Catherine Evans fell in love when she was three years old, head-over-heels, forever kind of love. The very first moment she saw twelve-year-old Duncan McKenzie, she told God and her pony that she was going to marry that boy. He was handsome. He was kind. He was strong and smart and all the good things a boy should be. For thirteen years she loved him with every beat of her heart. And on her … her sixteenth birthday he walked away from her father’s ranch, and from her. He didn’t look back over his shoulder. Not even once. And from that day forward, Catherine Evans swore off all men. Her heart turned to stone, her will to iron, and her vow to God changed. She’d run her father’s ranch. She’d succeed. She’d survive. And she would never, ever love another man as long as she lived. Duncan McKenzie left the ranch ten years ago, desperate to escape temptation in the form of a budding young lady too innocent to claim for his own. But Catherine’s frightened father summons him home. The ranch is under attack and the old man’s stubborn daughter refuses to seek help. Duncan left a sweet young girl behind a decade ago. He returns to a defiant siren, a woman whose heart is as wild as the land she would sacrifice her life to protect. When Catherine’s father coerces her into marrying Duncan, the fire in her eyes spells trouble, but it’s the kind of trouble Duncan has no desire to resist. Marriage is the only way he can protect her. Especially when Duncan’s own past comes calling in the form of one extremely dangerous and vengeful outlaw, Catherine’s cowardly enemies want the ranch badly enough to kill for it, and his reluctant bride is very much in their way. This book has been completely re-edited and updated as of February 22, 2014. This western historical romance is a work of historical fiction.
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I loved this book about Catherine and Duncan and their love story. They knew each other as children but were were separated when Duncan left to become a bounty hunter. He returns when Catherine’s father sends for him to protect his ranch and family by asking him to marry Catherine. The excitement is high and really holds your interest. The …
I always love this author’s books
Well written and very entertaining – sets the scene of a young woman rebelling against the opinions of men who don’t look under the surface appearance. Loved it!!
AJ R
I enjoyed the story line. Yes the lead male character left as the young girl was maturing. She was hurt by his decision to leave and when he returned she wasn’t going to make things easy for him. Great read. You will enjoy it if you like western frontier stories.
It was a good story with believable characters.
Cat is very feisty and her father, James, has a hard time keeping her in check. He knows Duncan can handle her, but she is so mad at Duncan that she doesn’t ever want to see him again. He left without a word years ago. Duncan left because Cat was too young and he was too tempted. He has come home now to help James and Cat because a neighbor …
This typical wild west romance was full of character and included some very nice twists. I loved the novel snipped by “Penny Ante.” I don’t think I laughed that hard all day. I had to read it aloud to my husband and he thought it was a hoot, too. There’s a great deal of sex described in this one, just so you know. (I think Amazon might have had it …
Catherine and Duncan have a history, only some of which we’re given a glimpse of. They each have their own demons. I would have liked to know a bit more about whatever happened to Duncan when he first left the ranch. Some of the situations are just sketchy. Even in the old West, if you were kidnapped, the sheriff could do something about it. …