Review: Banking in Temperance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 20, 2013
Becky Lower's third book in her cotillion series does not disappoint. As a matter a fact, it is my favorite one so far! This installment actually takes place at the `gateway to the west' where Basil Fitzpatrick runs his family's St. Louis branch bank. Even though Basil is a respected businessman and leader in the growing city, the last thing he has in mind is marriage and further responsibility. But fate had something else in store for him.Basil is standing outside his bank when a bedraggled wagon pulls to a stop. The wagon contains the Jones family whose plans to head west on a wagon train are derailed when the family's patriarch becomes deathly ill. When the father collapses in Basil's bank, he takes it upon himself to find the family a place to stay since they have missed the last wagon train for the season.The oldest daughter, Temperance, carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. It is up to her to support their large family by working.Basil is taken with Temperance immediately, even though he refuses to acknowledge it. Instead, he offers her a job cleaning the bank several nights a week and helps her obtain another job at a tavern. Basil and Temperance become friends which is new to him, since he has only had `relationships' with actresses and dance hall girls. But he falls in love with Temperance.How can you not fall in love with a stubborn, fiery character ironically named Temperance? When her proud chin jutted up for the first time, she won me over. But her stubbornness causes problems between her and Basil. She promises her father that her family will make it to Oregon. When he dies, she cannot let go of the deathbed declaration even when the rest of her family tell her they do not want to leave St. Louis.Just when Basil is realizing that he wants to take care of her, a wagon master by the name of Jake Shelton enters the picture. Temperance sees Jake as her only chance to fulfill her promise to her father and Basil steps aside convincing himself that he does not want Temperance and the added responsibility of her family in his life.It takes a raging river and the realization that Temperance will leave Basil forever that finally brings these two stubborn people together - and it is a great ride getting there!