FANCY PANTS

Author: Cathy Marie Hake ISBN: 0764203177 9/2007 HISTORICAL/INSPIRATIONAL Publisher: BETHANY HOUSE
Time Period: 1890 Texas

When "Big Tim" Creighton spies the mincing fop headed toward Forsaken Ranch, he is appalled. Thankful his boss isn't around to witness the arrival of his kin, Tim decides he'll turn "Fancy Pants" Hathwell into a man worthy of respect. Lady Sydney Hathwell never intended to don men's attire, but when her uncle mistakenly assumed she was a male, the answer to her problems seemed clear. Her disguise as "Syd" was meant to be temporary…but the arranged marriage she's fleeing, her uncle's attitude toward the fairer sex—and her own pride—compel her to continue the guise far longer than she had intended. When her deception is exposed, will she be forced to abandon her hopes for family….and true love?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I just read a really, really good inspirational historical novel called FANCY PANTS by Cathy Marie Hake. It's the story of a young lady fleeing her crude fiancé and starting a new life for herself. Sort of, anyway. Go grab yourself a cup of hot tea and I'll be glad to tell you more about this wonderful story!

In the beginning we meet Lady Sydney Hathwell and her fiancé Rexall Hume in the middle of a heated discussion. Sydney has decided not to marry Hume, a crude and thoughtless man. She decides to flee to her uncle's ranch until she can decide what to do with her life. Unfortunately, her uncle isn't so fond of females, so Sydney decides to do something drastic! She cuts her long, luxurious hair short, wraps her breasts so they're not noticeable, don's men's clothes and heads off to Texas where her uncle lives on his flourishing ranch.

What she doesn't know is that her uncle is away, and in his place his Tim Creighton, a trustworthy man who is intent upon teaching this "fancy pants" boy how to work and act like a man! Sydney's up to the challenge and is able to put up the façade for weeks, until the inevitable happens—Tim finds out!

Oh, Lordy! The turn that this story takes is just amusing, romantic and at times a bit sad. Sydney wants to earn her keep at the ranch, especially knowing how her uncle feels about females. However, she can't do anything to please Tim. Tim is struggling as well with the realization that he's very attracted to Sydney, but because of what happened to him in the past, he is weary of falling in love again.

With all this drama unraveling, you may be asking what the inspirational aspects of this story are. Well, they come at a point in the story where Sydney needs to find her own salvation and deal with her own disappointments and struggles. Tim helps her, and by doing so, they really begin to form a very special relationship not only with each other, but Sydney finds her salvation through God.

Tim and Sydney are really special characters. I only touched on the romantic aspect of this story and what drives Sydney to do what she had to. There's so much in between the pages of FANCY PANTS. Cathy Marie Hake delivers a very good book to her readers and even to those who have never read one of her books before—like me!

I would definitely recommend reading FANCY PANTS if you've never read an inspirational romance book before. If you have, then I know you're just going to love this book, too!

Julie Kornhausl