Review: Perfect Western Historical!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 11, 2014
I don’t even know where to begin with this review.  It has everything I’m looking for in a western historical.  Intrigue, gun fights, smexy times, two characters that are both strong and independent and an ending that had me sighing.  Ms. Fraser and Ms. Shenberger managed to write an intelligent, engaging and fresh story that left me wanting more of Zack and Suzanne.  I didn’t want this story to end at all.  I will admit that I read this book in one sitting.  Yes, that’s how good it is.Zack is the town Marshal in Greenville, MS and upholds his job with honor and grace.  Suzanne is one of the town’s doctors and he loves getting her all riled up.  What he didn’t count on was falling in love with her.  He feels that his job is too dangerous for a wife and family but when the single women in town really put the pressure on him, he decided that Suzanne will fit the bill on a fake engagement.  Just trying to convince her is going to be the challenge.I love the trope of friends to lovers.  And yes, Zack and Suzanne are friends first.  Neither one of them realize that they truly are friends and that sometimes friends can turn into lovers.  Speaking of which, the authors did not shy away from the smexy times in the book.  Spicy, yet tasteful, Zack and Suzanne don’t shy away from it either.  In fact, there is one scene where Suzanne…oops, almost gave it away.  ;)  What made this book different from the other western historicals out there is the authenticity that the authors wrote.  They don’t weigh you down with the details of how life was, what everyone was wearing, the guns the men were carrying, etc.  They put you in the situations that Zack and Suzanne are dealing with and you feel everything that they are feeling and doing.  The ending scenes are especially good in that sense.  Powerful and intense.Another thing I liked about Suzanne that while she is very independent and smart about her job, she realizes that having Zack around isn’t such a bad thing.  In fact, there are times where she misses him and not just the sex part either.  She misses her friend, confidant and someone who finally “gets” her.  Zack makes her feel like a desirable woman.The secondary characters are wonderful, too.  I did not read the first book in the series with Felicity and Jake.  I need too since Zack and Suzanne were introduced in that book but I never felt lost with them in this one.  I can’t wait to see who the next McCade is but I’m betting its Chris.  What a rogue, charming and disarming to the last.