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Tomorrow's Shining Dream by Naomi Rawlings Book Club Discussion: Texas Promise Book 2 | LiteraryScape Podcast Ep. 221

The Texas Promise series rides on. On Episode 221 of the LiteraryScape Podcast, Melissa and Jessica dig into book two of Naomi Rawlings's series, Tomorrow's Shining Dream. Expect flirting lessons, cattle rustlers, a sheriff who won't be bought and a birthday gift that made us fall for the hero all over again. Grab your coffee (or tea) and settle in.

Listen now: LiteraryScape Podcast Episode 221

Tomorrow's Shining Dream by Naomi Rawlings: The Book Club Setup

Melissa opens with the book description. She needs to learn how to flirt. He needs to forget she exists. Then she asks him for help finding a husband. What could possibly go wrong? Charlotte Westin has always been more comfortable in a saddle than a ballroom. That wouldn't be a problem, except her father owns the largest ranch in Texas, and he insists she marry a wealthy city slicker worthy of a cattle baron's daughter.

Meanwhile, with an old friend-turned-enemy returning to town and cattle rustlers running roughshod over the county, Sheriff Daniel Harding knows the last thing he should be thinking about is a woman. Especially the one woman he'll never be able to marry. Then Charlotte asks for his help, and Daniel can't refuse.

Forced Proximity or Forbidden Love? A Romance Trope Debate

Before the book talk begins, Melissa asks Jessica a favorite question: forced proximity or forbidden love? "I like them both," Melissa admits. It depends on how the storyline is set up, but pressed to pick one, forced proximity wins. Still, Melissa asked for a reason. This book leans toward forbidden love, because of Charlotte and Daniel's social standing and because of Charlotte's dad.

Coffee With Charlotte or Daniel?

Jessica would have coffee with Charlotte. She'd ask what it's like to have a father like hers and not be able to choose who you marry. Melissa picks Daniel. She would love to ask how he handles criminals day in, day out, and still keeps his deep faith and positive outlook. "I think Daniel's my favorite one, my favorite hero," Melissa says. Why? Because with Daniel, "right is right, wrong is wrong," and no one can buy him off.

The hosts also love seeing more of Wes. His bond with his little sister is a sweet thread through the book, and as Melissa says, you start to fall in love with Wes in this book, too.

Charlotte and Daniel: Two Arcs, One Lesson

Charlotte has a need for a husband, and she tries to change herself to get one. In book two, her dad is the one saying, "This is the man you're gonna marry." Along the way, she discovers "it's best to wait on the Lord to provide a husband who loves her for her."

Daniel, on the other hand, always thinks he isn't good enough for Charlotte. He gives her up because he thinks that's what's best, but it's actually hurting both of them. In the end, he comes to realize that "material things mean far less than the love that they share."

Klutzy Charlotte and Her Sister Mariah

"I was shocked how klutzy and how nervous she got," Jessica says. Charlotte grew up with all those balls, so you'd expect her to be fine, but she's a nervous wreck. She's more of a tomboy, and very different from her sister Mariah, who Melissa is glad isn't on the page too much.

Daniel Arrests Bartholomew Rutherford

"I was like, go, Daniel!" Jessica says. Daniel arrests Bartholomew Rutherford, Harrison's dad, even though it puts his job on the line. The council members threaten to find a new sheriff, and the pressure follows Daniel through the whole book. Then Cain arrives with the Rangers. Melissa's verdict: of the whole series, Daniel and Cain are her favorite heroes. (Plus, Daniel's horse is named Blaze, just like Melissa's horse was!)

Wes's Mail-Order Bride Plan and Mr. Westin's Deal

What about Wes's plan for a mail-order bride? Jessica agrees with his friends: he wasn't ready, and he wasn't honest in the ad. Melissa sees it as acting out of grief. "This is why people say don't make big decisions when you are still grieving," she says. (Book three shows how it works out.)

Then there's the deal Mr. Westin made with the Mortimers, because he wanted Charlotte to marry Andrew Mortimer. Jessica didn't like any of it, including the railroad part. Still, Jessica gives Andrew credit for how he handled things. He could have been really nasty about it, but he wasn't.

The Cactus Birthday Gift

Daniel's birthday gift to Charlotte, a cactus plant and a pot to go with it, won both hosts over. "That really meant he listened to her and remembered stuff," Jessica says. Wes's gift to Charlotte at the end earns some love, too. Jessica loved that he recognized everything Charlotte has done for the ranch with her Arabian horses.

Everyone Knew but Them

Everyone in town can see that Daniel and Charlotte love each other, except Daniel and Charlotte. Anna Mae even volunteers her brother to help Charlotte practice flirting! Jessica doesn't think practice flirting is a good idea, because Charlotte can't tell whether he means it. (He does.) That leads Melissa to a sweet story of her own about the friend everyone else knew liked her.

The Faith Factor: John 8:32 and 2 Corinthians 12

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32 plays out as Charlotte fears telling her brother and father the truth about Robbie. Daniel keeps encouraging her and quotes 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "My strength is made perfect in weakness." Would the hosts have spoken up? Both say yes. Otherwise, it would eat them up. As Melissa puts it, "We cannot let fear dictate our actions, for sure. Fear comes from the enemy, not from God."

Melissa also reads a powerful scene in which Daniel's father, who lost his leg, talks with Daniel about those same verses. "This helped me better understand those verses," Melissa says. Jessica calls the conversation "very meaningful."

Daniel and Cain, and What We'd Do as Charlotte

In the deep dive, the hosts talk about the friction between Daniel and Cain over what happened to Daniel's dad, and how that relationship starts to change. They admire Daniel for upholding justice under threats. "He's such an honorable man, which makes you fall in love with him even more," Melissa says. And if they were Charlotte? "Just be you," Melissa says. "That's what you learn from Charlotte."

Anna Mae's Yeast Cinnamon Rings and Our Coffee-Themed Ratings

Anna Mae bakes more and more as the series goes on, so Melissa made her yeast cinnamon rings (with icing added, of course). The verdict? Very close to a cinnamon roll, with a stronger cinnamon taste. "That is good," Jessica says.

Then come the coffee-themed ratings. Mystery lands at mocha to latte, with more mystery around the rustlers. Suspense is an espresso. Inspiration earns a mocha, and so does drama, thanks to Charlotte's family. Romance? Espresso and mocha. The overall lasso rating is three. "She is just a really great writer," Melissa says, and Jessica agrees: "These are good books."

Listen to LiteraryScape Podcast Episode 221

Ready for the full conversation? Listen to Episode 221 of the LiteraryScape Podcast now. Pick up Tomorrow's Shining Dream in the LiteraryScape store, and learn more about Naomi Rawlings at naomirawlings.com. Next week, we dive into book three of the Texas Promise series, Tomorrow's Constant Hope. Want to read along? Join the LiteraryScape book club membership at literaryscape.com. Plus, 10% of LiteraryScape's profit goes to Destiny Rescue.