Captured Secrets, Book 1 of the “Seven Tine Ranch Romance Book” series by Carmen Peone is a highly suspenseful contemporary Western that takes place on the Colville Indian Reservation in north central Washington.
Sydney Moomaw bids her parents farewell as they leave on vacation from the Seven Tine, their 210-acre guest ranch. But tragically, on the way to the airport they are involved in a car accident and both her parents are killed. Sydney, divorced after sixteen years of marriage, also makes her home at the guest ranch and is now left in charge. While sorting through ranch records, she discovers that the ranch is in serious debt. When her sister learns of the ranch’s dire financial status, she feels they should sell, but Sydney refuses to let go of the ranch she loves.
A mutual friend brings photographer Trey Hardy to the ranch. Trey is on a working-vacation and sees great photography opportunities in the area. He was raised on an Arizona ranch and sees potential in the Seven Tine, but is especially drawn to Sydney. His offers of assistance are rebuffed; Sydney’s independence and stubbornness won’t allow her to accept his help. Although she is a person of faith, she is overwhelmed with the threat of losing the ranch and all that is dear to her.
Sydney has never recovered from a bad marriage to a mean, violent man. Could the mental, emotional, and physical scars of abuse her ex-husband afflicted ever allow her to heal? Although attracted to Trey, she wouldn’t, couldn’t allow herself to trust him, to open herself up to the possibility of more disappointment and heartache.
Captured Secrets is a highly engrossing novel. It’s a story that is steeped in Native values and faith, yet with incidents that threaten the trust and confidence required by strong belief. It’s about accepting help from those you can trust, and opening your heart to hidden blessings. This is a novel that would be appealing to teens and adults who enjoy western settings and ranch life.