Review: Classic Western Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 26, 2013
I received a copy of this book as part of the 2013 International Digital Awards. I'm happy to say it won first place for Historical Novel. After reading it, I understand why readers rated it high enough to win. Ms Davis presents a tried and true romance trope: a marriage of convenience.Sophie Flannigan fled her home in Pennsylvania when her husband was arrested on their wedding day. She ends up in Deadwood, working in the local brothel--scrubbing and cleaning. Madame Dora offers her the chance to "move up in the world" by taking a room upstairs and entertaining clients but Sophie refuses. She finds solace by writing letters on scraps of paper and tying them to tumbleweeds with pieces of cloth torn from the hem of her tattered skirt.Cam McBride lost his parents and his wife to an epidemic. Now its just him and his very young son trying to make a go of the family ranch. Cam finds one of Sophie's letters and his son claims the material for his own. On a trip to town for supplies, father and son bump into Sophie and things snowball from there. By the end of the day, they're married.As they learn to live with each other, their happiness is threatened by a Pinkerton agent, among other things.Ms. Davis has a voice well-suited to western romance. This story, reminiscent of one of my favorite westerns--Louis L'Amour's "Conagher"--is an enjoyable read and worthy of the IDA win. I recommend it to anyone who wants a well-written western romance.