After her father’s death, Lizzy Brookstone, the star trick rider of the all-female Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza, loses interest in performing. What she longs for is a life with the Brookstone ranch foreman, Wesley DeShazer, the man who once broke her heart. Meanwhile, Jason Adler, son of the show’s new financial partner, comes to help with the show, and Lizzy soon finds him vying for her … affection.
Ella Fleming is fleeing a forced engagement when she stows away on the Brookstone train. Lizzy finds her and gives her a job in the costume department, but Ella has a dangerous secret that could affect all of their lives, as well as the future of the Brookstone Extravaganza.
When Mary Reichert, a former sharpshooter for the show, learns that her brother, August, has been killed at the Fleming farm, she refuses to believe it was an accident. She returns to the show to find the truth, but is she seeking justice or vengeance?
As the three women work together to discover how August died, Lizzy strives to hold the show together. Can she keep the Brookstone Extravaganza alive without losing the desire of her heart?
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There are many facets to this story. It mainly revolves around Lizzy. She is the daughter of one of the owners of the Wild West show. Her father’s passing during their last has increased her determination to see her father’s legacy to the bitter end. Her heart does not lie on the show, but on their farm in the country. She wants to retire with her mother and live her life on the land, while not paying attention to the handsome foreman, Wesley.
Within this story there is Jason Adler, his father has purchased part of the show and he is very interested in Lizzy. Her friends Mary and Ella have stories that are more connected than many know. Ella is running form her ruthless father and fiancee while Mary is trying to find out who killed her brother. This adds a great suspense aspect to the story.
There is also Wesley’s brother, Phillip. He has come to the farm seeking employment, but he has a past that he is running from at the same time. His story is a bit of mystery that I am sure will be addressed in future books.
I enjoyed visiting the Old West while reading this book. It is well written and has mystery and romance.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Tracie Patterson brought this book to life great charters fun read
Lizzie has had a rough year. As a trick rider in her father and uncle’s traveling rodeo show, she is aware of her responsibilities as a performer, daughter, and owner. After loosing her father to a heart attack, she and her mother agree to finish the year in his memory. On their way home to their ranch for the winter, they rescue Lizzie’s friend Ella from an unwanted marriage to the man who murders the show’s head groom. Keeping Ella safe and trying to piece together enough evidence for justice, leads their former head groom’s sister Mary to rejoin the show. Meanwhile Jason, the new business partner, makes it clear that he wants to marry Lizzie and introduce her to his family when they take the show to Europe next year. Wes, the ranch foreman who broke Lizzie’s heart, wants Lizzie to retire and stay at the ranch with her mother…and him. As all the changes and worries of the show seem to snowball, Lizzie decides that she is going to do one more year with the show along with Ella and Mary, but the real question is: is love worth risking her heart again?
If you like Bill Cody’s Wild West show, this is a fun series set in the same era! Loved the characters, and there is plenty of action to keep the pacing fun!
Love the author. She makes characters come alive. The cowboy subject wasn’t my favorite, but I enjoyed the book.
Has Peterson ever written anything bad? This one was especially fun for me, however, because of all the horses and riding stunts that are part of the Wild West Show. She builds a world of endearing, loathsome, believable characters.
When You Are Near is a very intriguing book that drew this reader deep into the story and kept her there till the end. I do love Historical Romance and Tracie Peterson writes it so well and blends an interesting tale around the enjoyable characters. My favorite genre is Amish Fiction but once in a while it’s great to be able to read something else and it’s very refreshing when the story can grab the reader in from the get go.
Readers are taken back to the year nineteen hundred. The author has the gift of making the reader actually visualize that time frame as they follow along in the book. There are many characters in this story and I don’t have the time or space to go into every one of them and I’m sure you wouldn’t want me to. The main characters are Elizabeth Brookstone who goes by the nickname Lizzy. She’s part of a family from Montana that owns and runs a wild west show and the performers are woman. Lizzy is the main star of the show and she’s able to do daring death defying stunts while standing on the back on a horse galloping at a fast pace. She’s been known to cause many women in the audience to pass out during her trick riding.
