By Vickie King
Genre: Historical Romance/Western
Series: The Blackwood Brothers (Book #1)
Goodreads
BlurbSheriff Ethan Blackwood is obsessed with bringing his wife’s killers to justice. A simple errand at the Cooper’s Creek Bank put her in the middle of a robbery-turned-bloodbath. Ethan vows to find the outlaws, but he needs a caretaker for his two small daughters.After killing her stepfather, an abusive, heartless man who wagered her in a poker game, Annie Benton Holt is on the run—with a weak, newborn baby. Even though she killed the man in a struggle for her own life, when her stepbrothers find out she’s killed their father they’ll be out for blood. If the law doesn’t put a noose around her neck first.
When the baby’s health forces Annie to stop in Cooper’s Creek, she is befriended by the town’s doctor. Broke, homeless, and with her baby’s health unstable, the doctor proposes a marriage-of-convenience between her and his widowed brother. Annie believes this mutual arrangement is the perfect solution.
But her perfect solution has a major flaw. The doctor’s brother—and Annie’s new husband—is the sheriff of Cooper’s Creek.
Review:
The book wastes no time getting started. I appreicate how the whys of the marriage are as convenient as the marriage itself. It fits the age, and keeps the pages turning since the story starts where the story begins. Nice use of backstory, most definitely.
I admire Annie, and I really like her character. She’s just as tough as she is sweet, loyal and selfless. Her predicament is as rough as cowhide, and the twist of it all left me pleased.
Ethan shares some of her same characteristics. I love his connection with his daughters, and the way he puts their needs before his own like any good parent would do (in my opinion). He did lay down the law when he needed to (personally and professionally).
I liked the two of them together. However, the relationship is a little lacking. I would’ve like for them to have some more alone time to connect to each other on a stronger level prior to the big love reveal, but I still enjoyed the story. There are a couple of surprises – true surprises because I didn’t seem them coming at all. Not a hint of their existence, which is why I guess they’re surprises. 🙂
Being a true Texan, I did enjoy the dialogue. The writing is really good, and although a little fast-paced, the story itself is believable. The ending is not so much a cliffhanger as it is the beginning of the next story. I can dig that. There’s sexual tension, but the heat level is mild. So for those of you who prefer a little less discription with the sex scenes, this is for you.
Overall it’s a good read. Give it a try.
Rating system: Cups of Coffee (the less the better)
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 1 1/2 cups of coffee
Buy Link: Amazon
About the Author
Vickie King’s new book takes her writing back to her first love: historical Western. She’s happy to present ETHAN’S HEART, the book of her own heart and the first in her new Historical Western Series, The Blackwood Brothers. She is also author of the contemporary romance series, The Braddocks. Book One, Carly’s Rule, and Book Two, Dusty’s Fate, are available in paperback and ebook.
Vickie is from a small town in West Virginia. She transplanted to Florida in 1994, and while she loves living in the sunshine state, now and then she misses watching the seasons go through their changes. If she closes her eyes, she can still imagine herself standing on the deck of her family home, staring out over the hills and valleys that will always be a part of her.
Vickie is previously published in short fiction with both romance and mystery for Woman’s World Magazine. She is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a local chapter, Ancient City Romance Authors (ACRA), where she is a past president.
Vickie has four grown children, five grandchildren, and a Chihuahua named Bentley. She has the best family and friends anyone could have. Her blog, Heartstrings, features interviews with authors as well as other publishing industry professionals.
Thank you for featuring Ethan’s Heart and for your review!