Love and second chances aren't easy to come by in a town named Tombstone. When Christy Grey receives an urgent summons to Tombstone, Arizona, she reluctantly leaves her new life in California. The trip goes from bad to worse when four masked men hold up Christy's stage. She finally arrives in Tombstone to find her mother ill and her brother trapped in a life of gambling. Desperate for money to support her family, will Christy bow to pressure from the local saloon owners and return to the life she thought she'd given up for good?
Nevada King has problems of his own. He's been dodging bullets for years and wants nothing more than to settle down and get married. But he's on the run from outlaws bent on revenge, and the one woman who captures his interest recognizes him from the stagecoach holdup. Will Christy turn Nevada in to the authorities, or will the outlaws on his trail catch him first?
Miralee Ferrell and her husband, Allen, live on eleven acres in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where they love to garden, play with their dogs, take walks, and visit their grown children. She is also able to combine two other passions—horseback riding and spending time with her married daughter—since she lives nearby--and they often ride together on the wooded trails near their home.
Ironically, Miralee, now the author of over twenty books, with many more on the way, never had a burning desire to write—at least more than her own memoirs for her children. So she was shocked when God called her to start writing after she turned fifty. To Miralee, writing is a ministry that she hopes will impact hearts, and she anticipates how God will use each of her books to bless and change lives.
3.5 Stars for Finding Love in Tombstone Arizona: Women of the West, Book 2 (audiobook) by Miralee Ferrell read by Sorrel Brigman.
Christy Gray is told that she is needed in Tombstone Arizona. She gives up her new life in California and gets on a stagecoach and heads east. Shortly before she gets to Tombstone the stagecoach is held up by some armed men. Her luck is just is fading fast.
My first introduction to the writing of Miralee Ferrell was through another Love Finds You novel, Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon. I have no however read Love Finds You in Last Chance, CA which for some purposes could be considered a prequel this this novel. However it is my understanding they stand alone, and reading this one first just reiterates a desire to snatch up the other one as soon as I get the chance. Honestly right now I have a bunch of books in my TBR pile, but when this one arrived I couldn't help but start it, and then at two AM I couldn't help stop at almost three hundred pages in. I couldn't help it. The next day I read it minutes at a time whenever I had an opportunity until I was finished. I just couldn't put it down I was so drawn in. The main male character is my honest to goodness favorite. I felt like I knew Nellie from another story, but just couldn't place it. Every character was real and off the page. This book has all of the good qualities of favorite historicals that I put on my keeper shelf and recommend to friends to come back to. It has reminiscent elements of many favorites such as Redeeming Love, Fountain Creek Chronicles,Yukon Quest 3-in-1 and others. I do indeed recommend this story as I do everything that I have read as a historical from Summerside Press. I cannot wait to add more of their titles to my shelves!
*Thanks to Wynn Wynn Media and Summerside Press for providing a copy for review.*
I've mentioned before, that I don't particularly care for historical chicklits, but I absolutely loved this book.
It follows the story of Christy Grey (from Ms. Ferrell's book Love Finds You in Last Chance, California), as she moves back to Tombstone to help her family. I felt this book was well written, and intriguing...who wouldn't love to learn more about Tombstone...it has such a rough history that is romanticized.
I loved how Ms. Ferrell researched this city and worked in real events...this really made the story and brought the town to life.
I have been to Tombstone once, and really hadn't given much thought to go back again. After reading this book, I'd love to go back and walk the streets and see the town through a different set of eyes.
3.5 stars It was quite pleasant to have a romance that didn’t get siderailed by senseless misunderstandings and which met real issues face-on. Christy is still struggling with the stain of some things from her past and going back to a town filled with those sorts of tawdry places isn’t her idea of a vacation. Pretty soon she bumps up against some human trafficking and can’t stand by when she sees a young woman in peril.
Of course the saloon owner is going to have a thing or two to say about Christy’s plan to steal his slave...
Solid Gospel presentation and characters who exemplify faith nicely.
I loved seeing Christy (a more minor character in the first book of the series, set in Last Chance, California) getting her happy ending! I loved that the lessons and counsel Alexia taught her in the first book come into play in some very beautiful ways in this story. Though it was hard to get a 'read' on Nevada at first, I actually ended up really liking the gunslinger, especially as it became clearer what his true character was like. I think the way Christy and Nevada came to rely on each other, and on God, despite some pretty harrowing circumstances was very well written, and I look forward to the last book in the 'Women f the West series'.
Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona was a good read. I haven't read the previous book, Love Finds You in Last Chance, California, which features Christy, but I didn't have any trouble connecting to the characters or following the storyline.
I liked how Nevada jumped right in to help Christy when she was shot. He even revealed his face to her so he could see better to help - which put him in danger of her reporting to the authorities about his "involvement" (he wasn't really part of the robbery).
All in all, a fast read that I enjoyed. Some aspects were a bit unbelievable, but it was still fun to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
When Christy Grey is summoned to Tombstone, she’s happy to be available for her sick mother, and even hopes to be able to make a life for herself from the new adventure. What she doesn’t expect is for her stagecoach to be held up just before she reaches her destination. A stray bullet hits Christy’s arm, and when one of the masked men offers to tend it for her, she gets a glimpse of the face behind the mask, as well as the man behind the good-looking face. In return for his assistance, she makes a promise not to reveal his identity.
In Tombstone, her mother is dying of consumption and her younger brother spends his time in a gambling establishment. The situation grows worse when word arrives that Christy’s step-father has been killed, and her brother’s emotions and lack of control place him in a life-threatening situation.
When the mysterious, handsome stage robber who helped tend to her arm shows up in Tombstone, Christy doesn’t know how to feel. She’s been refusing to answer the sheriff’s questions about him, and she recognizes him immediately. Why is she so drawn to a man she knows to be a criminal?
When circumstances return Christy to a lifestyle she thought she had escaped, she finds herself watched over by none other than Nevada King, the handsome stage robber. Then a devastating event affects the entire town, at the same time her mother’s landlord evicts them from their home. With Nevada’s help, Christy moves her family into the same boarding house where her gallant, mysterious hero is living.
Nevada has been running from God and his own reputation as a gunslinger. He’d like nothing better than to settle down and have a home and a family, but with a past that haunts him, he isn’t sure he deserves the life of a family man. Yet when he meets Christy, that desire only grows, and he’s determined to keep the girl safe, even if he he can have no future with her.
Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona is a beautiful romance, packed with little kernels of historical fact and enlivened by authentic, era-specific detail. The author shows the life of a “saloon girl” from an angle not often explored, revealing them as women with hopes and dreams like any other, many being drawn into the sordid existence simply to stay alive. Nevada’s determination to take care of Christy, even when she doesn’t appear to want his attention, is touching—a wonderful reminder of the meaning of the word “gentleman.” Diverse characters and lifestyles make Tombstone an interesting, suspenseful page-turner. Good storytelling and smooth flow make it an easy read. This could very well be my favorite Ferrell novel to date!
I was thrilled when I opened up this book! It is somewhat of a continuation of Love Finds You In Last Chance California, though can be read alone ~ I didn't feel like I was missing any details in this book when I read it. But, that being said, I was super excited to read it when I realized it was continuing on with a character from the previous book! So if you haven't read Love Finds You In Last Chance California you might want to give it a whirl first!
Miralee weaves a fabulous love story - one that contains a bit of romance as well as hope and redemption for the lives of the people around her. It has a great message in it. It reminds me a bit of the old westerns and what I imagined those days to be like. I was totally engaged in the life of Christy and Nevada. Without giving away too many details there were parts in here that I giggled with Christy ~ when it finally "clicked" for her! Just seeing that she "got it" made me so happy! And I was sad when I heard that Ralph died. I felt like I was saying good bye to someone I knew. I liked that Miralee didn't shy away from the life of the frontier ~ she left it gritty and just picked it up and dove in. I mean taking the story from the dance hall girls perspective and unwed pregnancy, and saloon days aren't always the easiest or pleasantest of topics - and yet it worked. I felt connected and could feel God shining through it. The whole story and era just had me captured and I couldn't put it down for the night (yes, I finished it in one night because it was that good!!)
The really cool thing about this series is that it focuses on towns across the country. I love the feel of the wild west in this one, and running into characters like Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers. It's how I imagined them to be in the west, yet they weren't the focus of the story, so it made it all the more intriguing how they fit in.
