Love Finds You in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell

Love Finds You in Last Chance, California Reviews

• 
  Margaret Daley

  I just finished reading Love Finds You in Last Chance, CA and I really enjoyed this story. It has everything I like--a good love story, interesting characters (not only the hero and heroine but the secondary ones, too) and a little suspense and mystery also.
  
  Ms. Ferrell captures the feel of the old West and threw me back in time to Last Chance in the late 1800s. I could picture the setting and the characters by her description. I was pulling for Alex (Alexia) from the beginning, and when Justin showed up in Last Chance, things really began to happen.
• 
  Hannah

  This was the weakest of the series for me. I spotted the bad guy right away, but the heroine never saw it, instead wasting all her time suspecting the good guy of being some random outlaw because of a fancied likeness to a Wanted poster sketch. Even after she found out her father trusted him and sent for him! There was a lot of well-done stuff but I kept being super annoyed by her baseless suspicions.
  
  
• 
  Shirley Johnson

  In this wonderful book we are taken to Last Chance, Texas, where Ben and his daughter, Alexi live. I was impressed that Last Chance, Texas, is a real town, although the story is fiction. Ben and his daughter are horse ranchers. Ben has taught Alexi everything he knows about ranching and horses. As the story goes, Ben finds goal on their property and while telling a friend he sees that someone has overheard their conversation, but he doesn't know who. Ben knew that the knowledge of the discovery of gold would bring trouble so he contacts his friend, a friend that unbeknown to him had died. Ben had helped this friend and he knew that he would return the favor. His friend had a son, Justin, who also had a three-year old son. Justin comes to Last Chance to repay the favor to Ben but before he gets there Ben dies.
  
  Now to add a little spice to the read, Justin thinks Ben has a son named, Alex, not a daughter named, Alexia. However, he is pleased to meet such a strong and beautiful girl and Justin accepts a job from Alexia and stays on the ranch. Justin and Alexia begin to form a relationship of trust one with another, but there is another fellow in the mix, the man who owns the ranch next door, Carter. This man is well-off and perhaps the best catch in the area for any single woman, and his sights are on Alexia. However, there is evil underfoot and the lives of Alexia, Justin and his son are in danger, but who is the one who will stop at nothing to obtain the goal, and what really happened to Ben that killed him and who truly is responsible?
  
  This is an excellent read. The author takes you right into the heart and soul of her characters and their lives. She layers mysteries that play upon mysteries, intertwined with the characters in the story and weaves their emotional responses well into the read, and that becomes an important part of the entire picture. I believe what I like about this story, and this author's writing in general, is that she writes with her heart, not just her head. Anyone who writes with their heart adds the realism of life into their story and that makes such a difference in the impact of enjoyment that the story brings to the reader. This book is truly rich in realism and you quickly become one with the characters, their lives, and the challenges they are facing. I have to say this is an exceptional read, one that I am proud to give my highest recommendation. Watch this author, she is definitely going places.
  
  
• 
  Margaret Watkins

  In this Christian suspenseful romance, Alex is horrified when she discovers that her father has taken out a loan to purchase superior quality horses for the ranch's breeding program. When he loses his life under suspicious circumstances, Alex comes under pressure from those who would take advantage of the situation. In response to an urgent call for help, Justin arrives at the ranch in time to assist in tracking down missing stock. The attraction between Phillip and Alex is immediate, as they face one challenge after the other. The story is clean and sweet, although suspenseful as the main characters face the challenges set before them. This novel is generally well written, is a standalone and comes to heartfelt and successful close.
• 
  Dawn

  It was ok. I'd figured out early on who the bad guy was. I did enjoy it though.
• 
  Gretchen Scott

  This is actually one of the traveling books that I decided I would give a try.
  
