A Novel with Thoughts and Ponderings

SHADOW'S STAND

Author: Sarah McCarty ISBN: 9780373777051 1/2012 HISTORICAL Publisher: HQN
Time Period: 1859 - West Kansas Territory

Shadow's Stand by Sarah McCarty
Husband of convenience. Lover by choice.

Shadow Ochoa is lying low in the western Kansas Territory, waiting for his fellow Texas Rangers—the Hell's Eight brotherhood— to clear his name. That is, until he's unjustly strung up for horse thieving...and pretty Fei Yen intervenes. Invoking a seldom-used law, the exotic lady prospector claims Shadow as her husband and rides off with the bridegroom shackled to her buckboard.

Savvy, fearless Fei is single-mindedly devoted to her hidden claim and all it promises: wealth, security and freedom. A husband is just a necessary inconvenience and a name on paper to hold the claim she cannot.

Shadow isn't a man to take orders from anyone, especially from lovely Fei—except that the daily friction between them ignites into nightly blazes of all-consuming passion. Soon Shadow is dreaming a little himself: of the life they could have if only Fei could see past the lure of independence. If only bounty hunters weren't closing in on him. If only he's left standing when the impending showdown has ended—

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS: 4 Rose Read

SHADOW'S STAND is explosive, right from page one. It deals with racial prejudice, mental issues, oppression, and an array of other hard core issues until the very last page, in an unforgiving, forthright manner. Truly, the layers and layers of complexities the story offers make it more than the average romance read.

As for the romantic nature of the story, well, it isn't all that romantic, but it is electric. The hero and heroine set off their own dynamite in what starts out as a very touching relationship. The problem is that it delves into that "crass" territory when it doesn't really need to. The hero and heroine's sexual tension is enough without the use of base phrases and coarseness. No, I don't want to read about the heroine's flower, but neither do I want nasty slang. Yes, this is a hard-hitting book set in a rough time, but their relationship should be the shining part of the story, especially given the heroine's lack of experience.

If you are looking for something completely different your historical romance, look no further than SHADOW'S STAND.

Shannon Johnson

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