I was shocked at the end of the book how much history she had actually put into the book. She actually went to Tombstone, where she took pictures of the actual boarding house mentioned in the story, as well as the saloon ~ The Oriental. I mean wow! That totally blew me away! I don't think most of us realize how much work goes into books like this! It gave me a real sense of history and layout of the place.
I would most definitely pick up another book my Miralee in hopes of more history and hope laced together! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good Christian Historical Western!
Christy Grey receives a telegram from her brother urging her to come and care for her ailing mother. Christy had just gotten settled into her new life with new friends and employment in California but she figured this would be a perfect oppurtunity to reconcile with her mother. On her long trip to Tombstone, as if the journey wasn't difficult to begin with, the stage coach gets robbed. Then she no sooner arrives in Tombstone and her brother takes off for his wayward life of gambling leaving her to deal with her ailing mother. There was little money and even worse there was an almost bare cupboard. She would have to find some kind of employee right away, just to provide for their necessary needs.
Nevada King is headed for Tombstone to begin a new life and hopefully acquire a wife and his own ranch. He must stop for one more night before reaching his destination. With luck, he thought, he rides up on a group of men that have camp set up for the night and hopes they would allow him a bite to eat and a place camp for the night. But come morning it become apparent these men were not what he had assumed. He meets a lovely women during a stage holdup and then recognizes her latter on after he arrives in Tombstone. Will Christy turn him into the law assuming he was part of the stage holdup or will outlaws catch up with him first to seek revenge?
It was nice to see the author borrowed the character Christy Grey from her book Love Finds You in Last Chance, California. She continues with Christy's life in a reconciliation attempt to build a new relationship with her mother and brother. The author creates many situations which lead the young woman into a new relationship not only with her family but with a handsome cowboy and most importantly God. This book has trust issues, revival of ones soul, and a mission to save a young women from a world of white slavery. Showing us how God provides for his children.
I highly recommend this book.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5.
Disclosure: This book was a gift and I was not required to write a review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.
If you found this review helpful write yes or no here.
Title: LOVE FINDS YOU IN TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA Author: Miralee Ferrell Publisher: Summerside Press February 2011 ISBN: 978-1611296259 Genre: Historical romance
Christy Grey is excited about a chance to start over. When her brother contacts her saying he needs help caring for their sick mother, Christy is quick to jump to assistance. After all, it means she leaves behind her reputation as a salon girl in Last Chance, California. A new beginning. Just what she needed. So, she takes a stage to Tombstone, Arizona. However, the trip goes from bad to worse when the stage is held up by four masked men.
Nevada King has problems of his own. He’s been dodging bullets for years and wants nothing more than to settle down and get married. But he’s on the run from outlaws bent on revenge, and the one woman who captures his interest recognizes him from the stagecoach holdup.
Christy arrives in Tombstone to find her brother trapped in a life of gambling. He’s already spent all their mother’s money. Desperate for money to support her family, will Christy bow to pressure from the local saloon owners and return to the life she thought she’d given up for good? And will Christy turn Nevada in to the authorities, or will the outlaws on his trail catch him?
LOVE FINDS YOU IN TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA, is a sort of follow-up book to a secondary character who first appeared in Love Finds You in Last Chance, California. Even if you haven’t read that book, it’s okay, this book easily stands alone. I couldn’t help but care for Christy and for Nevada, and I cheered for them as they attempted to work through their difficulties.
I really enjoy the Love Finds You series, based in real towns across the United States. I’ve never been out west, but this town made me interested in what it might be like to visit, if I ever go to Arizona. I enjoyed reading about this rough and tumble western town.
If you enjoy reading Christian Westerns/historical romances, you will want to read LOVE FINDS YOU IN TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA. I especially enjoyed the author’s note at the end of the book. $12.99. 315 pages.
This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.
3/21/2015- “I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm sensitive to mentions of women selling themselves. I know it unfortunately happens even in today's society, but I hate it. While this book had good witnessing and faith growing parts, it wasn't for me due to content.”
