My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla’s Reveille

Vetsch takes readers back to the 1870s, in an unsettled west with rocky relations between Native Americans and white soldiers in this first installation of her My Heart Belongs In series. Upon hearing about the death of her brother and his wife, Priscilla Hutchins leaves the comfort of her Cincinnati home and heads west with the single-minded goal of consoling her nephew and niece (who are twins) and rescuing them from what she sees as the horrors of military life, after they are placed under the guardianship of Major Elliot Ryder. Ryder, the Fort Bliss doctor, has his hands full with the hospital, building relationships with the Kickapoo Tribe, learning about the medicinal local fauna, and watching over the two exuberant seven-year-olds. Though the ending is telegraphed from the moment Priscilla arrives in town, Vetch’s humor, description, and dialogue make the journey entertaining. When Priscilla arrives, Major Ryder challenges her intentions and her plans for the twins. Though her intentions are honorable, miscommunications and her own misconceptions put her at odds with Ryder and the other soldiers at the fort. Although they’re from vastly different worlds, Hutchins and Ryder both rely on their Christian faith during hard times, which is tested as well as strengthened. Vetsch does a fine job fleshing out the protagonists, and the ancillary characters are all endearing in their own brusque or innocent way. A promising start to a new series perfect for fans of inspiring historical romances. (Jan.)