Beyond the Desert Sands by Tracie Peterson

Beyond the Desert Sands
by Tracie Peterson

ISBN-13: 9780764237324
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: July 5th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After living an opulent life with her aunt for the last few years, the last thing twenty-five-year-old Isabella Garcia wants is to have to celebrate Christmas in the small silver-mining town her father and mother founded in the desert. She'd rather stay in California with the handsome Diego Morales who is courting her. Isabella is further miffed to have to bear the company of Aaron Bailey, a businessman with the Santa Fe Railroad, whom her father has sent to escort her safely home. Aaron finds Isabella spoiled, and she finds him judgmental.

But she is surprised to see how much the town of Silver Veil has grown and how fragile her father's health has become. Then Diego shows up with news that her aunt has died. Isabella is saddened by the loss of not only her aunt, but also her place of escape.

Faced with all these changes, she struggles to sort through her future and who she wants to be. But trouble is brewing, and there are those who hope Isabella stays just as she is, even if it costs her everything.


My Review:
Beyond the Desert Sands is a Christian romance set in 1911 in New Mexico. When Isabella was young, her parents forced her to leave family, friends, and a city life that she enjoyed to live in a remote desert area near a silver mine. They never explained why, so she concluded that they didn't care about her feelings so she shouldn't care about their feelings. Since no one else would, she'd fight for her chance of happiness: returning to live with her aunt. Now she's been called home due to her father's seriously waning health. When her parents finally explain why they moved here, she realizes she must forgive them and reevaluate her life.

The main characters were likable, complex, and reacted realistically to events. Nonetheless, it boggles my mind that her parents didn't want to worry Isabella (though she knew her father had poor health) so never even told her the move was to improve his health. They all admitted that they made mistakes in how they handled that, so much of the story was Isabella reconciling with her parents and making friends in the now-thriving town. Aaron didn't like her selfish, bitter attitude and bluntly let her know it, helping her to see how others viewed her behavior. He wasn't mean to Isabella despite how she initially treated him, and they became friends (and more) as they got to know each other. With God's leading, Aaron was willing to release his dreams for his future to help Isabella's family.

The Christian element was about forgiveness, second chances, and trusting God with your future. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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