*Main Content- Many mentions of saloon girls & hints to what they do; Many mentions of men who use saloon girls & hints to what is happening; Many mentions of saloon girls "entertaining" men for the night (with "less than honorable intentions"); Mentions of dresses that show cleavage; Mentions of saloon girls who are or become pregnant; Mentions of abortions; Almost kissing & Wanting to kiss; a barely-above-not-detailed kiss and four semi-detailed kisses; Touches & Unbuttoning clothing (no details); Many mentions of saloons, gambling, drugs, smoking, & drinking; Mentions of Indians doing scalpings; Blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Curses (said, not written) and minor cussing.
This was a very light romance, not a lot of depth in the story line, and a little predictible. It did have a good basis in Christianity and that did really help the main characters. I enjoyed the old west flavor of the book and Christy's (as well as Nevada's) caring ways. The writing was a bit like a Hallmark movie but was likeable and pleasant.
Finding Love In Tombstone Arizona by Miralee Ferrell*****
Christy Grey leaves her friends in Last Chance California on a stagecoach to Tombstone Arizona after she receives a telegram from her younger brother, Joshua, that their mother is gravely ill and he needs help caring for her. While on the road the stagecoach is robbed and Christy is shot in the arm. One of the bandits helps her wrap her arm and asks her to promise not to give a description of him to the sheriff if he helps her. Finally arriving in Tombstone she tries to locate her brother since she does not know where they are living and needs him to take her to their mother. And she needs to see the doctor to have him look at her arm.
Nevada King runs into trouble on his way to Tombstone where he had hopes of starting a new life working his own ranch and possibly settling down with a wife. He meets up with the stagecoach just as it is being robbed by the men who allowed him to stay in their camp the night before. They force him to help them, however he doesn't want any parts of a robbery but helps a young woman who had been shot.
While in Tombstone Nevada and Christy meet and realize that he was the man who had helped her on the stagecoach. But Nevada isn't sure she will keep her promise and not describe him to the sheriff. Their paths continue to cross and they develop an attraction to each other. But what can ever come of it? Christy's mother is running out of money fast and Christy searches for a decent job to no avail. What is going to happen to her mother, brother and her if she can't find a job soon? And what of Nevada, can she trust him?
This was a delightful story of reconciliation, struggles, fears, grief, forgiveness, love and faith. Historical facts of Tombstone of 1880's is complete with saloons, gambling and Doc Holiday which are woven through this story along with fictitious but realistic characters.
Miralee Ferrell's books are a delight to this reader. From her historic Love Finds You books to her contemporary The Other Daughter and Finding Jeena, Miralee delivers a compelling story that entertains and satisfies.
Her latest accomplishment, Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona, unfolds a romantic tale set against the backdrop of one of the old west's most notorious historic towns. If you are drawn to the intriguing personality of the rugged denizens of frontier days with a questionable history and the ladies whose pasts are less than stellar, you must read this book.
Miralee delves into the life of character Christy Grey beyond her appearance in Love Finds You in Last Chance, California. When Christy is called home, she not only finds her brother unreliable to help with her ailing mother, but encounters outlaws during a stagecoach holdup on her journey. Her dilemma worsens when she promises one of the outlaws involved to keep his identity a secret when it is revealed to her. Christy's problems and her past serve as a stumbling block to the dreams she hopes to someday fulfill.
Nevada King has dreams of his own. Yet, circumstances beyond his control put him in a bad light to Christy, the woman for whom he feels a growing attraction. He also lives in constant danger of pursuit by outlaws who are out for revenge. As Nevada proves himself to be a friend not only to Christy, but also to her family and a saloon girl looking for a way out of the sordid life that has trapped her, Christy's heart softens toward him.
Miralee has interwoven real life documented historical occurrences with her fictitious but believable characters. She has crafted a story that deposits the reader smack dab in the midst of the old west in the late nineteenth century.
Miralee Ferrell takes the reader back to the wild, gunslinging Old West in Finding Love in Tombstone, Arizona. The fear produced by sudden shoot-outs and hold-ups, the dust, the saloon atmosphere, the hapless saloon women who were ostracized yet longing to be free of their lifestyle; all were very convincingly portrayed by Ms. Ferrell. I felt like I was experiencing the certain horrible excitement of proud gunslingers or the fear of a lady serving gamblers and card sharks who had too much drink and not enough common sense.
