It was his job…Luke Hamilton has spent years drifting around the country, but after being hired as the new sheriff in Bethany, Oregon, he is finally ready to put down some roots. He’s not prepared however for his first big job to come in the form of a woman who is being accused of murdering her husband.It was her life…Sylvia is determined to prove her innocence, but it won’t be easy when … life…
Sylvia is determined to prove her innocence, but it won’t be easy when she’s behind bars and no one believes her. Can she convince Luke to help her? And, what will happen when he is forced to choose between following the law or following his heart?
Guilty or innocent, lives will forever be changed.
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FROM BRIDE TO WIDOW IN THE SAME DAY
Each story in the Oregon Sky series will read as a stand-alone, but each will have people from previous books. Luke Hamilton and his father had had a falling out, and he left Missouri and went out on his own, but then both parents died, and Luke stepped out to care for his two sisters, Phoebe and Grace., sending them from Missouri to Oregon on a wagon train. Now Luke is the Sheriff of Bethany.
Sylvia left Missouri and traveled to Oregon to become the mail-order bride of Duncan Coulter. She knew that she needed to leave her mother before she ruined her and she wanted to have a marriage and family. They married as soon as she got off the stagecoach at the church and then went to his home. She will wake up from resting from her long travels and go outside to find Duncan on the ground in a pool of blood, and that is where Randolph and Minnie will find her, holding a bloody rock.
The plot will have Randolph dragging Sylvia into Bethany and demand she be locked up and charged with the murder of Duncan. She is still in her wedding clothes, but also cut up and bruised from the mishandling by Randolph. Scared and in a strange town she is shown compassion by Luke and his sister Grace.
Luke must do his duty as sheriff and place her in a cell. With Randolph screaming for justice he won’t even be able to hear her side of what happened. All he has is two different accounts and a bloody rock. Why won’t Randolph allow him on the property to investigate the murder?
The more Luke talks to Sylvia, the more he believes she is innocent, but how can he get the evidence without getting on the property. Now the traveling judge is coming, and the threat of taking her away puts her life in jeopardy. How far will a man go to protect the innocent and still uphold his oath of office as a sheriff?
Was it a crime of passion? One of greed? So who really killed Duncan Coulter? Is the fire to the church another clue in this mystery? Will Luke be able to prove Sylvia innocent and discover who killed Duncan and why?
“I’ve never had anyone in my life who cared about me the way you have. You didn’t even know me, but you believed in me. You took care of me when no one else would have.” –Sylvia
“I told you, I always have a plan. All I need is for you to trust me.”
“It would appear you’re my prisoner once again.”
The story is a clean historical western that has mystery and suspense, along with a murder. There is a great cast of characters with plenty of angst, anger, bitterness, hatred, and lack of respect for life. It also brings out the attitude of how a woman would be treated. It was also fun to see characters from previous stories. I love the determination of Grace and her loyalty to Sylvia.
What a great story! I was completely captivated by the story and characters. It was fast paced and easy to follow, seeing as I have not read the previous ones. I am definately going to have read the others. Very well written, witty, fun and packed with emotion. Held my attention from beginning to end.
This was a fantastic story! Old West romance meets murder mystery! This “who dun it” had me on the edge of my seat one minute and laughing out loud the next. The ending was definitely a loud “Ah” moment!
Great read