A passionate, fast-paced story set in the untamed western frontier by an exciting new voice in historical romance.Niall MacLaren is the oldest of four brothers, and the undisputed leader of the family. A widower, and single father, he is focused on building the MacLaren ranch into the largest and most successful in northern Arizona. He is serious about two things—his responsibility to the family … the family and his future marriage to a goal of a wealthy, well-connected widow who will secure his place in the territory’s destiny
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Katherine is determined to live the life she’s dreamed about. With a job waiting for her in the growing town of Los Angeles, California, the young teacher from Philadelphia begins a journey across the United States with only a couple of trunks and her spinster companion. Life is perfect for this adventurous, beautiful young woman, until an accident throws her into the arms of the one man who can destroy it all.
Fighting his growing attraction and strong desire for the beautiful stranger, Niall is more determined than ever to push emotions aside to focus on his goals of wealth and political gain. But looking into the clear, blue eyes of the woman who could ruin everything, Niall discovers he will have to harden his heart and be tougher than he’s ever been in his life…Tougher than the Rest.
Excerpt:
Kate heard her doorknob turn, and the door open. Niall stood inside her room in bare feet, dressed only in his dress pants.
His skin was darkened from the summer months of working without a shirt. His body was muscled from the heavy work a ranch required. His dark hair was tousled as if he, too, had been lying awake in bed, unable to sleep. His arms hung limp at his sides. His expressive green eyes bored into hers as she turned to face him.
Does she know that with the fire behind her, I can see right through that nightdress? It was as if she had nothing on. Even as he advanced toward her, he knew he shouldn’t have come. This was wrong in so many ways. But his body had a mind of its own and he was unable to deny it…
…Now he was in her room, half dressed, and wanting nothing more than to pick her up and take her to bed. He advanced slowly, waiting for her to make a sound, to tell him to stop, but she just watched him advance.
“I shouldn’t be here,” Niall whispered. “You belong to someone else.”
Kate said nothing, just continued to stare into those dark pools of emerald green. Niall stopped a couple of feet away.
“We don’t have a future.” His throat worked as the words came out. He wanted, needed, Kate to understand that the pull between them, if they acted on it, wouldn’t change his plans. He advanced until she was only inches away. “Tonight won’t change anything,” he rasped, the words barely discernible. “We can only have this one night.”
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Absolutely loved this book. Couldn’t put it down.
I love it
Loved this story. Couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to read the next in this series.
Love her writing!
This was a little different story about a young woman going west for a teaching job. She gets amnesia and ends up on a ranch with a family with several men. I liked the beginning of the story where 4 young boys get help from a marshal and meet up with him later in the story. There were a few surprises.
Following this author. Great characters. Learn to love the area and understand life in the untamed western frontier.
One word: Awesome!
I could not put it down until.I.was done!
Loved it just finished it had problems with download but kept going back as I enjoyed the book thourgmy. Great written love story,Tthank you for a lovely written book
Love the characters.
I couldn’t put this book down! Loved all the characters. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
Hated the “cliffhanger” lead into the next book.
When the four MacLaren boys lose their parents to raiders, the oldest, Niall, who is 15 knows he has to take care of the others. His father told him to go to his Uncle Stuart MacLaren in Arizona Territory if anything ever happened to him. He had also told Niall where he had hidden two bags of money. Niall sent a telegraph to his uncle, telling him they were coming and off they went. It was a very long and dangerous journey in the 1800s but the boys made it.
The story fast-forwards 12 years where Niall is widowed with a 6 year old daughter, Beth. He meets Kate and is instantly smitten but moves on. Shortly after, he finds her again when she has been in a terrible carriage accident and has lost her memory. He takes her to his ranch, where he lives with his aunt, to recuperate and she finally agrees to be a governess to his daughter.
I enjoyed this historical western romance and found it to be a nice easy read. I must admit I was confused at the very beginning not knowing who Kate’s father was. So I didn’t start off with the best impression. Some of the things that happened in this story didn’t ring true but, again, I enjoyed it.
The characters were a bit odd. Kate was very well educated which was unusual in that time period. She could do absolutely anything! It was one of the ‘odd’ things I noticed that she never did anything wrong. Niall’s daughter, Beth, was a cutie and I really liked her. She was a lot of fun and often spilled the beans, so to speak, as 6 year olds will do. Niall was a miserable man who believed he had to do whatever it took to grow his ranch for his family, even if he didn’t want to do it. He was strange and hard to like.
The plot was interesting with Kate getting amnesia and not even knowing her name. Luckily she had told another passenger her name was Kate so they knew that much but that was all anyone knew about her. How she was attracted to Niall, I didn’t understand but she was and he with her. I was surprised that things got pretty heated between them, especially for that day and age.