TEST
Women have never had it easy when they strike out on their own in a society dominated by men. Titan-haired Lillian who’s saved up her hard-earned money to buy her own store finds this out the hard way, having been shut out of mining towns previously. She isn’t going to make the same mistake in Silverton.
This time when she buys a store, she does so under the shared name of Mr. and Mrs. Donovan West. She tells everyone that her husband is with the Army and busy running raids for them. Someday he will be back home, she says, but until then he wants her to run their general goods store.
It’s all a lie, of course, until the day that Donovan West returns. The townsfolk, many of whom had become skeptical about Donovan’s existence, are agog to meet the man. Lillian, however, is incensed that someone is trying to steal her life. But she’s between a rock and a hard place: She can’t denounce him without branding herself a liar.
Patrick Donovan is a Secret Service agent working in partnership with Kane McCormick to catch a counterfeiting ring operating through the mining towns. Stumbling on Lillian’s deception is a godsend to them for undercover purposes.
Author Parra runs the gamut of married but not married scenarios from busybody neighbors to sleeping arrangements before she has Donovan confess who he is to Lillian and ask for her help in the investigation. Miffed, but agreeable, the redoubtable Lillian, having been orphaned since early childhood, warms to the irresistible Donovan. He, however, while drawn to her, isn’t interested in having a real wife, having had one previously who died in childbirth.
Often very funny and always charming, the story of tough-as-nails Lillian and her handsome pseudo-husband was an enjoyable, quick read. And therein lies the problem. At 192 pages, this book felt more like an elongated short story, not a novel. And at $23.95, it seems like an awfully expensive one to boot.
Grade: B-
Book Type: American Historical Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 14/07/11
Publication Date: 2011/06
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.