, about the tooth fairy since if she doesn’t believe in that, does she believe in Santa? The other thing I dislike about her is that she doesn’t try to see that Reece is different. It’s like she has wrapped her heart and Zoe’s heart in a security blanket so that Reece can’t get in.
Reece Rainbolt
Reece Rainbolt is an excellent character. We can see that he has changed from what he used to be, and he’s a mature man that wants to have more in life. Granted, Reece probably didn’t think he would be an instant daddy until he saw Zoe. I think one of the fantastic things to have helped this two heal is having Zoe as a buffer for them and seeing each other in a new light. Those shadows from six years ago are getting brighter. It’s great to see how a child can do that, and it has helped Reece and Claire a lot. Reece is good for them both, and I couldn’t find anything to dislike about him.
Four Stars
I am giving Ready to Trust by Tina Radcliffe four stars as it is a great book. I loved everything about it and laughed out loud at specific points. Ms. Radcliffe did a fantastic job on this novel. Zoe is such a character, and she will be a handful for her parents in her teen years. I am also recommending this book to anyone that reads inspirational clean, and wholesome romances. Or to ones that love to read romance novels!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Prism Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Ready to Trust by Tina Radcliffe.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Ready to trust
I loved Reece’s and Claire story in Ready to Trust. Will they be able to learn to trust each other? Claire’s dad leaves a surprise in his will. Reece is left part of his farm and Claire the other half. How is that going work out? I love books set in Oklahoma and also love books with kids in it. My favorite character was Zoe who is Claire daughter. Zoe is also the daughter Reece didn’t know about. Zoe is so cute and I love her scenes with Blue their dog.
Ready to trust is a wonderful story. I look forward to reading more of the books in the series.
I received an complementary copy of the book from Prism book tours. This book review is my own opinion.
Ahh, Ready to Trust by Tina Radcliffe was such a sweet story! This is my first time reading a book by this author I decided to read her book after hearing so many of my bookish friends rave about her books and let me say I was not disappointed.
From the surprise of finding out you are a father to the learning curve of running a family business, Tina Radcliffe managed to make me feel immersed in the character’s choices and emotions. I enjoyed the character’s conversations with each other and their logical thoughts about the situations presented and the sweet romances that they allowed to happen between them. Add in an adorable sounding daughter, a wayward cow, and a cowhand that makes you smile, and you have a recipe for a fun lighthearted book. I will definitely be going back to read the other book in the A Hearts of Oklahoma Romance series.
The setting of this book is small-town USA, tight community, caring neighbors, family get-together’s, and food. I loved Tina Radcliffe’s description of life on a farm/ ranch and all the work that goes into it. It was a truly warm setting that I loved reading about.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the fun characters, the lighthearted romance, and the sense of community that Tina Radcliffe displayed. A truly enjoyable book with a lighthearted feel that I did not have to concentrate on while reading.
*I Volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Ready to Trust is the second installment from Tina Radcliffe’s Hearts of Oklahoma series. I believe this can be read as a stand alone because I have not read the first book, Finding the Road Home, and did not feel lost. I thought this one was a great read. I loved getting to know Reece and Claire. I could relate to Claire’s feelings and her trust issues. It was a delight to read and was easy to keep reading to find out how it would all end.
I am giving Ready to Trust a very well deserved five plus stars. I would like to read the first book and look forward to reading the third one from the Hearts of Oklahoma series, His Holiday Prayer, when it releases.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
True love sometimes takes some time to come around. Claire has come back home to deal with her late father’s farm. What she gets is an inconvenient truth. Her father has left half of it to her one time love Reece Rainbolt. And her father also threw in a few other twists.
Reece has no idea why he was left half of his neighbor’s farm. But Claire has an inkling why her father did it. And Reece, well he is in for more of a surprise than just the farm. He has a little girl that he didn’t know about.
Reece and Claire have some big issues they need to work through. I enjoyed walking on this journey to true love, albeit a little rocky. Both have changed. Reece has grown up and is a much more responsible person than he was six years previous. Even though he has missed those years with his little girl, he is a much better father now.