  Alexia Travers is living on a ranch with her father, in Last Chance, California. Her life was fine working on the ranch and riding horses, in fact she preferred it over the socials and nice events and people ht expected her to be a proper lady, not ride around in men's trousers doing a man's job. But, it suited her just fine, for it enabled her more time with her father. She hoped to follow in his footsteps and inherit the farm one day. That day came quicker than she would have liked, when her father unexpectedly falls off of his horse and has a heart attack, leaving her to care for the ranch. She misses her father, but knows that she can handle the ranch on her own. when everything goes wrong: horses start to go missing, her father's gold is gone, she has a serious debt to pay and ranch hands are quitting because they won't take orders from a woman. Then Justin Phillips arrives, with his three year old son Toby looking for a job. To her he is a living miracle that showed up just in time. Little does she know that Justin is running away from something too: his past.
  
  I thought this was a vey good book, it started out fast. Right from the beginning you were meeting all of the characters, and the whole story line was formed in the first two chapters. I thought that all of the characters had a strong and realistic profile. I definitely liked certain traits of the characters more than others. For example, Alexia was extremely tom-boyish, outgoing and courageous. Justin was the quiet, strong and caring kind. The author did a very good job of portraying these characters and their unique qualities. I think the best character was the villain of the book, he had a very strong disguise and you did't know who it was till the very end.
  
  At some points in the book it was a little bit slower but by the end of that chapter it had picked right back up. At one point in the book I would have liked to hear Alexia's view on the story and not just Justin's, because more so about her than it was about Justin.I would definitely recommend this book, and if you don't already have it it is still currently a traveling book on the group christian fiction devourers.
• 
  Christy Trever

  Love Finds You in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell is the fifth book in the Love Finds You series; however, each book is a stand-alone, so don't worry about missing anything if this is the first volume you pick up. Alex Travers is used to not living up to other people's expectations . As her father's sole child, she grew up working with horses and helping him run the family ranch, so it's only natural that after his sudden death she would take over as head of the ranch. Not everything may be as it appears however. Her father sent for Justin Phillips help because of suspicions about mysterious attacks and disappearances . Justin comes out of a sense of obligation as well as relief. After the recent death of his wife, he's taking care of their son Toby on his own. I truly enjoy Ferrell's writing, and this book exceeded my expectations of a western romance. Those are not typically a genre I read, but the romance between Alex and Justin was slow-moving and entirely natural. She's an unusually strong character for the genre, and it was a neat twist for the hero to have a child to care for. While the Christian themes came on a bit thick at the end, in the rest of the book they were handled with a less heavy hand. Several of the minor characters were developed well, as was the town of Last Chance itself. I wouldn't mind returning there again!
• 
  Chelsea

  As a resident of California, this is the first book I've read from Summerside fiction, and I already look forward to reading more!
  
  LAST CHANCE, CALIFORNIA is Classic Christian Fiction: broken people who get their happy ending (except the villain, naturally). That having been said, each story tends to be a little different. Ferrell's book stand's out from the others in that it has a stronger central female character than most. Alex is not only head strong and independent, butshe also thinks things through and does a lot of her own investigating. She isn't afraid to speak her mind and doesn't care what those around her will think of her actions. Quite refreshing! Justin, the central male character, is so genuine you can't help but love how he has taken to caring for Toby and Alex. I also found myself curious about Christy's situation and her back ground story - how did she get to where she is? What is truly in her heart? How will her new future change her?
  
  Ferrell's writing style is easy and gripping. Her words come off the page, making you feel happy and warm when the characters are smiling and nervous when the action gets super tense. Ferrell is an author to keep your eye on.
• 
  Kathy

  I liked this one; I actually really enjoyed the story and characters. Our heroine Alexia (Alex) was easy to relate to. I liked that while she was a “tomboy” she was still a girl. She has a really big heart, and having been judged harshly from ladies in the town for her tomboyish ways, has actually made her a better more compassionate person. I really liked that about her, especially her treatment of Christy. I liked Justin quite a bit as well. He wasn’t the over-the-top hero swooping in to save the day; he actually let Alex be the boss and wasn’t intimidated by her taking charge. I thought the story was well written, it was kind of obvious who the bad guy was, but I was still surprised with the twist at the end. Overall, another great addition to the Love Finds You series, I liked it.
  
