Harlequin Historical #333: Beloved Outcast

Victoria Amory is half-dressed when her sister's suitor mistakenly enters the wrong bedroom to leave a rose on her pillow. When a bumblebee emerges from the rose and flies up his pant leg, Victoria instinctively jerks his pants down and starts whacking at the bee with her hairbrush. Crying out in pain, the unfortunate suitor draws the attention of her family and their guests. Her virtue now compromised, Victoria flees town and joins a wagon train. Victoria is soon cast out of the wagon train after she refuses to unload her virtual library from her wagon. But not before she accidentally shoots another wagoneer in the foot... The laughter continues throughout this highly entertaining story. Victoria meets Logan Youngblood, rescuing the 'reprobate' from certain death in an abandoned stockade. Regardless of multiple mistaken (and often hilarious) impressions regarding Logan, they set out together for Trinity Falls. Victoria's disdain for Logan soon transforms to an undeniable and heated attraction. She still doesn't know he is Trinity Falls mayor and bank owner. The banter becomes even funnier when Logan, feeling unable to salvage his honor for the time being, inspires even loftier reprobations from Victoria. A truly wonderful story! I only recently discovered this author (Pat Tracy) when I stumbled on "Cade's Justice" - another of her titles I highly recommend!

The subtle humor and convoluted conversations really keep you on your toes. It was a great joy to read. Am looking to the next one, "Burke's Rules" #2 to Beloved Outcast --The wagons went west without Victoria Amory but it did not stop her from pursuing her "great adventure".When she found "Passion's Pirate" as he was affectionately know, Logan Youngblood was a sorry mess.The minute Victoria Amory let him out of the stockade, Logan Youngblood knew he was looking at Trouble with a capital T.This Boston-bred bluestocking had hair that glistened like an autumn leaf and eyes so bright, they shamed the sun out of the sky. Yep. She was Trouble -- of the marrying kind!Logan had been deceived by a Bostonian blueblood once before but never again! He has spent 6 years protecting himself from the marrying kind and no freckle suffused, tempting female was going to breach his defenses.Logan's experience with living with the Native American "Night Wolf" and his tribe was most fascinating to Victoria and she longed to be told about such a life.Unbeknown to Victoria, Logan was to be her employer in teaching his young ward, Madison Earley, to be a lady and take her place in society.With little thought to her own safety, Victoria spiked Colonel Windham's revenge filled aimes to get Logan killed.And helped Logan resolve his differences with his older brother Burke, and understand that circumstances are not always what they seem. [really excellent].HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- Add this one to your library!