by Sara Luck
Genres: Historical Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Heat Level:
Phoebe Sloan isn’t afraid of hard work—she couldn’t have survived on the Arizona frontier if she were. But ever since her husband was killed in a ranch accident, she’s struggled to make ends meet and preserve her young son’s birthright. Her last gamble was to start raising ostriches—the plumes are prized by fashionable city ladies—and it could work, but someone’s determined to sabotage her efforts.
Enter Christian de Wet, a South African importer who finds himself drawn to the fragile but determined Phoebe. He begins helping her around the ranch as a kindness, but the two quickly find that the heat rising between them has nothing to do with the Arizona desert! When the saboteur finds a way to endanger not just the ranch, but Phoebe’s family, will she have to forsake her happiness to save her son?
Under the Desert Sky by Sara Luck is a historical romance set in the Arizona frontier. It offers a standalone fade to black romance with a strong heroine, suspense and ostriches. Well-paced with interesting character and a picturesque setting I quickly devoured Under the Desert Sky.
I love historical romance and jumped at the chance to read this frontier novel. Phoebe Sloan is a widowed homesteader with a four-year-old son. She is desperately trying to save their land and her son’s birthright. In the 1900’s Ostrich, feathers were the height of fashion in America and England. Phoebe is trying to raise them but someone is sabotaging her efforts. She knows who the culprit is and refuses to comply with his wishes. I liked Phoebe she is tough and while she feels guilt about somethings, she is a good mother and doing the best she can.
Christian de Wet, a South African importer is delivering ostriches to a neighboring farm and enjoying a visit to the Americas. During a meeting between farmers, he meets Phoebe and is intrigued. When her hands are off celebrating Mexico’s Independence someone breaks into her hatchery. Christian unwilling to leave a vulnerable woman and child alone soon finds himself protecting Phoebe, her son and the farm.
The chemistry between Christian and Phoebe was sweet and I loved the banter. This was a slow-building romance that vied for attention with the suspense angle. I would have liked Christian to communicate more, I knew how he felt but Phoebe struggled and was unsure. Luck weaved in some hilarious moments between the characters, Phoebe’s son and others. I quickly found myself caught up in the raising of ostriches and these hardworking folks. Secondary characters added to the tale, even an unwelcome competitor for Christian’s affections. I adored a certain four-year old and his ostrich.
The suspenseful thread regarding the farm gave us a villain to loathe, weaved in some danger and balanced out the swoon-worthy moments. Luck touched on racism and I enjoyed how she weaved in those messages. We even experienced some brief glimpses of the political climate in the US, changes to the waterways and more. These extras enhanced my enjoyment of the story.
Under the Desert Sky delivered a sweet romance and a fascinating look at life on the Arizona frontier.
Read an Excerpt
Phoebe Sloan took off her brown felt hat and wiped her brow with the back of her sleeve as she rested on her rake. It’d been a long time since the last rain, yet a cloud was gathering in the west. She looked over to see that Trinidad was still mowing the alfalfa, so she began waving her hat to get his attention.
“Don’t you want me to finish the mowin’, Miss Phoebe?” her hired man asked.
“No, I want you to help Cornello get what’s cut into haycocks.”
“It’s not dry yet. Shouldn’t we leave it in the swath?”
“Yes, but if it rains, it’s ruined. So stop and help Cornello.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Trinidad lifted the sickle bar and moved toward Cornello, who was at the other end of the field. Soon the two men, who were both in their sixties, were pitching the hay into mounds.
Phoebe had been out in the sun for most of the day. She’d made a pallet for Will in the shade of a mesquite tree, and the two of them had eaten lunch together before her son had fallen asleep. She walked over to see if he was awake.
There was Will, her beautiful four-year-old, resting innocently on the patchwork quilt. She smiled when she saw where he’d built a house out of sticks, and fences out of seed pods. All his carved ostriches were separated into pairs.
Phoebe shook her head, wondering how many children would find enjoyment by playing with carved ostriches. She looked toward the sky. The cloud was getting darker, but she was reluctant to wake the sleeping child. Instead, she walked to the other side of the tree and knelt down beside her husband’s grave, where she began rearrang- ing the rocks that outlined the site.
“I need to talk to you, Edwin.” She said the words conversationally as if her husband were sitting beside her. “I went to see Mr. Forbes this week to renegotiate the loan. He said he’d drop the interest rate to four percent if I could pay five percent by the end of the summer.” Her voice began to shake. “I don’t know if I can do it. Buck tells me Mr. Prinsen wants to buy every ostrich in the valley, but if I sell our birds now, I won’t have any way to make a living.”
“You’re a fool, Phoebe.”
Phoebe jumped when she recognized her brother-in-law’s voice. “Frank, what’re you doing here?”
“I came to talk to you. Charles Forbes told me you’d been in to see him.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Oh, yes it is. That’s my nephew over there, and I won’t let you kill him like you did my brother.”
Phoebe took a deep breath, but didn’t speak. They’d had this conversation before.
“You know what he did was because of you and your big ideas. What fool thinks there’s money to be made in ostrich feathers?”
“Mr. Prinsen thinks there’s money in it.”
“He grew up in South Africa—he knows some- thing about ostriches, and there’s one thing he has that you don’t: money. Haven’t you learned that it takes a lot of money to keep this place going?”
“Our first birds are mature now—all it takes to keep them is alfalfa.”
“That’s a lie. You keep those two old men around. What do you pay them?”
Again Phoebe didn’t answer.
“Whatever it is, it’s too much. You should sell out and move into town.”
“I won’t do that. Not as long as there’s a breath in my body.” Phoebe gritted her teeth.
