Notorious

Does not raise the same emotions as it's predecessor, LAWLESS, but keeps you reading. Same Excellent quality.Marsh Canton, an older contemporary of Lobo [from LAWLESS], on his way to California to carry out Lobo's wishes, sat in on a card game and won a saloon. Here we see and recognize the Notorious gunfighter.On arriving in San Francisco, Marsh puts up at an elegant hotel, The Pacific Palace, owned by Quinn Devereux and his lovely talented wife, Meredith [from RAINBOW]. Quinn advises Marsh to see the only honest lawyer, a rarity in S. F., David Schuylar Scott to see about registering the title to the Glory Hole. [grin]Scott informs Marsh about the Ice Queen, Catalina Hilliard, the owner of the Silver Slipper saloon across the street from the Glory Hole. She will not tolerate any competition and is dangerous to cross. She inadvertantly gets him shanghied and has to stop the deal.Marsh proves just as dangerous to cross and now vows retribution on the Ice Queen and her saloon. You won't believe what they do to gain the upper hand in business.Cat asks her bartender and manager, Teddy, a hulk of a man, an ex-prizefighter, to send his cousin Hugh O'Connell over to the Glory Hole to apply for the job of bartender. Hugh needs a job to support his wife, Elizabeth and their five children, with another on the way.Marsh visits the Sliver Slipper to scope out the competition and inadvertantly scares his timid, shy hostess, Molly. Causing Cat to descend upon them like an avenging mother hen.Sparks ingnite and continue to torment Cat and Marsh throughout the whole book. But the hidden secrets of these two people make it next to impossible for them to find happiness. They both find it hard to accept or ask for help.Playing a minor but very effective role through the book is a massive, ugly dog that Marsh names Winchester. Win is as private and alone as Marsh and the two slowly come to an understanding. There is a secondary romance between Teddy and Molly that is very sweet and touching. Again a much older man than the young girl. Marsh is forty and Cat is, she thinks, either thirty-seven or thirty-eight -- both experienced in the ways of the world but not in the area of love.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --M. But read in this order -- RAINBOW -- LAWLESS -- NOTORIOUS. These books grab your interest and definitely keep it. Definitely keepers!