When Janelle Prescott is thrown from her car as it careens off of a slippery road, she expects to wake up in a hospital. Instead, to her utter disbelief, she wakes up in a jail cell which looks like something from an old western movie set. It is there, hurt and alone, with no idea what happened or how she will get back home, that Janelle first meets Aaron Jackson. As she regains her wits, … however, Janelle realizes that something is terribly amiss, and her worst fears are confirmed when she learns that Aaron is the marshal of Cheyenne County, Wyoming… and the year is 1878.
When an injured, apparently addle-headed woman falls into his lap, Aaron takes it upon himself to keep her safe and nurse her back to health. Truth be told, he is instantly attracted to her despite her sharp tongue and her bizarre story—a story which he is quickly forced by the evidence to accept as genuine. After Aaron takes her under his wing and into his family’s home, the two clash frequently, but Aaron is more than ready to lay down the law… even if that means a good, hard, bare-bottom spanking for this feisty brat from another era.
Having little choice, Janelle must learn how to live as a woman in 1878, including submitting to the firm-handed marshal who, in spite of everything, seems to have laid claim to her heart.
Publisher’s Note: Marshal’s Law is an erotic romance novel that contains sexual scenes and spankings, including domestic discipline in a historical setting. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.
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I loved this story! Within the historical Western Romance genre, this story takes the lead in originality. When I recommend books, this one seems to always make the list.
So many times that I read a western, or historical fiction, I imagine myself there and how I would react to that time. Well, I was able to live those thoughts through Janelle. I loved the ties to the 20th century, yet how Janelle struggled to fit in in the 1800’s. I could not put this book down. I was hooked for the first chapter and I did not stop until. it ended. Aaron is a gentleman, but a very dominant one. I loved the interaction between Janelle and Aaron. Janelee struggled to fit into the 1800’s and Aaron accepted that she was not accustomed to his ways. He was so willing to train her though. This is like an opposites attract because of the time difference. There is a hint of the Lake House and I really loved every twist and word. This was such a fun listen.
Gideon Welles reads a little slower than I like, but he is the perfect Aaron. His grizzly voice brings out the roughness of Aaron, yet still makes him tender. Gideon has a great female voice that is smooth and easy to distinguish. Gideon has truly found his niche with the cowboys. I cannot imagine a better narrator for this story.
I thought that this was a very enjoyable read. Its time travel, western theme, domestic discipline storyline kept me engaged and entertained. I liked both of the lead characters and I felt that the secondary characters were very good also. Aaron’s brothers in particular caught my interest and I look forward to reading their own stories in their books. Aaron was quite swoon worthy. Kind and firm, loving and dominate this hot, cowboy lawman captured my heart. Janelle was sassy and spunky. I liked her and it was easy to feel sympathy towards the situation she helplessly finds herself in. That being said, in my opinion she approached that TSTL line a couple of times. An adult should have some sense of self preservation and learn to heed warnings and take the appropriate actions to avoid risks. If I had one complaint it was that sometimes her thoughts and actions showed she was aware of the dangers of the era she now found herself in, but at other times it was like she fully expected something different. For me this was frustrating. This couple did share a strong attraction, steamy chemistry and make a fun pairing though. Drama, humor, action, emotional turmoil, excitement, tension, sweetness, suspense and heat are sprinkled throughout the book.
A DIFFERENT MEANING TO FINDING LOVE
After reading book 2 – Jackson’s Justice, I had to go back and read book 1 – Marshall’s Law. This one is better than the second one. Time travel, knowledgeable woman, strong dominant man. An 1870’s Wild West world for a modern woman. The idioms and self-sufficiency of a woman doesn’t fit. Add in a spanking or few and the love scenes are hot in more ways than one.
Original western time travel
I had read Maddie Taylor’s Marshal’s Law when it first came out and loved Janelle and Aaron as a couple, their chemistry is amazing. I was curious to see what Gideon Welles’ narration would add to the mix. He brought an already really interesting believable plot to the next level. I enjoyed listening to his voice and the nuances it added to the characters. Time travels have been popular for a long time now, the times and mores being compared. I thought Janelle’s being a nurse was inspired showing the very real impact time has had on medicine for the average person’s day to day life. I thought the secondary characters were engaging and added extra depth to the story.
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this audio.
The first part of the review was from when I read the book a couple of years ago. The update is from the audio version.
There was absolutely a domestic discipline thread to this book. What I found to be so interesting was the entire time travel concept. Janelle and Aaron were so well suited, and he was very open minded and accepting of her situation.
