My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
Grace Mallory is tired of running, of hiding. But when an old friend sends an after-hours telegraph transmission warning Grace that the man who has hunted her for nearly a year has discovered her location, she fears she has no choice. She can't let the villain she believes responsible for her father's death release his wrath in Harper's Station, the town that has sheltered her and blessed her with the dearest friends she's ever known.
Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity. His telegraph companion, the mysterious Miss G, listens eagerly to his ramblings every night and delights him with tales all her own. For months, their friendship--dare he believe, courtship?--has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intended for him. Yet when he takes the next step to meet her in person, he discovers her life is in peril, and Amos must decide if he can shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.
My Review
It was a pleasure to revisit Harper's Station and my favorite characters there, as well as getting to know some new ones. I loved the "instant messenger" way that Grace and Amos are able to connect even though they live miles apart. They are so sweet together- Grace brings out protective instincts in Amos and he wants to show her that he can take care of her. Grace appreciates his friendship and reassuring presence, but is used to taking care of things on her own. There's an interesting conflict in Amos- he is accepting of who he is, but is very aware that he's not the strong manly man that ladies find attractive. So there's a dynamic of confidence and vulnerability that Amos finds at odds within himself repeatedly. Grace senses that in him and is thoughtful in the way she interacts with him. The addition of a tall and handsome Pinkerton agent on the scene complicates the situation as Grace must decide if he's trustworthy with critical evidence. I enjoyed the scenes from Helen's point of view, another woman living on the outskirts of the settlement who rescues a wounded man and nurses him back to health, despite her complete fear and mistrust of men. (I *really* hope there will be a novella written with more about her and Lee!) The mystery and romance was entertaining and the climax at the end kept me swiftly turning pages until the conclusion.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Don't miss No Other Will Do, the first book in the Ladies of Harper's Station series, and Worth the Wait, the series novella . . .
Synopsis
Men are optional. That's
the credo Emma Chandler's suffragette aunts preached and why she
started a successful women's colony in Harper's Station, Texas. But when
an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive them out, Emma admits
they might need a man after all. A man who can fight--and she knows just
the one.
Malachi Shaw finally earned the respect he craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma's plea arrives, he bolts to Harper's Station to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she's not a girl any longer. She's a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn't deserve.
As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow and deepen, but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive.
Malachi Shaw finally earned the respect he craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma's plea arrives, he bolts to Harper's Station to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she's not a girl any longer. She's a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn't deserve.
As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow and deepen, but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive.
Synopsis
Benjamin Porter is one
of only two men allowed inside the women's colony of Harper's Station,
Texas. A freighter by trade, he works closely with local shopkeeper,
Victoria Adams, to transport the colony's goods to market. But it is
more than profit that keeps him coming back. He's fallen hard for the
shopkeeper and her son. Tori is brave, beautiful, and a savvy
entrepreneur--the ideal partner not only for his business but for his
life. Too bad she's under the impression that a man, any man, is the
last thing she needs.
Despite Ben's consistent kindness, Tori continues to hold him at a distance. His towering height and muscular frame, while attractive, are also dangerous. And she's faced dangerous men in the past and vowed never again.
After Ben convinces Tori to partner with him in a new venture, delivering goods to area farms and ranches, he finally has a chance to woo her in earnest. But when an accident derails his plans, what once was a chance at love may be lost forever.
Despite Ben's consistent kindness, Tori continues to hold him at a distance. His towering height and muscular frame, while attractive, are also dangerous. And she's faced dangerous men in the past and vowed never again.
After Ben convinces Tori to partner with him in a new venture, delivering goods to area farms and ranches, he finally has a chance to woo her in earnest. But when an accident derails his plans, what once was a chance at love may be lost forever.
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