Review: Impressive debut from great addition to the western romance genre!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2011
Outlaw Bride is an impressive debut from an author who brings new life to the Western Historical Romance subgenre. Western Romance was my first love as a romance reader, and it remains a favorite of mine even as publishers and the market have followed other trends. For several years, it was almost impossible to find great new Western Romance authors. In recent years, offerings have improved somewhat, especially with smaller presses giving new opportunities for those who write and read Westerns. But, true Western Romance stills feels like a tiny prairie flower peeking out of a forest of Paranormal, Shape-shifting, Sexy, Contemporary Cowboy, Regency, Erotica, Serial Killer trees. And Boyce brings us Western Romance at its purest--Fans of Linda Lael Miller, Jodi Thomas, Susan Kay Law, Paty Jager, et al will love Boyce.Outlaw Bride contains all of my favorite Western romance tropes--mistaken identity, mail-order bride gone awry, woman running from her abusive past, Gruff Sheriff Tortured Hero Deluxe and Sexy edition, orphaned child in need of mothering, and great secondary characters providing comic relief, emotional support, and a sense of community. Kate is on the run from her outlaw husband who tried to kill her. A western law man died saving her life, and she's trying to repay him by seeking out his family. Connor Langston is that family BUT he's also the Sherriff of Fatal Bluff.Kate must tread carefully, especially since Connor believes her to be Hannah Stockdale, a wayward mail-order bride he hires to be his housekeeper and caretaker for his niece. It's a convoluted set-up, but it totally works and contains a number of hilarious moments along the way. Kate finds herself first using the case of mistaken identity for Hannah Stockdale as means to escape her husband and make it to Fatal Bluff and then as a means of staying and getting close to the Langston family as she tries to figure out the best way to fulfill the legacy of the man who died saving her. Connor, however, is no idiot, and he gradually grows to suspect that she's not who she says she is, and their delicate dance as they try to find a way to trust each other is beautiful. Full review at chanceofbooks as my Friday Pick of the week.