Her family is in grieving for the loss of Lizzy’s father, Mark Brookstone, who died suddenly and unexpectedly. It was her dad’s wishes for the show to go on to the end of the season. The family carries on with the show though his death has effected every member of the show. We have a murder in this story and it has been covered up as though it were an accident. A young lady Ella Fleming, runs away from her Kentucky home when her father trys to force her into a marriage of convince. She sneaks into the Brookstone family train car while trying to escape. Then there’s the romance or lack of it between Lizzy and Wesley DeShazer , the ranch foreman back home at the Brookstone ranch. So as you can see there’s lots to draw you into this story.
If you enjoy Historical Romance or even cowboy cowgirl tales you will love this book. It’s part of a three book series that Tracie Peterson wrote in 2019. I gave it five Stars and I hope you will enjoy reading it. I plan to read the other two books in the series .
I downloaded a Kindle ebook from the Amazon Prime digital library. A favorable review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Another winner from Tracie Peterson
Tracie Peterson never disapponits! I have read many of her books and enjoyed them all.
I am so looking forward to finding out what happens to everyone of the people who are part of the Wild West show. I really loved Lizzie and how she helps people and can do such wonderful tricks on a horse. This is a wonderful western historical fiction romance. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
When You Are Near is the first book in the new Brookstone Brides series. I thought it was well-written story with strong female characters. The pacing is just right for this story (not too fast nor too slow). Lizzy Brookstone is a clever and determined woman who can do tricks on horses (wow). Her father’s death has hit her hard and her heart is no longer in the show. Plus, she is now twenty-eight and the tricks are beginning to take their toll on her body. Unfortunately, Lizzy is the shows main attraction. The show would not last without her unless she can find someone else to fill her saddle. After seeing how her father’s death affected her mother, Lizzy is afraid to let her love someone that completely. The author included historical details that enhance the story. The Christian elements are woven into the story beautifully and I appreciated the Bible verses included. One of my favorite phrases was “God guides us through our sorrows”. I completely understood what Lizzy was going through since I lost my father three years ago. What Lizzy needs to realize is that God is always there for us. I enjoyed the adventure and action in this story. There are characters for readers to love and root for as well as those we will love to dislike. Tracie Peterson crafted wonderful characters for this series. I like that there is a mixture of people from an English gentleman to a horse wrangler. It was interesting to learn what went into to running a wild west show. When You Are Near has love, loss, faith, friendship, family, justice and God. I am eager to read the next Brookstone Brides novel.
Tracie Peterson can take a wild west show and twist your heart around it. Her style of writing holds your attention from beginning to end. Her characters are captivating and her way of describing scenes places the reader right there.
In this new series we meet the Brookstone family and learn about women trick riders in “The Wild West”. Peterson shows us that this wasn’t for the faint of heart in her vivid descriptions and gives us some facts to help us understand what’s happening. Friendships are kindled between three women whom you wouldn’t have guessed would become friends. Mystery. Intrigue. Murder. Arranged Marriages. Guns and horses. This book has it all, including the belief that God is always with us. I’m looking forward to book two.
If you enjoy historical fiction then I recommend When You Are Near.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Fear, if allowed, can destroy lives. Ms. Peterson skillfully exposes fear for the lie that it is. Wesley and Lizzy’s journey from fear to faith is one we all must take. I so appreciated the spiritual truths woven throughout this story. It is well written and nicely paced. I look forward to the next installment in the Brookstone Brides trilogy.
Recommend to those who enjoy inspirational romance.
I won a copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
A relaxing read, entertaining in that I learned a lot about trick riding on horses. Not up to the standard I’m used to with Yracy Peterson.
A very interesting book, it keeps you thinking about what will happen next.
I’m not sure of how many Tracie Peterson books I’ve read over the years, but I’ve read a bunch of them. I’m never disappointed in her books. I know whenever I begin reading one that it’s going to be an interesting story. I found that to be true with this first book in her new series.
