The Burning Hills

If you enjoy western stories you will enjoy Louis L'Amour in "The Burning Hills".  The author is a master at painting word pictures in your mind.  He goes into great detail describing his characters and the story setting.  When reading "The Burning Hills" you can see the rugged red rock formations, the many variety of cactus, the tumble weed blowing, and feel the burning sun on your back.  His main character is usually a loner, Indian smart at tracking and living off the land, a top marksman with a gun or rifle, a great boxer,and loves his horse.  Then he encounters a beautiful woman, and he goes into a brain freeze.  In our story the two main characters are Trace Jorden, a man who is being hunted for shooting the owner of a large cattle ranch, and Maria Cristina, a Mexican woman who helps her family raise sheep.  I highly recommend that you read "The Burning Hills".  This story deserves five stars.

The Chance

I have read a number of books by Karen Kingsbury.  She is a good storyteller, but she also has a unique way of having her characters deal with and conquer the complex problems and struggles of daily life. Our story opens in Savannah, Ga. where we meet Alan Tucker a marine drill instructor and married to Caroline Tucker, the love of his life.  And their daughter Ellie who is fifteen.  Nolan Cook is Ellie's age, constant companion and best friend.  Nolan is a dedicated basketball player who hopes to go pro and play for the Atlantic Hawk's after college.  Alan abruptly moves himself and Ellie from Savannah to Camp Pendleton near San Diego, Ca.  Now comes the love interest of our story.  The night before Ellie and her Dad leave for San Diego, she and Nolan go to their favorite park.  While sitting under a hugh oak tree they both write a letter revealing how they feel about the other person.  The unread letters are then put in a tackle box and buried under the oak tree.  They then agree to meet on June 1st. elevan years later to read the other persons letter.  During the elevan years Ellie and Nolan experience abandonment;, loneliness, abuse, deceit, betrayal, shame, anger, determination and faith.  The authors handling of these real life issues is both reasonable and realistic.  Read "The Chance" to find out if Ellie and Nolan meet under the oak tree, and how their issues are really resolved.  I give this book five stars.