The main characters, Christy and Nevada, are life-like, attractive, but struggling with issues from their pasts of which they are ashamed. Can they learn such concepts as forgiveness, a love that is real, and trust in God, who seemingly ignored them when they needed Him most? The secondary characters,among them Joshua and Sarah, are as fully drawn and interesting as their main counterparts, and fulfill their parts of the story smoothly, aiding the reader's understanding of an 1880's mining town.
A sweet, poignant romance with bits of sadness. Think of a beautiful parchment document edged by a wood-burning tool. So this beautiful story is enhanced and made more beautiful by the bits of sadness contained therein, as it all works together to produce a wonderful feel for the lifestyle of the Old West. Miralee Ferrell has done a masterful job in delivering this slice of western life, and you will not want to miss it!
I loved both Christy Grey and Nevada King. Miralee did an incredible job of developing and presenting these great characters. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them and slowly learning about their personal backgrounds. It helped me see what shaped them into the people they are at the time of this story.
The interest between them started to build slowly which is what I like to see in a book. It feels more natural to me that way. I was fascinated by the inclusion of some characters that I have actually heard about in history and many other books and movies set in the period and location.
One other thing that I really enjoyed in this story was the focus on God’s redemption. Both Christy and Nevada were encouraged to trust God by others in their lives.
Sorrel Brigman did one of the best jobs of narrating that I have ever heard in an audio book. The variety of voices that she used for the different characters kept the book alive. I was totally entranced by her narration.
I received a free copy of this wonderful audio book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
(I have written this review based on the audio book version.)
This book had me from page one. Miralee really knows how to write a book I have not found one yet that I have not liked. Love finds you is a series but there is no need to read them in order. every story is unique in its own way Christie Grey and Nevada King are the two main characters in this book. Nevada is a ex outlaw and Christie Grey has come to tombstone to care for her sick mother. it's truly a wonderful love story a big page turner for me. I am looking forward to reading more of your books Miralee thumbs up you did a awesome job!!!
Excellent book, I feel in love with all the characters so much and the way the Author weaved the story with actual historical sites and people it made you feel like the story could have truly happened. And best part is how she shows that whatever horrible fate the characters face, God is right there to turn it around. This book is one of my favorites of all Miralee Ferrell's books
Christy Grey receives a telegram from her brother urging her to come and care for her ailing mother. Christy had just gotten settled into her new life with new friends and employment in California but she figured this would be a perfect opportunity to reconcile with her mother. On her trip, the stage coach gets robbed the first shoe the second was finding her brother has embraced a new life of gambling. In doing this he has spend all of the monies which his father had left their Mom. The job market did not give much hope. She was hoping that it would not mean that she has to work in another saloon.
Nevada King was headed for Tombstone to begin a new life and hopefully acquire a wife and his own ranch when he rides up on a group of men who has set up camp for the night and they invite him to join them. What he didn’t know was they were going to rob the stage court the following day. They left him holding the horses. Once Christy recognize Nevada she realizes that there is a price on his head the monies would help her and her family if she turns him in to the law. Before she can make up her mind he helped her with bring water to where her mother was living and seem to be a honest man. Perhaps, they can make a life together.
From the beginning of the book, there was no question on the ending. But that did not stop me from enjoying each page. The author researched her book well before taking us back into the wilds of old Tombstone. The book was realistic and kept to the task of leading us through the lives of each character. I especially like the way she wove God into the book without making "religion" the main topic. Kudos to Ms Ferrell! I'll read #e book next.
This book captivated me as I followed Christie's life and trials. I often wondered why books aren' t like real life and then thought because we would not read them as they would be boring. But not this book. It could be a real person's life and trials. I find the action, romance and faith so real in this story. A real page turner and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I have visited Tombstone, AZ a couple of times in my life and I have always been interested in its history. This story has some facts intertwined in its storyline that addes to the story. This is the second book in the series and even though the are characters from the first book in this second one it is also ok to read this one on its own. This is also a Christian Historical Romance so there were no spicy scenes in this romance. Still very good though.
This is a Christian love story set in the old West in the 1800's. Simple, easy, fun reading centered around people who make mistakes in life but can recover from them and find good happenings. I call a book like this (for me) eye candy reading.