A Stolen Time

What a pleasure to discover a new author who pens a unique tale of love and redemption. You'll find yourself rooting for this 'bad girl' heroine and her heroric male counterpart as they find their happily ever after. Unique, fast paced and fun, don't miss Shari Bouillion's debut. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

A STOLEN TIME, is the story of an outlaw trying to go straight. An old story, yes, however its author Shari Boullion gives it a great twist: the outlaw is a woman. The outlaw's name is Janet Garret and she made a promise to her dying father to go straight, so now she's trying really hard to do it by becoming an ever proper schoolmarm, who just happens to carry a gun in her pocket and a taste for whiskey in her heart. The towns sexy marshall Dagger Blackthorn takes to watching the proper schoolmarm after she does some things that aren't taught in school such as, shooting rattle snakes, scaling school roofs and kicking bullies butts. The chemistry between Dagger and Janet leaps off the page, you can feel his suspision and her worry at being found out. Seriously, what is an outlaw doing going around with the marshall? Can this outlaw and marshall make it work? Of course, and Ms. Boullion makes you believe it could happen even outside of fiction. When you read A STOLEN TIME you will truly feel as though you have stepped back in time to watch the strong marshall catch himself an outlaw that he will never consider releasing, even for good behavior.

I don't usually read westerns but I picked this up because I liked the cover and it won the historical voice contest. I'm glad I did. The heroine Janet's family are bank robbers and she promises her father she'll go straight when he lays dying. She becomes a school teacher even though she's not qualified and settles down. She falls in love with the town's marshal, Dagger. He doesn't know that he was the one who shot her during a robbery and that she shot his brother and maimed him. Dagger is a terrific hero - sweet and strong - although I was a bit confused about how him growing up with Indians fits into it all. Janet is feisty and funny as she tries to learn civilized ways. I'd like to know more about the hero's brothers especially Blade. Maybe another book there? Hope so.

In 1861 Northern California, Janet Garret, disguised as a male, somewhat blames herself for the death of her Pa during a holdup that went bad. Before he died Pa made Janet vow she would get out of the outlawing business and marry a respectful person. Though the Marshal has the drop on her and her brother Clint, Janet and her sibling manage to escape, but she shoots the other lawman. Feeling guilty for being a "softy" Marshal Dagger Blackthorn vows to bring in the last two members of the Garret gang especially that blond male who crippled his brother.Janet becomes a schoolmarm in Whiskeytown, but Dagger begins to wonder about her especially when she cusses, beats up bullies, and shoots more accurately than any man he knows. His suspicions grow as he falls in love with Janet Donner. She surprises herself by reciprocating, but Clint is coming to town with plans to reform the Garret gang and he needs his sis to succeed.A STOLEN TIMES will live up to its title as readers will find western romance steals time from other activities to finish in one sitting. The story line is fun to follow as the assertive Janet takes no prisoners while learning life on the legal side and working her way through two conflicting loves that of her brother and that of her Marshal. She also fears that when he learns the truth, he will hate her while locking her up and throwing away the key. Though Dagger overcomes his obsession too easily, fans will appreciate this delightful novel.Harriet Klausner