High Country (Jennie Hansen)

A terrible car accident left Laura fatherless, injured, and at a loss for many memories of her life before the accident. But when she and her cousin Bruce are going through their Aunt Alice’s papers after her death, Bruce finds a certificate that will change Laura’s life forever: a marriage certificate. With her name on it. The doctors told her she wouldn’t be able to remember a lot of things, but how could she forget getting married?

Laura is shocked even further when she finds out she is the heir to her father’s fortune and his ranch, High Country. As she discovers the secrets about her past that Aunt Alice had kept so well hidden from her, Laura is determined to get back what is rightfully hers. But trying to regain the beautiful house and land from a stubborn cowboy, Paul “Mac” Burgoyne, who claims to be her husband, is more than she bargained for.

In this gripping novel, best-selling author Jennie Hansen presents a fresh set of realistic, entertaining characters who learn the importance of forgiveness, faith, and love in the face of discord and misunderstanding. Once you start reading High Country, you won’t want to put it down.

This book was so good, that I couldn't put it down and had to read the whole thing in one day.  It was a good mix of modern day life mixed with a western love story.

 

The Heirs of Southbridge (Jennie Hansen)

When tragedy strikes Southbridge plantation, young Clayton and his brother, Travis, are forced from the only home they’ve ever known. Fleeing the drunken rage of their grandfather, with bounty hunters and horse thieves thick on their trail, the boys and their father try to eke out a lonely life as fugitives and cowboys. As Clayton nears adulthood, his greatest desire is for a strong and stable family, but his father’s death and his brother’s departure leave him more alone than ever. Seeking for roots, Clayton visits Southbridge en route to college and kneels on his mother’s grave, only to be accosted by a gun-wielding girl named Lucy, whose father will stop at nothing to make the plantation his own. Can Clayton realize his deepest desires of marrying the woman he loves, having a family, and reclaiming the plantation that is his rightful heritage?

 

I loved the girl Lucy in this book.  After I read the book and started looking into other books by Jennie, I found that the book I read recently "River once flowed" is the story of Travis' life after he and Clayton separated.

If I Should Die (Jennie Hansen)

One morning on a routine jog, Kallene’s running partner, Linda, confides that she’s filing for divorce. The next morning, she’s gone without a trace, leaving behind her frightened young daughter. Since Linda’s enraged husband refuses to notify the police, Kallene steps in to initiate a missing person search, not knowing it would soon become a murder investigation — or that she’d soon fall for the charming lead detective. With Linda’s handsome brother also on her mind, Kallene must navigate the rapids of a double romance as well as the deepening suspicion in her upscale Utah neighborhood. Intrigue turns to danger as Kallene faces the consequences of hasty judgments. And when startling new evidence casts Linda’s murder as the work of a determined killer, Kallene needs the intervention of unlikely heroes to avoid being the next victim.

I really enjoyed this book.  Jennie did an awesome job at introducing multiple possibilities in this murder mystery.

Where the River Once Flowed (Jennie Hansen)

New Mexico, 1879 — The Sebastian Hacienda is a lucrative and coveted ranch deep in the fertile wilderness of New Mexico, a property held for generations by the powerful Sebastian family. After the death of his son and heir, proud and formidable Don Sebastian has only one hope for the preservation of his land: his beautiful young granddaughter, Iliana. Desperate, he makes a shocking deal — the property will be sold to Ross Adams, an American cowboy, on the condition that he marry the stunning young Iliana and bequeath the land to her sons. A bargain is struck, but not everyone is pleased with the outcome. Neighboring rancher Ben Purdy has his eye on pretty Iliana — and on ownership of the Sebastian Ranch. In his ruthlessness, Purdy is willing to go to terrible lengths to acquire them both, even if it means destroying everything in his path . . . Utah Territory, 1891 — Travis Telford was born to be a cowboy. He left his family to chase the dream of someday owning his own ranch, but years of nomadic living as a ranch hand have proven taxing. After several seasons of horse trading with the American owner of the Sebastian Ranch, Travis finds his life dramatically altered by a routine stop at the property. He finds the ranch in chaos and the rancher’s beautiful widow Iliana in the midst of a turbulent land battle. His instinct to protect Iliana is undeniable, and as the danger mounts, only their reliance upon each other has the power to save them.

This wasn't one of my favorite love stories by Jennie Hansen, but it was okay to read once. 

Macady (Jennie Hansen)

Macady Jackson has never been in so much danger. When she saddled up her horse, she never could have imagined that her pleasant ride would end up with someone shooting at her. But unknown to Macady, she had wandered into a forbidden zone - a drug runner's airstrip.

When deputy Aaron Westerman hears the gunfire, he knows the risk involved in the investigation of the remote area has suddenly spread beyond just him. Scanning the valley, her sees someone clothed much like himself. He was supposed to be the target! Now it's up to Aaron to keep the innocent stranger alive. But he soon finds out that the "stranger" is someone he hasn't seen in years - and their accidental meeting has resurrected feelings he had thought were long dead. Can two people who have both been deeply hurt by love learn to trust again?

Quickly their attacker enlists others to mount a vicious campaign of terror against Macady, Aaron, and his four-year-old daughter, Kelsey. As the acts of terror escalate, Aaron becomes more determined to bring the criminals to justice as he protects the most important people in his life. But can he ever find out who is really behind all that is going on?

A sweet and romantic mystery where the heroes aren't all good and the villains aren't completely evil. Macady has enough twists and turns to grip you from beginning to end.

Wild Card

This action-packed novel is as full of twists and turns as the road to Galveston and Frank's new life. Set in turn-of-the-century America, this epic tale is as vast and sweeping as the plains of Texas . . . and beyond.
Filled with breathtaking suspense, Frank's story is one of misunderstandings, betrayals, heartaches-and deadly secrets. Bound together with an assortment of unsavory characters on the wrong side of the law, yet separated from them by his differing ideals, Frank finds himself in a race against time to save lives, even scores, and heal old wounds.
A timeless tale of the struggle between good and evil, and of one man's journey to find himself-and God.

If you love old western love stories, you will love this book. The beginning was slow to get started, but once the story took form it was one adventure after another. Definately worth reading at least once. After reading this book, I found out that Jennie Hansen (the author) has lived in our neck of the neighborhood (Kearns, Utah).