STRONG ARMS TO HOLD ME

Author: Pam Labud ISBN: 1590888030 5/2004 HISTORICAL Publisher: Wings E Press
Time Period: 1800

Ex-Rebel Reed Strong is accused of murdering a U.S. Army fort commander when the man’s widow offers him a chance for escape if he agrees to help her get pregnant. In order to collect on her husband’s estate, Callie McCallister must be carrying his child. She badly needs the money to return to Kansas and rescue her young sister from their cruel stepfather.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Callie McAllister has decided her only way to escape and make a life of her own is to talk the prisoner into getting her pregnant. Her evil husband was dead, and the only way she could get his money was to pretend to be pregnant with his child. She would then plan a way to help the prisoner to escape and all would be well.

Reed Strong had thought he had died and gone to heaven when the beautiful Callie told him her plan. He gladly would let her make love to him while he was chained to the cot. Then when she helped him escape, he thought everything was good, until the man that helped him sold him into slavery in Mexico.

There are many struggles along the way with the hero putting his life on the line numerous times. The heroine has a past to get over, but her love for Reed overcomes everything in her desire for survival.

In STRONG ARMS TO HOLD ME, Pam Labud writes a very interesting story of post Civil War. She takes two strong characters and weaves them into an intriguing plot. The reading is fast paced, and I found myself turning the pages to find out what would be the next scene in their struggle for happiness. Ms. Labud is a very good writer, and I am looking forward to reading her next novel. I recommend her to all who like the Old West historical genre.

Mariah LeGrand