A Stolen Heart (Cimarron Creek Trilogy #1) by Amanda Cabot

From afar, Cimarron Creek seems like an idyllic town tucked in the Texas Hill Country. But when former schoolteacher Lydia Crawford steps onto its dusty streets in 1880, she finds a town with a deep-seated resentment of Northerners--like her. Lydia won't let that get her down, though. All will be well when she's reunited with her fiancé. But when she discovers he has disappeared--and that he left behind a pregnant wife--Lydia is at a loss about what to do next. The handsome sheriff urges her to trust him, but can she trust anyone in this town where secrets are as prevalent as bluebonnets in spring?

Bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites readers back into Texas's storied past to experience love and adventure against a backdrop of tension and mystery in this first book in a brand-new series.

 Amazon

About The Author

With both parents avid readers, it's no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she’s sold more than thirty novels under a variety of pseudonyms. When she’s not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and – of course – reading. 

http://www.amandacabot.com 

My Review

What a roller coaster of emotions here as we travel from Syracuse to Texas Hill Country and Lydia hits prejudice head on. These people were hurt in the War, and then the notorious carpetbaggers, so when she opens her mouth, they know she is from the North and instant dislike.
When Lydia arrives at her destination, Cimarron Creek Texas, she is surprised that her fiancé is not there to meet her but she is met by the sheriff, all innocent, but her betroth is married to another and is missing. Now what, well she is about to find out what a blessing it was that the sheriff was there, and thus begins her stay at Aunt Bertha’s and this part will warm your heart.
This story does have it all and will keep you page turning right to the last page, and what a story we have here. People are missing, or murdered, fires, animals dying, and worse, and all because of a misguided sense of injustice, and you are going to be surprised to what extent this person goes to, and most of all whom it is.
I for one cannot wait until the next book, which looks like it is Catherine’s story, and that is on my must read list.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.