First of all, I recommend that these stories be read in order (see below for the three stories in this series). The author leaves enough hints about the previous action so that the reader isn't totally clueless, but I think readers will enjoy this more with all the ducks in a row.
In the opening pages, the son of infamous outlaw Sam Ketchum, Jack (a lawman) catches his father and his gang. After killing his father in a terrible shoot-out in New Mexico, only (Uncle) Tom Ketchum escapes. The whole posse with Jack is killed and Jack leaves his badge in the dust, on top of his deceased father's chest. Jack walks away with a scarred cheek -- to start a new life as cowboy Jack Hollister.
One problem haunts Jack. On the day he killed his father in self-defense, old Sam asked Jack to find out who betrayed the gang (so Jack was able to find them on that fateful day). However, now he's taken on the life of a cowboy for the Wells Cattle Company in Montana.
There were lots of great elements to this story; the author hooked her tale onto the true story of the outlaw Sam Ketchum. She did a great job of weaving the two stories together. However, there were just too many coincidences (Carl showing up in the area where Grace was coming to find her friend; Boone and Carl robbing trains in the same area where Allie was from; Jack never did a lick of work for the Wells Cattle Company because he was too busy chasing train robbers).
I could go on but I think I made my point. Circumstances were just too contrived to suit me. Overall score = 3.5 stars.
Wells Cattle Company
1. The Cattleman's Unsuitable Wife (2009)
2. The Cattleman's Christmas Bride (2018)
**3. The Lawman's Redemption (2010)
In the opening pages, the son of infamous outlaw Sam Ketchum, Jack (a lawman) catches his father and his gang. After killing his father in a terrible shoot-out in New Mexico, only (Uncle) Tom Ketchum escapes. The whole posse with Jack is killed and Jack leaves his badge in the dust, on top of his deceased father's chest. Jack walks away with a scarred cheek -- to start a new life as cowboy Jack Hollister.
One problem haunts Jack. On the day he killed his father in self-defense, old Sam asked Jack to find out who betrayed the gang (so Jack was able to find them on that fateful day). However, now he's taken on the life of a cowboy for the Wells Cattle Company in Montana.
There were lots of great elements to this story; the author hooked her tale onto the true story of the outlaw Sam Ketchum. She did a great job of weaving the two stories together. However, there were just too many coincidences (Carl showing up in the area where Grace was coming to find her friend; Boone and Carl robbing trains in the same area where Allie was from; Jack never did a lick of work for the Wells Cattle Company because he was too busy chasing train robbers).
I could go on but I think I made my point. Circumstances were just too contrived to suit me. Overall score = 3.5 stars.
Wells Cattle Company
1. The Cattleman's Unsuitable Wife (2009)
2. The Cattleman's Christmas Bride (2018)
**3. The Lawman's Redemption (2010)