The background of this story caught my attention. The “Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza”, an all-female Wild West snow, was a fun and different approach to a historical novel set in the year 1900. This story finds the Brookstone show at a crossroads. One of their founders, Mark Brookstone, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack, and now the family must decide what changes need to be made to keep the popular show financially stable and on the road. Lizzy is the star of the show with her daring tricks on horseback, but her heart is broken over the unexpected death of her father. She no longer wants to be part of the show. She’s made another resolution as well: She does not want to fall in love and get married so as to avoid the heartache she sees her mother experiencing. But two men have an ambition to change Lizzie’s mind. Jason Adler has joined the management team of the show in order to help make it more profitable. Lizzie’s beauty and bravery capture his attention from the first moment he meets her. Wesley DeShazer is the long-time manager of the Brookstone Ranch. He’s know Lizzy since her teenage years, and is just coming to realize how much she means to him. Both men vie for Lizzy’s affection in this story, and that keeps the storyline moving at a good pace.
There’s also a suspenseful storyline that revolves around Ella, who is trying to escape her cruel father and avoid being forced into a dangerous marriage. Lizzy helps Ella find safety and peace on the Brookstone ranch, but that peace is soon shattered. It takes all of Lizzy’s loyalty, friendship, and courage to protect Ella.
All of this makes for a story that held my attention all the way through the book. I’m looking forward to reading more about the Brookstone family and the ladies of the “Wild West Extravaganza”.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Some Books, Like People, Need Time to Grow on You
When You Are Near was like that for me. Maybe it just wasn’t the right day for the book, or perhaps it’s not the right opening for me. I don’t know. What I do know is the relief I felt when I went from being grateful for an interruption to frustrated.
That’s always a sign of a good book—that, “Would you just go away so I can read” stabbing of the straight pin into the pages. (Yes, I use straight pins for bookmarks. They don’t fall out easily, they don’t get lost, they don’t harm the spines, or anything else. Love them suckers).
The style of When You Are Near is casual and comfortable.
Most turns of phrases didn’t feel too modern, (although the “come to Jesus moment” certainly felt crazy modern in a turn-of-the-20th-century novel) or too over-used.
Tracie Peterson took the time to make us care about what was underneath Lizzy’s armor. Instead of knocking it off, she peels back layer after layer until poor Lizzy is left stripped and vulnerable—right where the Lord does His most beautiful work.
In Rebekah Brookstone, we see the kind of gentle strength I’ve always admired. She knows when to be firm, when to be forgiving. At the beginning, I wanted to shake her. By the end, I decided I want to be her when I grow up. I think her unveiling came in very deliberate moves written by a skillful pen. The gradual shift from seeing one character as the strongest to the other couldn’t have been more well done, I don’t think.
Some readers may take issue with one very awkward, suggestive conversation. I tend not to get most double entendre. I got this. It was… awkward. There was a point to it, and it was by the bad guy, of course, but there you have it. You’ve been warned.
Recommended for lovers of horses, historical fiction, and fiction with purpose. The spiritual lessons are woven into the story in a natural way so that even when someone is “preaching” at someone else, the reader doesn’t feel sermonized—just encouraged in the Lord.
This new series by the talented author is a blend of adventure, intrigue and wonderful characters. I loved reading about trick riding. The description is well written and was easy to picture Lizzy as she did death defying tricks that made the audience gasp. I remember watching a few shows when I was younger where there were trick riders in the show. They were a crowd pleasure and was exciting to watch. The author is very knowledgeable in horses and I loved reading about the different types.
Lizzy is a wonderful character and amazing trick rider. She has total trust in her horse and the crowds flock to see her. It was funny to read how many proposals she received from total strangers at the shows. She has been riding for a long time and thinks maybe it is time to retire from the Wild West Extravaganza. The death of her father has changed her outlook on life and she doesn’t seem to be into the show as much anymore. Her mother didn’t seem to surprised by Lizzy’s decision and I think maybe she was a little happy to know her daughter wouldn’t be doing the show anymore. Lizzie’s father was the heartbeat of the family and his death has taken a toil on members of the family. It was interesting to meet Wes and how vital he is to the story. I loved reading about the relationship between him and Lizzy. They have a past together that only God will be able to heal.
