Legacy of Honor (2020) — A Celebrate Lit Tour: A Guest Post, My Thoughts, and a Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Legacy of Honor

Author: Renae Brumbaugh Green

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: November 2020

He’s been raised to carry on the legacy.

After her mother’s untimely death, Emma Monroe’s dreams to become a teacher are dashed. She takes a job as maid and cook at the local Stratton Ranch, where she endures humiliation and hardship in order to provide for her ailing father and younger brother. Only Riley Stratton, her childhood friend and heir to the Stratton fortune, sees her heart. When she’s asked to care for Skye, the young half-Indian girl most family members refuse to claim, Emma finally finds the purpose she craves.

Riley Stratton has it all, or so it seems. Growing up as the youngest son of the rich and powerful John Stratton, Riley stands to inherit a legacy of greatness in the Stratton Ranch. On the surface, his family looks like they have it all, but manipulation, deceit, and an ever-present quest for power leave him desperate for change. Yet his father has made it clear: do things the Stratton way, or face alienation and disinheritance.

As Riley and Emma choose between honor, dreams, and expectations—not to mention the love they can no longer deny—their first steps prove how quickly the situation can spin into danger. When their best efforts threaten the lives and hopes of those closest to them, it becomes clear the decisions they make will change the course of their lives forever.

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Renae Brumbaugh Green is an ECPA Bestselling Author, award-winning humor columnist, and wannabe superhero. She lives in Texas with her handsome, country-boy husband, four nearly-perfect children and one nearly-perfect son-in-law, and far too many animals. When she’s not writing, Renae teaches online classes and tries to be rugged without chipping her nail polish.

More from Renae

I’ve been writing this book for more than a decade!

In 2008, my dear friend and writing mentor, Chip Ricks, shared a book idea with me. Loosely based on her own family history, she wanted to write a story about two brothers—one who chose to live for Christ, the other who didn’t. She wanted to follow that family through the generations, to show the impact of that one choice, on the people who came behind.

She just had one problem. Chip was a brilliant writer, but she wasn’t a fiction writer. “Will you help me write this book?”

Now, Chip was in her 80s at the time. She was a mother, a grandmother, to me in the faith. If she’d asked me to paint the moon pink, I’d have given it my best shot. For several years, Chip and I worked together on several versions of the book. We only ever got through the first few chapters, and we’d change our minds about the characters or the situations. Finally, one day she smiled at me. She said, “You know, Renae. This is your book. I know I whispered the idea to you, but I always wanted you to be the one to write it. I’m getting too old to work on this . . . please take it. It’s your story.”

Soon after, she moved across the country to live with her daughter. We stayed connected via phone calls and Facebook, until eventually, she stopped responding. We lost touch. I continued to write the book—Chip’s book. Now my book. I’d work on it a while, then put it away for several months, even a few years at one point. In 2017, I finished what would become the first final draft. I fiddled with it more, here and there, but I hung onto it until I met Misty Beller, my publisher at Wild Heart.

I submitted the book to her, and she accepted it, right away! Then the editor got hold of it. God bless Erin Taylor Young! She was brutal, in the best possible way. I spent weeks (months?) making the suggested changes, and each one made the book so much better. The day I turned in those final edits to my publisher, I opened up Facebook. There, on Chip’s FB page, was a note to all her friends.

From one of her children.

She’d gone to see her Heavenly Father.

I sat there, frozen, looking at my screen, big fat tears tracking my cheeks. How was it possible that on the day the book was complete, I learned of her death? She was so instrumental in my walk of faith, and in my path as a writer. It was almost like the Holy Spirit wanted me to know . . . this particular journey was now complete.

I hope you enjoy this book, book one in a trilogy, for it is very close to my heart. And I hope you learn from the actions of two brothers, so many years ago, that our choices have an impact on our own lives, and on the lives of those who follow us.

—Renae Brumbaugh Green

My Thoughts

Legacy of Honor by Renae Brumbaugh Green is a really enjoyable Historical Romance. I was hooked into the storyline right away and remained engaged the whole time. I found the characters delightful. Emma is a courageous and brave young woman who will stand up for what is right even if it means others may not like her so much. I appreciate how she genuinely cares more about what God would think about her than what the world does. Emma is quite an inspirational character. Riley is a great hero. He is handsome and kind, but what I love most about his character is that he pays attention to detail and he is willing to do what needs to be done in order to become the man God wants him to be. And, then there is Skye. My heart broke for this character. She is so sweet and special despite her young life having been so hard. I love how Emma and Riley take a genuine interest in her life and do all they can to give her a great childhood. In addition to a highly engaging plot and a cast of excellent characters, Legacy of Honor also deals with superb themes that I feel are timely for today. All in all, Legacy of Honor is a must-read Historical Romance that I highly recommend.

Riley has a problem. His family’s legacy isn’t one he wants to carry on, but he loves them and he never wants to hurt them. Riley is between a rock and a hard place. The more time he spends with Emma and her family, the more Riley realizes that he wants what they have and not what his family is. It’s not that he doesn’t love his family. He totally does. It’s just that the members of his family are worldly and selfish, and they have no qualms about doing whatever it takes to get what they want when they want it. They go to church on Sunday, but they have no real knowledge of God and no concept of having a relationship with Him. Riley wants to change his life, make his legacy one he and a future family could be proud of, so he makes the decision to go God’s way no matter how awful his family may treat him. I found Riley to be quite brave. It’s really hard to go against your family even when you know it’s the right thing to do, and it’s hard to hear mean and negative things come from those you love because they don’t or won’t accept your changes. But when the choice is what God wants versus what your family wants, you’ve got to pick God every time no matter what.

There is a lot to love about Legacy of Honor. It is a well-written, highly engaging story. The romance is sweet and well balanced. And the themes are timely. If you are looking for a really good Historical Romance to escape into then Legacy of Honor is the novel for you!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author, Renae Brumbaugh Green, via Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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GIVEAWAY

To celebrate her tour, Renae is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.

Legacy of Honor Giveaway Link

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BLOG STOPS

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