Is her compassion doing more harm than good?
Recently widowed Susanna Jenkins has decided to follow her family to the booming town of San Marcial, New Mexico, for a fresh start and to aid in her family’s sudden change in fortune. They are tasked with managing her uncle’s new Grand Hotel, and it takes all her patience to try to help her parents see the good of their circumstances and relinquish their sense of entitlement.
She’s hopeful when her brother becomes determined to get a job and make his own way, and she feels drawn to his kind boss, Owen Turner, who works as a boilermaker for the Santa Fe’s train shops in town. But the hard work only seems to fuel her brother’s anger, and his rough new friends give her pause.
When misguided choices put Susanna’s family in an even more precarious situation, she worries her help has only made things worse. Leaving her family to fend for themselves seems like the best option, but how can she walk away from the true friendships–and love–that she’s found?
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Sexual Content - 1/5
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Violence - 1/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
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Summary
Along the Rio Grande is the first book in the Love on the Santa Fe series by Traci Peterson. It is set in 1899 New Mexico and if you are familiar with Tracie’s work you know she conducts a lot of research for her novels.
Susanna’s father is a gambler who made some bad decisions and lost their money. She is widowed and decides to follow her family for a fresh start. At times you want to be frustrated with her as she consistently helps her family to the point of enabling. The family dynamics are frustrating at times but her developing relationship with Owen makes up for it.
Owen and Susanna are likeable characters. Even though their families were not good role models they seem to be developing a healthy relationship. Owen has to learn to let go of his past and the mistakes he made.
There will be two more books in the series with independent stories. The series sis connected by the setting of New Mexico and the Santa Fe Railroad.