A Gown of Spanish Lace

Janette Oke

Janette Oke writes Christian romances that are usually sappy. So is this one. Fortunately I like saccharine sweet occasionally.

Ariana is the preacher's daughter in her small town. She is also the schoolteacher. She enjoys her life and loves her Lord. At the beginning of the book she concentrates on the verse "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." She quickly finds she needs that trust when she is kidnapped by some outlaws and held without explanation in their camp.

Laramie is the son of the outlaw Boss. He does not know there is a woman in that hostage cabin until his pa assigns him hostage guard duty. He is shocked and puzzled. He does not realize his pa kidnapped Ariana for him. His pa felt he was too soft for an outlaw, and that perhaps protecting a woman would help toughen him up.

Laramie starts watching Ariana and realizes there is something about her. She constantly reads the Bible she was allowed to bring with her. Even though she is afraid, she does not show those emotions to him. He starts helping her with some of the things she requests to make her stay a little easier, like a bathtub. Ariana is affecting Laramie, but not like his pa was hoping.

A Gown of Spanish Lace is predictable like all romances. Janette Oke weaves in her faith in Jesus as usual, sometimes with a bit of a heavy hand. This is nice, light reading.

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