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Front Range Brides #2

An Unexpected Redemption

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Sweet Historical Western Romance


He doesn’t need her sass. She doesn’t need his approval.
But they both need a second chance.


Abandoned by her faithless husband for the Dakota gold fields, rancher’s daughter Elizabeth Beaumont returns to her hometown determined to prove she’s not the impetuous girl she once was. Armed with a new skill and old determination, she’s intent on making it on her own. Discovering that the new sheriff lives downstairs in the same boarding house wouldn’t be nearly so frustrating if he’d stay out of her affairs, quit calling her Betsy, and stop making her wonder if she could love again.


Garrett Wilson exchanged his deputy’s badge for a drover’s bedroll after his first attempt at law enforcement took an innocent bystander’s life. Now he’s back wearing a star in a Front Range cow town, hunting an arsonist and falling for a woman who wants to know the secret behind his deepest scar. He can run again from his painful past, or he can stay and fight for the town that needs him and the woman who’s worked under his skin and into his heart.

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Published April 26, 2018

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About the author

Davalynn Spencer

37 books260 followers
Cowboys. Gotta love 'em, right? That's why I write about them and their sweethearts, whether they live in 1800s Colorado or on a modern California ranch. My personal background in rodeo journalism helps me add a bit of cowboy reality to those stories.

My contemporary books are often found under Davalynn C. Spencer.

The Rocky Mountains offer rich settings for my historical novels, from actual cities with Wild West history to fictional towns tucked into the fold where granite ramparts meet grassy plains.

I've collected three "Bestseller" labels for novellas in Barbour collections, two Will Rogers Gold Medallions for Western Inspirational Fiction, and an international first-place award for my historical romance series, "Front Range Brides."

For information on my cowboy brides - whether runaway or mail-order - sign up for my quarterly newsletter at https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor....

Connect with me at http://www.davalynnspencer.com and http://www.Facebook.com/AuthorDavalyn.... And for a visual peek at what I'm thinking when I write, check out the images collected at https://pinterest.com/davalynnspencer....

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Davalynn Spencer.
Author 37 books260 followers
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October 15, 2018
Hello! This is my newest release, available for pre-order now, but releasing April 26, 2018. It's Book 2 in the Front Range Brides collection. I had so much fun discovering Betsy's story. She's the runaway sister of Cade Parker mentioned in Book 1, An Improper Proposal. I hope you'll put this book on your to-read shelf. Thanks for reading inspirational Western romance!
580 reviews
May 15, 2018
If God can make everything new again, in spite of the hard, painful parts, then we should let Him.

In this first book that I've read by Davalynn, I found myself “thrown off” the train in the middle of the night just as Elizabeth Beaumont–aka Betsy Parker—was and plunked in the middle of fighting a fire and a town I never thought I'd be back to. Yep, it was that real from the first line! My only regret, I never read 'An Improper Proposal' first so therefore I didn't have the backstory to exactly who Elizabeth was and why she never thought she'd return to her hometown. It took me a couple of chapters or so to really get into it and feel like I wasn't missing something important. Well worth my time reading it however, because I fell in love with the characters and Olin Springs, Colorado!

Sheriff Garret Wilson seems to get a kick out of goading Elizabeth every chance he got, finding new ways of stoking the fire of her anger just to see sparks fly. He irritated me on more than one occasion! But as I read further, he somehow wiggled his way in my heart...obstinate man! He's just as tight-lipped as Elizabeth is about his past & where he came from. Trying to get information out of these two was like pulling a nail out of a solid wood plank—pardon the cliché! However, Davaylnn slowly coaxed it out of them with her persistent & gentle writing; kind of like gentling a skittish filly. Both of them need to face the past head-on with the grace and forgiveness that God extends to each of us and rid themselves of self-inflicted guilt. There's also the backdrop of a mysterious arsonist to catch and a suspicious character to figure out.

A great read and time well spent in the pages of this book. Plenty of reminders of our own struggles with regret & guilt and where we can take those; to the cross Christ provided for us! I also enjoyed getting to know each of the characters. I think Maggie has to stand out to me with her wisdom and taking Elizabeth (Betsy) under her wing showing her the unconditional love of a friend and the Lord. Yep, this is one book I'd recommend to anyone who loves western historicals sprinkled with faith, love and forgiveness!

