Loving Mercy

It seems that Western Romance is back on the upswing and this turn around is due to several new books that have come out in recent months. Teresa Bodwell's debut effort is a read that I would recommend if you enjoy western romance and engaging characters. Without going into great detail this is a story of one woman who has choosen to lead a life that...well, lets just say she runs a cattle ranch and wears trousers and is tall and rather curvy. In other words she is not a dainty little thing waiting to be rescued. She is on a trip to Abiline to sell her cattle when she has a run in with Thad Buchanan. Thad needs someone to lead him into Colorado so he can see his sister. He is desperate to get there but not fool-hardy enough to make the trek not knowing the way. He has no idea that he has just taken a step in the direction of his future. But first he must make sure that the sassy, and sexy Mercy has her say... Mercy and Thad were fun characters. I love a good western romance (the setting, the time period) and this story managed to feed that need. I look forward to reading Ms. Bodwell again in the future. For a debut effort this was a good strong read. Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

This book has it all - a great plot, plenty of surprises and best of all - wonderful characters. I fell for the poker-playing, handsome young Thad in the first chapter or two. It takes our heroine, Mercy, a bit longer but she comes around. The interplay between these two is great - entertaining, romantic and hot, hot, hot. The secondary characters in this book were also warm and engaging. I couldn't put this book down.

Loving Mercy is a sensational debut novel by Teresa Bodwell. Mercy Clarke has taken on a lot of responsibility since her husband died. She is trying to save her ranch by selling her prized cattle. She offers to guide Thad Buchanan home to see his long lost sister. Mercy doesn't trust Thad and has a very low opinion of him. But he is slowly getting throw all the walls she has put up to protect her heart. Thad wants to see his sister and find a gentle woman to marry. He wasn't planning on this beautiful, hardheaded woman filling his mind and arms. I will admit the cover was what attracted me to this book at first. But I really enjoyed the story. Mercy and Thad's banter and chemistry made this story special. Will be looking for more from this author.

If you think this guy's hot on the cover, just wait 'til you get him under the cover! Thad's a good-hearted man who has his work cut out for him. Mercy has a heart of gold, as well, although there are some tough layers Thad must go through to reach it. As someone who lives in the west (and has traveled across a lot of it), I can vouch for the fact that the book does a wonderful job of transporting the reader to the region, with all its glories and headaches. I can also attest to it being a great way to spend a snowy afternoon!

Hungry for a super Western? Well saddle up partner, slap iron and wrangle Teresa Bodwell's Loving Mercy. It's set post Civil War era and gives you all the dust, doggies and a sexy cowboy that any dyed-in-the-wool Western fan can want. Mercy Clark is a widowed rancher. She's driven her herd of cows to Abilene to market them, desperate for the money they will bring. Now she has to make the return trip. Should be easy since she doesn't have the cows? Well, she has to travel five hundred miles through untamed frontier, carrying all that cash. It's important she get back with all the money, because she needs it to save her land from a greedy neighbor who will use anything to get Mercy's ranch.Enter Thad Buchanan, Civil War veteran, he has been making a living off his poker playing. He needs a guide to get him from Abilene to his sister's home in Fort Victory - yeppers, five hundred miles away! Mercy needs a bodyguard, but the handsome gambler is not quite what she had in mind. He offers to pay her in gold if she will guide him to Fort Victory, but being an intelligent woman Mercy doesn't entirely trust the too handsome man with the gentle manners and a smooth way about him. After all, she's sworn off men for good...hasn't she? Looking into Thad's sexy eyes has her forgetting that promise. Used to handling women with the same skill he handles the cards, Thad isn't quite prepared for a pistol packing, whip-snapping Mercy.Bodwell has a strong voice, is rich in her period detail and is able to draw the readers into this vibrant tale. She is another of the fresh new writers coming through the Kensington Debut line and one I am sure we will be hearing more from in the near future.