This book was intriguing because Janelle’s situation seemed to occur out of the blue, leaving many questions, with the answers being provided throughout the story. After all, how does a 21st Century woman survive In the late 1800’s?
I would definitely recommend this book.
*****UPDATE 19 May 19*****
I was gifted an audio version of this book, not realizing I had already read it until I had listened to a couple of chapters. I realized that the Audiobook made the entire concept even more intriguing.
I, for one, could not imagine being transported to the late 1800’s and trying to figure out how to function. Sometimes, hearing about the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s sounds archaic. It boggles the mind to try and continue to behave like a woman who grew up in the 21st century and actually live in an entirely different world.
Hearing the narrator explaining Aaron’s reasoning for controlling Janelle’s behavior makes even more sense when you look at the situation through a different lens.
The book is fast paced, romantic, adventurous, intriguing and steamy.
I voluntarily listened to and reviewed this audio book received from the author.
The Sheriff And The Nurse
The Jackson series is my favorite series by Maddie Taylor. I’ve read them all multiple times. They’re just that good. I loved the whole time travel aspect. It was like Outlander with a Western twist. Western romance is one of my favorite tropes. It never gets old.
Now on to the story itself. Like all of Maddie’s books, it gripped me from page one. The writing is phenomenal. The characters relatable. The love scenes steamy and full of love.
I loved Janelle. Her experience as a nurse definitely helps in this little world. What they think of as her little quirks are what we would call logic and reason. She is from the future after all. Her tenacity and loyalty are both great qualities in her. She finds her perfect match in Aaron. Although she struggles at times to deal with such an old fashioned man she finds true love through discipline and affection. (I don’t mind the domestic discipline aspect. I actually can’t get enough of it. It intrigues me.)
Aaron is the perfect hero. Handsome, strong, protective. Despite Janelle saying otherwise, he’s also very patient. His kindness is something that appeals to me the most. The love he has for Janelle is so pure. He shows his love for her in everything he does. She is always at the forefront of his mind.
I’m not going to lie. This book made me cry. It definitely was a tear wrencher. I felt every feeling these characters did. I felt Aaron’s fear when Janelle was missing. I felt Janelle’s heartache after he left. But most of all, I felt the love between the two main characters. Between the close knit family that are the Jacksons. That’s a testament to Maddie’s writing. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good Western love story.
Aaron & Janelle’s story is absolutely captivating. There are moments that will make you misty eyed, have you laughing out loud and others where you just roll your eyes. It’s also very heartwarming and super steamy! Another must read series by Maddie Taylor!
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(¸.•´ (¸.•` ~~5 WILDLY ADVENTUROUS STARS! ~~
There is nothing like a captivating Wild West romance to make my heat gallop with joy, and MARSHAL’S LAW by Maddie Taylor was PURE PERFECTION!!!
THE STORY:
A disoriented Janelle Prescott wakes up with a head injury in a dusty old jail cell, with no recollection of how she got there after being thrown from her car enroute to Cheyenne, giving new meaning to the term dazed and confused! But when the big, broad shouldered, devastatingly handsome Marshall Aaron Jackson frees her from the jail cell and hauls her to the doc’s, refusing to listen to her protests (and threatening “brutish” spankings if she does not follow his orders) she is fit to be tied! She tries to explain her predicament, but when neither Aaron nor the doc understand the modern day gibberish that comes out of her sassy mouth, she realizes with a start that this is no bad western dream that she’s going to awaken from anytime soon! Turns out she has been hurtled back in time 135 years to the Old West, circa 1878, and has no earthly idea what to do about it!
In spite of her feisty temperament and unladylike behavior , there is something about the bewitchingly beautiful spitfire that brings out the soft spot—and the FIERCE PROTECTOR–in Marshall Jackson and he whisks the injured young woman back home to his Silver Bend homestead to heal. But now that he’s taken responsibility for care and safety, he has rules she must follow—for her protection–or suffer the consequences!
Living in another era without any modern conveniences is challenging enough. But submitting to this tough, kind-hearted yet infuriatingly bossy lawman’s authority, AND being subjected to his demeaning yet oddly arousing bottom warmings when she disobeys, is a lesson in humility for Janelle! However, despite locking horns at every turn, Aaron makes her feel safe and cosseted, deeply desired…and dare she say even cherished? And when false accusations propel the good hearted Marshal Jackson to makes the ultimate sacrifice for his precious “Sweet Pea,” love and passion ignite! Before long, Janelle starts to think of this rugged frontier town—and this gorgeous, old-fashioned lawman– as her own! But when a heartbreaking quarrel causes Janelle to run headfirst into danger, can Aaron rescue his wayward ladylove before it’s too late?
