Masters of the Cavern Romance Trilogy by Z. Peabody

His to Honor, His to Adore, His to Love by Z. Peabody
Series: Masters of the Cavern romance novella trilogy
Publisher: Z. Peabody Publishing (July 1, 2023 – January 4, 2025)

REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS

Masters of the Cavern is Z. Peabody’s Christian romance novella trilogy. What’s the deal with the cavern? you may ask. In this series, there is an avant-garde restaurant that sits in a huge cave in rural Wyoming. An outreach ministry is also housed there, and the governing body of the ministry is made up of the “Masters.” (If that sounds kind of Scottish, that’s because it is.)

His to Honor is the first story in the trilogy. Braun meets the woman of his dreams, Natalie. Braun is a small-town law-enforcement officer while Natalie is a globetrotter fashion model. It can never work, right? 

The way Braun and Natalie meet is wildly unique and totally hooked me. Romance trope: instalove. Theme: God’s plans will not be thwarted by humans or circumstances.

I enjoyed the plot, but Braun is uncomfortably possessive and controlling. For example, Braun and Natalie are in his pickup truck without the heat on, and he asks her if she’s warm enough. Natalie is upset about something, so instead of answering, she rolls her eyes. Braun stops the car and gets out:

I yank open her door and lean in close until our faces are inches apart. “… What you won’t do is disrespect me as if I’m some flunky of yours.”
-Z.Peabody, HIs to Honor

Despite my uneasiness with the character of Braun, I appreciated how his faith plays into the romance, and as a whole the story is impossible to put down.

In the second novella, His to Adore, Elise is a star Gospel singer. Thane is a small-town rancher. After reading the first story, I started to see a trend in the way the lovers meet. It’s like the old TV series Fantasy Island, but even better!

The tension is high between Elise and Thane. Can a jet-setting, successful singer have a lasting relationship with a rancher who lives in the middle of nowhere?

Again for me, there were uncomfortable moments concerning the male love interest. Elise is embarrassed about something when she starts to explain her feelings. She averts her gaze, and Thane says:

“Elise, look at me when you talk to me.”
-Z. Peabody, His to Adore

It felt like Thane was infantilizing Elise.

Still, His to Adore is a page turner. Plus, there’s a HUGE surprise near the end, and it made for a memorable read. (Argh, I’m dying to say what the surprise is, but of course I can’t.) 

The third story is His to Love. Sophia is a celebrity dancer, and Griffin is a small-town detective. 

Once more, the male love interest is the authoritative type. When Griffin asks Sophia a question, she answers with a shake of her head. Then:

“No. Use your words,” he instructs, eyes on me again.
-Z. Peabody, His to Love

Yeah, uncomfortable for me.

Anyway, I liked this story the best because not only do we get a romance with a meet-cute trope, but also we get the tear-inducing story of Forrest who owns and manages the Cavern. Plus Forrest’s Scottish father cracked me up, such an irascible but lovable old man.

In each of the three stories, characters have Bible verses memorized that they use for guidance. They hold God as sovereign. My favorite character of all was Elise, the star Gospel singer from the second book. She praises God with her music, thanking Him for giving her the gift of song. It’s her way of talking to God, and I could feel her love for Him. (She’s also funny. For instance, she worries that she might drool too much on her very first kiss!)

In summation, if you like stories that clearly show God’s hand in a couple’s relationship, if you are okay with male love interests that are overbearing, and if you like a bit of humor in your romance reads, then I think you’d enjoy the Masters of the Cavern trilogy. I give Peabody’s trilogy three fish for the uncomfortable male leads and five fish for the enjoyable plots. Overall, four entertaining fish:

I read the Kindle version of the Masters of the Cavern trilogy.