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Title: Touching the Sky (Land of the Lone Star #2)
Author: Tracie Peterson
Pages: 336
Year: 2012
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
This story is set in Texas in late June 1865. The central figures are Laura Marquardt and Brandon Reid. Laura has grown up in Texas, and while most of the state sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War, her family supported the Union. Some see her family as traitors, but for the most part, her family has remained unscathed by their allegiance to the Union. Laura is now 21 years old and longs for a husband and family of her own. Her younger sister, Carrisa, has recently become engaged to a former Confederate soldier. Laura has a bad feeling about this man and his intentions. She tries to warn her sister to reconsider marrying him, but her sister thinks Laura is jealous of not being the first to marry.
Captain Brandon Reid of the Union Army is close to mustering out of the service. He delays his retirement when a sinister plot is uncovered aimed at harming Union soldiers. He is tasked with uncovering the identity of participants in this plot. One suspect is Malcolm Lowe, a man recently married to a Union-supporting family. If he can stay close to them, he might learn something about Lowe. He begins a courtship of Laura Marquardt due to his true feelings of love for her, but when she finds out about his sleuthing of Lowe will she think he is only courting her to track Lowe instead of really being in love with her?
I enjoyed reading about this time in our country’s history, a time after the war was officially over, but feelings were hardly settled. There was still great animosity between Northerners and Southerners in some parts of the country. Laura is loving and protective sister who relies on God and isn’t shy about saying so. Brandon has also come to know God as his source of faith. When the terrible things life can sometime bring enter their lives, they live their faith boldly.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

In keeping with the Land of the Lonestar series, Touching the Sky continues to depict a glimpse of what it was like to be on opposing sides with how many Texans in the 1860's despised Yankee supporters. Such were the times that shaped the nation and nearly caused its undoing. In the midst of such tension, the lives of sisters Laura and Clarissa Marquardt face drastic changes in the aftermath of war. Corpus Christi and its people are not the same, and knowing who they can trust becomes hard for the women to do, especially for Laura - who worries about her sister's impending marriage, while finding herself drawn to the army officer Brandon Reid's charms, despite not seeing eye-to-eye with him initially, and they form an unlikely friendship.

I liked this second book, because the characters' faith was balanced in proportion to their actions, so it was not overly preachy, and was thus more natural. I do like a good Christian fiction, but not to the risk of making characters have less of a personality. Fortunately, Tracie does make these sisters have some spunk! It was also neat to hear about another major city in Texas during the same time era as the previous book, so you get a varied perspective. It also weaves in the previous plot with the reintroduction to some old characters, and keep you guessing on what book 3 has in store! This was a good read that transports you back through time and I recommend it! ( )

Great book full of action. Loved it. ( )

Laura Marquardt's first encounter with the handsome Captain Brandon Reid left little to be desired. Despite the insults hurled at her by the brave Captain Laura finds herself drawn to this new man in town. Laura and Brandon find themselves both eager to support and educate the colored people that have come into their town. With the people of the South finding themselves licking their wounds from the loss of the war the harmony of the town she lives in doesn't share her passion. Laura's sister Carrisa, marries a Confederate soldier who uses her as a dirversion for his true motives. After overhearing a disturbing conversation from Carrisa's beau Laura fears for her sister's life and that of her own. Can she trust Brandon to protect her and Carrisa from this treacherous man? ( )