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. *
Profile Image for Glenda Parker.
Author 14 books21 followers
April 25, 2018
My review today is on the Western Romance, An Unexpected Redemption. This is the second book in the Front Range Brides Series. I really liked the first book in the series so I was thrilled when Davalynn sent me this book to read. I was not required to review it but I really enjoyed this book and I want you all to read it too. I know you will love it. This book is well written, full of adventure, and heart warming.

Elizabeth (Betsy Parker) Beaumont returns home to start over. She eloped six years ago right after her parents death. Now her husband left her, shes divorced, and lost her job; it's time to come home. She returns in the middle of the night hoping no one would see her. Her arrival is hindered by a fire at the hotel and she ends up in a bucket brigade. She returns to the depot wet and sooty. A dog tries to steal her recticule and rips it open, knocking her on her backside. A man comes up to try to help her. Trust, especially in men is an issue for her. The man was really irritating and she refuses his help.

Sheriff Garrett Wilson is intrigued by the city woman. He tries to help her after his dog knocked her over but she won't have anything to do him. His landlady calls her Betsy and he soon finds out that she use to break horses and is the best shot in town, not a city girl after all. She takes a job working for a new attorney. Garret doesn't trust this man and feels like he must protect her. What is this snake up to?

A journey of two souls who are meant to be together. They must learn to trust one another and trust God. God has a plan for them, a good plan and not for evil. God has a plan for you too, a plan for a hope and a future. Give him your heart and watch Him turn your life around.
Profile Image for Kelly Tyree.
515 reviews11 followers
April 23, 2018
I cannot say enough good things about An Unexpected Redemption. It is book two in the Front Range Brides series but it could easily be read as a standalone.

Elizabeth Beaumont returns to her hometown after having left town to marry a man who left her. Elizabeth is ashamed of her actions so instead of returning to the family ranch that her brother runs, she decides to live in a boarding house in town. She meets Sheriff Garret Wilson when she gets to town. Their meeting is made less that perfect by the addition of the Sheriff's dog, Pearl who made a poor impression on Elizabeth. Soon Elizabeth finds the Sheriff lives in that same boarding house. Despite the walls Elizabeth has built around her, she finds that the majority of the town welcomes her with open arms. She also forms a friendship with Garret who also holds his own secrets. Soon Elizabeth and Garret begin to work together to solve a series of fires that have happened in their town. As the two work together, the fall in love. But both Elizabeth and Garret have to do what is the most difficult thing to do. They have to forgive themselves so that they can have a future.

I love Spencer's books. She captures the essence of the historical west and she creates characters that are so easy to like and feel something for. With her great imagery you can imagine that your are there with all of the dust and that you are riding on the ranch with Elizabeth and Garret bringing the horses down to their pasture. Spencer's characters develop nicely throughout the book as well. An Unexpected Redemption keeps you engaged as you read a romance, suspense and action book all in one.

I receive a complimentary copy and I have given my honest review.
Profile Image for Phyllis.
1,288 reviews35 followers
April 26, 2018
An Unexpected Redemption by Davalynn Spencer

An Unexpected Redemption is masterfully written! Not only is the story full of rich, interesting characters and an engaging plot, the author has a way with words. She knows just how many metaphors and similes to use before they are too much and her descriptions are insightful and lovely but not overused.

My favorite thing about the crafting of this book is the way the chapters end and begin. The start of each chapter contains a word or a phrase from the last sentence of the previous chapter. It is subtle – I didn’t notice it until somewhere around the seventh chapter. Then I started looking for it and found that no matter the topic, when I found the match, I would giggle. I occasionally found myself going back and forth between chapters to find the word, and I think those obscure links were more fun than the ones that were overt.

Betsy was ashamed about how she left town and the events that followed She allowed some misconceptions to go uncorrected and told some lies to cover her embarrassment. As is usually the case, there were consequences for that. Garrett had scars from his past that he tried to hide. Both discovered that the truth really does set you free.