  Oh, and I thought this was kind of neat. At the end of the book the author provides a link to the publishers website where you can see some pictures of Last Chance, CA. I got a kick of seeing them, especially the old ones of the actual town.
  
  http://lovefindsyou.wordpress.com/200...
  
  Content: Clean, mild religious elements.
  
• 
  Beverly Lytle

  Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to live in another place and time? This was a heartwarming story that takes you back to 1877. Ms Ferrell’s descriptive writing will take you to the mountain ridges of Last Chance, California. Your mind will see the rocky ridges, the steep cliffs, the cedar and fir wooded lands, and the beautiful grassy meadows of a California horse ranch and the surrounding area. You will enjoy a time-accurate story without being bogged down by historical facts.
  Romance is blossoming between characters, while complimented with a mix of mystery and suspense that will keep you turning the pages. I enjoyed the innocent touch of a child woven within the story. I always enjoy the way this author shares her Christian faith through her writing. When a book is entwined with these wonderful qualities and surrounded by an engaging plot line, you will not be disappointed. Very enjoyable!
  
• 
  Rhonda

  I've never been to California so reading about Last Chance, California was quite a treat for me. I could imagine being there with the beautiful horse ranch spread far and wide before me. Alex embodies the true Christian spirit in her character and I know that I could learn some lessons from her character. This is a delightful pleasant read that involves some mystery as well as romance. I love books that combine the two....mystery and romance go together well in my opinion. I rate this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to readers.
  I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
• 
  Shannah Mauney

  I really enjoy Miralee Ferrell. I have never read a book by her that I didn't enjoy. This book is no exception. The story captivated me from page one and didn't let me go until the very end. There was a surprising twist that even I didn't see coming! Read my full review:
  http://faithlovebooks.blogspot.com/20...
• 
  Sheri

  Good Book! I will definitely read more by Merilee Ferrell. She wrote a wonderfully entertaining story.
• 
  Melissa Henderson

  Great story of family devotion and love. This author always writes very interesting stories. I enjoyed the story and the characters.
• 
  Hanna

  This was the first "Love Finds You in ..." book I read, but I've seen plenty of other authors I know with books in this series, so I figured I'd try this one out.
  
  It started out somewhat lame, and the prologue was choppy and stilted. Fortunately, the plot got going, and the writing improved as the story went on. The instant attraction between Alex and Justin seemed a bit unnecessary; after all, they were forced together despite the attraction, and their romance wasn't based on attraction in the end. The person who turned out to be the villain, though it wasn't obvious, was reasonable, yet not overly cliché.
  
  Now about the characters. Alex wasn't particularly likable; she was the cliché, tomboy male-named stubborn woman who thinks she can do anything a man can do. (Just as an aside, a woman like this probably wouldn't look that objectively beautiful, so Justin probably wouldn't be immediately attracted to her. In fact, my opinion is that the only reason Alex would attract multiple suitors is because there weren't many single young women in 19th century California) But her character arc was pretty good, and her anger at her father, Uncle Joe, and Justin just before the climax was realistic, without being incredibly annoying. (Her boneheaded action during the climax, however, was incredibly annoying, and I refused to get myself worked up about it)
  
  Justin was the normal good hero. I liked the way his past was gradually revealed, and his character arc, including his relationship with God, was also done well. I also like how he confided in the sheriff--not many westerns feature upright, helpful, and involved sheriffs. I also appreciated the unique twist with the relationship between Justin and Alex's father.
  
  The more major minor characters--Elizabeth, Martha, and Uncle Joe--were fairly realistic, and weren't the obligatory cookie-cutter people who were only there to provide the spiritual content. There were also enough people mentioned to evince a real town, yet not too many to get them mixed up.
  
  All in all, it was a pretty normal book, but it gets four stars instead of three because I like historical Christian romance.
• 
  Shara Bueler-Repka

  This was an easy, fun read. I love well-written mysteries. I love westerns with historical facts, especially when they revolve around horses. And nail-biting adventure?—just rounds out a good read for me. If, in addition, there’s romance, I prefer clean and innocent.
  
