Review: Caught in the Middle by Regina Jennings

March 27, 2014

Title: Caught in the Middle
Author: Regina Jennings
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 352
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0992-5
Publication Date: April 1st, 2014

Synopsis: 
She Wants the Freedom of the Open Plains.
He Wants the Prestige of a Successful Career.
Neither is Ready for What Comes Instead.


The train to Garber, Texas, is supposed to bring life's next victory to Nicholas Lovelace. Instead, it gets held up by robbers who are thwarted by the last person Nick ever expected—Anne Tillerton from back home in Prairie Lea.

Anne's been hiding away as a buffalo hunter. She's only in town to find their runaway cook, but the woman flees—leaving Anne with her infant son. With Nick the only person Anne knows in town, the two form an unlikely team as they try to figure out what to do with the child.

But being in town means acting and dressing for polite society—and it's not going well for Anne. Meanwhile, Nick's work is bringing new pressures, and being seen with a rough-around-the-edges woman isn't helping his reputation. Caught between their own dreams, a deepening relationship, and others' expectations, can the pair find their way to love?
Review:
Caught in the Middle is Anne Tillerman's story. Oh, how I wanted to know more about Anne since Sixty Acres and a Bride. I will admit, I have read these books out of order a bit. Sixty Acres and now Caught in the Middle. I have the second book, Love in the Balance, still waiting for me to read, but the best part is, each book has done well as a standalone. So, if you're like me, reading the books out of order won't hurt, you'll just know a few details a head of time.

When we first met Anne in Sixty Acres and a Bride, she was quiet. We didn't see her a whole lot and her husband Jay, would give excuses to why she wasn't around. Here's a small spoilery part for Sixty Acres... We come to find out, he is an abusive jerk, and for Anne to save her neighbor Rosa, she shoots her husband Jay, dead... In Caught in the Middle, we fast forward a few years. Anne has taken her shooting ability and put it to good use, she is now employed as a buffalo hunter in Indian Territory. Anne is content to stay away from society. She loves being able to blend in and no one noticing her. She has thrown away all convenience of society, and lives in men's clothing happy to be alone.

The quietness of that life soon comes crashing down when she has to chase down their camp cook. When Anne arrives Garber, she finds her, however, the woman leaves Anne to watch her baby for a short time, when actually she abandons the boy and Anne and flees to a new town with her recent love interest.

Anne has never been around children much. Her inexperience is cute to read about, because in all honesty, who hasn't felt all thumbs the first time around a kid? As Anne figures out what she is to do, she gains a friend, Nick, who is the brother of another friend, Molly Lovelace. With the baby, Anne is forced back into civilization and it with Nick's help, she is able to find a close group of people to rely on.

Caught in the Middle is a sweet story, but it also has a very important story under it all. Anne is a girl who only wanted to be loved and have a family. However, her experience in marriage was not that. She has a painful background and she carries the scars with her everywhere she goes. She is a strong woman, but also very fragile. I thought Regina Jennings did a wonderful job highlighting this issue. These scars run deep and take a long time to over come. Anne is a wonderful character and I just wanted to hug her.

Too Read
4 out of 5

About the Author:

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

You can connect with Regina at:
Twitter: @reginajennings
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReginaLJennings
Website: http://www.reginajennings.com


Thank you to the author, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

4 comments

  1. I really enjoyed Sixty Acres and a Bride, but have read mixed reviews about the second book in the series. I adore the cover of this one and am so excited to read it!

    http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com

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  2. Not only is the cover adorbs, this book sounds fantastic. I think I have a copy on my shelf so you've certainly upped the excitement of reading it. Thanks for the review, Kate!

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  3. Heidi, I really like the cover of this book and it fits the story so well! I hope you enjoy this story, when you get to it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Rissi, The cover is the perfect fit for this story. I'm happy to help with the excitement! It was a sweet story. Anne is a wonderful character to read about. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!

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