The last thing Dannie needs is a Victorian gentleman on her ranch, playing cowboy while she’s trying to save her family’s livelihood. Will high stakes and high emotions lead to heartbreak?
Evan Rounsevell, second son to the Marquess of Rothwell, is running as far from his family and responsibilities as he can. His fascination with cowboys takes him from English shores to the Arizona desert, but … from English shores to the Arizona desert, but the days of showdowns are over, and Tombstone, Arizona, is a respectable town. With no funds left, and no desire to call on his affluent family for rescue, Evan seeks a position as a cowboy at a ranch on its last leg.
Daniella Bolton’s fiancé left when the drought of 1893 crippled the KB ranch, but that’s just fine by her. She doesn’t need a man to help her save her family’s land. Especially not an Englishman who looks down on her style of living, like Evan does. She loves her life on the ranch, and no outsider could ever understand what it means to be loyal to the land and her family’s way of life.
Being a cowboy is harder than Evan thought, but as he works to earn his place on the ranch, his heart opens up to the beauty of the desert… as well as that of Dannie Bolton. Watching Evan fight for the ranch she loves makes Dannie realize that not all men are afraid of hard work and troubled times, and loving Evan might be just the salve her wounded heart needs. But when Evan’s family summons him home right when Dannie needs him most, the feelings of betrayal from her former fiancé’s flight return tenfold.
Does Evan dare risk his tenuous relationship with Dannie to fulfill his family responsibilities? Or will leaving Arizona be the worst mistake of his life?
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A nicely written story blending an English gentleman and a sassy cowgirl. Daniella is more than she seems, well educated but tough as nails. When they meet Evan her father decides to give the English lord a chance at ranch work. He surprises everyone with his work ethic including Daniella who holds him at arm length. They shouldn’t fall in love, after all he is eventually going back to England. But the heart wants what it wants. Things can change with some hope.
If you enjoyed Sally Britton’s books before you’ll enjoy this title as well. This is in a different genre than the author has written in before but it’s still her quality work. I can see the author’s attention to detail & research come through. It makes for a nice story that has great flow. The romance is sweet & slow build (but not boring!) I liked the characters on the ranch. They rounded out the story very nicely to the story. If there would be a next book I vote Frosty! Sally did well in showing what it could be like coming from a different culture. I liked how a sentence here or conversation there on the pulse of history and people of the say. It was good and thoughtful.
*Edited after listening to the audiobook. I loved the narrator for this audiobook. She really brought the characters to life. I really enjoyed listening to this story again and still give it 5*.
I love that Sally Britton is branching out to Westerns, but still with a British flare. I didn’t really know what to expect from this book and was completely surprised by it. I loved this book. Evan (Duke) is such a great character. I love how he chased his dream and put his whole heart in it. Dannie is a spitfire and I understand her prejudice in the beginning. The relationship between these two was kind of a slow burn, yet at the same time seemed to happen so fast. I wasn’t sure how it was going to all work out, but I loved how Mrs. Britton wrapped it all up. I’m excited for more in this series.
4.5* This book was a fascinating bridge between the author’s previous work set in historic England and the American West, setting up the new direction for this series. I loved the comparisons of culture and the nods to the manners of that set, and especially the vivid descriptions of life on a cattle ranch! I enjoyed the character development in this story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
An American Victorian Romance. What a unique idea. I really didn’t know what to expect from this story. The fact that I have loved this authors other books, I was excited to read it. The Elite of England meets the Wild Wild West. Lord Evan Rounsevell, second son of a Marquess, had grown up with a fascination with the American Wild West. All because of a silver dollar, Buffalo Bill had gifted him.
Dannie Bolton has been raised on her family’s cattle. Although she was sent to school in Boston, she is a born and bred cowgirl.
This is a great read. Meshing the two genres together, was fun and interesting. The characters are well defined and engaging. Because of her past, she is a little stand-of-fish. He of course is out of his elements. The story moves at a good pace and I wanted the HEA, but didn’t want it to end. I thought it was a great story.
I don’t usually care for westerns but this was very good. It was nice to learn about the different aspects of being a cowboy. You never truly see all of what they have to do. Evan A. Rounsevell was a second son. He didn’t want to work for someone else. For example, his brother. the eldest, wanted him to take care of one of the small estates but there is no chance it would be his. He made a drastic decision and left England and came to the states. He traveled around looking things over until he ran out of money. He had gone to Tombstone and had met up with Dannie Bolton and her two brothers. The boys suggested that he come home with them and speak to their father and maybe he could work there at their ranch.
Daniella Bolton and her two brothers had to go into Tombstone to get supplies. They only went to town maybe once every month or every two months. She had been hurt by a previous relationship and was kind of hard on Duke, Evan. He spoke and was the Aristocrat he had been trained to be. His brother would be a Marquess when their dad died.
I loved this story, so many things I did not know, and reading all the happenings going on certainly kept my attention. From a ranch hand thinking, he was better than everyone else but he was the one who was mediocre. To Frosty, the foreman trying to stay cool thru all the hassle. The characters were amazing and so much fun. Dannie had gone to Boston to go to a finishing school. She felt she had learned nothing. It was a whirlwind of emotions, you sometimes found it hard to keep track of them. I think the whole family might enjoy this book.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m not one for westerns. This is set on the cusp of 1900, well, 1895. Evan is suffering the pangs of being the spare (second son). So, it’s off to America, a place that fascinates him.
Daniella “Dannie” is an extremely hardworking American, struggling to save her ranch.
I liked that it was set in Arizona (a dust bowl). That Evan did find purpose.
But then again, things are never easy.
Recommend.
I fell in love with all of these characters, absolutely wonderful. This story had me wrapped up in every page. I love how England was wrapped with the old west. The tells of Buffalo Bill with Annie Oakley drew me into the story even more, the love of cattle drives and Dukes penchant for them brought about a longing that every dream can come true. This is a fun story with contest between cowboys, the fist fight, romance and just the book in a whole . A captivating read that will have you longing for the hold west, or perhaps England with its Lords and ladies!
Given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Wow!
Great characters, great story.
There’s a bit of prejudice at the start. Dannie thinks the English dandy is a braggart and just after a bit of fun out on the frontier.
He’s the first to say that he has no ranching experience—he can ride and he can shoot. Everything else he knows about the west is stuff he read about… But he also says he’s a quick learner and an honest worker.
We’ll see.
Update: I just finished listening to the audio version of the book. It was so well done. And hearing the story for my second reading, I loved it even more than the first time. Highly recommend.
***** ***** *****
I love Sally Britton’s Regency England romances so it was fun to read her first historical American western with a touch of England added. I loved that “Duke” was willing to work so hard to prove himself and make his own dreams come true. And I loved his ability to keep calm under pressure. I loved that though Dannie has the ability to be a lady she works as hard as the men to make their ranch profitable despite setbacks from the weather. They are both hard working and determined to succeed.
This was an enjoyable read. I couldn’t tell how a happily ever after was going to take place since it just didn’t seem possible but I had pretty much decided how it could work out. I was wrong so the ending surprised me. Loved this one and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
Sex: a few kisses
Language: no
Violence: a little fisticuff action
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.