Lonestar Homecoming

Lonestar #3

by Colleen Coble

For most, it's the safest place on earth. For Gracie, it's the last place she wants to be...and the one place she must return.


With nothing but five dollars and the wedding dress she's wearing, Gracie Lister flees with her daughter by train to West Texas, to the town she ran away from so long ago. There they find refuge in the home of Michael Wayne--devoted single father, seasoned soldier--who gives Gracie a job caring for his two children and the hiding place she needs from her former fiancé.

Michael and Gracie aren't looking for love, but it finds them right away. And then trouble comes to call in the form of Gracie's ex-fiancé who is now on the FBI's most-wanted list. Together, Michael and Gracie must find the strength they need to protect their newly forged family.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Christian Romance

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2010

About the author

USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Arizona. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 6 million books in print.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
While I enjoyed Gracie and Michael and their three kids, the suspense plot was so wildly unlikely that it damaged my enjoyment of the rest of the book. I've heard other folks talk about finding "TSTL" (too stupid to live) characters and Gracie would surely have died early on. Her lies to "avoid problems" (which of course only made the problems much bigger) also really got on my nerves.

The descriptions of the Big Bend area were really well done, and I'll still be reading more in this series (which so far has been about single moms moving to town and getting marriages of convenience to local guys).

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one wasn't my favorite. It was set along the Rio Grande, in El Paso, and neared the border of Mexico. And dealt with two of the main characters becoming a target of the cartel. I lived in El Paso for 5 years so I was really excited the setting was familiar to me, but the story line was just highly unlikely when dealing with such serious danger. In the first book, I was forgiving that the characters seemed unbothered by the dangers they were facing but by this third book, I find I'm just not enjoying how the characters are dealing with the dangers they're facing. I did enjoy that one of the main characters was an army solider who transitioned to border patrol. I'm a military spouse so I enjoyed Michaels character.

Last note, I found the narrator of this audio book frustrating to listen to. On top of the characters lackadaisical attitudes, the narrators tone stayed casual even when there was danger or highly tense situations. It added to my overall dissatisfaction with this one. I was planning to read the fourth book in November so I could read the holiday books to this series in December, but find myself not looking forward to finishing the series. Unsure if I'll finish.

[Aerykah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying my second time through this series! :)
This time around, I listened to the audiobook - it's very good!

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Colleen Coble. The book started with action and set the pace for this story. Another sweet but filled with action/suspense marriage for convenience story.

Gracie and Micheal were both enjoyable characters who had some lessons to learn and struggles to overcome. I enjoyed how they met and how their relationship developed. Hope was just a cute little girl. There was also some humor in this story, especially at the end with Gracie and the desert.

The lessons of facing your fears and also to realise what is important and prioritise this was represented in this story.

I enjoyed catching up with Rick and Allie again!

If you like Christian romantic suspense and a marriage for convenience story, this series is highly recommended.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this 3rd book the most of the series. I related to both characters...one who has a tendency to run away from conflict and the other who fulfilled duty.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, far too similar to the other two books in the series. At least the author admits she has an obsession with "convenient marriages" in the afterword.

[Kathy Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

best of first 3 in the series

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads. Overall, I liked this storyline the most of the series so far. Gracie however drove me nuts with her running from every problem that comes her way. I struggled with her throughout the story. Good ending.

[Lauren Acosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Emily Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two books, probably more of a 3.8⭐️ but I rounded up. I didn’t like that Michael and Gracie basically disagreed/argued about everything until closer to the end of the book.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Colleen Coble is a good author, and she skillfully combines romance with action/adventure and mystery. This book Lonestar Homecoming, is the third book of a trilogy based in Texas. The story centers on single mother Gracie Lister and her precocious daughter, Hope. Gracie is marrying Border Patrol Agent Cid Ortega, primarily so that Hope will have a father (which is a truly stupid reason to marry anyone) but, before they can exchange vows, gunshots are exchanged outside of her home by FBI agents who question whether or not Cid is involved with a Mexican drug cartel. Realizing that Cid has lied to her, she does what comes naturally: she runs.

Gracie leaves for Texas with Hope in tow on a train, in her wedding gown with five dollars in her purse and a cell phone. Once there, she hopes to find work in a daycare center. However, she is intercepted by returning soldier/Border Patrol Agent Lt. Michael Wayne, and he buys her lunch and clothes, and hires her to be a live-in nanny for his two children, Jordan and Evan.

Gracie and Michael try to open up to one another, but they have major issues. Gracie has a dark secret from her past that involves her mother’s death and Hope’s parentage; Michael has a bounty on his head from the same drug cartel that murdered his brother, Phil. A peaceful home life does not come easy for these two.

