The Courtship

From the back cover: The fallen woman... Sacrificing her reputation so that she could provide a home for her two orphaned nephews, Miranda Kilpatrick took over the saloon she inherited from her uncle. Deciding long-ago that marriage wasn't for her, Miranda didn't care if Tobias Johnston, the handsome new schoolmaster, believed the townsfolk's lies about her being a "scarlet" woman. But when Miranda saw kindness, humor, and something thrilling in Tobia's gray eyes, her vow never to trust her heart to love was quickly weakening... The reformed outlaw... Behind the somber gray suit and gold spectacles of Tobias Johnston beat the heart of a man with a dangerous past. Not long ago, he'd come close to death's door, and wished in that moment he'd lived differently. But Tobias got his second chance. Now the notorious gunman has come to Pine Creek, Colorado to trade his Winchester for Shakespeare and a life of propriety. Unfortunately, he's falling head over heels for the spirited, fiery redhead who's captivated his senses like no other woman ever has. As sweet romance eases lingering doubts, Tobias's violent past returns to threaten Miranda, forcing the reformed gunslinger to break his most solemn oath...and pick up a gun to protect the woman he loves. And my review: After reading the wonderful A Cowboy for Christmas (Zebra Historical Romance), I eagerly searched out everything this author ever wrote. Which, unfortunately, was only four books in total. Even more unfortunately, Golden Dreams was far below those standards, and THE COURTSHIP is also not up to par. However, since A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS was her last book, it's understandable that it was her best, since most author improve with time and experience. I enjoyed this book, but it was never a can't-put-it-down read. I couldn't really say why. Everything was there--action, suspense, well-rounded likeable characters with believeable motivations. But somehow it never seemed to come together for me. I never felt the chemistry between the two characters the way I did in A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS. The "spark" I expected from this author just wasn't there. One thing that really bothered me was when Tobias and Miranda consumated their relationship. The second love scene was way too long and drawn-out. I mean really, a woman loses her virginity, and three days later she's able to have an all-night marathon and make love six times in a few hours, and in several different positions? I was skipping pages and pages of the love scene and rolling my eyes, thinking, "oh, and here they go again! What does this make it, five times in one night now? Six?" It wasn't romantic. It was as if the author tried to write more sex to generate romance, and it just didn't work. I don't have a problem with lovemaking in books, but it has to be handled delicately. A couple of times, fine. But six times in one night (with every encounter described in detail) is overkill. Also, the last 40 pages of so felt a little anti-clima

THE COURTSHIP is a very well written, wonderful love story from beginning to end. The struggles and conflicts the hero and heroine must face to get to a happy ending pull the reader in on every page. I highly recomment this book to any reader who likes a good love story.