Ella is introduced into the story and is anxious to run away from her life. I wanted to help her after I read about her father. He raises champion horses that are perfect for trick riding. There is something about him that I didn’t like. He is determined to marry his daughter off to a man who Ella has no feelings for. The author gives us a bit of mystery that heightens the story and made me want to not put the book down.
The story is a wonderful look at ranch life and the time period that brings the Old West to life. I enjoyed getting to know the Brookstone family and how they made a living. There is a faith element in the story that shows us how important family, trust and forgiveness is. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
It is 1900 and the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza is a very successful wild west show that is made up entirely of young women performers. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Brookstone is the star performer but she is about ready to hang it up at the end of the current tour and return with her mother to the family ranch. Lizzie is 28, she is still grieving the death of her father and she has decided that she will never allow herself to love someone so completely that she would be destroyed if they should die and leave her alone. As Lizzie struggles with these doubts and with the feelings that she has long felt for the ranch foreman, she also finds herself offering protection to Ella Fleming, a young woman who has fled from the unscrupulous man that her father has chosen for her to marry.
This famous wild west show is the focus of When You Are Near and if features horses, trick riders and even a female sharp-shooter. There is also a mystery concerning the death of a wrangler on the Fleming farm and the possibility that Ella’s fiancee has committed several murders.
This is a warm, family oriented story and I truly enjoyed the special relationship between Lizzie and her mother and the strong faith element that Rebecca Brookstone possesses. She often mentions that physical death is not truly the end and she also encourages Lizzie to not be afraid to love. In one conversation, she admonishes Lizzie “Don’t avoid loving Wes because you fear what might happen should you lose him. Don’t harden your heart against loving Wes.”
I found myself hoping that Lizzie could overcome her fear of love and loss and find true happiness with the young man that she has always wanted. When You Are Near is the first book in The Brookstone Brides series and I look forward to learning more about these special young women who are part of the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebration Lit Tours and I have chosen to leave this review.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
When You Are Near is a fabulous read! This is exactly first book I’ve read about the early 20th century Wild West Shows and trick riders, I knew nothing at all about them. The book is so well researched and written, with the most wonderful characters. Well except for a few of them. And there is so much going on in the story you don’t want to put the book down. From cowboys to city folks, to mystery, murder suspense deception, so much humor and the sweet romance, to determination and pride of this family, there is no way to hit on everything in this review. So I’ll tell you just a few things.
Lizzy and her family were on the road with their Wild West Shows throughout the country much of the year. The rest of the time they spent in their ranch practing for the next year, and where Forman Wesley runs the day to day production. A lot happens in this particular year with the deaths of two very important people, an uncle that struggles with life issues and a romance that needs to happen but the two people are so hard headed!
I love Lizzy’s family, the love they have for each other and those working for them, and the ranch and ranch house sounds like a wonderful place to be. Lizzy’s mom is the sweet strong Christian that holds the family together. There are quite a few characters, and most seem like family, so I sure hope we have more from this family and the story setting!
Tracie Peterson is just amazing! I have read most of her books and they are all amazing! It’s hard to find a favorite! The way she describes each scene makes the story come alive before your eyes. When you find yourself wanting to pray for character, your just hooked! Ans I love and appreciate that Ms. Peterson weaves the gospel into her books, and she dies it with such class that it just fits.
I encourage you to check out this amazing read by and amazing author! You will love it as much as I do! A copy of this book was provided by Celebration Lit Tours and the author for me to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.
What a fascinating and fun setting for this new series. In When You Are Near, Tracie Peterson introduces readers to a group of people who run an all-female Wild West Show.
While the bulk of this book is about Lizzie and her struggle with loving again after loss, her revelations, and romance, the addition of Ella’s and Mary’s points-of-view enhance the story. As Ella trains with Lizzie to become a trick rider, readers experience the danger, exhilaration, and discipline involved. And Mary brings in the sharpshooter angle of the show.
Add in an unsolved mystery the women want to unravel and plenty of tension between Wesley and Lizzie, and this book was hard to put down. Plus, there’s some unresolved questions at the end of the book that I’ve already put book two of the Brookstone Brides series at the top of my TBR list because I want to continue with these ladies and the show as they go on the road.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.