Claire has also changed. She is a mother and all her decisions and actions reflect that mama bear inside of her. She was hurt by her father’s decisions, especially in the past. I totally understood her feelings and anger. I also understood her hesitancy in trusting Reece again. She certainly did not want to experience a broken heart again, but more than that, she was not going to risk her daughter’s heart.
This was another delightful romance to curl up with. I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Thank you Prism and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Ready To Trust
Hearts Of Oklahoma #2
By: Tina Radcliffe
REVIEW
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the hot guy on the cover! Ready To Trust is Tina Radcliffe’s second book of her Hearts Of Oklahoma series but can be read as a standalone. This is a fast but meaningful read. Reece and Claire were together previously, but that relationship ended on not the best terms. Now, they are reunited, and Claire has a big secret-a child. Reece has a daughter he never knew existed until now. He is a different man from the version Claire remembers, but Reece has to somehow prove he has changed. He wants to know his daughter, but Claire doesn’t trust him. Can she find the courage to give Reece a second chance? Is he just wasting her time and leading her on? Claire must decide whether she believes in the power of redemption or in the adage that people don’t change. Reece wants a second chance, but does he deserve it? These two have a history filled with resentment, disappointment and regret. Reece and Claire are genuinely flawed, confused and seeking something meaningful in their lives. Despite the bad blood, a child is pure love and light and can be a source of healing change. I enjoyed reading this book for all the warm fuzzies, humor and inspiration. Tina Radcliffe has written a lovely and charming story that I recommend for fans of contemporary Christian fiction.
Wonderful!
It’s so refreshing the way Tina Radcilffe integrates faith with everyday life so beautifully in this sweet romance.
In Ready to Trust, Claire has had her share of family difficulties. She has a hard time trusting people and a hard time trusting God. And because of this she’s a bit of a control freak. And of all people, she trusts Reese the least!
Reese had been quite a mess six years earlier. But he was a changed man – now if only Claire would believe him. I loved the way that in his struggle to do the right thing he still chose to do what was best instead of giving in to his natural reactions.
One of my favorite aspects of this story was the instant love Reese felt for Zoe. Their interactions and the sweet way he poured his heart out to this little girl was amazing! And though he had every right to be angry at Claire for not telling him five years ago that he had a daughter, he showed her so much kindness and grace instead.
I really enjoyed the imagery as well. I felt like I could see the orchards and the market stand. My favorite place was the creek he loved to go to for spending time dreaming. It sounds like the kind of place I would love to relax and read!
Ready to Trust is full of memorable characters, many of whom were introduced in Finding the Road Home. Willard was one of my favorite secondary characters here, full of wisdom and wit. He was so funny with the cow! I was glad Daisy had a prominent role again. What an amazing woman she was!
The Hearts of Oklahoma series is about the Rainbolt family. Though the family members are in each of these stories, the books do stand alone. I am excited to learn more about this family and can’t wait to see how Tucker overcomes his grief! I wonder if his story will be next…
Read my review of Ready to Trust 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.
If you like cowboys with big hearts, you will love this book about Reece Rainbolt and Claire Ballard. They love each other, but too afraid to tell each other. What if the other doesn’t feel the same way. Is it easier to just walk away? Reece finally finds out he has a daughter named Zoe and they become inseparable. I enjoyed this book so much.
This books gets off to a great start with a fantastic first chapter, that really sets the stage for the rest of the book, with it’s engaging hook, and situation that they find themselves in.
I liked how this book brought out the family dynamics of Reece and Claire’s upbringings, as well as the dynamics of their past and how it affects their relationship. We also see how Reece and Claire have changed, and I really admired the person that Reece became. Claire is an excellent mother to her young daughter, responsible, and protective. I also liked how Reece is willing to be honest with himself about his past, and takes responsibility for that.
A second chance romance, full of family, faith, and heart. It was a fast read for me, because it just grabbed me right out of the gate with a quick hook, and I didn’t put it down. Zoe is such an adorable little girl, she is so cute! I also really enjoyed Willard, who adds some years of experience and humor to the story. Highly enjoyable and satisfying read, with amazing characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.