Sequins and Spurs by Cheryl St John

I loved this book by Cheryl St John. Ruby Deering left home at a young age to pursue her dream. She becomes a singer in Western towns traveling by train from town to town. Nash Sommerton married Ruby's sister to pursue his dream of owning a ranch. Will Nash and Ruby find forgiveness with each other?

Ruby comes back home to ask her mother and sister to forgive her for leaving them. She finds out that while she was gone, her mom and sister have died, her brother-in-law is living in her house, and she has a niece and nephew. Can Ruby and Nash forge their differences, let go of past mistakes, and make a life together?

Nash wants to own a ranch. He decides to marry Ruby's sister to help her and her mother out. When they die, his parents help out while he makes a go of the ranch. Once Ruby comes back home, he's afraid she'll take the place back. Can they come to an agreement? Can Ruby forgive herself for leaving her family in a bind even though she was a child when she left?

This is a wonderful story of forgiveness, letting go of the past, but realizing the past shapes who you are and makes you the person you are now. Have no regrets for your past, but move forward becoming the person you were meant to be. The descriptions in this historical novel took me back in time. The characters became friends I didn't want to leave at the end of their story. I admired the qualities of Ruby and Nash that made them who they are. Whether Ruby was standing up for herself, an orphan girl, or an abused horse, she followed through what she started and stood up for what she believed in.

Heaven Can Wait By: Cheryl St. John

I loved this book by Cheryl St. John. Just because you’re different doesn’t mean you don’t have worth. But, how far do you let pride take you before you realize it’s wrong? Lydia Baker notices Jakob Neubauer, an Outsider right before a fire breaks out in her bakery. He saves her and captures her heart in the process. Her father disowns her when she decides to marry Jakob against his wishes. Can she trust Jakob with her heart even though he’s an Outsider? Lydia must learn that just because someone is different, doesn’t mean something good can’t come from it. Can she be secure in Jakob’s love for her, or will she believe the lies someone tells her without thinking through what they’re saying? Will she let pride ruin what she has found with Jakob, or will she learn to trust her heart? Emily’s mother was always looked down on by the respectable women of the city. Then, she saw the ad in the newspaper that Anton Neubauer was looking for a bride. By marrying him she could now become respectable. She feels like she doesn’t fit in with his family, however. Instead of talking about her feelings, she lets pride get in the way and takes matters into her own hands, not realizing until it’s too late that her actions affect the people around her. Due to pride, Lydia’s father refuses to let her see her family. She must sneak back to see her mother and grandmother. His pride won’t let him accept Jakob for the man she loves. He punishes himself by letting pride rule. As events unfold, will he realize his mistakes or continue punishing those he loves? Jakob must teach Lydia how to love, as her family never touched or hugged. She doesn’t understand the feelings she has for her husband and thinks it is wrong to love him. Heaven Can Wait is a sweet story of finding and expressing love to the ones around you, and sometimes having to overcome pride to let their true feelings show. Always say I love you and be yourself. Don’t let pride rule your actions. Heaven Can Wait is a book I will read over and over.