Noela Nancarrow's Review of Safe In His Arms by Colleen Coble

Safe In His Arms

Safe In His Arms by Colleen Coble

Thomas Nelson, 2013

Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow

~5 stars~*****

‘Safe In His Arms’ is a Texas tale of ranching life on the rolling acres of the Triple T ranch; of low-down murderin’ bank robbers, and a gripping, heart-stirring love! You could rightly say it’s as much a tale of trusting God and others as believing in and learning to love yourself.

Tall, red-haired Margaret O’Brien prides herself as a top ranch-hand, just as good as any man. However, her Pa would like to see his daughter dolled up in dresses, getting hitched and giving him grandchildren! Margaret can’t see that happening and views herself as manly and unlovable. She wears britches, has her long hair braided, and is likely to have bits of cow manure stuck on her pants and boots.

Green-eyed Margaret has a passion and a purpose with her life on the ranch and doesn’t want things to change. She takes great pride in seeing the cattle fat and content, making sure the barns are in good repair, and the workers taken care of.

Each time Margaret gazes on over the ranch spread, she is struck anew with its beauty and will grab a few moments to take it all in. She eyes with pride their low-set stuccoed home set between two cottonwood trees nestled in the valley, admires her rose bushes running the length of the deck, and smiles at the longhorns grazing on the hills around the ranch. But Margaret’s eyes also hold a deep sadness within. If only her Pa could show appreciation for her hard work, some words of praise rather than always finding fault with her.

When the handsome, dark-haired Daniel Cutter is hired as the new foreman by her father Paddy O’Brien, Margaret feels the sting of rejection from her Pa once again. She knows she could do the job capably herself. She is unsettled for another reason too as she can see that there’s a far side more to this new foreman than what he’d like them all to think. After all, no self-respecting foreman would wear thin shirts, and fancy pants and boots for work on a ranch!

This overly self-confident, tall, broad-shouldered stylish man, becomes an enigma to her. He declares that she is beautiful and treats her as such, but Margaret feels there must be some reason for him to lie. When she begins to believe he just may be genuine after all, she overhears a shocking conversation between Daniel and another man. And now she’s out to gather more evidence against him to protect her father, the ranch, and herself.

But she is not prepared to continue to see the side of Daniel that’s touching her deep within. How can an unlawful dangerous man treat her so tenderly, and more to the point, how could he possibly talk to her about God and pray so sincerely?!

Margaret tries to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Daniel, but in doing so, finds herself in terrible danger. There is also a heap of trouble going on at the ranch including Margaret’s father being attacked. What is going on? And who is responsible for these attacks on her Pa? What will Margaret put her trust in – her heart, or in what she sees and hears?

This charming, yet exciting story will cause you to flip the pages constantly until the end! There is an outstanding message illustrated throughout this book about the battle some women face with the age-old message of beauty being too important, and that you are less of a person if you don’t fit into the mold. When in fact, God loves us just as we are, warts and all, and so will others. We can be safe, and loved, in His arms.

This book may be purchased through Amazon, CBD, or your local bookstore.

__________________________________________________________

GIVEAWAY: Colleen is graciously offering a copy of one of her new releases (reader's choice) in choice of format. * International – ebook only. 

Answer the question to be entered in the contest!  

QUESTION: Have you ever felt like you haven’t fitted into ‘society’ perfectly, and what advice would you share to others who may feel the same?