“It won’t be long until you’ll be lying right there beside Edwin. Have you looked at yourself lately? You look like a dried prune. Your hair is always a mess, your clothes are in tatters. What money you do have, you pour back into this worthless piece of sand.”
By now, tears were streaming down Phoebe’s face.
“I’ve told you before, I’ll take care of you.” Frank’s voice softened. “You don’t have to be here.”
“Yes, you have told me before, and you’ve told me what I have to do to earn it. But no matter how desperate I might get for money, I’ll never warm your bed, Frank Sloan.”
Frank stepped up to Phoebe. He wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Never say never, my dear Phoebe. You might find my bed much more to your liking than you ever found my brother’s.”
Phoebe slapped Frank hard.
A sardonic smile crossed his face. “A spit- fire—that’s what I like about you. If only it had been me that came to your bed that night, Will would’ve been my son.”
Just then, in the distance, thunder rumbled.
Phoebe left Frank standing by his brother’s grave as she gathered Will in her arms and ran to the house.
Caffeinated shared review of Under The Desert Sky By Sara Luck #historicalromance #ostrich farming #frontier Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
MarthaE
This sounds like one I would really like – both for the sweet romance and it Ostrich farming.
Thanks for sharing!
kimbacaffeinate
It was different and I had fun with it 🙂
Tyler H. Jolley
I’m oddly taken by this excerpt. You always hear about the wild west, but rarely the AZ frontier. I’m loving it.
kimbacaffeinate
Exactly I liked the setting and an Ostrich farm to boot.
Lorna
I did like that excerpt! Thanks for sharing. I wanted to slap her brother-in-law too! Sounds like this was a good one. I have never really thought about Arizona in history to be honest. Great review:)
kimbacaffeinate
Oh yes he was a real dog. I loved the setting.
A Belle's Tales
Oh, I do love the sound of this! It’s been a while since I’ve delved into a historical romance; this sounds like a great one to try! Slow-building romance, chemistry, banter? Sold. Awesome review!
~Michele
kimbacaffeinate
It is nice to mix things up. Thanks Michele.
Debbie Haupt
Ooh I had a giveaway for this Kim and it’s on my shelf waiting its turn, now I think its climbing to the top, shhh 😉
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy!!
Bookworm Brandee
You don’t find many HR’s set in frontier-era Arizona…at least I don’t. And I admit to being hooked at ‘ostriches’. 😉 But the story does sound compelling and I love the idea of being witness to a strong woman making her way during this time period. I’m not sure I’d have the pluck!
kimbacaffeinate
Right. I had fun reading this one Brandee 🙂
Lover Of Romance
I so need to read this one!!! I love the set up and I have only read a couple of arizona historical’s so I would definitely want to change that.
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you enjoy it. I loved the time period.
Leona
Under the Desert Sky definitely sounds like something I would love to curl up and read. I’m always a sucker for westerns/farming stories.
kimbacaffeinate
It is perfect for a rainy afternoon Leona!
The Bibliophile Babe
This sound like it has a lot to offer!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks 🙂 I had fun and it was different which for me was refreshing.
Braine Talk Supe
But I love loathful villains! They make the heroes more… heroic 😀
kimbacaffeinate
They do indeed.
Candace
I like that this has the fade to black romance. And the suspense added in is a bonus. I also like that there are ostriches since I grew up on an ostrich farm. It sounds good!
kimbacaffeinate
Ooo interesting tidbit about you I did not know. I was surprised at how dangerous they could be 🙂
Angela Adams
What a unique premise–right down to the ostriches. Thanks for the post.
kimbacaffeinate
You’re welcome Angela!
Cyn
Oh this is kind of a different HR setting, I’m use to the English/Scot HR, haa! I’m definitely intrigued and the suspense part sounds pretty interesting, too! Glad this was a good read, lovely review, Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Cyn, it was fun reading a historical set in the west 🙂
Katherine
I’m intrigued. I’ve read quite a bit of historical romance over the years but this sounds completely unique. I’ll definitely be checking this one out. Great review!
kimbacaffeinate
I enjoyed the setting and plot Katherine 🙂
Mary Kirkland
Ostriches huh, that’s a new one for me. Sounds like a fun romance.
kimbacaffeinate
I was surprised to learn how dangerous they can be.
Heidi
I would totally read this just because it is set in Arizona! I also like the sound of the slow burn romance, and I cant’ resist a good cowboy.
kimbacaffeinate
This was a fun read, and I loved the setting 🙂
Sophia Rose
I do enjoy a good frontier romance and I’ve never read one of her books. Ostrich ranching! That element alone has me curious.
kimbacaffeinate
Right it was different, but then when the explained why it clicked with other historical romances I have read in the same period.
Quinn's Book Nook
I love historical romance, but I almost always read romances set in either England or Scotland. This is a nice change. I’m glad you really enjoyed it. Such a fun setting.
kimbacaffeinate
I usually do the same, although I have read a few mail order bride types set in the Americas.
kindlemom1
Ooo a historical in a frontier setting, I like it!
kimbacaffeinate
Right…it was a quick fun read 🙂
Cindy
I love historical romances, the chemistry, the settings etc. always make for a great read ! Thanks for this review, I’m glad you enjoyed this book.
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Cindy, is was different and I had fun with it 🙂
Maureen Beatrice
This really sounds like a great read. I love those slow building romance stories. And it sounds very interesting to read about the Arizona frontier. I definitely need to keep this one in mind.
Great review!
kimbacaffeinate
I had fun with this, and don’t often get to read books in this setting.
blodeuedd
I like the cover, he looks nice
kimbacaffeinate
Glad you like it as well Linda!