Heaven's Embrace

I found this book at a used bookstore, and picked it up on a whim. It turned out to be a lovely story. The story centers around Kate O'Connell, a prostitute's daughter who has lived in a convent since the death of her mother. She has been sent by the convent to take a relic to a mission in Texas, where her uncle is a priest.Along the way, her party is ambushed by bandits and the relic is stolen. Jess Darnell, a former sheriff/gunfighter, lives near the site of the ambush, and he takes Kate into his home and nurses her back to health.Kate feels that she cannot return to her caonvent without retrieving its lost relic, and Jess, for reasons of his own, wants to go after the bandits. The two of them end up reluctantly travelling together in pursuit of the bandits. Along the way, they fall in love.While parts of the story are rather contrived (as many of these stories are), the characters are likable and the story is ultimately sweet and rather touching. Definitely worth looking for!