The message of God’s forgiveness was strong and clear. I loved the way the lyrics of the hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God were sprinkled throughout the book. This hymn was the favorite of Betsy’s mom and the lyrics were used to speak the truth about God’s love to her.

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us

This second book of the series stands by itself. There was a little hint about the events from the first book, but unlike some series that are like this, I had to look up the first book to see if my guess was right about who the main character was.


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads


I would like to thank Davalynn Spencer for giving me this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
500 reviews11 followers
April 25, 2018
I love Davalynn Spencer's stories. They're like spending time with old friends. Her characters are so real they pull you right into the stories with them. The sense of history and place make it feel like you are there, enjoying the scenery along with the characters. And Davalynn's way with words makes it a joy to read her stories. I loved Betsy and Garrett's story. It was romantic and heartwarming, and included some mystery that kept you wondering what was going on that we didn't know about. And I loved the visits from Book One's characters, especially Deacon - a character I hope we haven't seen the last of. Even though this was the second in the series, it could be read as a standalone. But be sure to get the first one - its totally worth it! This was one of those books that I kept checking to see how many pages were left - because I didn't want it to end. I can't wait for the next one! I received a copy of this book from the author, which in no way affected this review. It was given freely, and the thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Profile Image for Pamela.
60 reviews
April 26, 2018
An Unexpected Redemption by Davalynn Spencer

Davalynn Spencer has written another wonderful book.
I love the interaction between Garrett and Besty. She didn’t need a man because she had already been hurt by one. Then she meets Garrett and the sparks fly. He is such a great hero just like the other hero’s in each of Davalynn’s books. The mystery in this book surprised me and that’s what made it so good. If you love Christian historical romance set in the Wild West Frontier were danger lurks, facing past mistakes and learning to forgive yourself, humorous and romantic all in one book then this book is for you. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down.
This book deserves all five stars plus more. I look forward to the third book in this series.
I received an e-book from the author but was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own."
Profile Image for Lori.
1,892 reviews132 followers
May 19, 2018
This is my first book by this author and I really loved it!!
I enjoyed her writing style to boot.
in fact Id love for you to read it yourself so u can see what I'm talking about!!
There are some really great characters in this story each seeking forgiveness and there some mystery mixed in as well.
I spent all afternoon with Betsy and Garrett and delightful Maggie. And it was worth it!!
I received this book for free. All opinions are my own
Profile Image for Carolyn Neinas.
67 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2018
A great book in this series. I have liked every book this author has written. She writes very well and her books are well edited. This book was no exception. It was a great story line and I loved the characters. I'm looking forward to book 3!
Profile Image for Sunnie.
997 reviews46 followers
April 17, 2018
The second in a 2 book series called Front Range Brides was a sweet and very interesting book by Davalynn Spencer.

Elizabeth finds herself abandoned by a husband more interested in the gold mines then in her and returns to her hometown planning on finding her own way. She meets the sheriff, Garrett, and their first encounter does not make a good impression.

As their paths intertwine and they find themselves interacting together, they both hold back something of their past they aren't yet willing to share and be open about.

This book is really a good book. I even like the cover as she does fit the time period. A lot of the historical covers I have been seeing have "modern" looking women, with modern make-up and hair styles. This one fits the time and the book.

I have enjoyed both books of this series, and can't wait till another book comes out from this same author.

I received an ebook copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Ann.
2,624 reviews3 followers
April 26, 2018
This book has it all mystery, suspense, romance, and horses. Once you start reading about Betsy and Garrett's story you don't want to stop. This is a book that is full of hope and inspiration.
Profile Image for Mandy.
150 reviews7 followers
May 22, 2018
If you want to read clean, historical, Christian Fiction with a Western flair this book is for you! It is packed with adventure, intrigue, romance, and much much more! The descriptions the author uses are just the right amount to make you feel as if you're there with the characters you will fall in love with. Mrs. Spencer has quickly become one of my favorite authors. It won't take you long to know why when you read this story. Saddle up for this amazing read! You'll be glad you did!
Profile Image for Qukatheg.
222 reviews24 followers
June 2, 2018
I received this book for free through Voracious Readers Only.

