The Men of Pride County:: The Pretender

Much to the misunderstanding of many - Deacon Sinclair is a strong representative of his times and environment, plus the results of a prideful daddy.Here again is Tyler Fairfax who seems to be every one's nemesis and trying once again to confuse the issues. Boy, did he almost pay for it.Finally Patrice and Reeve Garrett Glendower get their child, a son. Love the name.Will Starla and Hamilton Dodge find out what a sneak thief their son Christien is turning into? He is well into becoming like his uncle Tyler.Would like to have heard more about Noble Banning and his wife but he will probably have to pull Tyler out the fire.Deacon had been formed by his father and tempered in the fires of war and now had a lot to learn about love and expressing it. Luckily he had three women to help him learn, his mother, Hannah, who seemed to be keeping company with Garnet's "husband", his sister, Patrice Garrett, who refused to give up on him, and Garnett, who started out wanting to bring him to his knees. Wow, what happened when she did. She won all the way around.Deacon had learned to shut down his emotions, except when he first met Garnett, in order to survive, both at home and in the deadly theater of war where he could trust no one. He was learning to bow, with compassion, but was unbroken of spirit.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- Collect all four -- and read them in sequence - you will be glad you did [if you have an open mind to the times]

Deacon Sinclair--a rather dislikeable character in the previous three books--turns out to be the best romantic hero of the series. His outer defenses are steadily beaten down in the story to show a person who wants to love and be loved but didn't know how.

I always enjoy reading Rosalyn West's novels. This one is no exception. It's a turbulent, sometimes painful, read. Throughtout the hours reading this, I cried, sniffled, cried some more, and felt so happy for those two people Deacon and Garnet when they receive their happy ending. I also wanted to knock some sense in Deacon's thick head more than once throughout the story, because it is thanks to his tight-lipped pride the story become sometimes just too painful for them - and me. Hey, why am I complaining? I love this book.