A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson warms the soul with adventurous characters and a hint of mystery.Jessica Atherton is a spoiled, rich girl who is concerned only with herself. She begins to take a good look at herself when her almost fiancee marries someone else. The girl was not as pretty as Jessica, and this confuses her. Taking a look at herself and finding out the truth sets her on a quest to change her inside beauty to be as beautiful as her outside beauty. This quest is not an easy one as everyone thinks that Jessica is only concerned with surface things. As time goes by, and her actions prove her desires to change, people see Jess's heart and warm to her changes.
Austin Todd is a haunted man. He recently moved to Texas to get away from his tragic past. He worked for the Treasury Department and enjoyed his job, but when tragedies struck, he took on a different position working for the Texas Rangers. This position keeps him moving and rarely home to be haunted by memories. Through the love and kindness of neighbors, Austin finds that he wants to be home. He is fascinated with Jessica and her forthright manners. Can he leave his past behind and fall in love again?
Peterson has once again created characters that you care about. This is her third book in her Lonestar Brides Series. I haven't read the previous books, but didn't feel confusion or loss for not having read them. This is a great stand alone title. The journey that Austin has leaving a painful past and starting a new life was beautifully written. Jessica's journey of self discovery was also fun to read. The mystery and intrigue with the safety deposit box was a great surprise in the middle of the story, but one that I enjoyed. Peterson does an outstanding job with her storyline. Her pacing is never rushed, and her attention to detail draws the reader in. The reader cares for the characters and then the mystery comes along to keep you reading. There are some cliffhangers that will leave you turning pages quickly to find out what really happened. This is a great read with a touch of sweet romance. Once again Peterson has hit her mark.
My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a free ebook to read and review.
