Shane's Burden

Burnt River Contemporary Western Romance, Book 1

By: Peggy L. Henderson, Burnt River

Narrated by: Cody Roberts

After a decade-long absence, Allison Cramer returns to her childhood home to pay tribute to a former teacher. Years of excelling in all of her classes, and pursuing a doctorate at MIT should give her an abundance of confidence and pride. When she realizes that the insecure, 16-year-old bookworm she's tried to bury is still only skin-deep, she must take a hard look at herself. Coming back may open her eyes to what her heart has always wanted.

Shane Taggart has seen more tragedy before his 21st birthday than most people experience in a lifetime. Taking the responsibility of the world on his shoulders has become a way of life. There is no room for fun and socializing, until his head is turned by a vague high school memory with blonde hair and a pile of books.

Letting go of the past while being immersed in it may be the only way Alley and Shane can move forward. Leaving behind the childhood images of who they were, they discover that seeking individual dreams can be attained through the strength found in each other, and that love may be the greatest influence of all.

©2017 Peggy L Henderson (P)2017 Peggy L Henderson

Another Winning Combination

The well written story of former nerd Ally and former high school heart throb Shane unfolded perfectly through the voice of Cody Roberts. I have thoroughly enjoyed this combination from the first book I ever heard on Audible, and look forward to many more from this combination.

Another awesome story!

Cody did a great job narrating. I really enjoyed the story. it goes to show how high school actions define a person. I'm glad Shane overcame his.

Very enjoyable story.

What made the experience of listening to Shane's Burden the most enjoyable?

Cody Roberts has a wonderful speaking voice. He is able to do all the voices in a believable performance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shane's Burden?

When Shane asked Allie to marry him.

Which scene was your favorite?

Allie's mother was the kind who wanted to control everything and everyone. Allie finally stood up to her mother.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Yes, you can come home.

Any additional comments?

Delightful story. The story starts with two teens in high school. One a jock, the other a nerd. The story unfolds as the two realize that they have feelings for each other when they meet 10 years after they graduate. A wonderful, happy ending.

Wonderful Story

I loved this book. The author, Peggy L. Henderson brings up those insecurities most of us face sometime in our lives and I was drawn into the story. As always, Cody Roberts narrates this story with the true talent he has with his wonderful voice. I'm so glad this is book one as I'm looking forward to more of Peggy & Cody's books.

Great stories keep coming from Peggy Henderson!

Allision Cramer was the nerd of the school. Her aim was to keep a low profile and just finish school. Ten years later, after leaving to the east for college, Alley returns to Burnt River, MO sensing that something is missing in her life and the only way to find out is to return home and be with her grandfather. What Allison did not count on was running into her old high school crush who never really saw her as a person.

Shane Taggart was the school's cool, handsome jock but his youth was cut short as he witnessed his father's death. Ten years later, he is still trying to get over his father's death ten years ago but his healing is complicated by more family tragedies. Shane finds himself to be the only one who can keep the family horse ranch going. Who would ever think that the one girl who he did not pay attention to all those years ago would now plague his thoughts?

Both Allision and Shane had a teacher in high school, Mr. Weiker who both challenged and encourage them to be more than they ever thought they could be. His past worlds bring this unlikely couple together to face their separate challenges together for a brighter future.

This is a great series that has an underlining theme of how much impact one person can have on a whole generation and beyond. His investment in the younger generation impacted generations behind him. I wish there were more people in real life like this character.

Peggy does an excellent job with her first contemporary romance western! For me, I think one reason is that she continually connects her contemporary characters with her prior historical series, so these modern stories have the values and feel of her historicals.

Cory Roberts delivers another flawless narration. His characters are believable and his narrative is easy to listen to and often I find myself wishing the story could go on and on just to listen to his talent. :)

This audible was given to me and I voluntarily am giving an honest review.

Great Listen

I am really enjoying to Burnt River stories. Peggy Henderson continues to tell great stories. Looking forward to her next books

Another good story by Peggy Henderson

Cody Roberts is a very good narrator with a smooth voice and a wonderful way to narrate a story and does women's voices as well men.
Peggy Henderson writes incredible stories that have characters with lots of problems and broken pasts and this one is no exception. Both hero and heroine are scarred and wounded from things in their past when they were mostly in high school but both still carry those burdens into adulthood and for our heroine her mother still tries to boss her around.
This has cowboys, horses, a beautiful woman from high school that no one especially the heroine really saw anything in her other than being a bookaholic and a brainiac. She has grown into a beautiful woman and our hero finally notices her.
He was trying to buy her grandfather's ranch because her grandfather couldn't afford to run it anymore. But she came for the memorial of a favorite high school teacher and to visit her grandfather and now she wants to stay and help him get his ranch up and running again. She convinces her grandfather to keep it and let her try to get it going again.
On a day she tried to work with one of the young horses, the horse gets away and the hero ends up going after her.
This story has this adventure and more along the way, injuries caused by her being thrown from the horse and he ends up with fire ants eating away at him and having a reaction that could kill him.
Can you imagine both of them with injuries and a bad reaction and having to stay out over night in the wilderness together when she clearly is agitated with him but he is seeing her in a whole different light?
As well as adventure this has wonderful complex characters and romance as Peggy can only write and then more problems that you can imagine and interference in her life by mom again. Tension, adventure, problems, health issues and of course romance.
This is a really good contemporary story and Cody really has a wonderful way of telling it.
I highly recommend this audible story and I am sure you will enjoy it.

I received this audible from the author and with no pressure to review it but it was so good I had to do this review and hope others will want to listen to it. I was not compensated in anyway.

a contemporary romance from Peggy l henderson

I loved this story! I am a fan of the author's other books which are time travel and/or set in the past and I usually don't read or like contemporary romances so I wasn't too sure if I would like it but this book made me change my mind about contemporary romances (at least by this author). I loved it which just proves that good writing and good storytelling is good writing and good storytelling no matter what time period it is set in. I love the fact that the Taggart name is familiar (Shane's ancestors are in some of Peggy other books but you don't need to have read them to understand this book....it stands alone.) Cody Roberts as the narrator is excellent! his voice is wonderful to listen to and he puts just the right drama and emotion in narrating the story without being overly dramatic or cheesy. I highly recommend this audible book. it is a great listen!

Peggy L Henderson has done it again

Once again Peggy L Henderson has done it. A romance with humor and heart. Shane is a man that holds the responsibility of the world on his shoulders and Allison is the nerdy science geek that has finally found her gumption.

They bring out the best in each other. I can't wait for the rest of the books in this series.

Shane's Burden: Burnt River Book 1

Allison & Shane seemed like the most unlikely couple. So I was immediately interested to see where this story would lead.

I found Allison very endearing. She thought that she had dealt with her insecurities from her teens but it turned out that when she returned to her childhood home that those insecurities resurfaced.

Shane had the weight of the world on his shoulders so I was incredibly surprised that he would even allow himself to have a relationship.

This story reminded me that The Lord does work in mysterious ways to help us heal. I loved that the Horses also played their part...

I am hooked on this new series of books that Peggy is writing and looking forward to the next one.