Cinnamon and Roses

Normally, I do not read the western romance novels. Medievals are more my style. But the raving reviews made me buy this book. And I do not regret it. Rebecca is a lovely heroine and SPUNKY!! At 13 she ran away from her mother (a prostitute)and found her own spot in a small town. Ten years later she is the local dressmaker and quite happy. Then she meets Caleb and sparks fly. After she gets pregnant (oops) Caleb marries her. It is not a novel with a 'big' plot with lots of turns and twists, just a nice story, written very well and in a pleasing style. I came to like Rebecca and Caleb a lot and sure will buy the sequel (the story of Caleb's sister Megan).

Rebecca is a simple woman with a past full of bad memories. She works hard at her seamstress business - just making enough to get by. She has no need for men and would just asume stay unattached. Caleb Adams is the son of a wealthy Wagon Express owner. He could have any woman he wants. But why does he find himself sending his mistress back to New York and dreaming about the mousy seamstress? With trouble around every corner, Caleb battles Rebecca's strong will to show her he can love her - past and all. Ms Bett's fills her story with a cast of witty characters that will remind you of the people around you. You never know what is around the next page or what Rebecca, Caleb and all the supportig characters will do next. CINNAMON AND ROSES was a non stop page turner that I couldn't put down. You will love this book. ~Shannon McCravy, Sisters of the Night

I don't lean towards western romances but this one was excellent, especially for a first book! The characters are very believable, the romance is tangible and the plot moves along wonderfully. There's even a villainess to loathe! I was so pleased to hear that another novel by this author is coming out in July this year----I'll be haunting the new releases! Sweet, old-fashioned and still passionate--one of the best reads I've had in a while.

Rebecca is a seamstress in a small Kansas town. Raised in a brothel, she's put her past behind her and made a life for herself -- a life that didn't have room for a man, she'd seen enough of men and what they had to offer a woman. Caleb Adams has wealth and all the women he wants . . . so why is he drawn to the quiet seamstress? More than drawn, he can't get her out of his mind. Lured to his bed, rushed into a marriage neither of them wants and accidents happening right and left, too many accidents to be a coincidence, Rebecca and Caleb find through all the turmoil that they were meant for each other.A rose by any other name would smell as sweet -- and sweet is just what Heidi Betts historical, Cinnamon and Roses, was!

This is a Leisure book, the debut of Ms Betts, and it is a winner! This book is a western historical and I have always been shy of westerns but I am very glad I did not shy away from this one! Rebecca is the child of a prostitute, raised in a brothel by a very uncaring mother. She runs away at the age of thirteen as she had heard that she was soon to be put to 'work' and Rebecca refuses to turn out like her mother. She is taken in by a kind widow and raised as a fine respectable lady in another town and becomes the town's finest seamstress. She is hired to make a flamboyant dress for the mistress of Caleb Adams, the town's famous Express stagecoach businessman. However he refuses to pay her bill in full as he feels the dress is not worth the cost. Rebecca storms into Caleb's office for her hard earned money and the gauntlet is thrown down, war begins! Caleb soon realizes he much more prefers her cinnamon and roses smell to the cloying New York scent of his mistress. Circumstances force them to marry and their love builds, but someone is out to harm Rebecca. Caleb is determined that his wife not be taken from him and he stands up for her only as a true gentleman could. Oh, I loved this wonderful story! It is a tender story of true love and one that will leave you awestruck with it's power! I eagerly look forward to Ms Betts next book! Way to go Heidi! It's a keeper!