Desperate Hearts

Looking for a rather sexy western. A book that takes you back to the Wild West where men had to not only take the law into their own hands, they had to be the law? If you are, you need to read Roseanne Bittner's Desperate Hearts. An exciting tale of how love can find you no matter where you are hiding.

Elizabeth Wrainwright is on the run.. Her entire life has been destroyed by an evil man that wants her money. A man who killed her mother and now insists that if she doesn't do as he says, she's next. Except Elizabeth has enough intelligence to run. To run as far away as possible and to a place no one will ever expect her to be. She finds a place in Montana and becomes a woman that would make her mother proud. Of course she doesn't quite understand how the legal dynamics work but when she is rescued from the stage robbers who want to rape her (at the very least) she learns quick that vigilante justice isn't all bad. And of course the man holding the gun is just that gorgeous.

Lawman Mitch Brady is the sheriff in town and a vigilante outside of it. Sometimes while acting as a vigilante he has to be judge, jury and executioner but more often than that he needs to be the sheriff. When he happens upon the stage being robbed he brings the men to justice and totally confuses the city girl riding that stage. Instantly intrigued he takes her into town and discovers that there is so much more to this beautiful woman than fancy skirts. She has dreams..

I really really liked this book. It's one of those books that you enjoy and can't quite put your finger on as to why. There is just that much to offer.

The characters are not caricatures of the old west, rather what I would imagine was out there. Families working for something more, women bent on survival any way they can. Powerful people who want what they want at any cost. Good strong people and yes some less than quality types. But all are fighting to survive. There is also that element that is a well known fact in the old west. Everyone has a reason to be where they are and many are looking for a second chance.

Adding to that is the fact that Elizabeth is on the run and has a powerful enemy. What it takes her time to understand is that she also has some interesting friends. From some surprising places.