The trilogy of books follows a very similar storytelling pattern. Young woman with child finds herself in mortal danger, meets wonderful man who agrees to marry them and take care of them. Gracie and Michael do enter into a marriage of convenience, which is a trite plot device used by authors to get couples into nonsexual situations when sharing a home or a bed. The couple eventually fall in love for real and the mystery is solved, the bad guys are jailed, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Coble makes Texas come alive and I credit her with having very vivid descriptions of the landscape and the people; I’ve never wanted to visit Texas but, after reading her descriptions, I might pass through someday. Her books never fail to have action, and the climax is truly great, although Gracie makes some ill-advised decisions that made me want to reach into the pages and slap some sense into her.

Coble writes Christian fiction, but her the religious aspect takes a backseat to the story. Gracie is the daughter of a preacher, and keeps his New Testament in her purse. It’s turned to the story of the prodigal son in Luke, which passes for character development in this story. When Gracie re-opens her heart to God towards the end, it feels false and hypocritical. Overall, it’s a decent day’s read, but not very deep or dark.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, Gracie is on the run with nothing but her wedding dress and her young daughter. She finds herself back in her home town where she meets a single father who asks Gracie to care for his children. But he doesn’t know that she’s on the run.

Together they must keep everyone safe when Gracie’s former fiancé, now wanted by the FBI, arrives in town and threatens to destroy their new family.

This was a suspenseful read. I enjoyed the story but it felt very implausible at times, so I think it was my least favorite book in the series.

4 stars

[Laura Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the best of the Lonestar series except that the heroine is wishy washy and runs from every confrontation and the alpha hero lets the bad guy sneak up on them over and over. 3 stars.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when you think it couldn't get any crazier, Colleen Coble steps it up. This book brought such levels of danger like I don't think we've seen so far in this series. The marriage of convenience basis to this series works like a charm, and it works again in this book. Great read.

[Cathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it...all three books of lonestar were good. liked that the characters moved along one book to another.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colleen Coble is one of the best! This series has been so good.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracie's wedding day is a disaster. When her life crumbles in a few short minutes, she takes her young daughter Hope and flees for the only place she knows to find safety - Bluebird Crossing. With the help of dashing Army lieutenant Michael Wayne and his warm-hearted neighbors, Gracie must battle her anxieties to create a home for her daughter.
The fact that I read this book in six days (while reading several books that, unfortunately, got pushed to the side because of my excitement over this one), is a testament to the skill that Coble has for creating a thrilling, romantic, and moving novel. I enjoyed watching Gracie grow - from her terrified flight in the first chapter to her moments as a mother and protector. Not only did she grow more courageous, but Gracie also grew in her faith, culminating in a powerful conversion of heart as she surrenders to God. The romance was delightful, and I loved seeing that Michael grew as an individual, as a soldier, as a father, and as a husband. Another great thing about Coble's books is that they often (especially in this series) feature characters with unique medical conditions. Gracie's condition was intriguing to read about, as I have only learned about it briefly in a psychology course when I was getting my Associate's. While the twist wasn't terribly unexpected in this one, I still had a great time following the suspenseful plot! Themes of redemption and hope work great alongside clear parallels to the Prodigal Son parable. I can't wait for Lonestar Angel!

[ElsaMakotoRenge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance is not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed the other two Colleen Coble books I've read, so when I saw this one for 99 cents at the thrift store, I figured I would give it a try. It's not a bad book, but I think Midnight Sea and The Lightkeeper's Daughter are better. Gracie is sweet and Michael is a nice guy. They did not annoy me. Gracie made some stupid decisions, but they were realistically stupid to me, if that makes sense.
The story does suffer from a case of insta-love, in my opinion. That annoyed me. It's a good thing I liked Gracie and Michael themselves or I would have quit reading.

...also. Near the end of the book, Gracie breaks her wrist. Two pages later, she tells Michael she is not hurt anywhere. This would be fine if it was made clear that she's lying or something, but as written, it's just a plot inconsistency. That annoyed me tremendously.

Don't read this book for the mystery factor. The "mystery" is barely a mystery. If you're looking for a sweet fluffy 'mushy' book with a touch of mystery then you will probably like it.

[Lori (on hiatus, life is crazy busy)) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series! I find it so romantic that the hero and heroine marry for convenience and then fall in love. Gracie grabs her daughter Hope and runs away on her wedding day after she witnesses the Mexican cartel shooting FBI agents that showed up to question her. On the run with nothing but the clothes on their backs and $5 to their name Gracie and Hope get on a train and hope to run and hide from whatever is happening. They meet Michael, a single father who is returning home from his duty in Iraq to care for his children who's mother just passed away. Upon talking to Gracie he learns that she is in desperate need of a job and a place for her and her daughter to stay. He offers her a job of caring for his home and children while he is at work. Soon danger lurks for both of them. Gracie must face her past in order to find happiness, but at what cost? Michael is trying to figure out who is targeting him and why. This story was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book!

[Christina Sinisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because I recognized the author's name and wanted to see...

Lots of suspense. I had to put some of it out of my mind as soon I read it, but the story still held my interest. I especially enjoyed the marriage of convenience and the growth of the characters.