Elizabeth Beaumont returns to her hometown after a long absence just as a series of fires are disturbing the town. Sheriff Garrett Wilson, who stays in the same boardinghouse as Elizabeth, is investigating the fires and suspects foul play. Naturally, he suspects the newcomer.
The sheriff is something of a bully, Elizabeth is a stubbornly independent woman, and both are slow to trust. No wonder the two of them clash at every turn. Neither of them is a very likeable character, and yet their love story was still fun to read.
The atmosphere in this books is amazing. All the little details felt right and the town felt so real. Like being transported to the past.
Profile Image for Vicky Sluiter.
Author 1 book88 followers
April 15, 2018
Right off let me say that although this is book 2 in the series you can read it as a standalone. But why would you want to? Book 1, The Improper Proposal, was such a delightful book that I recommend you read it.

We all make mistakes, and Maggie and Garrett are not any different. These two characters are so well written that you will love them. The chemistry between them will make you laugh, and at times make you want to shake them. Can you say stubborn??

Author Davalynn Spencer writes a story that reminds us forgiveness is always possible, no matter what we’ve done. But we have to let go of the past and move on with what God has planned for our lives.

Written with mystery, warmth, and humor, An Unexpected Redemption is sure to please anyone who enjoys 1800s Christian Fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Profile Image for Crystal.
259 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2018
After reluctantly returning to her hometown under a cloud of shame and regret, Betsy Beaumont sets her sights on making it on her own. However, she soon finds her strong-willed nature clashes with Sheriff Garrett Wilson's easy-going, gentlemanly manner. At times throughout the plot, Betsy and Garrett's interactions were down right hilarious as he continually provoked her wrath all in good-natured fun! The romance between the two was subtle at first, later blossoming into a union filled with fiery kisses, gentle challenge, and heartfelt reminders of God's forgiveness and power to make all things new. I was so happy to see Deacon (among other past characters) make an appearance in this sequel, and was delighted with Maggie's character! She was not only wise, but also a little spit-fire! Spencer always does an exceptional job at bringing love to the Wild West frontier!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. A review was not required but was voluntary and contains my own thoughts and opinions.
122 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2018
An Unexpected Redemption is an inspirational story about releasing the guilt we carry from past mistakes and transgressions. A powerful lesson of forgiveness that when embraced leads us to experience the freedom God’s offers. Sometimes the person we need to forgive is ourselves. Elizabeth and Garrett were two delightful characters I enjoyed getting to know through the author’s engaging writing, poetic at times. The author pens a stirring story filled with faith, humor, romance and mystery. It can be read as a standalone but characters from Book 1 make an appearance so treat yourself to reading that story first. Maggie endeared herself to me, a wise woman.

Favorite quotes:

“Oh, it’s not reaction, dear. It’s response, and that’s altogether different. We get to choose our responses-anger, trust, kindness, et cetera. More often than not, we just don’t think about it.”

“If God can make everything new again, in spite of the hard, painful parts, then we should let Him.”
231 reviews6 followers
April 20, 2022
Sweet redemption

This is a wonderful story of forgiveness for past mistakes and God's restoration. Elizabeth returns to the home she left many years ago broken and ashamed expecting to be rejected by the people in town. She meets the town sheriff who has secrets and wounds of his own. As they are thrown together more and more, they face danger and uncertainty but are able to help each other find the forgiveness they need.
53 reviews
April 1, 2020
A heart warming story

This is a wonderful book to read during this COVID19 crisis. It’s a clean story (no raw sex) and an endearing story. The characters are described so you feel you know them or can relate. A good read so I gave it 5 stars.
85 reviews
January 31, 2021
Wonderful historical romance!

I loved Betsy and Garretts story! Once I got into the story I could barely stop reading it to go to sleep. I really look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Patricia.
2,958 reviews17 followers
November 3, 2019
I enjoyed this one. I would like to read more by this author.
358 reviews
June 18, 2020
LOVED this book by Ms. Spencer. Wonderful characters, adventures and struggles with a beautiful faith and romance to boot. I love her books and look forward to the next one!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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