MY MUSINGS:
I absolutely LOVED this first rollicking installment in the Jackson Brothers trilogy!! New-to-me-author Maddie Taylor put a refreshingly unique time travel twist on this tried and true premise about an adorably defiant damsel in a distress who is taken in by a strong, commanding lawman and must assimilate to life in a small, rural town.
There was plenty of romance, adventure, drama, passion and excitement throughout to keep me highly entertained, and I thought the author did a fantastic job depicting the heroine’s confusion and despair as she desperately longs to return to 2013 with her beloved family and all the creature comforts she’s become accustomed to. But then losing her heart to a certain stern, kind-hearted, strappingly handsome Marshal unexpectedly complicates matters!
Aaron and Janelle shared a DELIGHTFUL romantic chemistry, oozing with warmth, charm, tenderness, infectious humor, fiery discord and sweet, smoldering passion! I couldn’t stop giggling and swooning and, yup, squirming during those deliciously naughty spanking sessions! Speaking of which, I was impressed by how the author realistically incorporated old fashioned domestic discipline of that era into the plotline, which posed a unique set of dilemmas for this unconventional couple! For as much as Janelle wanted to please Aaron, it was not easy for this independent-minded, 21st century heroine to learn to obey this stern, fiercely protective lawman whose traditional code of honor , uncompromising rules and strict punishments went against her modern day sensibilities!
Another true highlight of the story for me was the endearing interaction with the entire Jackson family. I ADORED Aaron’s Ma and Pa, whose loving, happy marriage was a shining example of what our oftentimes befuddled main couple strived for, and their elders provided much guidance and moral support throughout. I also thought Aaron’s roguish older brothers were a hoot and look forward to their upcoming books!
BOTTOM LINE:
MARSHAL’S LAW was a bona fide WIN for me, and I can’t wait for the next two Jackson Brothers stories!
This story was certainly a surprise for me. I had a range of feelings about the subject matter. Being a headstrong adult, thrown back into the Old West, would be harrowing. Trying to hold onto your independence would be difficult, at best. I understand all of this. But my first reaction to the heavy-handedness of Aaron was the same as Janelle’s. I vascillated between Aaron’s point and Janelle’s throughout the story. Finally, I accepted how important the lessons were for Janelle in that time. This novel certainly gives a different perspective to being a woman in this time period.
Wow! This book had my emotions in a whirlwind. I really wasn’t sure what I would be getting into with the whole domestic discipline theme, but I did try to go into it with an open mind. My feelings about Aaron and his discipline were quite mixed. In truth, it almost felt like two different people at times. On the one hand, he’s all alpha male with his protective streak and big, sexy cowboy persona. He’s so open-minded about Janelle, where she’s from, and her education, and he’s unusually insightful at times. On the other hand, when he feels that Janelle needs to learn to “behave,” he’s overbearing and what I would consider abusive. I realize that domestic discipline is a real thing that some couples enjoy, but I can’t say that it did anything for me. So, with that in mind, I put my focus on the rest of the story. I will say that when Janelle and Aaron were in sync, the chemistry was off the charts with lots of steamy goodness.
As far as Janelle’s time travel, I don’t read much with that theme either because they so often get bogged down in the explanations, so I wasn’t at all bothered by the lack of that here. We never get the reason for Janelle’s leap into the past, so if you’re looking for a magical, mystical, or scientific plot, you won’t find that here.
The story here, at least for me, was about Janelle and her assimilation into a time without the modern day comforts. Her frustration with learning everything expected of a woman in 1878 and finding not only love, but a whole family willing to accept her with open arms. On that, the author certainly did a wonderful job of conveying her confusion, her longing, and finally her contentment. We also get a bit of wit and humor as she and Aaron pick up the phrasings and their different meanings from one time period to the next. I also loved the way things were wrapped up in the epilogue with Janelle’s parents in modern day.
Since I did listen to the audio version of Marshal’s Law, I have to mention our narrator, Gideon Welles. If I were going to pick a voice for this one, he would be it. That drawl and bit of gruff in his voice was absolutely perfect. In fact, I’m pretty sure his wonderful narration played a big part in my falling a bit for Aaron in spite of my feelings for his discipline.