I had a problem with the sermon inside the story, though. Sometimes, our families can't come first. I mean, the heroine faulted the hero for being deployed overseas and so on. She was wrong. Even our children can't always come first--God or country may be more important. I saw this in another book recently, where a surgeon was made to feel guilty for spending too many hours saving lives.

Yes, there needs to be a balance, but sometimes, just as in a marriage it's not always 50/50, sometimes it's all for one because that one is in need, sometimes other things come first.

I recommend this book if you can stand a little suspense.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

For most, it's the safest place on earth. For Gracie, it's the last place she wants to be... and the one place she must return. With nothing but five dollars and the wedding dress she's wearing, Gracie Lister flees with her daughter by train to West Texas, to the town she ran away from so long ago. There they find refuge in the home of Michael Wayne--devoted single father, seasoned soldier--who gives Gracie a job caring for his two children and the hiding place she needs from her former fiancé. Michael and Gracie aren't looking for love, but it finds them right away. And then trouble comes to call in the form of Gracie's ex-fiance who is now on the FBI's most-wanted list. Together, Michael and Gracie must find the strength they need to protect their newly forged family.
It has everything you look for in a book. . . danger, love, intrigue, hope, action and adventure. 5 stars

[Jan L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will not change my belief that Colleen Coble is an excellent Christian romantic suspense author, but this book has flaws. The FBI or a cartel not being able to track a fleeing woman in a wedding gown, for one, after she escaped from cartel killers. If you put the point of the story as a woman maturing from her terrible ability to relate with people it's okay but she was apparently in her 20's and rebellious to the parents who had supported and loved her throughout her life. She began going down a path of terrible choices until meeting a man who cared enough to help her through the darkness in her soul. Lots of angst balanced by lots of action but still a book that didnt really come alive for me.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danger with the cartel and Gracie is on the run with her daughter Hope. An unexpected hero steps in to help - Michael. They decide to marry since Michael has 2 children and no wife. So it's a marriage of convenience with Gracie looking out for all the kids. Cid is after her and she won't tell Michael. Liked how the romance between Michael and Gracie evolved. Just the right amount of romance without it being too mushy or any sex scenes. Suspense is high - I wondered how they were all going to make it out alive with Michael and Rick and Sam tied up and Cid taking Gracie and Hope. So good climax and ending to the book.

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed a copy of the audiobook version of this book by Colleen Coble from my local library.. Gracie Lister runs with her daughter on her wedding day after federal agents are gunned down in front of her home. She ends up on a train with no other money or clothing. Michael Wayne who is just returning from an overseas military stint takes pity on her and hires her as a nanny for his two children after the death of their mother. Both Michael and Gracie are being targeted by the cartel which makes for a very interesting plot. Graie has trust issues, and Michael learns what is really most important in his life. A great addition to this series.

[Denise Boldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lonestar Homecoming is the third book in the Lonestar Sanctuary series. Colleen Coble has written a western romantic suspense story set in West Texas, right by the Mexican border. In a marriage of convenience, you can’t help but root for both Michael and Gracie to move past their difficult pasts and succeed in making a future that takes into account their blended family while untangling the mystery of Gracie’s ex-fiance and the Mexican cartel. There’s constant suspense and danger throughout the book which caught my attention until I read the last page! I love how they kept the characters from the previous books in the storyline.

[Brenda Morgan Weakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lone star Home Coming

I have really enjoyed reading this series. The excitement, mystery, romance mixed together makes for a great read! I've enjoyed reading these books while I sat in a hospital for 50 day as with my husband. They made the time go by so much faster. I also love how you have the couples get married and slowly fall in love. No one really knows what LOVE is until you go through some trails in life.LOVE THIS SERIERS!

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book so far in this series. Even though I loved the other two books, this one stood out to me. Maybe it was because I was able to relate better with the characters. They were so lifelike and dealt with realistic issues.

I'm so happy to have found Coble's books as her writing abilities are amazing. She is truly blessed.

Now, on to the last book in the Lonestar series...

[Chere Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great read! I couldn't put it down! I HAD to find out what happened! Ms. Coble wove a tale of a whole lot of mystery with a little romance thrown in. It was touching & at times heartbreaking. But it was a clean, decent read and one I think some readers may enjoy. I recommend it and some of her other books as well.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Grace a marriage to Cid would give her daughter a home . With a wedding dress on, a knock reveals two law men and the truth about who Cid was. Her plans just weeks before was to go to Bluebird and a job. Getting there by train, and a lot of stares from people. To find her contact was gravely ill, a stranger offers them a meal and a job of his two children he now is guardian over.

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book I was like oh my goodness this is going in the same pattern as the previous two books in the serious and I thought for sure that I was going to be bored. This one did have a similar pattern but then it also had a difference. I enjoyed the series, and this series was my first time trying Colleen Coble. I liked her so she is now an author that I like and will read more of her books.