Colorado: Megan's Choice/Em's Only Chance/Lisa's Broken Arrow/Banjo's New Song

by Rosey Dow

Taming the frontier is a daunting task-one that can't be burdened by the luxuries of life, including romance. When four settlers take on the chal lenging Colorado territory, they are surprised by how love springs up alongside their labors. Steven wanted a wife in name only to make him eligible for his inheritan ce. The former soldier and gambler is not husband material. What then is he to do with Megan when he takes her to his new mountain home? Em longs to leave a painful past in the East and work along friends to tame the wilderness. When she meets a former slave who is running from the law, will she have the strength to confront old fears? Lisa is penniless in a strange town and is desperate to return to the mountains. Will she make a bargain with a stranger to get herself home - even though a faceless enemy pursues him? Banjo thinks having a family is just a long-lost dream. When dubious bus inessmen threaten a widow, can she and Banjo overcome their independent pride in time to save her ranch? Love may seem like a frivolous addition to the pioneer lifestyle - but could it really be the key foundation stone upon which to build a new life?

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian, Westerns

Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

Rosey Dow is a best-selling and award-winning author. Her novel, Reaping the Whirlwind, won a 2001 Christy Award for excellence in fiction. A former missionary and lifelong mystery buff, Rosey now makes her home in the South where she writes and speaks full time.

Reviews

[LPK · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whoops. This darn Christian literature posing as pioneer romance stories caught me again! The problem with this whole genre of writing is that so often, the emphasis becomes on guilt, sin and redemption, instead of on the emotional relationships of the characters. The historical facts are often inaccurate and poorly delivered. This book includes four separate stories, each by a different author, but a continuation of the lives of the characters. They are often stereotypically sexist. One in particular was poorly written-- the omnipresent narrator kept slipping into the author's approximation of the black slave woman's accent. And of course, there are things like character Megan's husband telling her to "hold the rifle a few inches away from her shoulder," in order to prevent her from getting bruised. Anyone who has shot a rifle would know that it kicks much worse when there is a space between the butt of your gun and your shoulder, and that it should be tucked up tightly to help the kick. Every "coming to Jesus" moment was delivered with the exact same results: the repentant sinner opens his or her eyes and says to the next person, "He's real! I can feel it!" The spiritual transformations come off as shallow and fake, and the relationships are the same. I'm not sure who would want to read a romance where the protagonists hardly exchange even a kiss. Come on, authors: Christianity isn't all about guilt! Christian couples can still enjoy romance, and have a healthy sex life without having to beg God's pardon for it! If I HAVE to keep accidentally getting tricked into reading these things, the least you could do is inject some realism!

[Kathy Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good book...I love when the stories in a novella collection weave together. You get to visit the characters again and see how they are faring in their lives.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020
Four very sweet, romantic stories about life on the farm from a much simpler time in life.

2015

[Trisha_loves_books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of 4 interwoven stories. To me this felt like one story. Ok read, loved the characters.

[Joanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I would have read the reviews first. This was really bad.

[Sheila McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for sure. Very descriptive about the old West and also characters were good! Storyline was very good and it is four short stories about the same area/family/friends. Very good read!

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stories that follow on from each other.

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book set about four settlers taking on the Colorado terrotories just after the Civil War. There are four individual stories that are all equally good. This book deals with racial issues, mistreatment of women and violence. The stories are connected to one another. While some of the wording seemed a bit modern for the time frame, the book's variety of stories was really realistic for the time frame and an enjoyable read. Em and Chanece's story was my favorite.

Re-read. I really enjoyed Chance and Em's love story. A keeper.

[Beverly McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains four short stories--Megan's Choice, which I've finished reading. Currently, I'm reading Em's Only Chance and am very intrigued because of the characters. The main characters are atypical and the perspective of live through their eyes in fascinating. There are two more short stories--Lisa's Broken Arrow and Banjo's New Song. What is wonderful about this compilation of short stories that they are all Christian based allowing the author to build plot lines and character stories. In this case we meet all the characters in the first short story (although it mainly focuses on one character) and then get a deeper look at each one in their own story.

[Lydia Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why there are 4 separate stories. All the characters are in all 4 stories. It could have been 1 complete novel.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a GREAT book, a real asset to books. Of course, all of Barbour Publishing books that I have read are all wonderful. Colorado helps you think about yourself and your relationship with God and let's you expierence love, adventure and let's you see and learn from the characters expierences in the stories. A great book!! Definitely a 10!

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Christian stories set in the West. Great stories filled with families, love, faith, challenges, forgiveness. Friends & families follow through each story. A wonderful book that I will want to read again!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Four stories in one...all Christian related stories. Nice clean read.

[Tori Brumback · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice book. It is four love stories that emphasize Christian relationships.

[Cws]

YA Dow

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this romance book set in the history of the American West. Very fun read.

[SandyL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book!

[Roberta Morehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this one, it was a good book...

[Melanie]

Well written. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Would read it again some time.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian romance, clean and put together. Follows the lives of 4 different people and their choices of love and how God has helped put them all together.

[Melissa T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun mail-order bride type book. Thanks, Kate! :)

[Pixie]

I loved it. It is a truely amazing book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy these "state book stories" good clean easy read

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice stories.

[Ceashark · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a come to Jesus Christian romance. Pretty cheesy, but decent plot and characters. Used bookstore find.

[Billi Robinson]

Love the time period! Also a great quick read!

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't particularly well-written, but was an interesting story none the less.