Blurb:
WINNER OF THE 2014 PEACEMAKER AWARD FOR BEST SHORT WESTERN FICTION.
His partner’s grisly death destroyed Texas Ranger Quinn Barclay. Cashiered for drunkenness and refusal to follow orders, he sets out to fulfill his partner’s dying request, armed only with a saloon girl’s name.
Sister María Tomás thought she wanted to become a nun, but five years as a postulant have convinced her childhood dreams aren’t always meant to be. At last ready to relinquish the temporary vows she never should have made, she begs the only man she trusts to collect her from a mission in the middle of nowhere.
When the ex-Ranger’s quest collides with the ex-nun’s plea in a burned-out border town, unexpected love blooms among shared memories of the dead man who was a brother to them both.
Too bad he was also the only man who could have warned them about the carnage to come.
My Review:
OHH!! Kathleen Rice Adams is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical western authors -- and so far I've just read her shorter stories. I can't wait to see how she sweeps me away with one of her full-length novels! She's got the knack of sweeping me away into the story, the words chosen building a world around me that kept me enthralled.
I was smitten with Quinn from the minute I met him; despite his grieving the loss of his best friend and partner he was still making me laugh. And then when Quinn met Maria? Ohhh! His presence continued to fill the room - all manly and bossy and larger than life. Maria quickly learned just what kind of man she tangled with and gave as good as she got - she was no fainting flower - and I loved it! The sparks kept sizzling between them. It was a pleasure experiencing them falling in love and honoring a beloved friend's request in more ways than one.
Even though the stories are different, in my mind's eye, I kept picturing Clint Eastwood's Two Mules for Sister Sarah while I was with Quinn and Maria -- the hardened man with the nun, the setting, the quips, the intrigue/mystery/danger, the soundtrack -- it still all kinda worked together to bring this story even more to life.
Purchase link:
'The Second-Best Ranger in Texas' ranks high in the company of my all-time favorite stories. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMe too! I've read it 3 times now, I think?
DeleteAnd funny enough... I thought about opening it up and rereading it again today!
Michelle this is one of my all-time fave stories of any length. Kathleen outdid herself with this one. So poignant, dramatic, and just all-around wonderful.
ReplyDelete