Book Review of 'Texas Reclaimed' by Sherry Shindelar

Hello Bookworms!

Does anyone else have a soft spot for fictions that are set in their native states or is it just me? I was born and raised in Texas and love when stories, particularly historical fictions, are set here, like the novel I am featuring today.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Christian Historical Romance and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Texas Reclaimed by Sherry Shindelar, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Texas Reclaimed
Series: Lone Star Redemption #3
Author: Sherry Shindelar
Publisher: Wild Heart Books
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Can love blossom between a woman haunted by her family's past and a man haunted by the trauma of war?

Cora Scott is determined to hold onto her family's Texas ranch and provide a stable home for her young half-brother, Charlie, despite the mounting challenges of post-Civil War frontier life. But when a scheming creditor threatens to seize their land, she must accept help from Ben McKenzie, a former Yankee soldier sent by her late brother. Though Ben's generosity and strength draw her, the man's private struggle she stumbles upon—too reminiscent of her father's alcoholism—makes her question whether she can trust her heart to him.

Ben McKenzie arrives in Texas intent on fulfilling his promise to his dying friend to protect Cora and Charlie. While using his inheritance to save their ranch, he battles not only the loss of their cattle but also his dependency on laudanum—a medicine that turned into a curse after his imprisonment at Andersonville. As his feelings for Cora deepen, he must choose between his promise to his father to take over their Philadelphia newspaper and his growing dream of a life with Cora in Texas.

When a Comanche warrior begins courting Cora and Ben's responsibilities in Philadelphia threaten to tear them apart, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome their fears and forge a future together on the Texas frontier.

My Review

Ben must keep a promise to the man that saved his life. While noble, what he doesn’t expect is this adventure changing everything. From the first meeting the fiery back and forth between Cora and Ben shows the passion that each character possesses and what at first starts off as ire turns into something so precious and tender that it captures both of them before either of them truly grasps what is occurring.

My husband and I are currently looking at land in Parker County, TX, for our forever home, so when I saw this area is the main setting for this story, I perked up. The tidbits of historical facts sprinkled throughout the story were wonderful, and to walk where this story is based while reading it made it all the more special.

This story is set after the Civil War has ended, and the country is trying to find a new normal. This feeling of unease is hard to not feel seep through the pages.

What I really liked about this novel was that it was messy. These are flawed characters with real struggles and fears that hold them back, just like you and me. I enjoyed the tender moments between Ben and young Charlie and the more fiery and passionate exchanges between Cora and Ben. There is one moment in particular after a pretty tense scene that ended up being one of my favorite moments as it was such an intimate and vulnerable scene that was so endearing. The writing was quite powerful in moments.

Texas Reclaimed is a wonderful story of resilience, redemption, and love conquering despite the odds, and it is a novel I will not soon forget.

My Rating: ★★★★★

About the Author

Originally from Tennessee, Sherry Shindelar is a romantic at heart who enjoys taking her readers into the past. She fell in love with writing when she was nine years old. Decades later, she is living out her dream of writing stories from her heart and sharing them with the world. Sherry is a multi-award-winning author: 2025 Maggie Award Winner, 2023 ACFW Genesis Finalist, and 2022 Crown Finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of forty-one years. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Connect with Sherry by visiting sherryshindelar.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Texas Reclaimed and $40 gift card to winner's choice of Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 3, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 10, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!