The War Between the States ended five years ago, but she still pursues her enemy…Rebel spy turned government rabble rouser Adella Willows receives her mission straight from a Washington senator–play havoc with the Katy Railroad and derail its bid to win the race. The senator craves wealth. Adella craves revenge against the man responsible for her brother’s death. But her plans … responsible for her brother’s death. But her plans crumble into chaos when she enters a battle of wits with the railroad’s foreman.
An ocean separates him from his failures in Ireland, but he’s still haunted by those who died…
Seasoned railroad foreman Cormac McGrady’s sole desire is keeping his workmen safe and employed, which means keeping the Katy ahead of its rivals. But the beautiful spy bedeviling his railroad needs protecting as well. Cormac must choose between winning the race and winning Adella’s heart, while Adella must choose whether she lives for revenge or dies for love.
This novella is a standalone story but can also be read as part of the Passion’s Prize anthology in the Steam! Romance and Rails series.
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Adella was looking for revenge but found love instead. I really enjoyed Adella and Cormac’s story. These two needed each other but it took them awhile to realize it.
This is a historical romance set in post war civil USA between a spy and a railroad Forman. Adela Williams is sent by Moreton to disrupt the new railway being build by Levi Parsons, who she believes is responsible for her brother’s death from starvation. Although she knows the greedy Senator Moreton’s motives, she takes the job in order to take revenge on the man she believes killed her brother and because her own life is threatened. What she does not count on is the Forman, Cormac McGrady, whose job is to keep progress going and his men safe. She has met her match.
This is a great romance between two strong-willed people who have strong motives for what they do. The characters are amazing, interesting, and full of character and personality. The interplay between these strong, independent and arrogant people is what makes the story so powerful. They both need to deal with their inner demons and the pressures of their chaotic world in order to find what is important for each of them and if their love can flourish. The emotional drama created by the clash of the players is addicting. It was hard to put the book down. What a great romance!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. Ms. Nelson opens with a great hook. The events that follow are very engaging.
This author has finely-honed descriptive skills and the reader is totally immersed in the details of this era. Her portrayals of Cormac and Adella are outstanding. I empathized with the hero and heroine as they both had admirable goals and suddenly their lives were intertwined. The author creates a vivid setting and I felt that I was there, right in the middle of the action. Adella is faced with complex choices and you’ll wish to race to the end of the book.
This is a great read with suspense and a plot that keeps you reading to see what is going to happen. It is worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Revenge can often cloud the judgement and make one do dangerous things. But Adella wanted the man to pay who killed her brother. The best way to accomplish that was through greenbacks and making him loose a lot of them. Adella Willows is determined and with the backing of the Senator she will try to slow down or stop the Katy Railroad from beating another to win a race. What she doesn’t expect is to run up against the Katy’s railroad foreman Cormac McGrady. Two souls with a haunted past that pushes them to achieve their goals. But they unexpectedly have a strong attraction and with each being determined to carry out what is most important, they often clash.
This is an amazing adventure that comes alive with the author’s amazing descriptons and characters. The times of growth in the west was hard for so many and those just trying to find jobs and stay alive. I have really become a fan of this author’s writing and could not put this one down till I turned the last page. Revenge, loyalty, suspense and of course love brings this tale into a must read story!!
A part of the Steam! Romance and Rails Series a well written book that I was not putting down until I finished it. Adella Willows and Irishman and railroad foreman Cormac McGrady’s story has suspense, drama,subterfuge, saboteurs, death, and romance with two people who will have a lot to go through before they get their happy ending. I hope there is more to come in this series.
Cormac and Adella go on quite the bumpy journey. She is a spy and trying to get revenge for her brothers death by putting the railroad out. Trouble seems to be everywhere but Cormac will protect her with his life.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Pain, loss and perhaps love and forgiveness.
Adella Willows is out for revenge she blames Levi Parsons for her brother’s death. Levi Parsons is the owner of Katy railroad Cormac McGrady is the foreman of the KATY railroad and Adella and he go toe to toe. I loved these characters they were so human good and bad mixed into characters of true substance. This book was truly amazing written so well that you know that the author put her heart and soul into every word. Jacqui Nelson is very gifted and an author who will quickly become one of your favorites as she has become one of mine. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Oh, my gosh! What a wonderful enemies-to-lovers Western historical romance! Adella, the heroine, is southern through and through and still fighting the Civil War in her own way. She is determined to take revenge on the man whom she sees as responsible for her twin brother’s death when he died of starvation at a Union prisoner-of-war camp. In the beginning scene, she takes on a job to thwart the building of a railroad line, which will hurt that man in the pocketbook. When she arrives where the railroad is being laid, she needs Cormac McGrady, who is in charge of the men building this railway spur.
I absolutely adored Cormac’s fierce protectiveness, loyalty, and inherent goodness. Right from the start, he would insert himself—literally physically—between Adella and harm’s way. She didn’t want to like him because she perceived him as the enemy since they had polar opposite goals. But she couldn’t help but like and respect what she saw. The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts, and the author did an excellent job showing the powerful emotions that built between them. While his attraction was nearly instant, the rest of the romance did feel like it had a natural build as they got to know each other better. I totally fell in love with McGrady’s Men as well. Though they could have been rough men like the other railroaders, they were as decent and protective as their boss—and quite often injected a delightful dose of humor into what could sometimes be a serious story.
If you like a heartfelt Western romance with wonderful three-dimensional characters and a hint of intrigue and some danger, scroll up and get a copy of this book. You won’t be disappointed.