Shoot at the Sunset by Kathleen Denly: A Book Review

About Shoot at the Sunset

Will love survive when truth takes aim at their secrets?

Sharpshooter Preston Baker has spent a lifetime confronting danger head-on. So when a heartfelt letter arrives from his big sister asking for help, he doesn’t hesitate to put his traveling show career on hold and journey to her remote desert ranch, determined to make amends for past failures. What he doesn’t expect is to discover his long-lost little sister and her best friend, Lucy, are both hard at work on the ranch.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Lucy Arlidge’s decision to travel to a remote desert ranch was born as much from desperation as friendship. Fleeing San Francisco may have saved Lucy’s life, but the decision left others in danger. To thwart the evil plans of those who pursue her and her family, Lucy must keep her new gem-mining operation concealed and her secrets safe.

Preston is drawn to the mysterious woman, despite her plans to marry the neighboring rancher. Lucy’s quiet strength and undeniable beauty beckon him like a campfire in the wilderness, offering light amidst the dark memories and deepest fears resurrected by the presence of his sisters. But as danger closes in, Preston and Lucy must confront their pasts to save not only their own futures, but the lives of everyone they love.

My Thoughts

Shoot at the Sunset brings the Southern Californian desert to life. Sand and wind leap off the page. The battles of both running a ranch and just plain living in such an area make the story feel real.

Each of the characters was well developed–and some of them brought unexpected twists to the story. There was one character I didn’t expect to like, but eventually found myself nibbling my fingernails over. No names given for the sake of spoilers!

The plot moves along at a nice pace and involves plenty of danger and adventure. The Greens’ hotel was remarkable. The way Kathleen described all the secret passages raised the hair on the back of my neck. I love a good secret passage.

On thing I wasn’t so fond of the love triangle with Lucy, Preston, and Clyve the rancher. Lucy’s motivation was believable. It just didn’t feel sensible.

The faith content of this story was a delight, as well as the way it was displayed in the characters. Repentance and seeking the Lord are sprinkled throughout the story.

One thing to note is that Shoot at the Sunset deals with some hard subjects. Addiction, rape, and death are all touched on. However, Kathleen handles each topic with gentleness and care, and nothing is described graphically or in a cringe-worthy way. Still, you’ll definitely want to be aware of this before reading.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book, but my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Grab a copy of Shoot at the Sunset!

About the Author

Kathleen Denly lives in sunny California with her loving husband, four young children, two dogs, and ten cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

More from Kathleen

One of the primary themes of Shoot at the Sunset is secrets and the fears that sometimes drive us to keep them. Did I mention there’s even a secret signal used in the book? So today I thought it would be fun to play with a secret code. Using the key provided below, see if you can reveal the hidden message.