Lillian Hayes’ fiance, Thomas Shelton, convinced the townsfolk to exchange their gold for his worthless bank notes. After he disappears with the gold, every eye turns to Lillian for answers. Even her cousin Carl insists she knows where the gold is. He is desperate to find it because he is deeply indebted to Kingston, small town criminal and owner of the local saloon. Carl will do anything to … clear his debt; even torture Lillian for answers.
Nick Brace is driving a herd of horses to town when he stumbles across Lillian, branded, strung up over a mineshaft, and left to die. He saves her, tends to her wounds, and teaches her to shoot to protect herself. But the danger isn’t past. When Nick’s horse-trading deal with Kingston goes bad, Lillian races to be the one to save him this time.
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Violence against women is always a tough subject to deal with, and I’ve faced more than my fair share. So when a book opens up with “Pain erased all sense of time” I knew I was in for a rough ride. The heroine Lillian Hayes had the misfortune of being engaged to the charming local banker, who absconded with all the town’s gold and money. The townfolk are rightfully outraged, and decide to have someone “ask” Lillian. Since she’s his fiancée she must know. Only she doesn’t. No matter how “persuasive” they try to be, she can’t tell them what she doesn’t know. So they leave her for dead.
Nick Brace is just passing through, on his way to town to sell a man some horses when he sees a woman dangling from a rope over a mine shaft. Outraged at what someone did to a beautiful, helpless woman, he frees her and does what he can to revive her, giving her water and treating her injuries. He’s determined to find out who did this to her and why—and exact a little cowboy justice on the bastards.
This book is a study in human contrasts. Set in the post-Civil War Old West, when the promise of gold could make people do crazy things. You’ve got the best and the worst—greedy people willing to do anything, decent people who allow their anger to justify turning a blind eye, people who think “might makes right” and that the ends justify the means. You’ve also got a hero bent on learning the truth and holding the guilty accountable. You’ve got a heroine who tries to understand—and forgive. This isn’t a pretty satin-and-bows story. This is a gritty, no-holds-barred story that doesn’t flinch from the truth of what humans can be capable of—both tremendous evil and tremendous good.
This is a strong story with strong characters that stay with you. It’s not a warm and fuzzy story, but it’s compelling and truthful. I’m glad I read it, and kudos to the author for not taking the easy road.
This book opens with Lillian in a precarious position. Her former fiancé had taken off with the Bank’s gold. He had persuaded the town’s folk that the gold was safer in the bank and notes were easier to keep track of.
Now the notes were worthless and the town thought she knew where the gold was. No thanks to her cousin who perpetuated the rumor.
Nick has to deliver some horses and with a little luck maybe he can convince Lillian to come home with him.
Plenty of action once he realizes the buyer for his horses was the man who ordered the pain that was inflicted on Lillian.
A perfect romance, with an emotional and heartrending start.
Dangerous Ties by Debra Parmley
Starts with dedication page and then the story takes place in Nevada 1860 and Lilian is tied up and they hope she will die.
She didn’t know where the money was, her fiancée abandoned her and had robbed others in town.
Love that she followed her relative and she was able to support herself with her hands, sewing but many didn’t need many gowns, not like the big city.
Story also follows Nick, a man who has come upon her tied up as she passes out.
They missed the mine shaft as the ties broke, just in time he had saved her.
Love hearing his side of how he’s taking care of her while she sleeps…
Like how they are able to find what’s missing, love the hiding places.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.