A Wanted Man

A very compelling storyline. Easy to put yourself into what is happening. A sensitive read.

I had such a great time reading this book! This author definitely knows how to capture your attention and hold it! This one, I would have to say, is one of her best!

The novel is set in Stone Creek, Arizona Territory, in 1905. Two people have arrived in town. Lark Morgan came to town a few months earlier and took the vacant position as schoolteacher in the local school. She is obviously well educated, but seems too well dressed to be a typical schoolteacher. She is boarding at Mrs. Porter's Rooming House. Then Rowdy Rhodes arrives in town, summoned there by an acquaintance to serve as town marshall and help in apprehending train robbers operating nearby. He arrives at Mrs. Porter's Rooming House to rent a room for the week. It is a small town where people gossip and speculate, but everyone has hidden secrets. Even the nosy madam at the local bordello does not know everything (although she does keep private records of her clients). Lark is obviously running from something. Rowdy has things in this past that he will not talk about. There is the question about Mr. Porter, who is not there, but who Mrs. Porter seems to be expecting at any moment. There is young Lydia, daughter of the local doctor, who does not get along with her stepmother. And there is the Chinese couple - the wife works as Mrs. Porter's maid. People's pasts start to catch up with them. There are tales of spousal abuse, white slavery, child abuse, and reformed outlaws. The novel has fairly strong sexual content, and some amount of violence consistent with the story. There are a few surprises.

Wow. Reading this book makes you think you were definetly born too late. They just don't make men like this today. As a woman you deinetly feel as if you are the heroine staring at Rowdy in your own bedroom.

I loved this book. It is a richly told story with great characters, both main & secondary. The plot is great. The tempo and complex storyline makes it worthy of buying a hardcover book. (Which I usually do not.) It is built slightly off of The Man from Stone Creek, but it isn't necessary to have read that one first, as each book can stand on it's own. I really cared for the characters and the trials they go through. Of course, love prevails in the end! I do hope that Linda Lael Miller continues the Stone Creek series and allows us to enjoy new characters and catch up with those we are already acquainted with.