Description
''Paisley is suitably sassy and Sarah M. Eden gives her heroine some excellent cowgirl skills, along with a few soft edges, too...A sweet summer read, a well-crafted Western that keeps the pages turning.'' -Foreword Reviews ''The banter between the two main characters, Paisley and Cade, is refreshing and fun. Additionally appealing is the way in which Eden focuses more on advancing her plot and letting the romantic aspects of her story fall in place naturally. The tactic of showing each character's personality traits through his or her actions is quite effective. It feels as though the reader is an observer in all of the scenes. The characters and their stories become personal and engaging. Readers will find plenty of ponder-worthy topics, action, suspense, and yes, romance. Enjoy your visit to the town of Savage Wells.'' -- -Compass Book Ratings ''Filled with snappy dialogue and lots of humor, this is a timeless tale of the war of the sexes.'' -- -Booklist ''Unites a spirited markswoman and a tough-as-nails lawman. Sparks fly amid witty banter...Appealing.'' PW ''Chock full of eccentric characters...Eden offers a fun, heartwarming Wild West tale...Great writing, an unexpected plot, a quirky heroine, and the larger-than-life man who loves her. A clever, entertaining romance.'' -- Kirkus Sarah M. Eden is the author of several well-received historical romances, including Whitney Award-finalists Seeking Persephone and Courting Miss Lancaster , and award-winning A Proper Romance series novels Longing for Home and Hope Springs . Combining her obsession with history and an affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library and dreams of one day traveling to all the places she reads about. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. "Good, good." The mayor nodded triumphantly. "Now, if you men will tell us your names, we'll get started." The doctor looked at Cade expectantly. "Cade O'Brien." An immediate hush fell over the other men. Every pair of eyes pulled wide. More than one mouth dropped open. Cade simply stood there, waiting for their shock to wear off. He'd built enough of a reputation out West to recognize the reaction; it'd pass soon enough. As if on cue, the silence disappeared as quickly as it had descended and something near chaos erupted in its place. Four of the six men simply threw their hands up and declared themselves out of the running. "I ain't got a chance against Cade O'Brien," one said, fixing his hat more firmly on his head. One by one, they passed Cade, dipping their hats or shaking his hand, and declaring it an honor to meet him. The town council looked a bit awed at both him and the exodus he'd caused. In the end, only Sweaty Hat and Blue Kerchief remained. His respect for the two men increased on the spot. Not everyone was willing to keep at a fight that had suddenly turned lopsided. "Anyone else?" the mayor asked. "One more," a feminine voice declared. Cade turned around. A woman approached, her nearly black hair pulled into a tidy bun. Deep brown eyes, a pleasant face-she was a beauty, for sure. Her eyes met his for a moment. She looked him up and down but didn't seem terribly impressed. The final candidate's wife, perhaps? Or sister? The question faded, however. Hanging low on her hips was a gun belt, a pistol in the holster. He'd known a few women who wore guns, but none who wore it as naturally as she did, or as menacingly. "One final name for your list of candidates," she said to the doctor, her voice firm and commanding. "Miss Paisley Bell." Read more
Features & Highlights
- Paisley Bell knows the eccentric people of Savage Wells. From the absentminded shopkeeper who always thinks she's been robbed to the young man who has returned shell-shocked from the war, Paisley has compassion for them all. When the sheriff up and leaves town, Paisley steps up and assumes the responsibility, partly because she loves the work, but also because she needs the income to take care of her sick father. So when the town council decides that the position of sheriff should really go to a man, Paisley finds herself fighting to prove that she's the perfect candidate for the job, even though she wears a skirt. Cade O'Brien is heartily sick of shooting people. In his many years as a lawman, Cade has seen his share of blood and violence. So when he answers an advertisement for a sheriff job in the sleepy town of Savage Wells, he believes he's found the peace and quiet he's always desired. But when he discovers that his biggest competition for the job is a woman, he begins to question his decisions. Tension between the two begins to sizzle when both Cade and Paisley realize the attraction they have for each other, but when Paisley's former beau shows up in town, along with a band of bank robbers, the blossoming relationship between the two sheriffs is tested. They will have to work together to thwart the bank robbers and keep the town safe.
