Barbara L. (Barbllm) reviewed on 11/20/2009 + 241 more book reviews

Dixie Sullivan believes it's God's plan for her to open a retreat/dude ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota after her fiance, Abel, leaves her for missionary work in South Asia. She's not that knowledgeable about running a ranch, but she has help in the form of her foreman, Erik Wheeler, a skeptic but an honest, hardworking man. Asking if true love will bloom between Dixie and Erik is beside the point.

The only thing that rings false in this story is Erik's sudden conversion. If you doubt God because of family or personal tragedies, you're not immediately going to toss your skepticism in the trash because you've met someone. Dixie, to her credit, lives her faith and provides a good example to Erik.

The book provides a few insights into how God answers prayers. Sometimes God doesn't give us the desires of our heart. Why? "The heart is treacherous," we're told at Jeremiah 17:9. What we want might not be what's best for us (Dixie marrying Abel, for example). In that respect, a Christian has to allow himself or herself to follow God's will on the matter and not try to work it out on their own. The Bible also states that "whatever we ask of him, according to his will, he gives us."

Notice the condition: according to his will. God doesn't give us exactly what we want all the time. To suggest that he should is to behave like a spoiled, whiny child. God gives us enough so that we can make the right decisions and live a good life, as well as look forward to the future.

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