  The twists and turns of the plot kept me up way too late some evenings, not wanting to close my Kindle without knowing what happened next.
  
  The characters are well fleshed out. Their individual backgrounds are thoroughly described so you understand their motives behind their actions. The introduction of each character into the plot and how they interconnect with each other was well done. Their emotions and struggles with love, loss, betrayal, compassion, anger, fear, etc. are well depicted. I felt the emotion like the characters did.
  
  Alexia (Alex), the protagonist, is a strong, capable woman. However, she has admitted flaws that she works to overcome as she faces the many challenges in running a horse ranch, solving the mystery surrounding her father’s death, trying to catch the culprit sabotaging her ranch, and dealing with suitors as a single woman.
  
  A special shout out to the author for the character of Christy—someone, at first, you love to…well…severely dislike. Bring on the guilt of “judging” as the author artfully weaves in Christy’s painful past and, equally, her redemption. It was a subtle, Godly reminder that, “If you’re still breathin’, you still have a chance.”
  
  Any plot issues I saw, ones that have already been addressed by other reviewers, did not take away any enjoyment I received from reading this book. There are some books you read once and that’s it. I will leave this book on my Kindle to read again.
  
  I was given a free Kindle copy by the author, but reviewing it was my choice.
• 
  Michelle

  Beautiful Great Christian story line, full of life, And Gods Love. Alexia and Justin meet when Justin comes to Last Chance to pay up on a debt owed by his Father because Alexiea's Father helped Justin's Father when he needed it. Now Alexi's Father needs help and sends for Justin. There are mysterious things happening on the ranch and he thinks his life could be in danger, he wants to protect his daughter. Alex's father asks Justin to not say why he he has come to Last Chance and then Alex's Father dies and the problems on the ranch deepens. Justin has his own worries and personal issues to deal with too. But Justin is a man with good upbringing, a kind good hearted man. Alex is a a woman with a good upbringing, a kind and good hearted woman. Who Love the Lord but forget to cast their troubles and Trust The Lord Sometimes..as we all do. You will love this story, I hated for it to end. I was Blessed reading this story.
• 
  Hope

  I really don’t know where to begin.
  I liked the plot of the book and the characters were interesting enough although their character development was either rushed or nonexistent.
  My biggest disappointment was the writing. I’m not sure if the author is used to writing westerns but everything felt forced or over descriptive. A man was spitting tobacco in one scene and she kept saying where the tobacco spit landed.. also, in one scene, the MCs head was tipped back three times without it ever being said that she looked down or away.
  The salvation message the book gave was really well done but once again rushed. It felt like the first 30 chapters were slow and the last 5 were fast and furious.
  Although I liked the message I can’t say I’d ever read this again.
• 
  Leta McCurry

  Boy meets girl in this Western romance set in 1800s California. They both have hang-ups and face challenges. Evil forces are trying to take the ranch the heroine is attempting to save after the sudden death of her father. The same evil is trying to take the hero’s young son away from him. The two main characters suspect and mistrust each other. We know who the bad guy is almost from the beginning but there are enough twists and turns to keep the story moving. It is well written with interesting characters. Although it is a romance it has a an underlying theme of faith and redemption. I recommend it. Nice, clean entertaining read.
  
  
• 
  ✨ Gramy ✨

  
  
  This was a cozy read, but unfortunately it contained some gramatical errors and sexually explicit scenes that did distract the reader. Therefore, one point was deducted.
  
  Otherwise, the heroine and hero shared a beautiful love story.
  
  The villian was easy to figure out, but got his comuppance after trying to manipulate the wrong people.
• 
  Susan

  Justin doesn't put two and two together? I really found that hard to believe.
  
  The book was interesting. Things are happening on the ranch, you can tell someone is sabotaging the ranch. You kind of figure out who the bad person is, but you're not positive.
  
  I would like to read more of this series, I was intrigued by the characters about town.